Star performers who lit up sporting stage

2010 TEXACO AWARD WINNERS:Medal winners at world and European level at boxing, athletics and swimming, as well as stars from Gaelic football, hurling and horse racing, are among the winners of the 53rd Texaco awards for 2010 announced today.

ATHLETICS – Derval O’Rourke

Derval O’Rourke wins her second Texaco award for her brilliant performance at the European championships in mid summer when she came within two hundredths of a second of winning the 100 metres hurdles title.

The 29-year-old, who also won silver at the European championships in 2006, was only denied the gold by Turkish athlete Nevin Yannit, who came home in 12.63 seconds. O’Rourke’s time of 12.65 seconds was an Irish record.

O’Rourke didn’t have much time to reflect on her achievement in Barcelona as she returned to Dublin immediately to complete her Masters degree at the Smurfit Business School.

After completing her thesis, she will turn her sights to next year’s World championships in South Korea and the long build-up to the London Olympics.

BOXING – Katie Taylor

Five years after emerging as a European champion at the relatively young age of 19, Katie Taylor underlined her status as one of the best female boxers of all time when she won her third world title in Barbados.

In 2006, Taylor won her inaugural world title in India. She retained the title in China in 2008 but as the standard of women’s boxing improved dramatically was put to the pin of her collar to complete the hat-trick of wins in October.

Although her win in the final over Cheng Dong of China was convincing, it was the drama of her semi-final victory that captured the attention of the sporting public. Leading 10-2 at the end of the second round against American fighter Queen Underwood, the Bray boxer lost her momentum and a brilliant recovery by her opponent left the fighters level in the final minute. Although completely drained, Taylor won the final two points to pave the way for the 100th success of her career in the final.

The fact she was voted best fighter in the world by her peers on the night reflected her pre-eminent position in the sport.

GAELIC FOOTBALL – Bernard Brogan

For a family immersed in Gaelic football, it was entirely fitting Bernard Brogan should emerge as the best footballer in 2010. Although big brother Alan went into the year as the better known of the Brogan clan, it was the sublime skills of Bernard that took Dublin on an adventurous journey to the All-Ireland semi-final after a dismal start to the championship.

A completely out-of-sorts Dublin team were rescued by Brogan in their first championship match against Wexford when his personal tally of 2-4 dragged Pat Gilroy’s team to victory after extra-time. Further impressive displays against Tipperary (0-7), Armagh (0-9) and Tyrone (0-9) put Dublin through to an All-Ireland semi-final, where he produced another masterful display, scoring 1-7 in the county’s agonising defeat by the subsequent All-Ireland champions, Cork.

GOLF – Graeme McDowell

No matter what level of success he enjoys in future years, Graeme McDowell will find it virtually impossible to surpass a remarkable 2010. In the period from May through to October, the Portrush player dominated the world of golf in spectacular fashion with a first major victory and winning the match that secured the Ryder Cup for Europe.

Although he bookended the year with wins in the Welsh Open and the Andalucian Masters, McDowell’s victory in the US Open at Pebble Beach in June proved he could withstand the challenge of the world’s best players on one of the most famous courses in the world.

That experience was invaluable at Celtic Manor in October when the Ryder Cup came down to his game against Hunter Mahan. Under intense pressure, McDowell closed out his game against the American with a magnificent birdie on the 16th hole after a brilliant second shot. Mahan conceded on the next hole and Europe had regained the Ryder Cup.

RUGBY – Tommy Bowe

Although a season that promised so much yielded nothing for the Irish provinces or Ireland in terms of silverware, one Irishman who emerged with an enhanced reputation was Tommy Bowe. The Ospreys star scooped award after award in Ireland and Wales as a result of his performances in the Six Nations and the Magners League. The Players’ Player of the Year in both Ireland and Wales, Bowe was also named Six Nations Player of the Championship, a remarkable hat-trick.

Those awards were earned for his try-scoring performances for club and country.

He touched down 20 times in 32 matches – 15 for the Ospreys (eight in the Magners League, five in the Heineken Cup) as well as five for Ireland.

Leinster supporters have more reason than most to remember Bowe as he crashed over the line in the 17th minute of the Magners League final at the RDS in May to give the Welsh team a lead they never relinquished.

SWIMMING – Gráinne Murphy

After winning three gold medals at the European junior championships in 2009, last year’s Young Texaco Sportstar of the Year, lost no time in stepping up to the challenge of senior competition. The 17-year-old travelled to the European Championships in Budapest confident of making it to the final of one of her chosen events.

In the event she surpassed her own expectations and reached three finals. In the 400 metres individual medley, Murphy finished seventh. Days later she was just pipped for the bronze medal in the 800 metres freestyle, setting an Irish record in the process.

However, in her strongest event – the 1,500 metres freestyle – Murphy quickly established herself in second place behind Denmark’s Lottis Friis, who had already won the 800 metres gold. It was a position Murphy never looked like losing and she came home to the silver medal in an Irish record, breaking the record she had set two days earlier by eight seconds.

HORSE RACING – Tony McCoy

Going into 2010 Tony McCoy’s dominance of jump racing in Britain had spanned 15 years and he had won every major race except the Grand National. He had guided home winners of many high-profile races on numerous occasions but winning the Aintree race had eluded him.

In fact, the combination of owner JP McManus, trainer Jonjo O’Neill and McCoy had a dismal record before they took Don’t Push It to Liverpool in April. McManus had had 44 losers in the big race, O’Neill 22, including seven as a jockey, and McCoy 14 unsuccessful attempts to win the famous steeplechase.

But McCoy’s perseverance paid off when Don’t Push It came home five lengths ahead of Black Appalachi, with State of Play another 20 lengths adrift in third place. The normally implacable McCoy showed true emotion on his way back to the winner’s enclosure, punching the air to celebrate the most famous of his 3,000 plus career wins.

HURLING – Lar Corbett

Although Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy attributed his county’s victory over Kilkenny in a thrilling All-Ireland final to teamwork and the squad ethic, Lar Corbett still emerged as the key player that separated the sides at the final whistle. His hat-trick of goals was pivotal in a victory that will rank as one of the most important in the history of Tipperary hurling.

Corbett had scored 3-11 against Waterford, Galway, Offaly, Wexford and Cork as Tipperary progressed to their second successive final against a Kilkenny team going for the elusive five-in-a-row.

In a final that ebbed and flowed and will be remembered for its huge intensity, Corbett was masterful.

He rose above Noel Hickey and fired past a helpless PJ Ryan for Tipperary’s first goal; the second came after a sublime pass from Noel McGrath was followed by an unstoppable shot and the third, in the 73rd minute, sealed his place in hurling history.