THIS WEEKEND WILL SEE THE LATEST Irish sportstar win RTE's coveted 2022 Sportsperson of the Year award.
The nominee's for this year's award include the likes of Leinster and Ireland backrower Josh van der Flier, Kerry's talisman David Clifford, golfing sensation Rory Mcllroy, and many others compete for this year's prize.
The current holder of the award is Rachael Blackmore. She won the award for her exploits in Cheltenham and Aintree in 2021.
Previous winners also include Katie Taylor, who won the award in 2020.
The awards take place this Saturday and will be presented at the RTÉ Sport Awards 2022 live on RTÉ One by Jacqui Hurley, Evanne Ní Chuilinn and Ruby Walsh.
Other awards handed out on the night will be the RTÉ Sport Team of the Year, RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year and RTÉ Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year.
A total of ten athletes - five men and five women - have been named on the 'Sportsperson of the year' list, which you can see in full below.
This year's nominees for the RTÉ Sport Sportsperson of the Year have been revealed. https://t.co/iAy40ITjId
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 10, 2022
RACHAEL BLACKMORE
The national hunt jockey had another record-breaking year, as she became the first woman to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup with A Plus Tard. A few days earlier, she retained the Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle. The double was the first achieved by a jockey since AP McCoy in 1997.
AMY BROADHURST
Dundalk boxer Broadhurst claimed gold at the World Championships in Istanbul in impressive style and followed up that success by winning gold at the Woman’s European Championships, whilst also being named ‘Boxer of the Tournament’.
DAVID CLIFFORD
The Kerry forward played a pivotal role as the Kingdom won the All-Ireland Championship for the first time in eight years. The 23-year-old was rewarded for his performance by being named the 2022 PwC GAA/GPA All-Star Footballer of the Year
RONAN GRIMES
The Paracyclist had a year to remember after winning a series of international medals, including golds at the Paracycling World and European Road Championships in the C4 road races, and silver in the individual pursuit at the Paracycling Track World Championship.
CIARA MAGEEAN
The Portaferry native claimed silver at the European Championships in the 1500m. Mageean followed that by running under four minutes for the first time in her career in the Brussels Diamond League event, becoming the fastest Irish women ever over the distance when taking Sonia O’Sullivan’s longstanding record by 2 seconds.
KATIE McCABE
The Arsenal star was named the FAI's Women's Senior Player of the Year, a series of standout performances helping Vera Pauw's side seal a historic first ever qualification for the World Cup with a play-off win away to Scotland.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 11: Katie McCabe of Republic of Ireland celebrates with teammates after their side qualifies for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after victory during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup play-off round 2 match between Scotland and Republic of Ireland at Hampden Park on October 11, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)RHYS McCLENAGHAN
Newtownards native McClenaghan won gold at the FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool on the pommel horse. In doing so the County Down man became Ireland's first world champion in gymnastics.
RORY McILROY
The 33-year-old had a year of exceptional consistency to become the first to capture the top prizes on the PGA and European tours, while also being crowned the No. 1-ranked player in the world in the same year.
KATIE TAYLOR
The Bray boxer remained unbeaten in all 22 professional fights to retain her IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO world lightweight titles, first in the iconic Madison Square Garden with a career defining victory over great rival Amanda Serrano, and then over Argentinian Karen Elizabeth Carabajal in London.
JOSH VAN DER FLIER
The Ireland and Leinster flanker was named World Rugby Men's Player of the Year after a string of outstanding performances, including during Ireland’s historic tour victory in New Zealand, and against World Champions South Africa in November
