BY MICHAEL O’LEARY
2024 was one of the great years for Sport with so many great memories, highlighted by the wonderful success of the Irish at both the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.
Willie Mullins achievements throughout the year were extraordinary even by his highest standards, and in March he trained nine winners at the Cheltenham Festival including State Man in the Champion Hurdle and Galopin Des Champs who successfully defended the Gold Cup.
He also trained his 100th winner at the Festival when Jasmin De Vaux won the Bumper with his son Patrick on board – 28 years to the day (1996) after riding and training Wither or Which to the first of his thirteen Festival Bumper victories.
Further glory followed with I am Maximus winning the Aintree Grand National along with Macdermott winning the Scottish National with Danny Mullins following a photo finish, while Willie also won the British Jump Racing Championship in the 2023–24 season as he became the first Irish trainer to win the championship since Vincent O’Brien in 1954.
There was a sense of poignancy about his achievements following the passing of his Mum Maureen in February, who was an ever present at race meetings and would have been proud of his amazing feats.
Meanwhile, Donagh Meyler from Kilmacow enjoyed one of the great days in his career when partnering 20/1 shot Pinkerton trained by Noel Meade to win the Galway Plate, while the Joseph O’Brien trained Nurburgring – with his cousin JJ Slevin on board -was an emphatic winner of the Galway Hurdle.
2024 began with double All-Ireland glory in January in Croke Park, as both Tullogher-Rosbercon and Thomastown most impressively won the Junior and Intermediate Final respectively.
Unfortunately, there was heartbreak for O’Loughlin Gaels who lost the Senior Final by a solitary point to 14-man St. Thomas of Galway, where a first-half goal that was not given despite the ball clearly crossing the goal line proved most costly in the final outcome.
The Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team reached the League Final where they lost to Clare and after making it five Leinster titles in a row with a comprehensive victory against Dublin, they lost out to the eventual All-Ireland Champions again by two points in the All-Ireland Semi-Final.
The Kilkenny Minors reached the All-Ireland Final where they lost out to 13 man Tipperary in UPMC Nowlan Park, while there was All-Ireland Final heartbreak also for The Kilkenny Intermediate Camogie Team who lost out by a solitary point to Cork.
However, Danielle Morrissey was named Intermediate Player of The Year following a string of outstanding performances
Following the conclusion of The Inter-County Season, attention turned to the Club Championships as Thomastown memorably won their first Senior Hurling title in Kilkenny in 78 years(1946) as they defeated the defending Champions O’Loughlin Gaels in the County Final.
Lisdowney won the Intermediate Final against Young Irelands Gowran, while St. Lachtains Freshford won the Junior Final against Windgap before going on to win the Leinster Junior Final.
Meanwhile, following a string of near misses Piltown won their first Senior Camogie Final with victory against the defending County, Leinster and All-Ireland Champions Dicksboro, while Muckalee Ladies won their fifth consecutive County Senior Football title with victory against John Lockes Callan in the decider.
Loreto Kilkenny Camogie and St. Kierans College Hurling retained their respective Senior Colleges All-Irelands, while Presentation Kilkenny were also celebrating Schools All-Irelands in Basketball and Volleyball respectively as Kilkenny City Vocational School Girls also enjoyed Volleyball All-Ireland glory.
Darragh Joyce from Rower-Inistioge has been playing Australia Rules Football for almost a decade now, and he is now with the Brisbane Lions Club who won The AFL Final by 60 points against Sydney Swans.
Bridge United won their first McCalmont Cup Final in 29 years (1995) as they overturned a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 against Freebooters, while Evergreen continued their dominance in defending the Premier Division title.
Freebooters won the Pat Maher Shield Final against Evergreen on St. Patrick’s weekend, while John Martin from Paulstown played a central role as Shelbourne won a dramatic League of Ireland Premier Division title race.
Ellen Molloy made a welcome return to competitive action following a lengthy injury lay-off as she moved Cross Channel to join Sheffield United, while Thomas O’Connor enjoyed promotion with Wrexham for a second consecutive year as they now compete in League 1.
Sean Maguire also enjoyed promotion on his return to Cork City, as he played his part in helping the Leesiders run out landslide winners of the First Division.
The Ireland Rugby Team defended the Six Nations Championship, as the highlight for many was the performance of Stevie Mulrooney singing Irelands Call before the start of The Ireland-Italy match at the Aviva Stadium.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny man Tadhg O’Carroll is Physio to The Ireland Ladies Rugby Team who qualified for next years Rugby World Cup, as they have enjoyed a revival with victories against Australia and New Zealand.
Kilkenny were well represented on the International stage as Jeremy Duncan (Hockey) and Mia Griffin (Cycling) competed at the Olympics in Paris, while Damian Vereker (Cycling) and Mary Fitzgerald(Shot Putt) competed at the Paralympics.
Pia Langton and Molly Daly from the Kilkenny City Harriers Club performed with distinction at The European U-18 Athletics Championships in Slovakia, while Cathal O’Reilly recently competed at the European Cross Country Championships in Turkey.
One of the highlights of the year was Mia Griffin winning the Ras Na Mban in what was a most popular success on home territory, while Castlecomer Golf Club were celebrating when the Ladies Team won the All-Ireland Intermediate Foursomes competition for the very first time
Finally, two World Handball Championships came to Ireland this year with The 2024 World Four Wall Handball Championships taking place at a variety of venues including across Kilkenny in late October, and there was plenty of local successes at both World Championships across the various categories.
Plenty of wonderful memories to look back on the Sporting Year of 2024.
Beannachtaí na Nollaig oraibh go léir!
