The Mayo News

Casey wins Player of the Year

Mike Finnerty

CHARLESTOWN goalkeeper John Casey was named as the Mayo Club Footballer of the Year at The Mayo News Club Star awards in Westport on Friday night.
The 35 years-old received the Willie McNeely perpetual trophy after beating Kevin O’Neill, Richard Haran, David Tiernan and Mark Caffrey in an online voting poll on The Mayo News website.
The fifth annual Mayo News Club Star banquet attracted a huge crowd to the Knockranny Hotel, as the Mayo club football ‘Team of the Year’ and five replacements were announced.
County champions Charlestown won five awards — John Casey, Aidan Higgins, David Tiernan, Richard Haran and Mark Caffrey, while beaten finalists, Knockmore, had four winners — Trevor Howley, Declan Sweeney, Kevin O’Neill and Kevin McLoughlin.
Castlebar Mitchels picked up three awards — Alan Feeney, Pat Kelly and Neil Douglas — with County Intermediate champions, Westport, having two players honoured, cousins, Damien and Kevin Keane.
Dermot Geraghty (Shrule/Glencorrib), James Nallen (Crossmolina), Alan Dillon (Ballintubber), Shane Lindsay (Kiltane), Belmullet’s Billy Joe Padden, and Jimmy Killeen from Garrymore were also named among the award winners.
The Mayo News Golden Boot awards were also presented. Neil Douglas and Andy Moran were the Senior Championship winners; Billy Joe Padden and Lewis Cawley from Westport were the top scorers in the Intermediate competition.
Charlestown manager, Ciaran McBrien, was also there to pick up his Manager of the Year award.
Special Guest, Kevin McStay, spoke to the large crowd about what makes club football so special, and Master of Ceremonies Liam Horan ensured the night ran like clockwork.
All the proceeds from the star-studded awards ceremony (which was sponsored by The Mayo News, O’Neills and AIB) were donated to the Mayo RNLI.