FERMANAGH county footballer Kieran Donnelly was among several Ulster players who lined out for the winning New South Wales team in the recent Australasian State Games.
GAA president Joe McDonagh and the association’s director-general Liam Mulvihill were among the dignitaries who travelled to the Willawong district of Brisbane for the championships.
The New South Wales team was captained by another Donnelly - Beragh man Stephen Donnelly, a brother of former Tyrone star Paul, while other squad members included another Fermanagh native Owen Carroll plus Emyvale clubman Paddy O’Brien.
For good measure, Toomebridge man Tommy Joe Johnston managed the victorious team.
Tommy Joe is credited by many within the club as the main reason for New South Wales’ haul of successes in 1998.
New South Wales crushed holders Auckland by 5-20 to 1-3 in the men’s football final with the Ulstermen all playing a starring role. Overall, it proved a successful championships for New South Wales as they claimed three of the four trophies that were on offer.
Western Australia were strong favourites for the women’s decider but the New South Wales women took the trophy back to Sydney.
The Ulster representatives on the winning women’s team included Trillick’s Marion Corry, Galbally’s Catherina McGahon, Catherine Donaghy and Carol Donaghy.
GAA president Joe McDonagh presented the trophies after the matches and was clearly impressed with the smooth running of the finals day: “This trip is an attempt by us to put in place better communication structures and to ascertain what we can do to assist the smooth running of the games in all states.”
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HOME hope Ken Doherty crashed out of the Irish Open at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght yesterday when he was beaten 5-1 by in-form Welshman Mark Williams.
Williams, who included his third century break of the tournament - 133 - in his victory now goes on to play John Parrott, who last night had a 5-2 victory over Grand Prix champion Stephen Lee.
The Liverpudlian’s win over Lee makes it six wins out of six for the 34-year-old, who collected his first title for 33 months when lifting the German Masters in Bingen last Sunday.
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RISING star Neil Sinclair is to face old foe, Derby’s Dennis Berry, for the WBF Continental European title in Thornaby, England on cable pay-per-view television on February 20.
Sinclair, a first round stoppage winner in all of his last three contests, including a stunning knockout of former British title contender Michael Smyth, will chief support a WBF middleweight championship bout between Cornelius Carr and America’s Simon Brown. Sinclair’s career at welterweight is back on track, looking towards potential British and other championship title chances in 1999.
