We are delighted to announce the talented young athletes shortlisted for the 2026 Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Junior Sports Awards!
The borough’s young sporting stars will take centre stage at the ABC Junior Sports Awards, Sponsored by Manfreight Limited, on Friday 23 October at Craigavon Civic & Conference Centre!
Shortlisted nominees will join representatives from the ABC Sports Forum, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council and headline sponsor, Manfreight Limited, for a prestigious celebration of sporting excellence, where the winners from eleven awards categories will be announced.
The shortlisted nominees are:
Sports Person with a Disability
Sponsored by Interface
- James Corrie (Ski Ability NI & Banbridge Academy) & Oscar McKinney (Armagh Special Olympics Swimming Club & Markethill High School).
Junior School Team of the Year
Sponsored by JH Turkington & Sons
- Lurgan Junior High School U14 Girls Football Team; St John’s Primary School Girls Gaelic Football Team; Armstrong Primary School Girls Hockey Team; Banbridge Academy U14 Girls Hockey Team; Banbridge Academy U13 Boys Hockey Team.
Junior Club Team of the Year
Sponsored by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
- Portadown Ladies Football Club U14 Team; Armagh Hockey Club U11 Girls Teams; Banbridge Netball Club U14 Team.
Junior Male of the Year
Sponsored by Donaghy’s Banbridge
- Franky Mooney (Banbridge Amateur Boxing Club & St Patrick’s College) & Harvey Connolly (Saints & Presentation Primary School).
Junior Female of the Year
Sponsored by Manfreight Limited
- Cadhla Morgan (Armagh Athletic Club & St Catherine’s College); Éabha Connolly (Glaslough Harriers Athletics Club, Square Wheels Cycling Club & St John’s Primary School); Lucia McMullan (Dromore Athletics Club & Lurgan Junior High School); Ella-Louise McCorry (Silverwood and Lurgan Golf Club & St Ronan’s College); Annie Johnston (Dromore Ladies Hockey Club & Dromore High School); Chloe McClearn (Dromore Ladies Netball Club & Dromore High School); Peyton-Willow Prentice (Ripples Special Olympics Swimming Club & Lurgan Junior High School).
Youth School Team of the Year
Sponsored by AG Wilson Civil Engineering
- Portadown College U16 Girls Football Team; Banbridge Academy 1st XI Boys Hockey Team; Royal School Armagh 1st XI Girls Hockey Team; Craigavon Senior High School U16 Rugby Team.
Youth Club Team of the Year
Sponsored by Manfreight Limited
- Craigavon Cowboys American Football Club Youth Team; Ballela Gaelic Athletic Club U15 Camogie Team; Hanover Football Club U16 Girls Team; Banbridge Netball Club U19 Team; Banbridge Amateur Swimming Club Youth Boys Relay Team.
School Coach of the Year
Sponsored by Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council
- Philip McKinley (Lurgan Junior High School); Michelle McGrane (St John’s Primary School); Greg Thompson (Royal School Armagh).
Club Coach of the Year
Sponsored by Sport Northern Ireland
- Jason McKay (Banbridge Amateur Boxing Club); Bernard McCusker (Ballela Gaelic Athletic Club); Kyle McArdle (Armagh City Football Club); Hannah Brownlee (Armagh Hockey Club); David Wilson (Banbridge Amateur Swimming Club).
Youth Female of the Year
Sponsored by Armagh Sports & Trophies
- Lucie Prentice (Banbridge Amateur Boxing Club & St John the Baptist); Joni Cunningham (Pegasus Hockey Club & Royal School Armagh); Aoibhinn Strain (City of Armagh Rugby Club & St Catherine’s College).
Youth Male of the Year
Sponsored by Total Hockey
- Owen Acheson (Armagh Athletic Club & Royal School Armagh); Joshua Awujoola (Fast Twitch Athletics & Dromore High School); Issac Ireland (Banbridge Amateur Boxing Club & Royal Belfast Academical Institution); Alex Stinson (City of Armagh Rugby Club & Royal School Armagh); Adam Green (Lough Erne Yacht Club & Banbridge High School); John Rada (Banbridge Amateur Swimming Club & St Ronan’s College).
