The Ireland football team are nowhere to be seen in a comprehensive end-of-year, sporting poll
Katie Taylor is Ireland’s Most Admired Sportsperson for 2014. The five-time world champion topped a public poll carried out by Pembroke-Slattery Group.
Taylor tops the PSG poll after claiming 34% of the vote. Brian O’Driscoll (14%) and Paul O’Connell (12%) are next on the ‘most admired’ list while Robbie Keane is fourth on 6%.
The Bray boxer’s fifth world title success, claimed in South Korea last month, ranks as Ireland’s best sporting achievement of the year. It polled at 30% with Ireland’s Six Nations championship in second at 18% and Rory McIlroy winning all and sundry in the golfing world third, at 8%.
Team of the Year, if the public had their way, would go to the Irish Men’s rugby team (38%) with their female counterparts (20%) beating Kilkenny’s hurlers into second place.
As for sporting participation, football leads the way (24%) with GAA (17%) and rugby (16%) polling way ahead of swimming and tennis (both 5%).
The poll results make headlines in many media outlets today but did not please everyone in our fair isle.
What a load of tripe. pic.twitter.com/WIt8Kal0ws
— Paul Kimmage (@PaulKimmage) December 17, 2014