User:rorynoonanDate:30/01/2013Time:14:24:31Edition:30/01/2013Wedwedecho300113Page:56Color:
EE - V1
Evening Echo
SPORT
Ireland’s Simon Zebo talks to the press at Carton House, Maynooth, Co Kildare ahead of their opening RBS Six Nations Rugby Championship match against Wales on Saturday.
Picture: SPORTSFILE
Con coach Walsh insists Zebo will light up the Six Nations
CORK CONSTITUTION coach, Brian Walsh, is predicting that Simon Zebo will be one of the stars to light up the Six Nations after the flying winger was selected in a very dynamic back three to face Wales on Saturday at the Millenium Stadium, 1.30pm. “I think this could be Simon’s year. Every time he’s stepped up a level he’s excelled and I think he will shine. “The back three (Rob Kearney, Craig Gilroy and Zebo) has a very dynamic look to it. Kearney has the experience and I think the two wingers will play well off Kearney. “It was great to see Peter’s (O’Mahony) contract get sorted as well and they’re both great clubman. They would be around the club quite a bit and both have climbed through the ranks quickly, so that’s a great fillip for the club. Irish coach Declan Kidney was another one full of praise for the Corkman, whom he reckons has put in a lot of time and effort improving the weak parts of his game.
IRELAND RUGBY
By SEAN McCARTHY “I’ve seen Simon even further back, from the time in my own school,” said Kidney. “He’s a fella who enjoys his rugby. Sometimes you wonder if a fella is just going to sit back on natural talent and just use that, but in fairness he has worked on his game, he’s willing to take on board the few things that are suggested to him, but by and large it’s up to a player to go away and work on his own game, and I think that’s what he’s done.” IRELAND: R Kearney, C Gilroy, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, S Zebo, J Sexton, C Murray, C Healy, R Best, M Ross, M McCarthy, D Ryan, P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip (capt). Replacements: S Cronin, D Kilcoyne, D Fitzpatrick, D O’Callaghan, C Henry, E Rddan, R O’Gara, K Earls. ● See P50 for more.
Rebels continue to test selection THE Cork hurling selectors will continue to experiment with their selection process for next Friday night’s Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final with Clare at Sixmilebridge.
The likelihood is that the bulk of the team that easily accounted for Waterford IT last weekend will be in action again, the one exception being Michael Cussen, who picked up a hamstring injury in that game which rules him out for this assignment. The selectors had hoped to give a run out to Kildorrery’s Peter O’Brien but he suffered a dead leg in his team’s defeat to Thomastown in the All-Ireland club semi-final and he is unlikely to figure. It will be no surprise if 14 of the starting team against WIT line-up again against Davy Fitzgerald’s Banner County and the likelihood is that Stephen Moylan will replace Cussen in the Cork attack. Looking ahead to the game and the long trek on a Friday night, Cork selector Kieran Kingston told the Even-
HURLING
By JOHN HORGAN ing Echo that not too many changes are envisaged. “We were very pleased with how the team performed in that game and it is our intention to look at them again.” Kingston revealed Cathal Naughton has resumed light training with the squad while it is hoped that Fintan O’Leary will be back in the equation for Friday night. ● Meanwhile, Billy Morgan’s UCC made a great start to the Sigerson Cup defeating UUJ in Dublin yesterday. Cork senior panellists Jamie O’Sullivan and Eoin O’Mahony played prominent roles in defence while Sean Mellett, Thomas Clancy, Kevin O’Driscoll (team captain) and Brian Coughlan also contributed handsomely to the 1-14 to 0-9 victory. UCC now meet St Mary’s Belfast in the quarter-final. ● See more GAA on P50-53.
CYBER SAFETY INFORMATION EVENING to mark
SAFER INTERNET DAY Tuesday 5th February 2013 7.15pm - 8.30pm CORK CITY HALL Parents, teachers, children and anyone concerned about cyberbullying and internet safety are welcome to attend this FREE event, which is being organised in association with it@cork European Tech Cluster.
Register your interest now by emailing Internet Safety Programme Coordinator, Avril Ronan at avril_ronan@Trendmicro.ie today or by calling 021-7307474.