Wednesday 29 August 2012
McCarthy resigns
Hendre Marnitz post Connemara
Buccaneers have opened their Connacht Senior League campaign with a 33-6 win over Connemara
Callum Bolland, Enda O'Brien, Ger Walsh, Martin Staunton and Alex Hayman crossed the whitewash for the Buccs with the rest of the points at Dubarry Park coming from the boot of debutant Gerard Fallon
The Pirates next league game is away to Corinthians on Saturday September 8th
Buccs head coach spoke to our reporter Cian Murray after the game
Belmont V Kilcormac Killoughey preview
Our reporter John Leahy has been speaking to Kilcormac Killoughey manager Danny Owens and Belmont boss Nicholas Claffey ahead of Saturday evening's Offaly hurling quarter final (6pm)
Midlands Paralympians Schedule
Thursday August 30th
Damien Shaw (Mullingar) - Individual Pursuit C2 Qualifiers - 11.05-11.50 - Velodrome
Damien Shaw (Mullingar) - Individual Pursuit C2 Final - 16.10-16.25 - Velodrome
Friday August 31st
Fran Meehan (Killurin) - 1km time trial B Final - 09.30-10.20 - Velodrome
Saturday September 1st
Ailish Dunne (Mountmellick) - F11/12 Discus Final - 10.35-11.35 - Olympic Stadium
Damien Shaw (Mullingar) - 1km Time Trial B - 09.30-10.25 - Velodrome
Sunday September 2nd
Fran Meehan (Killurin) - Individual Pursuit B Qualifiers - 10.00-10.45 - Velodrome
Fran Meehan (Killurin) - Individual Pursuit B Final - 14.40-14.55 - Velodrome
Tuesday September 4th
Ailish Dunne (Mountmellick) - F11/F12 Shot Put Final - 19.20-20.30 - Olympic Stadium
Wednesday September 5th
Mark Rohan (Ballinahown) - Handcycling time trial - 14.30-17.30 - Brands Hatch
Fran Meehan (Killurin) - Individual Time trial B - 14.30-17.30 - Brands Hatch
Damien Shaw (Mullingar) - Individual Time Trial B- 14.30-17.30 - Brands Hatch
Friday September 7th
Mark Rohan (Ballinahown) - Handcycling road race - 10.32-12.30 - Brands Hatch
Saturday 8th
Fran Meehan (Killurin) - Individual Road Race B - 10.30-13.00 - Brands Hatch
Damien Shaw (Mullingar) - Individual Road race - 14.30-17.15 - Brands Hatch
Friday 24 August 2012
Duff retires
Damien Duff is to retire from international football.
After winning 100 caps for Ireland, the Fulham winger has confirmed that he won't be making himself available for the upcoming qualification campaign for the 2014 World Cup.
The 33-year-old was widely tipped to end his Ireland career after the disappointing Euro 2012 campaign - he told reporters after the game that he had already made up his mind about his international future.
His delay in following the example of Shay Given had prompted speculation that the Dubliner could be convinced to continue for another campaign, but he's understood to have informed Giovanni Trapattoni that he now wants to focus on his club career.
Trapattoni will name his squad for next month's world cup qualifier in Kazakhstan later this afternoon when he's also likely to face further questions about the futures of Richard Dunne and Robbie Keane.
Medals for Midlands athletes in Croatia
Two local athletes have added to Team Ireland's medal haul today at the European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Croatia.
Edenderry's Declan Guing has taken Gold in the Field Ball throw event to add to his bronze in the Bowling singles event earlier this week.
Ireland's youngest athlete - Laois's Robbie Lyons - has picked up silver medals in the 200m track event and 4 by 100 relay race.
Yesterday, the Swan 18 year old scooped two silvers and a bronze.
The 26 strong Team will return to Ireland tomorrow night
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Laois Dialysis Woman secures Sliver and Bronze at 7th European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Croatia.
Alison Honner, is overjoyed with her success in representing her
country for the first time at the 7th European Transplant &
Dialysis Games which are taking place in Zagreb, Croatia.
The 26 year old woman from Pike of Rushall, Portlaoise, secured a
Sliver medal in her age category (18-29 years) in Bowling today and
yesterday she competed in Badminton and made the semi-final for which
she was awarded a Bronze medal. Excited after her win today, Alison said
“Oh my Gold, it was so hard. I am so happy. I did it. Its great to go
home with a medal, I can’t believe it. Thanks so much to everyone. I’m
totally loving the Games experience.”
Alison who was born with two small kidneys has had two kidney
transplants, one in 1996 and the second in 2004. After her second
transplant failed, she returned to dialysis treatment which she has been
receiving since 2009. She is taking a year out from Ballyfermot College
where she was pursuing a course in Radio Studies.
This Thursday, Alison will compete in her final event at the Games
- Ball Throw – and she will return home to Ireland with the rest of
Transplant Team Ireland on Saturday night, 25th August. Also from
Laois, Niall McAuliffe from Abbeyleix secured a Gold medal on the first
day of the European Games in the Darts singles event.
Tuesday 21 August 2012
Leinster & Connacht 2012/2013 Preview
By Podge O'Donnell
The
2012 2013 season is fast underway with all four provinces putting their final
finishing touches to preseason. Midlands Sports will be following Leinster and
Connacht throughout the coming season and providing in depth analysis and up to date coverage of all the action as it unfolds. Both
the Leinster and Connacht squads have Midland representatives and we have put
together a preview of what can be expected in the coming months.
Leinster Rugby
Former Mullingar RFC player/coach
Joe Schmidt starts his third season in charge of Leinster after winning back to
back Heiniken Cup titles. First up, is a difficult away trip to Wales to take
on the Scarlets on Saturday 1st September in the Rabo Pro 12.
Leinster have finished runners up, over
the past two seasons and will be keen to get the season off on a winning
note and mark their clear intentions that they plan on winning the Rabo Pro
12 third time lucky. The Scarlets are a
team that Leinster will know very well by the end of the season as they are
drawn along side each other in Pool 5 of the Heiniken Cup along with Clermont
and Exeter Chief’s. Scarlets will provide a test for Leinster, however the
crunch tie in Pool 5 will be home and away ties with last seasons semi
finalists Clermont. Joe Schmidt and Leinster know Clermont inside out at this
stage drawn in the same group together last season and meeting each other at
the semi final stages in the previous two campaigns with Schmidt getting the
better. Clermont will again this season hold the key to a third successive
title returning home to Leinster.
2012/2013 Squad
The majority of the team that has
served Schmidt so well returns again this season with no real big name signings
to note. Leinster have added some reinforcements to the pack in the form of 25
year old New Zealand born prop Irish qualified prop Michael Bent moving from
The Hurricanes. Bent can cover both sides of the scrum equally and will no
doubt provide considerable depth in a key position.
Schmidt has also acquired further
need reinforcements to his options in
the second row adding the 21 year old 6’5 powerhouse South African Quinn Roux
from The Stomers in the Super 15 along with 24 year old Tom Denton joing from
Leeds Carneige. The only new addition to the back line is experienced
outhalf/center Andrew Goodman another New Zealander joining the Blues from Tasman and is a direct replacment for
Matt Berquist who leaves after injury disrupted his progress last season. The
signing that made most of the headlines this off season was the resigning of
the injury ridden Luke Fitzgerald to a new one year deal after a very long
period of negociations.
Players To Watch:
Dominic Ryan-
After intially breaking onto the leinster Senior scene,
injury has hampered the highly rated openside flankers progress.Natural
openside flankers are hard to come by and Dominic Ryan is as natural as they
come. Since breaking into the first team squad in 2009 Ryan has won 25 starts
as well as numrous cameos from the bench along with 2 apperances for the
Ireland Wolfhounds last season. If Ryan can show good form in the Rabo Pro 12 when
given oppertunities and avoid injury he will
push Shane Jennings hard for the starting number 7 shirt come Heiniken
Cup time.
Andrew Conway-
Has showed glimpses of magic for Leinster over the past
three seasons at full back or wing. A natural broken field counter
attacker, lite up the Under 20 world cup
with some individual moments of brilliance last summer but injury and the
presence of Isa nacewa has limited his options but if given regular game time
stays injury free, he will become the next Leinster attacker to become a
household name. Conway is the type of player that Joe Schmidt favors and is he
can reproduce his underage form and skills, he will be a joy to watch with his
fast feet ducking and weaving through opposing teams defences.
The Midland Connection-
Apart from the Head Coach, there is lots for Midland
rugby enthuasuasts to keep an eye on when following Leinster Rugby this season.
Mark Flanagan has signed a new one year contract extension and looks set to see
extended game time after impressing last season before the signing of Brad
Thorn. Although there is now fresh competition in the second row for the
Mullingar native, he can use last years positive experiences to his advanatage
and again prove that he can step in easily when required.
Conor Gilsenan another Mullingar native groomed in
Clongowes Wood is entering his second season in the Leinster Academy. Gilsenan
who featured in the Brittish & Irish Cup squad last season will be hoping
to continue his development. A nasty injury ruled himout of this summers under
20 World Cup early, after some magnificant performances at openside flanker.
Gilsenan is tough as they come and has a workrate that is second to none, could
see him gain some Rabo Pro 12 game time this season while playing a key role in the Brittish and
Irish Cup squads.
Connacht Rugby
Eric
Elwood leads the Westerners into a second consecutive Heineken Cup season
hoping to build on last season’s efforts where they recorded one pool win
coming against Gloucester, after being drawn in a tough group including the
mighty Toulouse.
This
season won’t get much easier being pulled out in the draw in Pool 3 along with
Biarritz, Harlequins and new Italian franchise Zebre. Connacht face Zebre first
up, away in Parma on October 13th.
Zebre are coached by former Italian scrum half and stalwart Alesandro
Troncon and host a squad full of journey men pros and Italian internationals.
Players such as Josh Sole, Mauro Bergamasco and Marco Bartolami are all
experienced top level internationals while former Munster and Ireland underage
Prop forward Dave Ryan now plying his trade will add a local feel to a typical
dogged Italian outfit.
Connacht
will need to build on a solid 8th place finish returned last season in the Rabo
Pro 12. Connacht face the Cardiff Blues in Galway on the 1st September.
Finishing in 8th place last season was Connacht’s highest ever in the
competition, during which Connacht achieved three victories in a row for the
first time in nearly ten years. New players were blooded through the squad, the
Connacht Juniors and U-20’s won the Interpros’, and the Irish squad that
travelled to New Zealand contained four Connacht representatives in props Ronan
Loughney and Brett Wilkinson, second-row Mike McCarthy and Connacht captain and
full-back Gavin Duffy. These key players return again to Galway and should add
a stable base for improvement again. While a first season competing in the
British & Irish Cup will allow the up and coming underage players ample
opportunity to impress.
2012/2013 Squad
Eric
Elwood had a busy summer by all accounts strengthening the squad for the new
season. Some big names signings are coming to Galway. Key additions come in the
shape of recent Scottish out-half Dan Parks. This high profile signing
demonstrates the ambition of the province, and will bring a wealth of
experience to the out-half position. Prop Nathan White and flanker Willie
Faloon have signed from Leinster and Ulster respectively, and both featured in
this seasons Heineken Cup Final.
Young
hooker Jason-Harris Wright has been recruited from Bristol, and is a product of
the famed Leinster academy, and has Heineken Cup experience. Exciting 23 yr old
centre Dannie Poolman also joins and adds a real play maker to the backline.
Poolman is comfortable at either wing or second center.
Robust
centre Brian Murphy signed a one year development contract after an impressive
season with Galwegians where he won Connacht player of the season while Mata
Fafita joins from Sligo and will add some depth to the 12 shirt. Matt Healy a
former Ireland U20 international joins from Landsdowne after impressing over a
number of seasons. While JP Cooney will add some needed strength at Prop after
impressing with Garryowen. These latter signs show players that there is still
a role for the AIL in grooming players for professional rugby.
Players To Watch:
Tiernan O’Halleron-
After braking onto the scene last season, Tiernan
became arrguably Connachts best attacker and real dangerman for opposing teams
at the tende age of 20. At home on the right wing he is a strong finisher and
has excellent footwork to match a strong
6’2 frame. A native of Clifden O’Halleron learned much of his rugby in
Cistertian College Roscrea. However there are some other strong links to the
Midlands as father Aidan, a keen
footballer in his early years, helped Carmelite College, Moate to Hogan Cup
victory in 1976 and then went on to lift the Sam Maguire trophy with Offaly in
1982 also playing rugby for Athlone and Tullamore.
Tiernan became Connacht's first ever try scorer in the
Heineken Cup history in November 2011. His form during the early stages of last
season earned the former Ireland Under-20 international a new two year contract
with Connacht and an invitation to training with the Ireland squad ahead of the
Six Nations. If Tiernan can continue to develop the sky is the limit and will
surely be in contention at some point for full Ireland honours.
Shane Layden-
Similar player to O’Halleron with a strong and rangey
frame. Layden was capped last season for Connacht against Leinster and Having scored a hat-trick for Connacht U20 in
their Inter-Pro victory over Munster propelled him into the Irish u20 team for
the Six-Nations and then on to the U20 World Cup. Although far from the finished product, Connacht could do worse than give
him considerable game time this season as going on his form for Buccaneers in
the AIL and the Irish U20’s there are
not too many raw talents of this calibre floating around very often.
The Midland Connection-
Buccanners Rugby club gives the Midlands a real
presence across all Connacht teams. Over the years the Athlone club has
developed some top class rugby players with many going onto wearing the green
of Connacht at senior level and Ireland at various grades. This season really
gives Midland rugby enthusiasts a real chance to see some young Midlanders
hopefully pushing for game time at the higehest level after earning their
stripes at Academy and AIL level.
If preseason games are anything to go by then Academy
players such as Buccaneers winger Conor
Finn (Ballinasloe), second row Danny Qualter (Athlone) and outhalf Jack
Carty (Athlone) may also see some senior level game time. One
player who has really stood out in the last couple of weeks is 18 year old
Robbie Henshaw (Athlone) who hails from a family steeped in Buccaneers
tradition made his first start in the recent defeat to Harlequins all this in
the same week he collected his leaving cert results. These local players will also
play key roles in the Brittish & Irish Cup.
Monday 20 August 2012
Barry Kelly to referee the All-Ireland Hurling Final
Westmeath's Barry Kelly is set to referee the All-Ireland Hurling Final between Kilkenny and Galway on September 9th
It will the third time the Mullingar Shamrocks clubman has been in charge of the All-Ireland decider
The St Brendan's Community School, Birr teacher was also the man in the middle for the 2008 and 2006 Finals, both of which were won by Kilkenny
Colm Lyons of Cork will referee the curtain raiser Minor Final between Tipperary and Dublin
Midlands Cup double for Laois Cricket Club
John Ozenbrook led the Laois 1st team to victory
in the Wallace Cup Final against Knockharley CC from Navan yesterday. John who
was on the 1st tee in Mountrath Golf Club at 6.30am yesterday
morning in the captain’s prize and won the gross prize went from the golf
course to North Kildare Cricket Club to lead the team to victory. It was a day
for the young players to show there skill with Matthew Auret scoring 50 and
taking 4 wickets and brother Clint scoring 36 and giving away only 11 runs off
8 overs. Matthew was awarded Man of The Match.
In the Dick O’Neill Cup final Adrian Tudor led the
3rds to victory against Bagnalstown. With a very young team Adrian fashioned a win with batting from
Preshant Brand 36, Jaz Singh 28 and Tariq Islam 27. Laois scored 149 off 40
overs and with tight fielding and bowling Bagnalstown fell 14 runs short to
give Laois victory. Tariq Islam was Man of The Match.
In a separate presentation last night, Laois Cricket Club’s
David Murphy was awarded Midlands Youth Player of the Year. David was selected
for the Leinster under 15’s and played in the Interprovincial series in
Stormont and toured in the UK
in early August with the team.
Rob Henshaw interview
Athlone's Rob Henshaw marked his first start for Connacht with a try in the Western Province's 45-11 friendly loss to Premiership champions Harlequins at the Stoop on Saturday
The Buccs' youngster who was part of the Interpro winning Connacht Under 20s side earlier this year got over the tryline after blocking down a kick
He's delighted to be getting some pre season gametime
MORNING HEADLINES
GAELIC GAMES
Tipperary manager Declan Ryan says they have no excuses for yesterday's 18 point loss to Kilkenny in the All Ireland semi final in Croke Park.
The Premier led by a point at the break but were outplayed in the second half with a final score of 4-24 to 1-15.
Holders Clonkill will face Castletown Geoghegan in the semi finals of the Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship in a repeat of last year's final.
Clonkill edged out Castlepollard by 1-19 to 4-6 at Cusack Park last night, the second quarter final saw St Oliver Plunketts win 0-14 to 1-7 against Lough Lene Gaels.
Plunketts will meet Raharney in the last four.
Borris in Ossory Kilcotton have booked their place in round three of the Laois Senior Hurling Championship, they were comfortable 2-22 to 0-10 winners over Ballyfin at O'Moore Park last night.
Clough Ballacolla defeated Ballinakill by 2-21 to 2-12 to win the hurling league title.
Donegal have reached their fourth Boston SFC final in a row
Westmeath's Dessie Dolan starred for Donegal in their 4-14 to 1-5 win over Galway in last night's semi final at Canton
Laois' Donie Kingston will also feature in the final, his Shannon Blue's side were 3-11 to 2-12 winners over Aiden McAnespies in the other last four clash
CAMOGIE
Wexford will face Cork in the All-Ireland Camogie Final
Cork defeated Galway by 3-10 to 0-12 in the opening game at Nowlan Park on Saturday while holders Wexford were 3-14 to 0-5 winners over Offaly
Katrina Parrock scored two goals, Ursula Jacob the other
Offaly's Under 16 Camogie team are through to play Kilkenny in the Leinster A Final on September 2nd
The Faithful defeated Dublin by 3-11to 2-9 yesterday
LADIES FOOTBALL
Offaly will face Louth in the All-Ireland Junior Semi Finals next month in a repeat of the Leinster Final
The Faithful had an 8-14 to 0-1 win over Kilkenny on Friday night at Gracefield
SOCCER
Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini faces a fitness test ahead of tonight's clash with Manchester United at Goodison park while Irish international Darron Gibson is struggling with a thigh injury.
Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are unavailable for the visitors while Rio Ferdinand is struggling with a leg injury but striker Robin Van Persie is expected to make his debut.
Kick off is at 8
Willow Park began the defence of their Combined Counties Football League Senior Division title with a 3-0 away win against Gallen yesterday
Clara Town defeated St Peters 3-0, Monksland were 4-0 winners over Arlington and it was a one all draw between Mountmellick and Kilavilla in the other games in the top flight.
Sean Skelly and Niall Scullion were sent off as Athlone Town lost 3-0 to SD Galway at Terryland Park on Friday night
It's Town's heaviest away defeat of the season
Delvin's Connor Smith made his Watford debut on Saturday afternoon
The Ireland Under 19 international was brought on in the second half by manager Gianfranco Zola in the Hornets 3-2 win away to Crystal Palace in the Championship
RUGBY UNION
Athlone's Rob Henshaw marked his first start for Connacht with a try in the Western Province's 45-11 friendly loss to Premiership champions Harlequins at the Stoop on Saturday
The Buccs' youngster who was part of the Interpro winning Connacht Under 20s side earlier this year got over the tryline after blocking down a kick
Birr duo Peter Dooley and Shane Delahunt were part of the Leinster Under 19 team that defeated Northampton on Saturday afternoon
GOLF
Sergio Garcia is one shot clear heading into the weather delayed final day of the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina.
Garcia is 15 under with 14 to play while Tim Clark and Jason Duffner are 14 under with 13 to play.
HANDBALL
Mullingar's Robbie McCarthy will face Dublin's Eoin Kennedy in the final of the All-Ireland 60 by 30 Softball Championship.
McCarthy defeated Mayo's Dessie Keegan 21-11, 21-6 at Abbeylara to set up a fourth final in a row against Kennedy.
8 times champion Kennedy won comfortably 21-0, 21-6 against Ger Coonan in the other semi
ATHLETICS
Laois club St Abbans have won the Womens' Division One title at the Woodies DIY National League Finals
Nessa Millet won the 200 metres as well as the 400 metres hurdles, Siobhan Nash took the 1500 metres walk, Sarah Buggy won triple jump and Shauna Daly was first in the shot putt as Abbans prevailed at the Tullamore Harriers Club
Representing the Crusaders Club Mullingar's Steven Colvert won both the 100 and 200 metres Men's Premier races.
It was a successful weekend for young Midlands athletes at the Community Games in Athlone
Emo Rath's Gillian Keenan won the Under 12 Girls Cycling
Ballyroan Abbey were second in the Under 10 Gaelic Football, losing out to Douglas of Cork in the final, while Banagher won bronze in the Under 12 Girls Gaelic Football
The Under 8 gold medals in gymnastics both went to Offaly, Tullamore's Samuel Burns and Kilcormac Killoughey's Aoibhe Murphy winning their events
Emer Flynn from Ferbane won bronze in the Under 16 Gymnastics
Emo Rath took gold in the Girls' Under 12 soccer
Westmeath's Erika Lowe was third in the girls under 8 freestyle swimming, Rebecca Lowe from took gold in the under 10 backstroke, Lisa Harrington was third in the Under 14 butterfly
Laois' Fionn Matthews took the Under 10 boys freestyle gold, Moate's Rhys Rowlands was the gold medalist in the Under 12 backstroke with Portlaoise's Sean Scannell in second
Bill Kelly of Westmeath was third in the Under 14 backstroke, Laois' Eoin Donoghue and Bryan Scully of Westmeath were inside the top 4 in the Under 14 butterfly
Clara's Sean Tierney won silver in the Under 14 freestyle
RACING
There's racing in the Midlands this evening as Roscommon hosts a seven-race mixed card
The highlight of the racing on the level is the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap at 6.10pm which features a clash between Beach of Falesa and Zariyna, both multiple recent handicap winners.
The Roscommonracecourse.ie Hurdle at 7.10pm is the best of three jumps races on the card and features a number of high profile hurdlers including last year's Guinness Galway Hurdle winner, Moon Dice, trained locally by Paul Flynn.
Experienced hurdlers Won In The Dark and Dancing Tornado will offer stiff resistance but Moon Dice's main threat could come from the lightly-raced Tarla from the Willie Mullins stable.
Community Games results
It was a successful weekend for young Midlands athletes at the Community Games in Athlone
Emo Rath's Gillian Keenan won the Under 12 Girls Cycling
Ballyroan Abbey were second in the Under 10 Gaelic Football, losing out to Douglas of Cork in the final, while Banagher won bronze in the Under 12 Girls Gaelic Football
The Under 8 gold medals in gymnastics both went to Offaly, Tullamore's Samuel Burns and Kilcormac Killoughey's Aoibhe Murphy winning their events
Emer Flynn from Ferbane won bronze in the Under 16 Gymnastics
Emo Rath took gold in the Girls' Under 12 soccer
Westmeath's Erika Lowe was third in the girls under 8 freestyle swimming, Rebecca Lowe from took gold in the under 10 backstroke, Lisa Harrington was third in the Under 14 butterfly
Laois' Fionn Matthews took the Under 10 boys freestyle gold, Moate's Rhys Rowlands was the gold medalist in the Under 12 backstroke with Portlaoise's Sean Scannell in second
Bill Kelly of Westmeath was third in the Under 14 backstroke, Laois' Eoin Donoghue and Bryan Scully of Westmeath were inside the top 4 in the Under 14 butterfly
Clara's Sean Tierney won silver in the Under 14 freestyle
CCFL weekend results
Mountmellick Utd 1-1 Killavilla Utd
Clara Town 3-0 St Peters
Monksland Utd 4-0 Arlington
Gallen Utd 0-3 Willow Park
Premier Division
Rosenallis 4-1 Birr Town
Abbeyleix Ath 1-2 Willow Park
Division 1
Ballinahown 2-3 Highfield Utd
Clonmore Utd 0-0 Clonaslee Utd 0
Tullamore Town 3-1 Clonbonny
Division 2
Coolraine 2-3 Killeigh Ramblers
Edenderry Town 3-1 Noreside Celtic
Gentex 0-2 Dynamoe Town
Birr Town 1-5 Raharney
Division 3A
Ballybrittas 3-1 Daingean Town
Clonminch Rvs 1-1 Brosna FC
Emo Celtic 4-3 Portlaoise
Division 3B
Banagher Utd 1-0 Clonown Rvs
Lawrencetown 0-2 Horseleap Utd
Erricsons Athlone 1-4 Melville Utd
Frankford Utd 3-2 Gallen Utd
Division 4A
C.R Forest 0-2 Abbeyleix Ath
Tower Hill Rvs 3-1 Maryborough
Stradbally Town 2-1 Rosenallis
Portlaoise Shamrocks 2-0 St Aengus
Division 4B
Raharney FC 6-1 Kilcormac Utd
St James 1-3 Killoe FC
St Carthages Ath 1-1 Monksland Utd
Over 35’s Cup Quarter Finals
Birr Town 2-3 Clara Town
Camlin Utd 1-0 Mucklagh
Midlands Celtic 2-1 Ballymahon
Rosenallis 3-4 Mullingar Town
Over 35’s Shield Quarter Finals
Tullamore Town 0-1 St Aengus
Willow Park 4-0 Gaels Utd
Saturday 18 August 2012
Local Championships Round Up
All-Ireland finalists Coolderry will face St Rynaghs in the quarter finals of the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship.
Ken Hogan's side won Group One with 2-21 to 0-9 defeat of last year's Intermediate kingpins Brosna Gales this evening
The Gales face Group Two winners Birr in the last eight, Birr edged out Shinrone by 0-14 to 0-11.
Kinnitty's knockout aspirations were ended by Kilcormac Killoughey at O'Connor Park with Dan Curram's goal the difference as the double k's won 1-13 to 0-13
Belmont will face Kilcormac Killoughey in the quarter finals, Belmont had an impressive 4-12 to 1-15 win over St Rynaghs
Seir Kieran's match with Shamrocks was called off, the Clareen men will meet Shinrone in the last 8.
While Shamrocks will take on the losers of the outstanding match between Tullamore and Drumcullen, that game was postponed on Friday night.
Offaly SHC Quarter Final pairings - Coolderry V St Rynaghs, Kilcormac Killoughey V Belmont, Seir Kieran V Shinrone, Birr V Brosna Gaels
Offaly SHC Relegation Playoff - Shamrocks V Tullamore OR Drumcullen
Delvin retained their senior status in Westmeath hurling with a two point win over St Brigids at Cusack Park
Second half goals from Tadhg Kelly, Barry Williams, Pat Farrington and Alan Clune gave Delvin a 4-12 to 1-19 victory - which sends St Brigids straight back to Intermediate
Castletown Slieve Bloom and St Lazarians Abbeyleix must meet again in round two of the Laois Senior Hurling Championship
The teams played out an entertaining draw at O'Moore Park tonight, with Clough Ballacolla awaiting the winners in the next round
Abbeyleix led 0-7 to 0-5 following a closely contested first half, Brendan Reddin found the net in the second half to bring Castletown back into the game which finished Castletown Slieve Bloom 1-11 St Lazarians Abbeyleix 0-14
Ken Hogan's side won Group One with 2-21 to 0-9 defeat of last year's Intermediate kingpins Brosna Gales this evening
The Gales face Group Two winners Birr in the last eight, Birr edged out Shinrone by 0-14 to 0-11.
Kinnitty's knockout aspirations were ended by Kilcormac Killoughey at O'Connor Park with Dan Curram's goal the difference as the double k's won 1-13 to 0-13
Belmont will face Kilcormac Killoughey in the quarter finals, Belmont had an impressive 4-12 to 1-15 win over St Rynaghs
Seir Kieran's match with Shamrocks was called off, the Clareen men will meet Shinrone in the last 8.
While Shamrocks will take on the losers of the outstanding match between Tullamore and Drumcullen, that game was postponed on Friday night.
Offaly SHC Quarter Final pairings - Coolderry V St Rynaghs, Kilcormac Killoughey V Belmont, Seir Kieran V Shinrone, Birr V Brosna Gaels
Offaly SHC Relegation Playoff - Shamrocks V Tullamore OR Drumcullen
Delvin retained their senior status in Westmeath hurling with a two point win over St Brigids at Cusack Park
Second half goals from Tadhg Kelly, Barry Williams, Pat Farrington and Alan Clune gave Delvin a 4-12 to 1-19 victory - which sends St Brigids straight back to Intermediate
Castletown Slieve Bloom and St Lazarians Abbeyleix must meet again in round two of the Laois Senior Hurling Championship
The teams played out an entertaining draw at O'Moore Park tonight, with Clough Ballacolla awaiting the winners in the next round
Abbeyleix led 0-7 to 0-5 following a closely contested first half, Brendan Reddin found the net in the second half to bring Castletown back into the game which finished Castletown Slieve Bloom 1-11 St Lazarians Abbeyleix 0-14
Offaly camogie team suffer semi final defeat
Offaly's first ever All-Ireland Senior Camogie Semi Final appearance ended in disappointment as holders Wexford showed their class to win by 3-14 to 0-5 at Nowlan Park this afternoon.
The Models will face Cork in the Croke Park decider next month, Cork defeated Galway in the other semi final.
Ursula Jacob struck for a goal approaching half time to give Wexford a 1-7 to 0-2 lead at the interval having played with the breeze.
Katrina Parrock notched two more goals in the second half for the Leinster kingpins as they reached their third All-Ireland Final in-a-row.
Offaly's points came from Elaine Dermody (0-2), Michaela Morkan, Siobhan Flannery and Arlene Watkins.
First team debut for Smith
Robbie McCarthy reaches All-Ireland Final
Carlton keeping their season alive
Portlaoise's Zach Tuohy played in the full back line for Carlton in their 156-60 rout of Essendon at the MCG this morning
Jarrad Waite scored 5 goals for the Blues who move into 9th place on the ladder with 2 games remaining
Carlton have found form and are on a run of 4 wins from 5 matches, wins over St Kilda and Gold Coast should assure a place in the finals
Carlton coach Brett Ratten and captain Chris Judd speaking to Carlton TV after the match
Friday 17 August 2012
Friday brunchtime headlines
GAELIC GAMES
Tipperary have named an unchanged side for Sundays All Ireland semi final with Kilkenny in Croke Park.
Lorrha's Patrick Maher starts at centre half forward
Lar Corbett is at wing forward while Shane Maher and Brendan Maher are in midfield with Noel McGrath at corner forward.
Kilkenny
will name their team tonight and Brian Hogan is expected to return to
centre back after missing their quarter final win over Limerick through
injury.
The Irish Examiner are reporting that Eamon Fitzmaurice will take over as Kerry manager.
According
to the paper the 35 year old has agreed in principle to take over from
Jack O'Connor who quit in the wake of their defeat to Donegal.
Fitzmaurice is the county's current under 21 manager and will leave that position should he take the senior role.
There's
a crunch match for Drumcullen and Tullamore in the Aidan Bracken
Building Design Offaly Senior Hurling Championship this evening
The loser of the game at O'Connor Park will face a relegation playoff, throw in this evening is 7pm
Westmeath defeated Offaly in the New York Junior Football Championship last night to book their place in the last eight
CAMOGIE
Offaly's camogie team will aim to spring a shock against reigning All-Ireland Champions Wexford at Nowlan Park tomorrow
It's
a first ever All-Ireland Senior Semi Final for the Faithful and they're
drawing strength from their display against the Models in this year's
Leinster Final
Tomorrow's semi final throws in at 4.15 and we'll
have updates on Midlands 103 with thanks to Ryan's pharmacy of Rhode,
Daingean and Edenderry
SOCCER
Robin van Persie will complete his move to Manchester United this morning
United
need to get last year's Premier League top scorer registered by noon if
he's to play in their season opener with Everton on Monday
Thomas Vermaelen has taken over as Arsenal skipper while Arsene Wenger admits Alex Song could be moving to Barcelona
Asked
whether the midfielder could be sold and new signings brought in,
Wenger said: "Both could happen, but my focus is on the Sunderland game.
"Midfield is an area where we have much more freedom to make decisions."
Gaston Ramirez says Southampton have agreed a club record €19m deal with Bologna to sign him.
The 21-year-old had been approached by Tottenham, Liverpool and Inter Milan earlier this summer.
But
now newly-promoted Southampton are on the verge of a huge coup by
landing the midfielder, who has just played at the Olympics for Uruguay.
Noel McGee, Brian Gill and Stephen Last remain doubtful for Athlone Town's trip to SD Galway tonight
The
trio have been struggling with injuries in the past couple of weeks,
while Niall Scullion returns from suspension and Neil Harney has
recovered from the knee injury he sustained against Waterford
Athlone drew away to second placed Waterford last weekend, SD defeated rivals Mervue
Kick off at Terryland Park is 7.45
There's' five games tonight in the Airtricity league Premier division
St
Pats host Bray, UCD meet Cork City, Derry take on Bohemians , Drogheda
meet Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne welcome leaders Sligo Rovers.
The games at Hunky Dory's Park and Tolka Park kick off at 8 while the rest start at 7.45.
RUGBY UNION
Athlone's
Robbie Henshaw has been picked to start at outside centre for
Connacht's pre season friendly with Harlequins at the Stoop tomorrow
Henshaw
is handed a start after impressing against Exeter last week, his Buccs'
teammate Jack Carty has been named among the replacements by Eric
Elwood
Former Ulster flanker Willie Faloon is set to make his debut in the match
GOLF
Glasson's Colm Moriarty missed the cut at the Ecco Tour Championship overnight
Swede Klas Eriksson leads on home soil by 4 shots on 12 under par
ATHLETICS
Laois
teenager Robbie Lyons is the youngest member of Transplant Team Ireland
which is flying out to Croatia later for the 7th European Transplant
and Dialysis Games.
The Swan 18 year old is joined by fellow local
athletes Alison Honner of Portlaoise, Niall McAuliffe from Abbeyleix,
Edenderry's Declan Guing and Shane Lafferty from Athlone.
The games kick off in Zagreb with tomorrow's opening ceremony,
Team
captain and organ transplant recipient Harry Ward says they hope to
follow in the footsteps of the Irish athletes at the London Olympics.
AFL
It's make or break for Zach Tuohy's Carlton when they take on Essendon tomorrow morning
Portlaoise
native Tuohy starts in the full back line for the Blues who need to win
their next three games to keep their AFL finals hopes alive
Essendon
are also in the hunt for a place in the top 8 and Carlton boss Brett
Ratten says there'll be no quarter given at the MCG
CRICKET
A finger injury has ruled John Mooney out of the Ireland squad for the ICC World Twenty20 Finals
Laois cricket club will face Knockharley in The Wallace Cup Final
at the North Kildare Club on Sunday while the Laois' third team are
also in a Midlands Cup Final on Sunday
The 3rds take on Bagnalstown in The Dick O’Neill Cup at Clongowes
RACING
This evening's seven race card at Tramore has been cancelled due to waterlogging on the track
It was set to be the first meeting of the festival at the Waterford venue
While the Midlands track, Kilbeggan, is set for upgrading works in the next year
The stableyard will be extended with 55 new stableboxes
Construction is due to commence at the end of the year with the project grant aided by Horse Racing Ireland
Last Saturday's card drew 6000 patrons to the Westmeath venue, their second biggest crowd of the summer
The seventh meeting of the season takes place next Friday
Thursday 16 August 2012
Fantasy Premier League
The new Premier League season is upon us...so that means it's time to chose a fantasy football team with the optimism that this could be a decent season and you'll remember to get up early on Saturday mornings to update your team. If you fancy beating our sports team and fellow listeners then join our league at 953584-232487
We'll be having leaders on the show to brag and all...
Wednesday 15 August 2012
Emmet McDonnell
New Offaly senior football manager Emmett McDonnell spoke to us about his appointment on the Sportszone