Leona Maguire seeking more success in 2020
Leona Maguire speaks to Des Cahill at the Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Awards. Photograph Nick Bradshaw
Leona Maguire will be keen to add more silverware to her collection when she makes her debut as an LPGA Tour cardholder later this month.
The Slieve Russell star will do some warm-up work in Florida before making her first appearance of 2020 in the $2 million Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio in Florida from January 23-26 before heading to Australia for back-to-back LPGA Tour events.
The Cavan golfer had a memorable 2019, winning twice on the Symetra Tour to earn promotion to the LPGA Tour.
She was honoured at the annual Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Awards in Dublin recently having won the award for April following her maiden victory in the Windsor Golf Classic in California.
Double world champion rower Sanita Puspure was crowned Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year for 2019.
Not alone did Puspure claim her second world championship gold medal at Ottensheim in Austria in late summer, she also secured qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.
Her victory was all the more impressive given that she had to return to her native Latvia during the summer to be with sister Inese in the final stages of her battle with cancer.
This is the 16th year of the awards and the rower was among 14 monthly award winners – there were multiple winners on several occasions - nominated for the 2019 title.
Other monthly winners included swimmer Mona McSharry, runner Ciara Mageean, boxer Katie Taylor and jockey Rachael Blackmore
Outstanding Contribution to Sport 2019 Award
Kerry woman Mary Geaney, who captained her native county to All-Ireland football glory before going on to lead Cork’s camogie team to All-Ireland success, the first player to achieve such a feat, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Sport 2019 Award.
The Castleisland woman captained Kerry to football success in 1976, before going on to win the first of three All-Ireland camogie medals with Cork. Geaney, who scored a hat trick in the 1978 final, captained the team in 1980 and won a third medal in 1983.
While her GAA exploits form a huge part of the Mary Geaney story, it is far from the full story. Geaney also played hockey for Ireland, making her international debut as goalkeeper in 1971 against England and representing her country 65 times. She also played squash, badminton and golf for Munster.
The Chairman of Sport Ireland, Kieran Mulvey, described 2019 as a significant year for women in sport with the launch of Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport Policy and the announcement of increased multi-year investment in the area.
“The policy builds on the significant work being undertaken by our National Governing Bodies for Sport and Local Sports Partnerships, recognising the significant impact involvement in sport can have on the lives of women,” he saId.
“Sport has a unique ability to unite people of all backgrounds and we are all united in our pride for the achievements of our athletes and teams on their success this year.“
The Monthly Winners 2019
December – Mona McSharry – Swimming
January – Phil Healy – Athletics
February – Ciara Mageean – Athletics
March – Rachael Blackmore – Horse Racing
April – Leona Maguire – Golf
May – Jenny Egan – Canoeing
June – Katie Taylor - Boxing
July – Kate O’Connor and Rhasidat Adeleke - Athletics
August – Sanita Puspure - Rowing
September – Niamh Kilkenny – Camogie and Lyndsey Davey - Gaelic Football
October – Denise O’Sullivan - Soccer
November – Roisin Upton - Hockey
