Reflecting on his profitable yr, McIlroy remembers with specific affection the reception he obtained on the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July, by which he completed in a tie for seventh.

“I will always remember the reception I bought at Portrush this yr, though I did not win The Open,” he stated.

“The help I get from again dwelling is completely unbelievable, so I would wish to say thanks to everybody in Northern Eire for supporting me and believing in me and being on this journey with me.

“It seems like everybody has watched me develop up, skilled the highs and lows with me.”

McIlroy added: “Residence’s dwelling, it at all times will probably be, it is the place that solid me. I’m going dwelling and it is at all times the place that I really feel essentially the most snug in.

“I do not get dwelling as usually as I would like however I really feel that I convey Northern Eire with me wherever I’m going, however once I do get dwelling there’s simply that sense of belonging that I do not get anyplace else.”

The judging panel for the award consisted of All-Eire Senior Soccer Championship winner Oisin McConville, four-time Paralympic champion Michael McKillop, Northern Eire girls’s soccer document cap holder Julie Nelson, Eire hockey’s document cap holder Shirley McCay, BBC Sport NI govt editor Neil Brittain and BBC Sport NI reporter Thomas Kane.