Leona Maguire backed for SPOTY race upset

The Cavan golfer was instrumental in Europe’s win in Toledo

Cavan golfer Leona Maguire has been backed to cause a massive upset in RTÉ's Sports Person Of The Year awards race.

Backed to 7/1 From 100/1, the Solheim Cup hero sits only behindOlympic Gold winning boxer Kellie Harrington, and 2021 Grand National winning jockey Rachael Blackmore for the title.

The 26-year-old golfer was instrumental in Europe’s win in Toledo, Ohio, and has now found herself in the running to win Ireland's top TV sports award.

BoyleSports had Leona chalked up at a remote 100/1 following her performance at the Tokyo Olympics, but after the Solheim Cup, her chances have plummeted into 7/1.

Dubliner Harrington overcame underdog status to beat red-hot favourite Beatriz Ferreira from Brazil with Irish punters now backing her down to 6/4 from as high as 100/1.

Blackmore though, the first female jockey to win the Grand National, is easing by the day with her odds drifting to 4/6 from 4/7.

But those chances were much shorter at 1/100 before Harrington’s and Maguire’s success.

RTE Sports Personality Of The Year 2021 ~ Outright Betting

4-6       Rachael Blackmore

6-4       Kellie Harrington

7          Leona Maguire

16        Paul O'Donovan & Fintan McCarthy

100      TJ Reid

100      Katie Taylor

100      Cian Lynch

200      Jack Kennedy

250      Kyle Hayes

250      Austin Gleeson

250      David Clifford

500      Padraig Harrington