T at the Westcourt
‘It was a huge honour because not many people get to lift a cup at Croke Park, no matter what trophy it is.’
And despite Dublin’s dominance in Leinster, Daire feels Meath football is back on the right road.
‘The boys are putting in serious effort under Andy McEntee, so hopefully they can close the gap on the likes of Dublin. It’s a tough task, but they are working on the underage system and hopefully that will pay off.’
Next up, 17-year-old Irish pool youth international Cormac Kerr made no apologies for focusing on his own game at the European Championships in August and his tunnel vision is certainly paying off.
‘For me it’s individual! Everyone’s in it to help themselves! The team is important too, though.’
The teenager is reaping the financial benefit of his talents, adding: ‘I won a money match in September for €6,500 and I’m playing one in a few weeks for €10,000 and them I’m away to Malta for the Europeans in three weeks and Killarney for the All-Irelands.’
And despite the attractive individual awards, Cormac is keen to help guide Team Ireland to success in Malta. ‘ We came runner-up two years ago in the team, so hopefully we can go one better.’
Powerlifter Thomas McCague was also chasing European glory last year, but was struck down by illness weeks beforehand.
‘In May I was due to compete in the Europeans, but five days before it I got bronchitis,’ he revaled.
But the August winner bounced back in style, winning gold and two silver at the World Dwarf Games in Canada and he now has his sights fixed firmly on the Europeans again.
‘I’ll be competing down in Limerick and if I do well there I’ll qualify for the PWC Europeans in France. I was also invited to the European Paralympics in 2020, so that’s the target and we’ll see how it goes.’
A bit like Manchester City, September winner Tom Grimes had his eye on an unprecedented quadruple on Saturday night. The Glen Emmets captain took the Coca-Cola-sponsored best dressed male award and then picked up his monthly prize, telling Michael Lyster: ‘We’ll hopefully take home a few more later!
Alas, Tom and Glen Emmets were pipped to the overall prizes, but Tom could still reflect on a glorious year with the Tullyallen club, even if his own Louth Junior Chamnpionship Final experience was a bit surreal following an unfortunate shoulder injury.
‘It was mixed emotions. When you start training in January you dream of winning championships and lifting trophies at the end of the year, so I didn’t expect to be in the Lourdes Hospital with the cup in my hand. But the lads dug in and won it and I’ll forever be indebted to them. I have the cup now - it’s down there on the table.’
True to form, Michael Lyster added: ‘It would have been worse to be in the Lourdes without the cup in your hand!’
Louth star Andy McDonnell also lifted a Championship trophy with his club Newtown Blues last autumn and he admitted it was nice to prove the doubters wrong. ‘We had a good year. Not many thought we’d win the championship, we started so badly in the league, But we got a few back as the year went on and the more games we played the better it got.’
McDonnell also got to play Sigerson Cup in 2017 with UCD, reaching the final of the prestigious third-level competition and, of course he was a member of Colin Kelly’s promotion-clinching Louth side along with February winner Paraic Smith.
Racing driver Conor Molloy also enjoyed a tremendous year, winning the Formula Vee ‘B’ Championship title in November, but he revealed to Michael that managing expectations is key in his sport.
‘At the start of the year you never know what’s going to happen - human error, mechanical failure, anything can happen. But halfway through the year I kind of thought I might have a chance and gave it a push.
‘I didn’t intend doing the whole year, financially or time-wise, but when the points started racking up it made sense to keep going.
‘It’s solely me and my family. Teams rock up with 40-foot trucks and engineers. If you can get a sponsor it’s great, but it’s nice to beat those guys too!’
This season Conor moves up to the ‘A’ grade and he’s looking forward to the challenge.
‘I move up into the top league in Formula Vee. You’re up against guys who’ve been there a long time with a lot of backing, but you never know.’
Another man who put up big miles in 2017 is rising darts star Keane Barry, who won silver and gold medals at the World Cup in Japan, reached the European semi-finals in singles and doubles in Sweden and finished runner-up at the World Masters Youth Championships in England.
The food wasn’t to his liking in Land of the Rising Sun, but it clearly didn’t affect his throwing.
‘Japan was great, but I didn’t like the food. I forgot to bring the noodles,’ he confessed. ‘They have fecking noodles in Japan,’ replied a confused Michael Lyster.
And Keane will be on the road again in 2018 revealing:
‘I’m going to the Dutch Open on Thursday, Austria in June and Turkey in July.
‘Hopefully the next few years will be busy and we can get a bit of success too,’ he added.