A student at North West Regional College has been awarded the Donegal Sports Star of the Year award for Hockey.
Luke Witherow, who is in the first year of a Foundation Degree in Sports and Fitness at NWRC currently plays with Banbridge Hockey Club.
He was given the award at a gala ceremony at the Mount Errigal Hotel in recognition of his last season which saw him called up for the Irish Under 21 panel.
The 19 year old who hails from Convoy in County Donegal began playing Hockey with Raphoe Hockey Club when he was just seven.
He said: “I’ve grown up with Hockey because my Dad was always taking me to the pitch, even when I was younger than seven.
“During my time in Raphoe I represented Ulster and Ireland at under age levels, and when I turned 15 I began to play for the men's sides.
“I just recently moved play with Banbridge Hockey Club in the National League in Ireland and I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Barcelona with Banbridge for the European club championship where we played against the biggest teams in Europe.
“Since moving to the club I have been spotted by the Ireland U21s coach and as a result been called into the Ireland U21 panel.”
The former student of Royal and Prior, Raphoe, says his next step is to push on in the panel and travel to New York or Malaysia, and eventually make the Irish Senior Panel.
“Making an Olympics would top the list,” he said.
For more information on NWRC sports courses www.nwrc.ac.uk/apply
