Westmeath sportsmen enjoy international success

Two of Westmeath"s sportsmen impressed on the international stage, with Westmeath senior football star John Keane starring for Ireland in their first International Rules test against Australia for 2008, and Mullingar athlete Martin Fagan delivering a superb performance in yet another British road race.Rosemount footballer and Westmeath All-Star Keane was among Ireland"s star performers as Sean Boylan"s charges trumped Australia in the first 2008 Toyota International Rules Series test at the Subiaco Oval in Perth on Friday last.Although he conceded a thirteenth minute penalty, Keane"s performance in defence was the subject of rave reviews in a keenly contested affair, which Ireland won 45-44.The 2004 Leinster SFC medallist is set to figure against the Australians when the second test takes place in Melbourne on Friday.Meanwhile, Mullingar athlete Martin Fagan"s chances of securing a gold at the European Cross Country Championships - to be held in Brussels on December 17 - are looking better than ever after the Olympian took second at the BUPA Great South Run (10Km) on Sunday, October 26.The distance runner came in behind Kenyan running legend Bernard Kipyego who won in an unofficial time of 46 minutes 42 seconds but beat Kipyego"s countryman and defending race champion and world champion Luke Kibet who had to settle for third place.This year"s women"s race was won by Paula Radcliffe. The 34-year-old finished in a national best time of 51 minutes, 11 seconds.Martin Fagan left for Arizona immediately after Sunday"s race and is already back in training for the December championships.All eyes will now be on the Mullingar Harrier who took seventh place in his event at last year"s championships.Fagan"s fortunes have picked up considerably since his heavy disappointment in Bejing in the summer when he was forced out of the race due to injury, Last month Martin took sixth place in the BUPA Great North Run where he competed against a slew of world-class running talent.