Young Sports Stars of the Year Award winner No. 19: Cillian Melly

Swimmer Cillian Melly is next to feature in the list of monthly award winners in our Young Sports Stars of the Year Awards.

Representing the National Centre Limerick at the the Irish Short Course Swimming Championships in Lisburn during December, Castlebar man Cillian competed in five events.

He secured a national title in the 200m butterfly (1.59.06) while he finished in fourth place in the final of the 200m individual medley in a personal best time of 2.01.78, setting a new Connaught record for the event.

Day two saw Cillian win the national title in the 400m individual medley (4.17.82), shaving over seven seconds off the Connaught record set back in 2012 by fellow Castlebar swimmer Nicholas Quinn.

On day three he took bronze in the 100m butterfly, setting a new Connaught record (54.12). He completed his hat trick of national titles by taking the 200m backstroke gold medal and, in the process, breaking the two-minute barrier with a personal best time of 1.59.34, taking two seconds off his own Connaught record.