Irish Snooker Champion Vincent Muldoon was honored as one of Ireland’s most promising sporting prospects at the Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Stars Awards 2007 at a ceremony in Dublin. This annual event is the country’s only award scheme for junior sportspersons, honoring outstanding sporting achievement of young people, aged between 15 and 19, across a wide range of sporting disciplines. 

Muldoon followed in David Morris's footsteps in being nominated and honored at these awards. The ex-Irish Champion won the award three years in a row before going overage and this year round Muldoon's achievements have brought him to the attention of the examiner sportswriters. Muldoon was joined by family and friends at the the lavish awards ceremony in the Mansion House in Dublin and was soon called upon to do the necessary photo calls and interviews before the ceremony in which he was presented his award by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Muldoon also picked up a prize of €500 worth of Adidas Sportswear as part of the sponsorship package.

Tony Leen, Irish Examiner Sports Editor (Pictured Below) commenting on the awards today said, “Seeing sportspeople on the cusp of the big breakthrough is always a thrill, and the graduates from this particular programme are evidence enough of that. For our part, there’s a pride in spotting tomorrow’s stars today. Sometimes it’s easy to see the prodigy who’ll dominate the headlines for years to come. Others have that indefinable something; it’s raw, or unpolished, but it’s there, and the adult career vindicates the faith our judges showed.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, Guest speaker at the event said, “I have always been of the belief that if you encourage youth in sport, you will be rewarded on the double. These awards are not only a signpost to the next generation of sports stars from this country, they are also a timely fillip for the teenagers themselves. Even the most successful young sportsperson requires reassurance at times.”

Rory McIlroy was one of last year’s winners and has since joined the European Tour and won the top amateur prize at the British Open. Other former winners include such luminaries of Irish sporting achievement as Roy Keane, Sonia O’Sullivan, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Bernard Dunne, Gordon D’Arcy, Damien Duff and Ruby Walsh. 

Many current Irish soccer legends have graduated with an Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Stars Award and Crystal Palace’s Sean Scannell will want to follow in the footsteps of Roy Keane, Damien Duff and current Republic of Ireland senior captain Robbie Keane. Scannell scored his first senior championship goal for his club four days after making his senior debut and is tipped to make the transition to full international grade in the coming years.

The Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Stars Awards were introduced by the Irish Examiner in 1984. Nominations are invited, via the newspaper, from members of the public and sporting representatives. The overall winners are then selected by the Irish Examiner Sports Editorial team in consultation with the relevant governing bodies.

Today’s event was attended by the winners, their families and friends, coaches, sporting representatives as well as leading figures in the Irish sports industry.