SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR - 2009 The big award, "Sports Personality of the Year", went to the double gold winning paralympic sprinter, Jason Smyth. He faced strong competition at the BBC Radio Foyle-Bank of Ireland North-West event held in the Everglades Hotel, from sporting stars including Brian Dooher, Chloe Magee, Paul McCloskey and Wendy Houvenaghel. The "Team of the Year" award went to the Tyrone Senior footballers for their achievement in in claiming the Sam Maguire. The former Derry City footballer, Willie Curran, was the night's "Unsung Hero". He is best known for playing for Derry in the 1954 Irish Cup Final. But the award also recognised his work as Derry & District Youth Football Association registrar, and vice-chairman of the Foyle Cup Youth Football Tournament. Another great GAA footballer, Derry's Jim McKeever, was the "Hall of Fame" winner. He played in the first Derry team to reach an All-Ireland Final back in 1958, and was the Caltex Trophy for Ireland's top footballer that year. He has also managed the Derry Senior football team and been chairman of the County Board, and had a major role in the Northern Ireland Sports Council.
| 
