Murtagh a deserving Sports Star of the Year
Westmeath hurling star Brendan Murtagh became the second Mullingar Park Hotel/Westmeath Examiner Sports Star of the Year, an honour that capped a year of remarkable achievement for the Clonkill man. Just two days after receiving the award, Brendan took to the pitch again, adding yet another medal to his list of accolades when the Lakesiders defeated Carlow.
Among an impressive roster of twelve monthly award winners which included three Olympic athletes, Brendan was rewarded for his part in Westmeath"s terrific National Hurling League Division 2 success in 2008, as well as their passage to the Christy Ring Cup final. The powerful forward also played a key role in Clonkill"s fantastic intermediate club championship campaign in 2007/8, which culminated in a Leinster title win, and an eventual All-Ireland final victory against Tommy Larkin"s of Galway in February of last year.
Receiving his award from Westmeath Examiner editor, Eilís Ryan, Brendan - a popular winner among those in attendance - said that in a year which saw three Mullingar men participate in the Beijing Olympics, he 'didn"t expect' to land the top gong on Friday night. He also received the Sports Star of the Month award for November. Just as popular was the winner of the Young Sports Star of the Year Award, Ballinagore"s Ruth Robinson - the Sports Star of the Month of August - who also picked up the Young Sports Star of the Year Award.
Ruth, who is coming to the attention of the European showjumping fraternity as one of the Continent"s emerging young equestrian talents, was recognised for her part on the Irish Under 18 team which took on Europe"s finest young showjumpers at Thirlestone College, Scotland in mid-August. Impressing the master of ceremonies, RTÉ Sport"s Colm Murray, with her wit and composure on Friday night, Ruth"s maturity and gracefulness belies her youth.
'I don"t know who the judging panel were, but I"m absolutely flattered,' she told Colm Murray, after being presented with her award by Josephine Hughes, proprietor, Mullingar Park Hotel. Ruth, a student of Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan, will now divert her attentions towards the Leaving Certificate before advancing her promising career in equestrian sport. The third major award winner of the night was long-serving Irish golfing official Albert Lee, a member of Mullingar Golf Club since the late 1960s when he first arrived in the town in search of a job, having left his native Kilkenny over forty years ago.
Albert, a former Vice-Principal of Mullingar Community College, has devoted himself to golf for that four decades, eventually rising to the top post in the Golfing Union of Ireland. He joins one of Westmeath GAA"s greatest adminstrators, Paddy Flanagan, as the second Mullingar Park Hotel/Westmeath Examiner Sports Stars Hall of Fame Award winner. Also recognised for their contributions to sport in Westmeath and beyond during 2008 were the twelve monthly award winners.
Four of these were members of Westmeath"s senior football panel, including Martin Flanagan (May), Michael Ennis (April), Des Dolan (June) and All Star/International Rules hero, John Keane (October). Keane"s award was accepted by his father, Jimmy, who spoke of his great pride for his son"s achievements. Mullingar athlete and Olympic marathon runner Martin Fagan scooped the award for January, while his club, Mullingar Harriers, picked up the award for December, and were represented on stage by co-founder, Bobbie Begley. Fagan, who is currently based in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, was represented on the stage by his mother, Marie.
The trophies for February and March went to Mullingar"s two Olympic boxers, John Joe Nevin and Johnny Joyce respectively, in recognition of their qualification for the games. The July award went to one-armed golfer, Michael O"Grady of Kilbeggan, while Mullingar solicitor Sean McMullin accepted the September award for his race walking exploits at the European and World Masters Championships.