Hazel Donegan: Young Sportsperson of the Year finalist

Despite still being only 17 years old, Hazel Donegan already has several sporting achievements to her credit.

Earlier this year, she was a key player on two Athlone Community College soccer teams which captured Leinster titles.

Athlone CC won both the FAI Schools Junior (Under-17) and Senior (Under-20) Girls Leinster Cups, with Hazel the captain of the successful U-17 team.

Hazel scored the third goal in Athlone CC’s 3-1 win over Loreto SS, Kilkenny in the Leinster final. The talented striker scored Athlone’s first goal when they went on to overcome Presentation SS, Thurles by the same scoreline in the National Cup semi-final.

The victory over Thurles was a sweet one for Athlone CC, who had lost to the same opponents in their U-20 National Cup semi-final.

Although Athlone lost out to Presentation College Athenry in the National Cup decider, it was a memorable campaign for Hazel and her colleagues.

Later in the year, Hazel was selected on the Ireland squad for the 2024 UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championships in Lithuania. She featured as a substitute in Ireland’s last group game against the Netherlands, gaining further experience on the international stage.

Hazel was a member of the Athlone Town senior squad which won the 2023 Women’s FAI Cup, defeating Shelbourne in the final. And even though Hazel didn’t feature in the decider, her involvement in the squad for that historic success was another occasion to remember.

Donegan was part of the Athlone Town team which reached the 2023 U-17 Women’s Cup final where they lost out to Shelbourne.

Hazel has also shown considerable prowess in Gaelic football with Garrycastle. A daughter of Denise and Joe Donegan, Hazel hails from a renowned sporting family.

Her grandfather Seamus Nugent was a key figure on the famed Athlone GAA team which won six Westmeath senior championships in a row from 1955 to 1960, and was captain of the winning team of 1958.

Hazel’s brother Ben plays for Garrycastle and her first cousin Bobby Nugent won a Connacht championship medal with the St Brigid’s senior team last year, also captaining the Roscommon U-20 team to 2024 Connacht championship success.

The other Young Sportsperson of the Year Award finalists are Rian Claffey and Francis Derwin.

The Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards 2024 takes place at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel today (Thursday).

The Outstanding Achievement category at the Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards 2024 is sponsored by the Shamrock Lodge.