It has been yet another remarkable year for Irish sport with our women taking centre stage in 2019. We recount the highlights and our most memorable moments of the year in this 2019 review.
Power and Flanagan Stride Home For Historic Medals At U23 Championships
Nadia Power and Eilish Flanagan produced the performances of their careers so far, to win medals for Ireland at the European U23 Championships in Sweden.
Power claimed bronze in the women's 800m, as she crossed the line in 2:06.68.
Moments later Eilish Flanagan was on track for the women's 3000m steeplechase. Flanagan fought through the field to take silver in a lifetime best of 9:51.72.
The podium finishes for both athletes were the first medals Ireland won at these championships since 2011.
Chloe And Sam Magee Win Bronze In Badminton Mixed Doubles
Chloe and Sam Magee won bronze in the Badminton Mixed Doubles at the European Games, in Minsk.
The Donegal siblings defeated both Belarus and the Netherlands to make it to the semi-finals.
They were eventually defeated by European Games gold medallists and world number one seeds, Chris and Gabrielle Adcock of team GB.
O’Connor Creates History With Silver Medal While Healy Also Bags Silver At European Championships
Ireland’s Kate O’Connor became the first Irish heptathlete to win a major international medal after battling to silver at the European Under-20 Athletics Championships in Boras, Sweden.
O’Connor obliterated her own Irish record of 5,881 points and became the first Irish woman to surpass 6,000 points.
Sarah Healy also bagged silver for Ireland after finishing second in the 1500m.
The 18-year-old Blackrock AC athlete finished second behind Switzerland’s Delia Sclabas. Prior to the tournament, Healy had run the second fastest time by a European U20.
Feerick, Lambe, Hanlon and Hegarty Secure First Ever Irish Sweep Medal At Worlds
Claire Feerick, Eimear Lambe, Tara Hanlon and Emily Hegarty became Ireland’s first ever women’s crew to medal in a sweep event at a World Championships.
The women’s four crew claimed a historic silver medal at the World U23 Rowing Championships in Florida, as they were narrowly beaten by 1.46s by Britain.
Georgia Drummy Claims Maiden Tennis Title As A Professional
19-year old tennis star Georgia Drummy claimed her first maiden professional title at the ITF Future Tour event in Portugal.
Drummy, came through two qualifying matches to reach the main draw and beat Lithuania’s Justina Mikulskyte 7-6, 6-3 in the final.
This was Drummy’s first professional adult singles event abroad and dropped just one shot all tournament.
Caroline Hayes Fights For Silver At Triathlon World Cup
Ireland’s Carolyn Hayes won silver at the ITU Triathlon World Cup in Abu Dhabi, crossing the line with a time of 01:56:55.
Due to water quality issues, the race format was changed to a duathlon and Hayes fought hard to finish second behind Japan’s Ai Ueda.
A fantastic result for Hayes who only a year prior was working full-time.
Adeleke Completes Sprint Double At Youth Olympics
Rhasidat Adeleke cemented her place as one of the top young sprinters in the world after securing a superb double gold in the sprint events at the European Youth Olympics in Baku.
Adeleke stormed to victory in both the 100m and 200m with times of 11.70s and 23.92s respectively.
Michaela Walsh, Kellie Harrington And Grainne Walsh Bring Home European Medals
Ireland’s boxers produced a boxing masterclass at the European Games in Minsk and were unlucky not to come home with gold.
Belfast featherweight Michaela Walsh had to settle for silver after losing on split decision in the final to home favourite Petrova Stanimira.
World champion Kellie Harrington was forced to settle for silver as she had to withdraw from the lightweight final due to a thumb injury.
Grainne Walsh claimed bronze after a split decision loss to Poland’s Karolina Koszewska.
Molly Mayne Produces Briliant Bronze Medal Performances In Baku
Molly Mayne swam to two bronze medals at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Baku.
The Templeogue swimmer produced two exceptional performances in the Girl’s 100m and 200m breaststroke to notch two bronze medals for Ireland.
Mayne swam a personal best time of 1.09.59 in the 100m and 2.30.76 in the 200m.
Keller Qualifies Ireland's Sailing Boat For Tokyo Olympics 2020
Aisling Keller qualified Ireland’s boat for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the laser radial event.
Two of Ireland’s sailors, Keller and Aoife Hopkins were inside the qualification criteria.
The pair will now go head to head in the selection trial series next year to determine who will represent Ireland in Tokyo.
The women’s single-handed event is the class in which Annalise Murphy won silver at Rio 2016.
Jenny Egan Lands Bronze At Canoe Sprint World Cup 2
Jenny Egan landed her second ICF World Cup medal in the space of a week, after she won bronze in the K1 5000m sprint in Germany.
Egan claimed silver in the same event in Poland a week early and clinched a bronze medal in Germany as she crossed the line just behind Australian pair Alyce Burnett and Alyssa Bull.
Katie Taylor Becomes Undispited Lightweight Champion After Victory In New York
Katie Taylor became the undisputed champion of the lightweight division after defeating Delfine Persoon in Madinson Square Garden.
Taylor was declared the winner after the judges scored the tightly contested fight, 95-95, 96-94 and 96-94.
Victory saw Taylor hold the WBC, WBA, IBG and WBO belt. She became Ireland’s first undisputed champion of the modern era.
Ireland's Senior Women Win European Ultimate Frisbee Gold
The Ireland Women’s team secured gold at the 2019 European Ultimate Frisbee Championships, beating Switzerland 15-8.
Victory saw the women’s team make history as they became the first Irish national team to win gold in an international tournament.
Ireland were seeded 11th in the rankings prior to the tournament commencing.
European U18 Gold For Kate Derwin At Show Jumping Championships
Lara Gillespie won three silver medals over the course of a week at the European Junior Track Championships in Belgium.
A month after finishing her leaving cert, Gillespie was back in action and claimed silver in the Scratch Race, Individual Pursuit and the Points Race – remarkable.
Gillespie’s time in the Individual Pursuit of 2:21.579 was a personal best and a new national record.
Lara Gillespie Wins Three Silver Medals At The European Junior Track Championships
Lara Gillespie won three silver medals over the course of a week at the European Junior Track Championships in Belgium.
A month after finishing her leaving cert, Gillespie was back in action and claimed silver in the Scratch Race, Individual Pursuit and the Points Race – remarkable.
Gillespie’s time in the Individual Pursuit of 2:21.579 was a personal best and a new national record.
