Kidney wins Manager of the Year award

Ireland international rugby manager Declan Kidney has won the Phillips 2008 Sports Manager of the Year Award.

Kidney won three Manager of the Month awards throughout 2008 as he led Munster to victory in the Heineken Cup final.

He took charge of the Irish team in May.

This is the second time that Kidney has received the award after picking it up in 2006 when he took Munster to the final of the Heineken Cup.

Kidney succeeds Drogheda United manager Paul Doolin who won last year's award after leading the Drogs to league and Setanta Cup glory.