Christmas starts at Mayo Club Stars

WORKING TOGETHER?SeΡn Deane (Regional Manager, AIB), Neill O’Neill (Managing Editor, The Mayo News), Mary Mulryan (Enable Ireland) and Trevor Watson (O’Neills Sports) are pictured at the launch of the Club Stars awards at Knockranny House Hotel, Westport.?Pic: Michael McLaughlin

Christmas starts at Club Stars


Mike Finnerty

THREE members of Castlebar Mitchels’ all-conquering senior squad have been shortlisted for the prestigious Mayo ‘Senior Footballer of the Year’ award at this year’s Mayo News Club Stars awards.
The versatile Richie Feeney, midfielder Barry Moran, and talented attacker Neil Douglas are all in the reckoning to pick up the Willie McNeela Perpetual Trophy at next Saturday night’s banquet at Knockranny House Hotel, Westport.
This year’s winner of the award is chosen by the Club Stars judging panel of John Casey, Eamonn Clarke, Austin Garvin and SeΡn Rice.
County Intermediate champions, Kiltane, also have three nominations for the ‘Intermediate Player of the Year’ accolade with John Reilly, Jason Healy and Mikie Sweeney all in contention.
The festive season will begin in earnest for hundreds of Mayo GAA fans at next weekend’s ninth annual Club Stars Charity Banquet.
Tickets for the popular event have been sold out, as the prospect of another great night of celebration, fun, prize-giving and live music has attracted big numbers from clubs all across the county.
All the proceeds from this year’s Club Stars, which is hosted in association with AIB, are being donated to Enable Ireland services in Mayo.
The Mayo championship ‘Team of the Year’ will be announced on the night with the ‘Manager of the Year’ and ‘Players of the Year’ in the Junior, Intermediate, Young Footballer’ and Senior Championship categories also being recognised.
The ‘Hall of Fame’, ‘Personality of the Year’ and ‘Hurling Recognition’ awards will also be presented to Dr Mick Loftus, Enda Gilvarry and Jackie Coyne respectively. Meanwhile, Alan Durcan (Breaffy), Darren Duffy (Aghamore), Joey Maloney (Kilmaine) and Mikie Sweeney (Kiltane) will receive their ‘Golden Boot’ accolades. Kiltane will also receive a ‘Special Achievement’ award to mark their Mayo and Connacht IFC success.
The Club Stars judges met last month to select the 15 players and five replacements that will make up the 2013 Team of the Year.
“There was some very hard calls to be made with the final selection,” admitted John Casey last night. “So, of course, some players will be disappointed, that’s only natural. But I know from experience, being nominated for a Club Star award is a great achievement in the first place. Winning an award is almost a bonus. Saturday night is all about the players, their families, their clubs, and the chosen charity.”