Skibbereen duo row their way to more silverware
WORLD rowing champions Shane O’Driscoll and Mark O’Donovan were crowned 2017 Celtic Ross West Cork Sports Stars at the 20th annual gala awards on Saturday night.
The Skibbereen Rowing Club men dominated the men’s lightweight pair at world level in 2017, powering their way towards an unprecedented clean sweep and a sensational five gold medals at the biggest international regattas.
Shane and Mark won gold at the World and European rowing championships as well as the three Rowing World Cup regattas in 2017.
The popular duo are currently in New Zealand for an extended period – along with Gary and Paul O’Donovan – but the newly-crowned West Cork Sports Stars sent a video message, saying how proud they were to win the award and how much it means for them to be recognised locally in West Cork.
Also on the night, Cork City FC manager John Caulfield entered the West Cork Sports Stars Hall of Fame, Kinsale ladies football team picked up the Team of the Year Award and Bandon AC athlete Laura Nicholson accepted the West Cork Youth Sports Star award.
Former Republic of Ireland soccer star Kevin Kilbane was the guest speaker.
2018 #WestCorkSportsStar Overall winners from @skibbrowing & @RowingIreland pic.twitter.com/8e82bHJSkW
— The Southern Star (@SouthernStarIRL) January 20, 2018
2017 #WestCorkSportsStar Team of the Year @KinsaleGaa ladies pictured with special guest @kdkilbane77. @LadiesFootball @CorkLGFA pic.twitter.com/mPbHt7rdMR
— Kieran McCarthy (@KieranMcC_SS) January 21, 2018
*****
Click here to sign up to our mailing list and get the best of West Cork delivered straight to your inbox.