Casey joins Club Stars judging panel

John Casey was the winner of the Willie McNeely Mayo GAA ‘Footballer of the Year’ award at The 2009 Mayo News/O’Neills Club Stars. John is pictured in Knockranny House Hotel with his wife Rita.

Casey joins Club Stars judging panel


Edwin McGreal

FORMER Mayo footballer John Casey has joined the judging panel for this year's Mayo News/O’Neills Club Stars awards.
The seventh annual Club Stars Banquet, which honours the best and brightest Mayo club footballers at the end of every season, will take place on Saturday, December 10 in Knockranny Hotel, Westport.
Casey, who won two Mayo senior football championship medals during a long and distinguished club career with Charlestown, will replace Mayo GAA Secretary, SeΡn Feeney, who has stepped down from the selection panel after six years.
Mayo News columnist SeΡn Rice, former Knockmore manager Eamonn Clarke, and Mayo News GAA writer Austin Garvin will join Casey in selecting both the 30 nominees and the Club Stars ‘Team of the Year’.
“We’re delighted to have somebody as experienced, informed and respected as John to join the judging panel,” said Mike Finnerty, Sports Editor of the Mayo News.
“He was a wonderfully talented footballer who played at the highest level with Mayo, and he was also a committed and dedicated club player who knows exactly what it takes to be a ‘Club Star’.
“He actually won the Club Star 'Player of the Year' award himself, two years ago, after helping Charlestown to win the county title, and I know it means a lot to him. We’re looking forward to hearing John’s opinions at the selection meetings over the next few weeks.”
The awards ceremony has become the most-talked about night of the year for club footballers and their family and friends, and this year promises to be no different.
The Senior, Intermediate and Junior 'Player of the Year' awards will also be presented, while the 'Manager of the Year' will also be honoured.
The identity of the Special Guest will also be revealed in the weeks ahead.
All the proceeds from this year’s Banquet will be donated to Western Care and tickets will be on sale from next week.
The 30 nominees (which is made up of 25 Senior players and five Intermediate 'wild cards') will be revealed in next Tuesday's Mayo News.

For more details, call (098) 25311 or e-mail clubstars@mayonews.ie