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The Irish News Archive - Aug 29 1998: Mickey Linden fires Mayobridge into Down final

FLYING TACKLE... Derry's Kieran McKeever is at full stretch as he attempts to block another score from Down and Mayobridge star Micky Linden at Newcastle
FLYING TACKLE... Derry's Kieran McKeever is at full stretch as he attempts to block another score from Down and Mayobridge star Micky Linden at Newcastle FLYING TACKLE... Derry's Kieran McKeever is at full stretch as he attempts to block another score from Down and Mayobridge star Micky Linden at Newcastle

Down SFC Semi-final Mayobridge 0-16 An Riocht 1-6

MAYOBRIDGE played scintillating football to completely outclass strong favourites An Riocht and reach the Guinness Down Senior Football final for the first time in over 60 years.

In a game of high class football it was power and fitness that saw the winners outscore, out-think and outrun An Riocht, in a game which was probably the best in the championship so far this year.

The winners signalled their intent from the opening minute when Mickey Linden took an Eoghan Woods sideline kick to send over the bar.

It was also fitting that the former Allstar should get the final point of the game to bring his tally during the hour to six, all scored from play.

While Mickey Linden pulled the strings in attack it was 16-year-old Benny Coulter who was the star player on the field.

His superb fielding and brilliant passes set up a lot of Mayobridge scores, while Paul O’Hare firstly at full forward and then at midfield also contributed strongly to their victory.

For An Riocht, Michael O’Rourke, Declan O’Reilly and Conor Annett tried hard in defence, in attack only Conrad McAlinden and Jim Clarke showed any danger.

Mayobridge later sent on substitute Glenn McMahon finished in a blaze of glory with young McMahon scoring two points and Mickey Linden notching the final score.

Mayobridge: E McConville, G Barry, J Coulter, B Grant, R McConville, F Poland, D Rooney (0-1), S McMahon, E Woods, B Coulter (0-1), M Linden (0-6), M Walsh, R Sexton, P O’Hare (0- 1), R Coulter (0-5).

Sub: G McMahon (0-2) for P O’Hare.

An Riocht: B McVeigh, M O’Rourke, E O’Rourke, P Fearon, C Annett, C Doyle, D O’Reilly, G Colgan, D Flynn, S Sloan (0-1), C McAlinden, G Cunningham (0-1), D Cunningham (0-2), M O’Rourke (0-1), J Clarke (0-1).

Subs: N Fitzpatrick for S Sloan; J Lavery (1-0) for M O’Rourke, C McArdle for G Cunningham.

Referee: C Broderick (Banbridge)

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MARK Carroll smashed Eamonn Coghlan’s 18-yearold Irish 3,000m record when he clocked 7:33.84 when placing fifth at last night’s Golden League meeting in Brussels.

The Corkman, who picked up a bronze medal in the European Championships 5,000m final last weekend, That finally erased the previous best of 7:37.60 former World 5,000 gold medallist Eamonn Coghlan ran in Oslo 18 years ago.

Ethiopian star Haile Gebrselassie won in 7.25.09 ahead of Keynan pair Luke Kipkosgei (7.32.77) and John Kibowen (7.33.49).

James McIlroy produced another sub 1.46 run to finish a creditable sixth in the 800m.

Kenyan star Joseph Kimuti won the race in 1.44.80 ahead of Swiss European silver medallist Antoine Bucher (1.45.03) and American Mark Everett (1.45.08).

Sonia O’Sullivan, after her unbelievable European Championships 5000/10,000 gold medal double, stepped down to the much shorter distance of 1,500.

European champion Svetlana Masterkova struck for home with 200 metres remaining even O’Sullivan, who possesses a blistering finish, had no answer to the Russian’s turn of speed. As Masterkova crossed the line in 3:58.95,

O’Sullivan slipped back to fourth but was more than content with her time, a season’s best 4:01.08.

Sinead Delahunty led the chasing pack in to claim fifth place in a season’s best of 4.04.04.

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ULSTER Rugby beat Glasgow Caledonians 32-15 in a friendly at Ravenhill last night. Both sides scored two tries, with Tony McWhirter and Andy Matchett touching down for Ulster.

But the difference between the sides was Ulster full-back Simon Mason, who slotted over five penalties and two conversions for a personal tally of 19 points