Sports Stars night to draw bumper crowd

There has been an unprecedented demand for tickets for the forthcoming annual Mullingar Park Hotel/Westmeath Examiner Westmeath Sports Stars of the Year function next January.To be held in the Mullingar Park Hotel, which was packed to capacity for the inaugural event last year, January"s function will bring together the cream of sporting excellence in the county.As already confirmed Mullingar"s three Olympians, athlete Martin Fagan and boxers, John Joe Nevin and Johnny Joyce presented the judges with a simple selection decision but thereafter, there were many others in contention for the prestiguous awards.Clearly, Ballinagore clubman earned his nomination on the strength of his magnificent form in the Allianz National League while his teammate, John Keane is well in the running for an award following his selection the All Star team of the year and his contribution to Ireland"s magnificent success of Australia in the International Rules series Down Under.For his part in guiding Westmeath to victory in Division Two of the Allianz National Hurling League, plus his selection on the Leinster and Ireland teams in competitive fare, Clonkill"s Brendan Murtagh is also a strong contender for a monthly award.While the final adjudicaton will not be revealed until early in the New Year, the composition of the monthly winners is almost finalised. Of course, the decisions as to who will win the Sports Star and Young Sport Star of the Year will not be announced untill the presentation night on Friday, Januuary 29 when the identity of the Hall of Fame winner will also be announced.Tickets for this great night of sporting celebration are on sale at the offices of the Westmeath Examiner in Blackhall, Mullingar and all enquiries with regard to tickets should be addressed to Sandra McCann.