On This Day in The Irish News 1996
RYAN GIGGS and Eric Cantona grabbed the goals in a 2-0 Champions League win for Manchester United over Rapid Vienna.
The victory in Vienna took Alex Ferguson’s side through to a quarter-final meeting with Porto, and in so doing; they became the first English side since Liverpool in 1985-86 to reach the last eight. Gigg’s goal arrived in the 23rd minute when Roy Keane made an interception and then the Welsh man exchanged passes with Cantona before finishing emphatically.
Cantona’s goal came 20 minutes from time, when David Beckham swept in a low cross and the French man arrived unheralded at the back post to find the net. Relieved though United were, the win came at a cost, with nasty injuries sustained by both Keane and Nicky Butt.
OISIN McCONVILLE paid a welcome return visit to Bass Ireland on Belfast’s Glen Road.
Seven years ago, McConville, as a 13-year-old, saw his brother Jim honoured with an Ulster GAA writers monthly merit award for an amazing goal grabbing performance in a Railway Cup tie. Yesterday, Oisin was the McConville receiving all the plaudits, with his parents Patsy and Margaret plus seemingly half of Crossmaglen looking on, after being named as Ulster GAA writers monthly award winner for November.
He was the unanimous choice after a magnificent performance in Crossmaglen’s hammering of their neighbours Castleblayney in the AIB Ulster Club semi-final. The 20-year-old put on a remarkable display both from frees and general play in the 12 point win over the Monaghan champions.
UUJ’s ladies footballers get top billing in the On Campus this week following two triumphs in two days.
On Wednesday last the Poly girls defeated ‘Old Firm’ rivals Queen’s to win the Higher Education Division One senior league title. Three days later, several of that side helped Jordanstown to the All-Ireland Freshers seven-a-side title at UCD, where the opposition included the Belfield side, Maynooth, Inchicore and the University of Limerick.
MIDDLESBROUGH Chairman Steve Gibson has warned stay-away Brazilian Emerson that if he continues to defy the club, it will cost him his career.
Emerson failed to return from Brazil in time for Tuesday night’s 2-0 Premiership defeat at Leicester, the third time he has gone AWOL in a month. The £4 million midfielder seems hell bent on provoking Boro into cutting their losses and selling him.
ARSENAL extended their Premiership lead to three points as Ian Wright scored his 20th goal of the season with a second half penalty, but Paul Merson was the star of the show.
Merson grabbed the first goal in a 3-1 home win against Southampton, with a brilliant strike following a controversial free kick just two minutes before half time. Substitute Paul Shaw scored the third for the Gunners right at the death after Eyal Berkovic had made it 2-1.
NIGEL MANSELL'S Formula One comeback moved a step closer last night after he accepted an opportunity to test drive a Jordan Peugeot in Barcelona next week.
Mansell will engage in a two day test after meeting Eddie Jordan at Silverstone yesterday to discuss the possibility of driving for the team next season.
ULSTER COUNCIL delegates have dropped a bombshell smack in the headquarters of Irish boxing headquarters in Dublin, voting to boycott any future meetings, which are chaired by Irish President Nicky White.
Provincial delegates voted overwhelmingly (13-1) in favour of adopting a tough stance on the issue that has split the sport’s top administrators down the middle. It was the appearance of White at an unofficial tournament at Maestag in Wales on October 18 that sparked off the latest crisis to hit the amateur game.
