Paul Earley is Club Stars guest

Special guest
Mike Finnerty  

THE special guest at this year’s Mayo News/O’Neills Club Stars awards is former Ireland International Rules manager, Paul Earley.
The former Roscommon All Star footballer is also a familiar face on Irish television screens from his work as an analyst on Sky Sports GAA coverage over the last two seasons.
Earley, who has strong family connections with Mayo, also works extensively with both Setanta Sports and Today FM as a Gaelic football pundit, and is one of the most respected analysts in the game.
 “I was actually due to attend the Club Stars awards a few years ago but had to cry off with an illness, so I’m really looking forward to finally getting there,” Paul told The Mayo News.
“Nights like the Club Stars are all about the grassroots of the GAA and that’s something I’ve always been passionate about. “It’s also a wonderful opportunity to be able to lend my support to two important charities like CF West and the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre.”
Tickets for the prestigious event (which is being run in association with AIB) are currently on sale from The Mayo News ticket office.
As well as the Club Stars ‘Team of the Year’ being announced on the  night, awards will also be presented to Billy Horan (Hall of  Fame), Martin Linnane (Hurling Recognition Award), Hughie and Packie McGinty (Volunteers of the Year) and to Declan O’Reilly and Declan Shaw (Managers of the Year).

Players of the Year
THE shortlist for some of the various ‘Players of the Year’ awards at this year’s Club Stars have also been revealed. Ardnaree trio Chris Walsh, Eoin McCormack and Ronan Doherty will all be battling it out for the ‘Junior Footballer of the Year’ accolade.
All three were key men on Declan O’Dea’s team that won a coveted County Junior Championship title for the famous North Mayo club.
Meanwhile, Claremorris duo Colin Gill and James McCormack, and Balla’s Matthew Flanagan are in the frame for the ‘Young Footballer of the Year’ trophy.
Gill and McCormack were part of the Claremorris team that captured the Mayo Minor Championship title this year, while Flanagan enjoyed an excellent season with Balla, and also lined out with the Mayo under 21 side.