HERALD SCHOOL SPORTS AWARDS
LARKIN’S SUPER ZIU MAKES GRADE EARLY
Star of the Year misses party as she is away with Irish U-17s
By Daire Walsh
ST Fintan’s HS, Sutton, St Andrew’s College, Castleknock CC and Larkin CC were some of the big winners at the 2017 Herald School Sports Awards at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.
For her part in helping Leinster to claim their fifth consecutive U15 Girls Interprovincial soccer crown, Jessica Ziu was an extremely worthy winner of the Sports Star of the Year prize.
Due to her commitments with the Republic of Ireland U17 women’s side at the European Championships in the Czech Republic, Ziu, 14, was not present to accept her award. However, Larkin teacher Lisa Doogan was there on her behalf, and she felt it was a great honour for the school as well as Jessica.
“It’s a huge achievement. Unfortunately, she can’t be here, but when you think of what she’s actually doing in Prague at the moment. Only 14 years of age, and she’s playing with the U17s,” Doogan remarked.
“We work very hard on all our sports in Larkin, and we’re so happy after all our hard work that we’ve gotten to this stage. Especially as a school in inner-city Dublin.”
With Dublin and Leinster doubles in both junior and senior hurling, it has been an unforgettable season for St Fintan’s HS – the School of the Year for 2017. They also made headlines by competing in the Leinster Rugby Senior Cup for the first time, and their front-row star Jack Aungier (one of 26 weekly award winners to be honoured) acknowledged it was an unforgettable year for the northside school.
“It’s probably the best year I’d say for the school ever. Gaelic and hurling obviously were probably the two stand-outs. The rugby to get to the Senior Cup for the first-ever time, we’re only playing for the last 10 years. Overall it’s a great achievement.” Aungier stated.
An outstanding seasonal haul of four trophies made the St Andrew’s hockey side a popular choice as Team of the Year, and weekly winner Ben Walker – a crucial figure in their All-Ireland Championship success last October – was pleased to see his team-mates being recognised.
“It’s very pleasing to first of all get my individual award, but also for the team of the year. We’ve worked hard all year, and at the start of the year, our goal was to win all four trophies that were out there for us,” Walker said.
Margaret Shortall was also a major winner at the ceremony (which was MC’d by former Olympian David Gillick), as she was named Coach of the Year after guiding Castleknock CC to the All-Ireland Senior ‘C’ Camogie Championship.