User:rorynoonanDate:21/02/2013Time:11:35:05Edition:21/02/2013Thuthurecho210213Page:56Color:
EE - V1
Evening Echo Nagle battle back to claim cup Jackson says
SPORT
SCHOOLS SOCCER
INSIDE SPORT TODAY SPORT EE - V1 User:johnroycroftDate:21/02/2013Time:10:43:34Edition:21/02/2013Thuthurecho210213Page:46Color:
Thursday, 46
February 21, 2013
EE - V1
Thursday,
47
Irish soccer star Ciara retires
February 21, 2013
SPORT
Cork crews start their title race in Abbeyleix
WOMEN’S SOCCER
By BARBARA O’CONNELL Republic CIARA GRANT, the of Ireland’s most capped has women’s footballer, announced her retirement from international football. on May Grant, who will be 35 senior 17, was captain of the past women’s team for the seven years. 105 She won a record-breaking caps and scored 11 goals having during a 17-year period in made her debut as teenager a 3-1 win over the Faroe
MOTORSPORT
By MARTIN WALSH are SEVERAL Cork crews Abbeyleix participating in Sunday’s opening round Manor Hotel Rally, the Rally of the Dunlop National Championship. Brian In the absence of Carrigaline’s, to not O’Mahony, who has decided Clonakilty’s, defend his national title, (Subaru Kevin and Martin Kelleher the local WRC) will spearhead challenge. the duo on It’s a daunting task for given the board an S9 Subaru WRC of more advanced technology three leading Subaru WRC’s of the winner the Star of the Month Award Coughlan entries. Since he acquired Evening Echo Ladies Sports Picture: Jim car last year, Park Hotel, presents the Rochestown Park Hotel yesterday. ex-Connor McCloskey in five events manager with the Rochestown in her honour at the Kelleher has competed Mandy Gabriel, Sales & Marketingwith a Hotel Spa voucher at a function the – the Circuit of Munster, for January 2013, Edel Thornton, Clare, Tipperary Stonethrowers, the Westlodge Donegal Harvest and Bantry. Hotel Fastnet Rally in won Eight years ago, the Kellehers of the Dunlop the Group N category with his series, more recently, a sabbatical brother Martin, taking enlisted the from the sport, Kevin co-drivers. services of several other the national, “We are hoping to do together in although we did an event on a 2009, Martin is back co-drivingsince time regular basis for the first By STEPHEN O’CONNELL we won Group N in 2005. car since the star Eel “I haven’t touched the to go and we CORK basketball for her Fastnet, but it’s ready forward to it,” Thornton was honoured are both really looking in the U18 superb performances finals with said Kevin. Niall and U20 national cup Former triple champion, claiming the WRC), Mel her club Brunell by Sports Star Maguire (S11 Subaru both in Evening Echo Ladiesfor January Evans and Declan Boyle, are the top of the month award S12B Subaru WRCs, Rochestown entry of at a function in the three drivers in the capacity the Junior Park yesterday. 146 with another 19 in popularity category highlighting the were her parof the Dunlop series. With her at the function O’Brien will Kanturk co-driver James Sean, brother Alan ents Christine and White (MG uncles, John Mcpartner Clonmel’s Roy the top and his wife Stephanie, Murphy, aunts S2000), who is also amongst Cormack and Timmy the leading 10 seeds. Meanwhile, Rita, nephews Daris that Catherine, Mary and entry in the Group N section Brunell club officials ragh and Cian and Ring of Castleisland’s, Alan her coach Kieran Cork Andrew Drumm and (Mitsubishi) and his west Another O’Leary. history at the co-driver, Adrian Deasy. Last month she created Liam Cork co-driver, Millstreet’s Arena as Singleton’s National Basketball notes for the double Moynihan, will call the (Renault Supervalu Brunell completed Doyle Tommy champiCup Longford’s, in the U18 and U20 National Clio R3). onships. the club since Elsewhere, the Cork contingent Thornton, who is with Cal McCarthy includes Clonakilty’s, points in her club’s Paul she was six, scored 19 (Honda Civic), Glanmire’s, and put in anothU18 win over Glanmire, Bandon’s, Browne (Honda Civic), as Brunell defeated er great display Escort), Lyre’s, Andrew Mahon (Ford decider. Corolla) Killester in the U20 Michael McKennedy (Toyota rewarded for her all of The 16 year-old was and Paul O’Connell (Honda) claiming the MVP 11. performances by whom compete in Class and in doing so beaward in both finals, Fintan Canty to achieve this Elsewhere, Rossmore’s Ger came the first player (Ford Escort), Dunmanway’s, Midleton’s, amazing feat. O’Connell (Ford Escort), Cotter represented and Sponsors Finbarr Oliver Plunkett Mark Dolphin (Ford Escort) (Ford Newbridge Silverware, was there on Doneraile’s, Johnny Curran and Mandy Gabriel a big entry for Thornton, presented withthe Street, of the Rochestown Park Hotel. Escort) are also on the behalf winner for January, Edel at the rally. Star of the Month Award Oliver Plunkett Street, Coughlan start ramp at Newbridge Silverware Evening Echo Ladies Sports Picture: Jim The first car leaves the gift from Finbarr Cotter, at 9am Newbridge Silverware yesterday. the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel Hotel Park an hour later. stage Rochestown opening the for to arrive at The first car is scheduled headquarters the finish ramp at rally at 5.20pm. will consist This year’s Dunlop series with the of eight rounds, culminating Bantry in ever-popular Fastnet Rally on October 27.
Islands. in an Her last appearance 2-0 win Ireland jersey was the 2013 away to Israel in a Euro qualifier last September. years “I’ve had a great 17 cap since I won my first against the Faroe Islands,” Grant said. to “It was a hard decision right make but now is the team is time to make it as the the starting to prepare for World Cup qualifiers. great “I have made some I friends from the players played played with and I also great with and against some players during my career. I played “I loved every game for Ireland and especially for the when I was captain past seven years. to put “It was a great honour out on the green shirt, lead family and the team in front of the friends and listen to national anthem. “I had great experiences likes of playing against the the USA Germany, France and win those and while we didn’t to be games it was still great involved in them. that we “It was disappointing major never qualified for a good finals, but there are now players coming through are better and stronger, long winner for January, Edel who Star of the Month Award the Rochestown Park and I hope it won’t be too at Evening Echo Ladies Sports before we make the winner for January, Edel Thornton, with her dad, Sean and mum Christine Picture: Jim Coughlan Star of the Month Award breakthrough.” assistant CEO Evening Echo Ladies Sports team award from Diarmuid O’Donovan,Picture: Jim Coughlan Hotel yesterday. Ireland senior women’s Thornton, receives her paid manager Sue Ronan Evening Echo. LEFT: Edel Thornton, tribute to her captain. missed with her brother Alan “Ciara will be badly and his family, Cian, because she was a great and and Darragh player, a great captain Stephanie Thornton, great role model. Irish U20 with the U18 and “She was the first caps woman to reach 100 National Basketball yesterday. which was a fantastic Cups will be achievement, and she Picture: Jim Coughlan of the remembered as one finest players ever. Evening RIGHT: she when her with played “I Echo Ladies Sports I was her made her debut and her Star of the Month manager when she played her Award winner Edel last game, so I’ve followed the way Thornton, with Barcareer every step of bara O’Connell and and the only disappointing to got Stephen O’Connell. thing is that she never Sue Picture: Jim Coughlan play at a major finals,” Ronan said. plays for Grant, who currently that she Arsenal, confirmed for her will continue to play club.
Thornton, with winner for January, Edel Star of the Month Award yesterday. Evening Echo Ladies Sports the Rochestown Park Hotel and John McCormack, at
her uncles and aunts, Timmy,
Mary Rita, Catherine Murphy with Coughlan Picture: Jim
s display Edel is honoured for final LADIES SPORTS STAR AWARDS
Evening Echo Ladies Sports Star winner for January Nagle’s Liam Coleman (second left) celebrates scoring a goal against Our Lady’s, Belmullet in the Umbro All-Ireland Schools John Murphy Cup final played at Athlone IT yesterday. Picture: James Flynn/APX
HURLING By JOHN HORGAN THE bulk of the Cork team to play Tipperary next Saturday night in the opening round of the national league will contain players with experience at this level with few surprises expected. The selectors choices have been lessened by the absence of two players, who would have been definite starters. Team captain Patrick Cronin, who is suspended, and Jamie Coughlan, who is recuperating from a hip operation will both be missing. Given the importance of the game, the first of only two home games in the group, the management is unlikely to experiment too much although St Ita’s and UCC player Seamus Harnedy is likely to be given a starting berth in the half-forward line after showing up well in pre-season outings. Anthony Nash is a definite between the posts and is likely to be fronted by Shane O’Neill, Steven McDonnell and Conor O’Sullivan. However, the form of Killian Murphy for UCC in the Fitzgibbon Cup makes him a contender too for the left corner-back position while Mark Ellis will be considered for the number three jersey The half-back line should feature Tom Kenny, Christopher Joyce and William Egan, who has been in outstanding form for UCC in recent weeks. Stephen White, from Ballygarvan, is another candidate with strong credentials for inclusion in that sector. Daniel Kearney is favourite to get one of the two midfield berths with Lorcán McLough-
NAGLE Community College, from Mahon, were crowned All-Ireland school soccer champions for the second time in three years in Athlone yesterday, ZULWHV 12(/ 63,//$1( The Cork boys were two goals down inside 16 minutes, to Our Lady’s, Belmullet, Co Mayo, but staged a storming second half comeback to lift the Umbro/FAI John Murphy Cup on a 4-2 score line. Goals from skipper Alan Browne and two more from man-of-the-match Liam Coleman gave Nagle and team manager Sean Geasley a result to celebrate in the midlands. The Nagle team were presented with a new set of Umbro gear on reaching the final, and the players opted for pink shirts and black shorts and it obviously proved to be a lucky omen on cup final day. ● Meanwhile, Cork City’s top-of-the-table U19 clash with UCD on Sunday has been postponed and a new date has yet to be confirmed. City’s senior team under Tommy Dunne are in Munster Senior Cup action on Saturday afternoon (2pm) when they play Douglas Hall at Moneygourney in a quarter-final clash. The winners will meet FAI Intermediate Cup holders, Avondale United in the semi-finals. The other semi-final is a bit more complicated with Everton or Bandon taking on either College Corinthians or Waterford who play on Sunday afternoon. ● See match report on P45.
Cork bosses will opt for experience in opener
Management will stick with tried and trusted for clash with Tipp lin accompanying him. Patrick Horgan and Paudie O’Sullivan are the only two definites in attack with Conor Lehane almost certain to be given the nod as well. Michael Cussen only returned to training on Tuesday after a hamstring injury sidelined him since the Waterford Crystal Cup game against WIT and it’s unlikely that he’ll start. Adrian Mannix, who showed up well in earlier games, Stephen Moylan, Luke
O’Farrell and Cian McCarthy are the other more likely candidates in attack where the focus of interest will be on the number 11 and 14 jerseys. The team might look like this: A Nash, S O’Neill, S McDonnell, C O’Sullivan, T Kenny, C Joyce, W Egan, D Kearney, L McLoughlin, S Harnedy, C McCarthy, C Lehane, S Moylan, P O’Sullivan, P Horgan.
he’s ready for his big day IRISH RUGBY
By SEAN McCARTHY IRELAND coach Declan Kidney will be keeping his fingers crossed that out-half Paddy Jackson EHORZ
won’t have a repeat of his Heineken Cup final display against Leinster last year. Jackson starts ahead of Munster’s Ronan O’Gara in Sunday’s crucial RBS Six Nations clash in Murrayfield. The uncapped Ulster player has been selected ahead of the vastly experienced Munster veteran who is kept in reserve on the bench should things go pear-shaped. It was a major call for coach Declan Kidney, not least as the 21-year-old rookie failed to cover himself in glory during his biggest match to date, the 42-14 defeat by Leinster in that Heineken Cup final when he had an absolute mare. Having already experienced the highs and lows of rugby at the highest level, Jackson insists he is ready for what awaits in Edinburgh. “I’ve come a long way since the Heineken Cup final. I’ll be more used to dealing with nerves and don’t think I’ll be as nervous,” he said. “After the Heineken Cup final I forgot about rugby for a while. I took a break, came back for pre-season and knuckled down. “I’m excited and looking forward to getting out there against Scotland. I was very surprised to be selected, I had butterflies in my stomach, but then I calmed down. “I’m really glad I’ve got my chance now. This will be the biggest game I’ve played in.” Jonathan Sexton’s hamstring injury has given Jackson the chance to prove he belongs in the Test arena and ambition prevents him from being satisfied by performing a supporting role. “We’re all competitive rugby players and everyone wants the starting jersey. “I know I’m young and coming through, but eventually that’s where I want to get to.” ● See P50 for more.
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