Republic of Ireland soccer manager Mick McCarthy was last night named as the RTÉ/Hibernian Sports Personality of the Year for 2001. The award, which followed a public tele-poll vote, was presented to McCarthy in a live broadcast from Dublin's Burlington Hotel.
McCarthy was selected by the general public from a shortlist of 10, which also included Bohemians striker Glen Crowe, Tipperary hurling manager Nicky English, golfer Padraig Harrington, rower Sinéad Jennings, Irish soccer captain Roy Keane, jockey Tony McCoy, Galway footballer Declan Meehan, horse trainer Aidan O'Brien and Irish rugby captain Keith Wood.
After guiding the Republic to next summer's World Cup in Japan and Korea, McCarthy was always going to be the strongest candidate for the award.
Aidan O'Brien, Christy O'Connor Jnr and the Galway senior football team also won special awards.
O'Brien was presented with the National Award after his memorable achievements last year. He was crowned Flat Trainer of the Year in both Ireland and England and by clocking up 23 class winners, O'Brien broke the world record for the number of Group One wins in a season. Highlights included the Irish and English Derby wins for Galileo.
O'Connor Jnr was presented with the Hall of Fame award. For over three decades to the fore in international golf, O'Connor Jnr will always have a place in Irish golf history and he won the Senior British Open title in 2000.
The Galway senior footballers, winners of the All-Ireland title last September won the Team of the Year award. Despite suffering a defeat to Roscommon early in the Connacht championship, Galway re-emerged through the new qualifier series to record a succession of impressive wins.
