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 City of Derry coach Stephen Maguire has lifted the top coaching award in Northern Ireland beating off opposition from some of the household names in local sport.

At a glittering ceremony at the Ulster Television studios in Belfast, Maguire was presented with the prestigious award of Northern Ireland Sports Coach of the Year.

The Strabane man emerged from an impressive array of nominations including NI soccer manager Lawrie Sanchez and Tyrone supreme Mickey Harte.

And there to present Maguire with his trophy was none other than former double Olympic gold medallist and London 2012 chief, Lord Sebastian Coe.

“He was so ordinary that that it surprised me,” said Maguire. “He said to me that was dieing to tell me earlier when he presented me with the Sports Disability award that I had won the overall one too.”

Few would disagree with the decision of the panel from NI Coaching after the City coach enjoyed a phenomenal success from his charges in 2005.

Eglinton sprinter Jason Smyth equalled one and broke another world record in taking double gold at the European Paralympics in Helsinki.

Smyth who has poor vision was also devastating in open competition taking both the senior 100 and 200 metres at the Irish Schools.  He followed up with a 100 metres victory at the National Junior (U20) Championships in Cork and narrowly failed to get the qualifying times for the European Juniors.

On the international front Maguire, whose wife Georgina is expecting their first baby in May, was Head Coach to the Ireland teams at both the European Indoors in Madrid last March and later in August the World Championships in Helsinki.

“I particularly enjoyed Madrid and I’ll never forget the two victories from Alistair Cragg and David Gillick,” said Maguire.

“We certainly brought St. Patrick’s Day to the Spanish a few days earlier and that night we taught them how to celebrate it too!

“After that Helsinki was a bit disappointing; the poor weather and so many of our top Irish athletes missing meant that the whole eight days will be easily forgotten.”