BACK IN THE DAY
The Irish News, Friday November 21 2009: Hughes picks up top Ulster writers’ award
Kevin Hughes probably expected more from 2009 than Tyrone achieved, but the big Red Hand midfielder still came out of the season with many personal accolades and last night’s Ulster GAA Writers’ banquet polished off the action in style for the Killeeshil man.
He picked up an Ulster Championship medal in the summer and was voted ‘Ulster Player of the Year’ by readers of The Irish News.
Recently he won an Inter-provincial Championship medal and last night, at the UGAAWA annual banquet at the Slieve Russell Hotel, another honour was bestowed upon him.
Hughes was named Footballer of the Year in front of a packed attendance to follow in the footsteps of former Tyrone winners Peter Canavan, Brian Dooher, the late Cormac McAnallen, Stephen O’Neill and Sean Cavanagh.
Personality of the Year: Liam Bradley (Antrim)
Footballer of the Year: Kevin Hughes (Tyrone)
Hurler of the Year: Neil McManus (Antrim)
Lady Footballer of the Year: Caroline Little (Fermanagh)
Handball Award: Paul Brady (Cavan)
Camogie Award: Grainne McGoldrick (Derry)
Services to the GAA: Bernie Mullan (Derry)
Referee of the Year: Pat McEnaney (Monaghan)
Communications: Fergal McCormack (Warrenpoint)
Young Achiever of the Year (Cormac McAnallen Award): Michael Murphy (Donegal)
BIRTHDAYS
Jacques Laffite (motor racing) - six-time grand prix winner for Ligier, born 1943.
Alan Smith (soccer) - former Arsenal and England striker, born 1962.
Sabine Busch (athletics) - German triple world champion and Olympic bronze medallist, born 1962.
Troy Aikman (American football) - former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who won three Super Bowl titles, born 1966.
Andrew Caddick (cricket) - former England and Somerset bowler, born 1968.
Ken Griffey Jr (baseball) - former Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox centre fielder, born 1969.
Justin Langer (cricket) - Australia coach and former opener, born 1970.
Jesus Navas (soccer) - Sevilla and Spain winger, formerly with Manchester City, born 1985.
Fabian Delph (soccer) - Everton and England midfielder, born 1989.
Georgie Twigg (hockey) - midfielder who was part of Team GB's gold medal-winning team at Rio 2016 and a bronze medal winner at London 2012, born 1990.
Dani Rowe (cycling) - member of Great Britain's gold medal-winning team pursuit team at London 2012, born 1990.
QUICK QUIZ
1. Which country finished bottom of the table in the 2015 Six Nations Championship?
2. What country hosted the Grand Depart for the 1998 Tour de France?
3. Where do Down GAA normally play their home senior games?
4. Who is the reigning snooker world champion?
5. Which Irish county is known as Yeats Country?
(See quiz answers below)
ON THIS DAY
1990: 250-1 shot Equinoctial won at Kelso to confound the bookies and go into the record books as the longest-priced horse ever to win a race in Britain.
2000: Leeds and West Ham agreed an £18million fee to take Rio Ferdinand to Elland Road, making him the most expensive defender in the world at the time.
2004: Paul Casey and Luke Donald teamed up to win golf's World Cup for England in Seville.
2007: England lost 3-2 to Croatia at Wembley to end their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 and seal the fate of manager Steve McClaren.
2011: Wales rugby union assistant coach Rob Howley agreed a new contract to remain part of the national set-up until 2016.
2012: Chelsea parted company with manager Roberto Di Matteo and confirmed the appointment of Rafael Benitez as interim first-team manager until end of the season.
2015: Jamie Vardy scored for the 10th match in a row to equal Ruud Van Nistelrooy's Premier League record and seal a 3-0 win at Newcastle which took Leicester to the top of the Premier League.
2018: Manager Martin O'Neill and assistant Roy Keane parted company with the Football Association of Ireland, ending a five-year reign with the Republic of Ireland.
SPORT ON TV
Today (Thursday, November 21)
CRICKET: New Zealand v England, day two of the first Test - Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Cricket 2130; Australia v Pakistan, day two of the first Test - BT Sport 2 2345.
TENNIS: Davis Cup, Great Britain v Kazakhstan - Eurosport 1 1000; Quarter-final, TBC v TBC - Eurosport 1 1700.
GOLF: European Tour, DP World Tour Championship - Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Golf 0700; PGA Tour, The RSM Classic - Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Golf 1415; LPGA, CME Group Tour Championship - Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Golf 1800.
BASKETBALL: NBA, Milwaukee Bucks v Portland Trail Blazers - Sky Sports Arena 0100 (Fri).
GRIDIRON: NFL, Houston Texans v Indianapolis Colts - Sky Sports Action 0030 (Fri).
Tomorrow (Friday, November 22)
CRICKET: New Zealand v England, day three of the first Test - Sky Sports Cricket 2130 & Sky Sports Main Event 2200; Australia v Pakistan, day three of the first Test - BT Sport 2 2345.
TENNIS: Davis Cup, quarter-final TBC v TBC - Eurosport 1 1000; Quarter-final, TBC v TBC - Eurosport 1 1700.
SOCCER: EFL, Fulham v QPR - Sky Sports Main Event 1900; Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn - BT Sport 1 1915; Danske Bank Premiership, Glenavon v Linfield - BBC Two Northern Ireland 1930; A-League, Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City - BT Sport 1 0830.
GOLF: European Tour, DP World Tour Championship - Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Golf 0700; PGA Tour, The RSM Classic - Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Golf 1415; LPGA, CME Group Tour Championship - Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Golf 1800.
RUGBY UNION: Champions Cup, Ulster v Clermont Auvergne - BT Sport 2 1900.
BOXING: Golden Contract - Sky Sports Action 1930.
DARTS: PDC Players Championship Finals - eir Sport 1 & ITV4 1245 and 1900.
BASKETBALL: NBA, Los Angeles Clippers v Houston Rockets - Sky Sports Arena 0330 (Sat).
QUICK QUIZ answers: 1 Scotland; 2 Ireland; 3 Pairc Esler, Newry; 4 Judd Trump; 5 Sligo.
