IT'S a well-worn cliché, but the phrase 'everyone's a winner' was entirely appropriate as 16 outstanding stars from 14 sports converged for the 2009 Fingal Independent/Clarion Hotel Dublin Airport Sportstar of the Year dinner last Saturday.

Anyone perusing the list of candidates for the two major awards would have struggled to single anyone out, and so the suspense around the room cranked up a notch as each of the monthly prizes were presented.

After a beautiful meal, speeches and an entertaining DVD showreeling the year's top sporting events – local, national and international – first up onto the stage for a chat with renowned RTE Sport presenter Michael Lyster was the multitalented Niamh McEvoy.

Her New Year wish is to win more silverware in two different sports, after collecting an AllIreland Football runner-up medal with Dublin and captaining Malahide CS to a national Under-19B basketball title.

'I'm playing a bit of basketball at college now which I love, and it would be nice to go on and win the cup this year.

'And hopefully with Dublin [footballers] we can go on and win the All-Ireland,' she said, sparking a burst of applause among the many Dubs fans in the audience.

Standing alongside Niamh was another hugely talented young sportswoman, Sarah Murray, the Swords sprinter who is 'fast' becoming one of Ireland's big prospects after capturing seven All-Ireland titles and claiming Under-16 60m gold at the Celtic Schools International.

'I do my best every time and that's all you can do,' the modest teenager said, before adding that her hopes for 2010 are 'to represent Ireland again and get a few more All-Ireland titles'. Cue more enthusiastic applause.

Michael Lyster correctly introduced March winner Jimmy McDonald – a world champion – as a man who can walk faster than many people can run, and had a laugh at his own expense when Jimmy explained why he had opted for a comeback after 13 years out of competition.

'Three years ago I got a call from a Michael McKeon in Wexford, asking if I would be interested in doing the racewalking again,' recalled Swordsbased Jimmy.

'I said I don't think I'm up to it, but I needed an excuse to do some training. When you take a break you feel lethargic, and three years ago I was 13 stone.'

Guffaws from Michael Lyster. 'I remember when I was 13 stone. I think I was 10 years old!', he quipped.

With April winner Seamus Murphy – the owner of Hello Bud who triumphed in the Scottish Grand National – unfortunately absent due to illness, next to accept an award was top young racing driver Gary Thompson who took the tightest line between the tables as he stepped up to the podium.

The Donabate teenager, who won the Rookie Cup and finished second overall in the 2009 Formula BMW Pacific Championship, had fresh news of his plans for this year.

'Money is a big problem in motorsport,' he agreed, speaking with maturity well beyond his 17 years. 'It seems to be a case of add a zero to everything and then another.

'But this year we are lucky to be doing Japanese Formula 3. We signed a deal yesterday, and it's one of the most competitive championships in the world.

'My ambition is to get into Formula 1, for sure.'

Moving back up the age spectrum, June winner Eugene Ahern was honoured for leading Rush NS to FAIS Senior Schools Cup glory, overcoming Huntstown 3-2 in the final.

'That was probably the best team I have produced. We came from behind several times and they are great lads to follow instruction,' he said.

Asked how he handles the 'attitude' of today's teenagers, Eugene hinted that he simply doesn't tolerate it.

'I've never had a problem with attitude. If you know me, you know I would be a fantastic attitude adjuster!'

With record-breaking international swimmer Karl Burdis across the Atlantic on a scholarship at the University of Minnesota – one of 54,000 students there – proud mum Anne accepted his monthly award. 'When I put him into Portmarnock Swimming Club he was five and Peter O'Brien took him out of the group he was in and put him in with the seniors – and he never looked back.

'London 2012 is his plan now. Minnesota is working good for him and he'll be coming back for the summer to train with the Irish team and compete in the Europeans. It'll be train, train, train.'

August winner Robert Cannon, the Balbriggan golfer, admitted he thought he'd blown his chances of victory in the South of Ireland Championship when two down with three to play in h i s t h i rdround match.

'It wa s game over,' he told Michael Lyster on stage. 'Then your man choked a bit on 16 and I played 17 and 18 very well. After that I didn't think anyone would beat me!

'But I've given away leads before. One time, against the guy I beat in the final, I was four up after 10 and he came back and beat me. It's important never to give up!'

September winner Morgan was

Eoin

away training with the England one-day cricket team, with whom he enjoyed a fantastic 2009 – including a stunning 67 off 34 balls to help dump hosts South Africa out of the Champions Trophy.

Accepting Eoin's award, his sister Gwyneth said: 'Don't tell anyone, but I used to get off school to watch his matches!

' We are very proud of him and anyone who knows the Morgan family knows that when they come in the door of the house there will be cricket on the television.'

Also 'in the running' for the main award of the evening was Malahide barrister and mum of four Annette Kealy (41) who showed incredible courage to pip great rival Pauline Curley and win the AAI Irish title at the Dublin Marathon.

'I came to 13 miles and all of a sudden I was feeling terrible. I thought: 'I've got 13 miles to go, this is awful'.

'Then Pauline came along and I told myself I have two choices, let her get ahead or decide I'm back in the race.

'She'll hate me for saying this, but at the end I don't think I could have been happier if I had won the Olympics!'

Jim Bailey gave an insight into the commitment given by his son Eanna – the first Irishman to medal in a top international modern pentathlon event – who was away in England preparing for his latest competition. 'It's tough when you're trying to compete in five events and he spends 25 hours a week training, but he's in DCU and they are giving him great support,' he told Michael.

The Baileys, incidentally, have turned their home into a place where Eanna can train for all five disciplines – swimming, epee fencing, show jumping, shooting and running.

Next to collect a monthly award was Conan Byrne, the Swords native who banged in the goals with remarkable regularity to help Sporting Fingal gain promotion and win the FAI Cup

Reflecting on his two seasons with the club, for whom he has not yet missed a game, Conan said: 'It's been a fairytale two years. The squad have been tremendous and we managed to get promotion and the added bonus of the FAI Cup.' It was a second successive night of celebration for Conan, after he attended the Soccer Writers bash which saw his manager Liam Buckley crowned Personality of the Year. A sizeable contingent from the Ballyboughal club turned out to support their Junior Championship-winning captain Danny McGill, who helped end a barren run for the club dating back to the early 1970s.

'It makes it very sweet,' he admitted to Michael Lyster. 'We were a long time up there, training in January and dreaming of success.

'But to stand up here accepting an award as one of the older lads is unfair. We were a young team and we had a great management team and I would like to thank Mick Wogan, Ian and the other selectors who put this team together.'

To illustrate his point, the highlight of the final, captured in the DVD highlights showreel shown on the night, was a wonderful point scored by Ballyboughal's teenage star Gerry Seaver.

Next up to accept a monthly award was Dublin ladies' outstanding goalkeeper Cliodhna O'Connor, whose efforts couldn't prevent the Jackies falling at the final hurdle in the AllIreland after a wonderful performance to defeat Monaghan in the semis.

'That was a very good performance,' Cliodhna agreed. 'At half-time we were nine points down and everyone else was saying it was over, but we had a bit of belief in ourselves.

'I think we really believed we were going to win the final, and that made it so much more difficult to take when it didn't happen, but the plan is to win it this year.'

Completing a hat-trick of GAA stars in succession was Sean Madigan, whose Wild Geese hurling team won promotion and the league crown in only their second season – taking encouragement from the achievements of the Dublin intercounty hurlers.

'Hurling in the county has made a huge recovery and the progress of the Dublin team has inspired the rest of us,' he said.

' We also had Ger Loughnane down with us and we were on the Sunday Game, and that brought the lads on.

'We wear the same colours as Kilkenny but we're not that good yet!' he joked, much to the delight of the big Wild Geese contingent.

A flickering spotlight on the podium failed to knock Michael Lyster out of his stride, and so last, but definitely not least, to the stage was World Taekwondo champion Luke Woods, who fasted en route to Buenos Aires in Argentina to help make his weight – and it paid rich dividends.

'The food was the easy part. Giving up the water was the hardest thing,' he explained.

'The Russian guy I met in the final had beaten me a month previously in Poland and going into it I was a bit apprehensive, but a lot of stuff came together on the day. I would like to thank a few of my bosses who got me money to go over there.'

And with that it was onto the main awards – Hall of Fame for Ollie Campbell, Young Sportstar for Gary Thompson and the top prize of the evening for Sporting Fingal's Conan Byrne.

They got the major gongs on the night, but for many of the other winners it could be their turn next year. IT'S a well-worn cliché, but the phrase 'everyone's a winner' was entirely appropriate as 16 outstanding stars from 14 sports converged for the 2009 Fingal Independent/Clarion Hotel Dublin Airport Sportstar of the Year dinner last Saturday.

Anyone perusing the list of candidates for the two major awards would have struggled to single anyone out, and so the suspense around the room cranked up a notch as each of the monthly prizes were presented.

After a beautiful meal, speeches and an entertaining DVD showreeling the year's top sporting events – local, national and international – first up onto the stage for a chat with renowned RTE Sport presenter Michael Lyster was the multitalented Niamh McEvoy.

Her New Year wish is to win more silverware in two different sports, after collecting an AllIreland Football runner-up medal with Dublin and captaining Malahide CS to a national Under-19B basketball title.

'I'm playing a bit of basketball at college now which I love, and it would be nice to go on and win the cup this year.

'And hopefully with Dublin [footballers] we can go on and win the All-Ireland,' she said, sparking a burst of applause among the many Dubs fans in the audience.

Standing alongside Niamh was another hugely talented young sportswoman, Sarah Murray, the Swords sprinter who is 'fast' becoming one of Ireland's big prospects after capturing seven All-Ireland titles and claiming Under-16 60m gold at the Celtic Schools International.

'I do my best every time and that's all you can do,' the modest teenager said, before adding that her hopes for 2010 are 'to represent Ireland again and get a few more All-Ireland titles'. Cue more enthusiastic applause.

Michael Lyster correctly introduced March winner Jimmy McDonald – a world champion – as a man who can walk faster than many people can run, and had a laugh at his own expense when Jimmy explained why he had opted for a comeback after 13 years out of competition.

'Three years ago I got a call from a Michael McKeon in Wexford, asking if I would be interested in doing the racewalking again,' recalled Swordsbased Jimmy.

'I said I don't think I'm up to it, but I needed an excuse to do some training. When you take a break you feel lethargic, and three years ago I was 13 stone.'

Guffaws from Michael Lyster. 'I remember when I was 13 stone. I think I was 10 years old!', he quipped.

With April winner Seamus Murphy – the owner of Hello Bud who triumphed in the Scottish Grand National – unfortunately absent due to illness, next to accept an award was top young racing driver Gary Thompson who took the tightest line between the tables as he stepped up to the podium.

The Donabate teenager, who won the Rookie Cup and finished second overall in the 2009 Formula BMW Pacific Championship, had fresh news of his plans for this year.

'Money is a big problem in motorsport,' he agreed, speaking with maturity well beyond his 17 years. 'It seems to be a case of add a zero to everything and then another.

'But this year we are lucky to be doing Japanese Formula 3. We signed a deal yesterday, and it's one of the most competitive championships in the world.

'My ambition is to get into Formula 1, for sure.'

Moving back up the age spectrum, June winner Eugene Ahern was honoured for leading Rush NS to FAIS Senior Schools Cup glory, overcoming Huntstown 3-2 in the final.

'That was probably the best team I have produced. We came from behind several times and they are great lads to follow instruction,' he said.

Asked how he handles the 'attitude' of today's teenagers, Eugene hinted that he simply doesn't tolerate it.

'I've never had a problem with attitude. If you know me, you know I would be a fantastic attitude adjuster!'

With record-breaking international swimmer Karl Burdis across the Atlantic on a scholarship at the University of Minnesota – one of 54,000 students there – proud mum Anne accepted his monthly award. 'When I put him into Portmarnock Swimming Club he was five and Peter O'Brien took him out of the group he was in and put him in with the seniors – and he never looked back.

'London 2012 is his plan now. Minnesota is working good for him and he'll be coming back for the summer to train with the Irish team and compete in the Europeans. It'll be train, train, train.'

August winner Robert Cannon, the Balbriggan golfer, admitted he thought he'd blown his chances of victory in the South of Ireland Championship when two down with three to play in h i s t h i rdround match.

'It wa s game over,' he told Michael Lyster on stage. 'Then your man choked a bit on 16 and I played 17 and 18 very well. After that I didn't think anyone would beat me!

'But I've given away leads before. One time, against the guy I beat in the final, I was four up after 10 and he came back and beat me. It's important never to give up!'

September winner Morgan was

Eoin

away training with the England one-day cricket team, with whom he enjoyed a fantastic 2009 – including a stunning 67 off 34 balls to help dump hosts South Africa out of the Champions Trophy.

Accepting Eoin's award, his sister Gwyneth said: 'Don't tell anyone, but I used to get off school to watch his matches!

' We are very proud of him and anyone who knows the Morgan family knows that when they come in the door of the house there will be cricket on the television.'

Also 'in the running' for the main award of the evening was Malahide barrister and mum of four Annette Kealy (41) who showed incredible courage to pip great rival Pauline Curley and win the AAI Irish title at the Dublin Marathon.

'I came to 13 miles and all of a sudden I was feeling terrible. I thought: 'I've got 13 miles to go, this is awful'.

'Then Pauline came along and I told myself I have two choices, let her get ahead or decide I'm back in the race.

'She'll hate me for saying this, but at the end I don't think I could have been happier if I had won the Olympics!'

Jim Bailey gave an insight into the commitment given by his son Eanna – the first Irishman to medal in a top international modern pentathlon event – who was away in England preparing for his latest competition. 'It's tough when you're trying to compete in five events and he spends 25 hours a week training, but he's in DCU and they are giving him great support,' he told Michael.

The Baileys, incidentally, have turned their home into a place where Eanna can train for all five disciplines – swimming, epee fencing, show jumping, shooting and running.

Next to collect a monthly award was Conan Byrne, the Swords native who banged in the goals with remarkable regularity to help Sporting Fingal gain promotion and win the FAI Cup

Reflecting on his two seasons with the club, for whom he has not yet missed a game, Conan said: 'It's been a fairytale two years. The squad have been tremendous and we managed to get promotion and the added bonus of the FAI Cup.' It was a second successive night of celebration for Conan, after he attended the Soccer Writers bash which saw his manager Liam Buckley crowned Personality of the Year. A sizeable contingent from the Ballyboughal club turned out to support their Junior Championship-winning captain Danny McGill, who helped end a barren run for the club dating back to the early 1970s.

'It makes it very sweet,' he admitted to Michael Lyster. 'We were a long time up there, training in January and dreaming of success.

'But to stand up here accepting an award as one of the older lads is unfair. We were a young team and we had a great management team and I would like to thank Mick Wogan, Ian and the other selectors who put this team together.'

To illustrate his point, the highlight of the final, captured in the DVD highlights showreel shown on the night, was a wonderful point scored by Ballyboughal's teenage star Gerry Seaver.

Next up to accept a monthly award was Dublin ladies' outstanding goalkeeper Cliodhna O'Connor, whose efforts couldn't prevent the Jackies falling at the final hurdle in the AllIreland after a wonderful performance to defeat Monaghan in the semis.

'That was a very good performance,' Cliodhna agreed. 'At half-time we were nine points down and everyone else was saying it was over, but we had a bit of belief in ourselves.

'I think we really believed we were going to win the final, and that made it so much more difficult to take when it didn't happen, but the plan is to win it this year.'

Completing a hat-trick of GAA stars in succession was Sean Madigan, whose Wild Geese hurling team won promotion and the league crown in only their second season – taking encouragement from the achievements of the Dublin intercounty hurlers.

'Hurling in the county has made a huge recovery and the progress of the Dublin team has inspired the rest of us,' he said.

' We also had Ger Loughnane down with us and we were on the Sunday Game, and that brought the lads on.

'We wear the same colours as Kilkenny but we're not that good yet!' he joked, much to the delight of the big Wild Geese contingent.

A flickering spotlight on the podium failed to knock Michael Lyster out of his stride, and so last, but definitely not least, to the stage was World Taekwondo champion Luke Woods, who fasted en route to Buenos Aires in Argentina to help make his weight – and it paid rich dividends.

'The food was the easy part. Giving up the water was the hardest thing,' he explained.

'The Russian guy I met in the final had beaten me a month previously in Poland and going into it I was a bit apprehensive, but a lot of stuff came together on the day. I would like to thank a few of my bosses who got me money to go over there.'

And with that it was onto the main awards – Hall of Fame for Ollie Campbell, Young Sportstar for Gary Thompson and the top prize of the evening for Sporting Fingal's Conan Byrne.

They got the major gongs on the night, but for many of the other winners it could be their turn next year.

- Marcus CAVAROLI