JOHN Duffy is out of Donegal’s team for the crunch Ulster Championship clash against Antrim on May 24.
The mercurial Ballyshannon man hasn’t shaken off a hamstring injury which sidelined him for last month’s epic league semi-final clash against champions Offaly.
Duffy now joins Brian McLaughlin on the injury list while major doubts still surround John Joe Doherty, Noel McGinley and Barry McGowan.
Duffy is attending a specialist in Dublin but hasn’t been able to train with the panel in the past four weeks.
“It’s a bit of a blow. John’s hamstring has been giving him bother and he’ll definitely miss the Antrim match,” said manager Declan Bonner.
“He has done nothing with the panel in the past month. It will take time. The others have been doing some jogging but are still some way from full match fitness."
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IRELAND may pull out of the proposed tour of South Africa this summer after the country’s National Sports Council last night warned players’ safety could not be guaranteed.
Following controversial rugby boss Louis Luyt’s refusal to resign from the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) yesterday, an international boycott is now likely.
The NSC’s warning threatens the planned tours by Ireland and Wales in the coming weeks, but it seems certain the IRFU will pre-empt the move by pulling out of the trip.
An Irish Rugby Football Union spokesman said: “The IRFU is well aware of events currently taking place in South Africa.
“It has closely monitored those developments, and will continue to do so,but the IRFU cannot comment about the forthcoming tour until it is in receipt of any official communication either from the South African Rugby Football Union or National Sports Council.”
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BRIAN Kerr has been here before, but he is worried how his U16s will react to all the attention when they rewrite the history books this evening by becoming the first Irish soccer team to play in a European final.
Having left for Scotland in relative anonymity a fortnight ago, the teenagers’ significant achievements have thrust them into the spotlight.
They will find themselves featuring live on RTE and Eurosport tonight when they play Italy in the European U16 final in Perth
The beauty of Kerr’s latest bunch of prodigies is that they are the product of hugely different footballing backgrounds.
Minor superstars like captain Shaun Byrne, who scored both goals in the 2-0 semi-final victory over holders Portugal, plys his trade with West Ham.
Goodwin and Miller are at Celtic, Grogan at Old Trafford.
But peppered among the world famous clubs, are the likes of Pike Rovers, Waterford Bohemians and Riverwally Rovers.
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EVERYTHING comes to those who have patience – that’s the motto of Alison Coffey who swept to success in the Ulster Ladies’ Open Championship at blustery Rockmount yesterday.
At the fourth attempt the 25-year-old Warrenpoint one-handicapper collected the title when she beat close friend Emma Dickson in the final by 3 & 2 after pushing out Helen Jones by 5 & 4 in the morning semi-finals.
It’s a rare double for Alison who last month won the Leinster Ladies” Championship at the K Club for a first time.
Last week at Royal Troon the Irish senior international was runner-up, just two shots behind British Strokeplay Champion Karen Juul in the prestigious Helen Holme Trophy.
