MICK McCarthy will be hoping the earth doesn’t move for the Republic’s trip to Yugoslavia next week.
An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale shook the capital Belgrade yesterday, one week before the side arrive for their European Championship qualifier with Yugoslavia.
The squad announced for the trip yesterday was largely as expected.
Niall Quinn has fully recovered from the back injury which ruled him out of the opening 2-0 qualifying win over Croatia in Dublin on September 5 and has been included in the 21-man squad.
Quinn scored in Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with Norwich on Tuesday night and is certain to earn his 64th cap in Yugoslavia next Saturday October 10, and also the clash with Malta at Lansdowne Road the following Wednesday.
Meanwhile, West Brom winger Kevin Kilbane is the only senior cap in the Republic’s U21 squad for the European Championship games against Yugoslavia in Zrenjanin on October 9 and Malta in Arklow on October 13.
Republic of Ireland: Given (Newcastle United), Kiely (Bury), Irwin (Man United), Kenna (Blackburn), Staunton (Liverpool), Harte (Leeds), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Babb (Liverpool), Breen (Coventry), Keane (Man United), Kinsella (Charlton), McLoughlin (Portsmouth), Carsley (Derby), McAteer (Liverpool), Kennedy (Wimbledon), Cascarino (Nancy), Quinn (Sunderland), Duff (Blackburn), Keane (Wolves), Delap (Derby).
FORMER world champions Wayne McCullough and Eamonn Loughran feature in a long list of Irish boxing stars who captured national U18 titles on their way up through the amateur ranks. Tomorrow night at the National Stadium in Dublin (7.30 start) seven talented young Ulster boxers will attempt to follow their example by lifting the 1998 honours.
Heading the list is solid light heavyweight Martin Mallon, one of two Newry teenagers with their sights set on taking the spoils back to county Down.
Mallon, (81kgs) coached by Seamus McCormick and co in the Scared Heart club, joins fellow Newry light welter Shane McKeown (St Patrick's) in the deciders.
From Belfast only Saints light fly Harry Cunningham and Paul McDermott (Holy Trinity middleweight) have made it through from the “city clubs” this time around.
The All Saints club continues to produce outstanding talent and three excellent young stylists have fought their way to the final confrontations.
With two Ballymena lads, Gary Morrison and Dermot Hamill, battling it out in the featherweight final, the club are assured of at least one medal celebration while Dermot’s cousin Thomas contests the lightweight final.
NEWLY crowned All-Ireland minor football champions Tyrone will be out in full strength in Omagh on Saturday to give local people a chance to view the Markham Cup at first hand.
Only Brian McGuigan and Gavin Wylie will not be playing in the charity match against an Ulster select, as the pair are involved in Ardboe’s AIB Ulster club championship tie with St John’s the following day.
The event has been organised to raise funds in the wake of the Omagh bombing and will be followed by a compromise rules challenge between Ireland and Ulster.
Joint-manager Mickey Harte conceded it would have been difficult to lift the spirits had the team lost Sunday’s AllIreland final, but urged as many people as possible to come long.
“This may only be an exhibition match, but we want the boys to play with heart and spirit,” he said
NATIONAL Hunt folk yesterday spoke with the kind of warmth only they can generate about trainer Gordon Richards who died in hospital at Carlisle on Tuesday night following a long illness. Former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody, who rode the Richards-trained One Man to success in two King George VI Chases, led the tributes.
“It’s a terrible loss and was one of the best – a great man and a great trainer,” said Dunwoody.
