Mayo Young Sports Stars: Four winners of special awards

There are four Special Award winners in The Connaught Telegraph Mayo Young Sportstars Awards 2025, taking place this Friday (March 13) in Breaffy House Resort.

The winners of the first award, the Manulla FC Under 12 girls, are a treasure. They give everything they have. A team of 16 players from seven different national school, on paper it shouldn’t work – but it does!

They are their own best supporters. On and off the football field, these young ladies show what team spirit is all about, celebrating each other’s achievements not only in soccer but anything else they happen to be involved in.

Last July the team were invited to represent Ireland in an international soccer tournament in Newcastle, where they finished runners-up, and they narrowly missed on the league title in Mayo, finishing second. Every team they played along the way complimented them on their fair play, their fun, and the joyful atmosphere they bring.

The next winner is Saorise Reynolds of Westport United FC, a young star to look out for in the years ahead. Although a top class Gaelic footballer, it is on the soccer scene that she has already made her mark. Her talents were recognised at international level last November when she was selected to represent Ireland in the UEFA Under 15 Development Tournament in Spain. By all accounts she acquitted herself very well, and we will be hearing a lot more about her in the years ahead.

Another amazing young person takes our next award. Caitlín Malone of White Tiger Martial Arts had a great 2025 as a member of Team Ireland in the Inclusive Karate World Championships, held in Sweden. The Irish team brought home gold, silver and bronze medals in several divisions, including a team kata. Westport native Caitlín, who trains seven days a week, also teaches karate to children in the White Tiger Martial Arts academy.

The final special award winner is Cadhla Ní Chionnaith of Karate Iorrais. Twelve-year-old Cadhla has severe dyspraxia, which makes playing sports much harder for her. However, it has not stopped her from competing at the highest level in her sport.

In 2025 she took the gold medal at the Karate Ireland National Championships in Waterford and the gold medal in the Cross-Boarder Championships, which were held in Donegal. Such has been her success to date that she is now with the iKarate Irish squad ahead of a global competition this coming June.

These amazing young athletes will be joined by many more winners on Friday in Breaffy House Resort to collect their Mayo Young Sportstars Awards.