RTÉ Sport has announced their shortlist for the Sports Person and Manager of the Year awards.

The winners will be unveiled at the broadcaster’s annual awards ceremony which takes place on Sunday, 21st December.

The achievements of female Irish athletes means that Niamh Briggs, Briege Corkery and Katie Taylor are nominated for Sports Person of the Year.

Briggs was the top scorer at the Rugby World Cup (where the Irish team finished fourth) and was shortlisted for the IRB Women’s Player of the Year. Corkery captained Cork to the All-Ireland Senior Ladies football final and was also part of the county’s All Ireland-winning camogie side, taking her All Ireland medal tally to an incredible 14 (nine football, five camogie). This year, Taylor continued her dominance of women’s boxing as she claimed a fifth consecutive World Championship crown and won a sixth consecutive European title.

Brian Cody steered Kilkenny to yet another All-Ireland success. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Alongside the heavyweights like Joe Schmidt, Brian Cody and Paul McGinley in the Manager of the Year category are the names of Eamonn Ryan and Pete Taylor. Ryan guided the Cork Ladies footballers to a magnificent 9th All-Ireland title in ten years while Taylor guided his daughter Katie to yet more boxing success.

                  RTE Sport Person of the Year 2014 – Nominees       

• Niamh Briggs – Top points scorer at Rugby World Cup. Player of the Year nominee. 
• Seamus Coleman – Everton’s Player of the Season & PFA Team of the Year. 
• Briege Corkery – All-Ireland winner with Cork camogie & Ladies football.
• Mark English – European bronze medallist, 800 metres. 
• Carl Frampton – IBF Super Bantamweight world champion  
• Rory McIlroy – British Open/USPGA/Ryder Cup (Team Europe) champion.
• Michael McKillop – Double European Paralympic gold medallist.
• James O’Donoghue – All-Ireland SFC champion & Footballer of the Year.
• Jonny Sexton – 6 Nations champion (Ireland) & IRB Player of the Year nominee.
• Jason Smyth – Double European gold medallist. 
• Richie Hogan – All-Ireland SHC champion & Hurler of the Year. 
• Katie Taylor – World and European women’s boxing champion.  

               RTE Sport Manager of the Year 2014 – Nominees

• Brian Cody – Guided Kilkenny to All-Ireland SHC – his 10th title as manager.  
• Jim Culloty – Trained Lord Windermere to Cheltenham Gold Cup success. 
• Eamonn Fitzmaurice – Coached Kerry to All-Ireland SFC victory. 
• Stephen Kenny – Led Dundalk to their first League of Ireland win in 19 years. 
• Paul McGinley – Captained the European Ryder Cup team to victory.  
• Aidan O’Brien – Became the first trainer to win 3 consecutive Epsom derbies. 
• Joe Schmidt – Oversaw Ireland’s 6 Nations success & superb Autumn wins. 
• Eamonn Ryan – Led the Cork Ladies footballers to 9th All-Ireland in 10 years.  
• Shane McGuigan – Trained Carl Frampton to World Super Bantamweight title. 
• Pete Taylor – Coached his daughter Katie to World and European boxing success.

Who would you choose for your Sports Person and Manager of the Year?  

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