Not surprisingly, Brian Kerr was yesterday named the Philips Sports Manager of the Year for 1998.

It what was arguably one of the greatest years in Irish sport, the Irish Youth soccer manager brought unprecedented success to the Irish under-16 and under-18 soccer teams, winning European titles with both. Yesterday's award was an acknowledgment of the breakthrough that Kerr has brought to Irish soccer.

At a well-attended reception in Dublin's Berkeley Court Hotel, Kerr admitted: "I have to say that I had no idea this year would be successful in terms of Irish soccer. So much of it has to do with the players available, the organisation and of course the hard work of the players.

"But at the same time I have to say that the desire was there and we also have the talent and resources there to do equally as well for the next couple of years."

"Still, I think it will be hard to match this year in terms of the standards we set," he said. "It was a very special achievement, but then again I think we have the potential to do very well in the future.

"One of my own outstanding memories would be that game against Italy and that in particular shows that we are no longer a nation that can accept being a loser, but that we have huge ambitions for the future."

In responding to the award, Kerr admitted that: "Everybody enjoys a little bit of credit at the end of the day. You know, you put a lot of time and a lot of work into this so it's always nice to get something back."

In choosing an award winner there was certainly plenty to choose from on both the national and international front, not least of all the phenomenal success of both Michael Bond with the Offaly hurling team and John O'Mahony with the Galway football team.

There were also strong contenders in Irish junior cycling - Mark Scanlon was managed to that memorable world junior championships in Holland by Barry Monaghan - and of course the Irish under-19 rugby team who were lead to such delightful success by Harry McKibbin.

The most recent nomination was Joe Doonan. The Leitrim schoolteacher, who was awarded the November award for his careful and scientific direction of Catherina McKiernan in her ultimately unsuccessful world record attempt in the Amsterdam marathon.

Philips Sports Managers of the Month: Nominations from: December '97: Pat Dolan, St Patrick's Athletic. January: Gerry Fitzpatrick, Wildcats women's basketball team; February: Tony Murphy, Corofin football team; March: Marty Quinn, Cliftonville FC; April: Harry McKibbin, under-19 rugby team; May: Brian Kerr, under-16 Soccer team; June: Mick O'Dwyer, Kildare football team; July: Brian Kerr, under-18 soccer team; August: Michael Bond, Offaly hurling team; September: John O'Mahony, Galway football team; October: Barry Monaghan, Irish junior cycling team; November: Joe Doonan, Catherina McKiernan's coach.