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28 sports personalities who made us glad to be Irish in 2013

Featuring Rob Heffernan, Johnny Sexton, Cora Staunton and more…

1. Annalise Murphy

image(INPHO/Cathal Noonan)

Why she’s on the list: Won the Laser Radial European title in Dublin back in September.

2. Niamh Briggs

image(INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Why she’s on the list: Played a starring role in the Irish Women’s Rugby team’s Six Nations triumph.

3. Shauna Bannon

imageWhy she’s on the list: Along with Robbie McMenamy, Bannon won gold for Ireland at the kickboxing World Championships in Russia.

4. Tony Kelly

image(INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Why he’s on the list: Was an integral part of the Clare side, helping the county win their first All-Ireland hurling title since 1997.

5. Michael Darragh MacAuley

image(INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

Why he’s on the list: MacAuley helped spearhead Dublin’s successful All-Ireland title challenge, winning Footballer of the Year in the process.

6. Rob Heffernan

image(INPHO/Ian MacNicol)

Why he’s on the list: Recovered from his Olympic heartbreak to triumphantly take gold at the World Championships in Moscow.

7. Johnny Sexton

image(INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Why he’s on the list: Had an assured start to life at Racing Metro following his high-profile move to France, while he was also one of the few Irish players to perform consistently both for the Lions and the national team.

8. Seamus Coleman

image(INPHO/Donall Farmer)

Why he’s on the list: In what was a disappointing year for the Irish soccer team, Coleman was one of the few bright sparks — performing admirably both for his country and in the Premier League with Everton.

9. Ellen Ince

imageWhy she’s on the list: Was part of a hugely successful Irish Taekwon-Do team that acquired unprecented levels of success at at the World Championships, with Ince claiming individual titles in sparring and 1st Dan Patterns.

10. Martyn Irvine

image(INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Why he's on the list: Won a gold medal at the Track World Cup back in November, capping off a highly successful year.

11. Jason Quigley

image(INPHO/Cathal Noonan)

Why he's on the list: Won a silver medal at the World Championships and secured an incredible 32-0 unbeaten record in the process.

12. Leeanne Royle

imageWhy she's on the list: Became the first Irish athlete to claim gold at the junior female individual kata event at the Shotokan World Karate Championships.

13. Dan Martin

image(DIRK WAEM/Belga/Press Association Images)

Why he's on the list: Martin became the first Irishman to win a stage at the Tour de France since Stephen Roche in 1992.

14. Michael McKillop

image(INPHO/James Crombie)

Why he's on the list: Claimed gold at the World Paralympic Championships in Lyon.

15. Cora Staunton

image(INPHO/Cathal Noonan)

Why she's on the list: The Mayo star earned an incredible ninth All-Star award for her performances this year.

16. Joe Brolly

image(INPHO/Presseye/Lorcan Doherty)

Why he's on the list: Showed remarkable courage by donating a kidney to Shane Finnegan, a Belfast-based father of three.

17. Conor Cusack

imageWhy he's on the list: Did an enormous amount to banish the stigma surrounding mental health by speaking openly about his experiences with depression.

18. Tony McCoy

image(INPHO/Presseye/Darren Kidd)

Why he's on the list: Put the icing on the cake amid a memorable career by riding his 4,000th winner.

19. Peter O'Mahony

image(INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Why he's on the list: Captained both Munster and his country with distinction and played an important role in Ireland's brave loss to New Zealand.

20. Robbie Keane

image(INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan)

Why he's on the list: He made it 62 goals for his country in 2013 despite being part of an Ireland team that has flattered to deceive for a while now, while he was also named on the MLS Team of the Year for his exploits with LA Galaxy.

21. Nicolas Roche

image(Lalo R. Villar/AP/Press Association Images)

Why he's on the list: Won a stage at the Vuelta and ultimately finished in a highly respectable fifth place.

22. Jason Smyth

image(INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Why he's on the list: Won his first world championship title and equalled his world record in Lyon.

23. Gary O'Neill

image(INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan)

Why he's on the list: Fought bravely against cancer after being diagnosed with the illness and inspired countless tributes as a result.

24. Kate Kelly

image(INPHO/Cathal Noonan)

Why she's on the list: Secured a record seventh All-Star award thanks to her typically excellent displays for Wexford.

25. Joseph O’Brien

image(INPHO/Kieran Murray)

Why he's on the list: Created history by riding 128 winners on the flat.

26. Conor McGregor

image(Gregory Payan/AP/Press Association Images)

Why he's on the list: McGregor enjoyed a very successful start to his UFC career before injury cruelly curtailed his progress.

27. Stephanie Roche

imageWhy she's on the list: She scored THAT goal.

28. Barry Murphy

image(INPHO/Andrea Staccioli)

Why he's on the list: Became the fourth Irish athlete in four years to win a medal at the European Swimming Championships, claiming bronze in the 50m breaststroke.

Who have we missed?

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