Here are our 15 nominees for the 2015 West Cork Sports Star awards

JANUARY WINNER
Equestrian sportsman Brian Morrison from Clonakilty was presented with the first Celtic Ross West Cork Sports Star of the Month award for 2015, in recognition of winning the World Student Rider Championship in Palm Beach, Florida, in January. Students from all over the globe competed in this hotly-contested competition involving dressage and show-jumping.  

FEBRUARY WINNER 2015

Barryroe's Claire Sexton received the Celtic Ross West Cork Sports Star of the Month Award for February. Claire captained the Sacred Heart Secondary School camogie team that won Munster senior colleges' championship and league honours and who just lost out in the All-Ireland final.

MARCH WINNER 2015

Jockey Gavin Sheehan from Dunmanway had his first Cheltenham win in the Grade 1 World Hurdle last March. He led from start to finish on Cole Harden to beat the favourite, Saphir Du Rheu. This win was a maiden Cheltenham success for trainer Warren Greatrex and Gavin. 

APRIL WINNER 2015

Captain Timmy Crowley of the Bandon junior rugby team was winner of the April Celtic Ross Hotel Sports Star Award. Timmy led his team to victory in the Munster Junior Division 2 championship and was thereafter promoted to Division 1.

MAY WINNER 2015

Conor Hourihane was the May winner of the Celtic Ross Sports Star Award. The Bandon midfielder had a terrific 2014/15 season with League One Team, Barnsley in England. He finished as their top goal scorer, top for assists and appearances. Conor also won Fans 'Player of the Year'.

JULY WINNER 2015

Captain Ray Collins was the July Celtic Ross Sports Star Award winner. Ray brought Kilmeen & Kilbree GAA to win the County Junior B Football Championship after 31 years.

AUGUST WINNER 2015

Joe O’Leary was August's West Cork Sports Star Award winner. Joe is captain of Courtmacsherry Coastal Rowing seniors men’s team. They won the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships in August including the Outstanding Senior Crew of the Championships Award.

SEPTEMBER WINNERS 2015

Skibbereen Rowing Club’s talented oarsmen Paul and Gary O'Donovan qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio after they finished fifth in the B final of the men’s lightweight double sculls at the world rowing championships in France. This fantastic achievement saw the Skibbereen brothers honoured with the Celtic Ross West Cork Sports Star Award.

Cork ladies footballer Aine T O'Sullivan from Beara, who won the 2015 All-Ireland championship, was the September West Cork Sports Star Award winner.

Cork ladies camogie star Orla Cronin from Enniskeane, who also won the 2015 All-Ireland championship, was also a September West Cork Sports Star Award winner.

OCTOBER WINNERS 2015

Captain of the Bandon junior football team, Pat Prendergast, who won the 2015 Cork county junior football championship was an October West Cork Sports Star Award winner.

Captain of the Newcestown intermediate hurling team, John Crowley, who won the 2015 Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship is also a October West Cork Sports Star Award winner.

Irish men’s hockey team has qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games. Goalkeeper David Harte (captain of the Irish team) and his twin brother Conor are key members of the national hockey team that has ended a 107-year wait to qualify for the Olympics. Both brothers attended Bandon Grammar secondary school and were October Sports Star Award winners.

NOVEMBER WINNER 2015

Captain of the Bantry Blues ladies junior football team, Laura O’Sullivan was the November Sports Star Award winner. This Bantry team won 2015 county and Munster Junior A football titles, being the only GAA club in West Cork to win a Munster title this year. They are also the first Bantry team in men or women's GAA to get to a Munster final and then an All-Ireland final.

DECEMBER WINNER 2015

Lily de la Cour of Bantry was the December West Cork Sports Star Award winner. Lily has been a member of the West Cork Kickboxing Club for many years and she won her biggest achievement yet – World Senior Kickboxing champion. It surpasses everything she has won before and is the most prestigious kickboxing event in the world.