Sport

In The Irish News - Aug 21 1997: Mickey Harte and Fr McAleer makes changes for All-Ireland minor semi-final

Tyrone's joint-minor manager of 1997, Mickey Harte
Tyrone's joint-minor manager of 1997, Mickey Harte Tyrone's joint-minor manager of 1997, Mickey Harte

TYRONE have a new goalkeeper and a new full back for Sunday’s All Ireland minor football semi-final against Kerry.

Gareth Maguire makes his debut in goal while Cormac McGinley gets his first championship start in the number three shirt for what will be a real Croke Park baptism of fire for the pair.

The Ulster champions show one other change, top scorer Stephen Donnelly returning to the attack after missing the provincial final with a broken collar-bone.

Managers Mickey Harte and Fr Gerard McAleer promoted reserve ‘keeper Maguire after he showed up well in recent training sessions.

The man to make way for McGinley, Tyrone’s third full back in the current series, is midfielder Kevin Hughes.

Harte said he was glad to have McGinley available again after a frustrating battle with a back injury.

He showed up well when coming into the Ulster final against Cavan as a second- half substitute.

In positional switches, Brian McGuigan moves to centre forward and Stephen O’Neill switching from left half to left-full forward.

Tyrone: G Maguire, K O’Brien, C McGinley, B Donnelly, A Ball, C Gourley, D McCrossan (capt), C McAnallen, C Martin, J Campbell, B McGuigan, S Donnelly, M Harte, R Thornton, S O’Neill.

Subs: A O’Connor, P Corry, G Hetherington, K Hughes, A Lynch, C Meenagh, C O’Hagan, D O’Hanlon, B Neill.

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NORTHERN Ireland No 1 Gary McDonald is preparing to take the plunge into the professional ranks for the forthcoming season.

The 27-year-old Belfast player will begin life as a professional in early October, when he will base himself in Manchester for the UK Tour, playing in tournaments all over England, Scotland and Wales.

McDonald, a Northern Ireland international at amateur level, is fulfilling a long standing ambition to try his luck among the game’s elite and he believes that the time is right for the change.

“Last season was a good one for me on the amateur scene.

“I decided to really put my heart into it and even gave up my job at Chicago Pizza Pie Factory to practice full time with a view to becoming a pro,” says Gary, who plays for Belfast-based clubs St Matthew’s and Westway.

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THE Republic’s hopes of making the world cup finals in France next year suffered a major setback last night after only managing a draw with lowly Lithuania.

Mick McCarthy’s men were unbelievably unlucky.

They created enough chances to score a dozen goals, played the visitors off the park but the ball seemed destined not to go in the net.

A frustrating night for the crowd was summed up perfectly on the stroke of full time.

Tony Cascarino, a second-half substitue for the disappointing Niall Quinn, chested his header down to Houghton whose diving header went agonisingly inches wide when it seemed easier to score than miss.

Whether the Irish were terribly unhlucky or just lacked the killer instinct in front of goal was the main talking point for the devastated fans streaming out of Lansdowne Road last night.

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BELFAST’S involvement in the World Under 21 Snooker Championships was dealt a near fatal blow yesterday with both Mark Jackson and Aaron Cahoon slumping to defeat at the Ivy Rooms in Carlow.

Mark Jackson’s ambitious double on the pink ultimately cost him the first frame and signalled the end of his match against Australian Ian Barber while Aaron Cahoon suffered a similar fate against joint Group F leader Erwin Brynseels.

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ULSTER had a dramatic win over Leinster in the opening match of the amateur interprovincial golf championships played at Ballybunion yesterday.

The Ulster team swept all four foursomes which put them in a key position for the afternoon singles.

Leinster put in a great fight in the singles and at one stage it looked as if they might overcome the large deficit of the morning.

However the red-haired Richie Coughlan, just back from the Walker Cup in Quaker Ridge, overcame Paddy Gribben in the first of the singles by one hole.

Ulster 7.5 Leinster 5.5

(Ulster names first):

Foursomes: P Gribben & R Elliott bt J Fanagan & N Fox 4 & 3; A McCormick & C McMonagle bt R Coughlan & P Lawrie 3 & 2; M Sinclair & C McElderry bt A Morrow & S Brown 3 & 2; S Paul & J Foster bt B Omelia & M McGinley 3 & 2.

Singles: Gribben lost to Coughlan 1 hole; McCormick bt Lawrie 3 & 1; Sinclair lost to Fanagan 5 & 4; Meharg halved with Fox; Paul bt Omelia 4 & 2; McMonagle lost to Morrow 1 hole; Foster lost to Dalton 1 hole; Elliott lost to Coyle 2 & 1; McElderry bt McGinley 2 holes.