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Irish News Past Papers - Nov 17 1998: Fermanagh can win All-Ireland title but injury worries mount

FINAL WORRIES...Fermanagh star (left) Raymond Gallagher’s absence adds to manager Pat King’s All-Ireland B final worries
FINAL WORRIES...Fermanagh star (left) Raymond Gallagher’s absence adds to manager Pat King’s All-Ireland B final worries FINAL WORRIES...Fermanagh star (left) Raymond Gallagher’s absence adds to manager Pat King’s All-Ireland B final worries

FERMANAGH can win their second All-Ireland B title in three years on Sunday, yet manager Pat King is probably more concerned with the National Football League tie against Cavan seven days later.

“It doesn’t have the same feel as two years ago.

“It hasn’t had the same hype this time around but now that we are in the final, we will be looking to win it.”

Fermanagh will go into Sunday’s decider against Monaghan at Clones with a long injury list.

Half-back Justin Gilheaney is the latest casualty in the Erne squad after picking up a broken collarbone in Sunday’s NFL draw against Sligo.

Gilheaney won’t be seen in a Fermanagh jersey until after Christmas. King’s troops, particularly the defence, were already stretched close to breaking point prior to this latest injury.

Clive Fitzpatrick pulled out of Sunday’s match with a hamstring injury while Tempo’s Brian Jackson has an even worse hamstring tear, which is unfortunate for a player who is establishing himself in the county team.

Jackson’s club-mate Sean Breen is another player certain to miss the Clones clash.

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A VISA and passport row last night almost prevented the Republic’s soccer squad from being allowed into Yugoslavia for tomorrow’s Euro 2000 qualifying match.

Last-minute negotiations between the Yugoslavian authorities and the Irish team’s travel agent took place within 10 minutes of the FAI party and journalists landing at Belgrade airport.

Problems arose after the authorities in Belgrade insisted they would not recognise the Irish entry visas and threatened to force the jet to fly back to Dublin.

Dublin travel agent Ray Treacy said only the last ditch intervention of the Yugoslavian FA prevented the disastrous outcome of the team returning home and the match being postponed for a second time.

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ST MARY’S will continue to be without several of their inter-county stars in tomorrow’s Ryan Cup relegation battle against Dundalk RTC.

The Belfast college will be without Derry half-back Paul McFlynn, Armagh midfielder Alan O’Neill, Fermanagh’s Liam McBarron and Tyrone senior panelist Ciaran Gourlay.

McFlynn and Gourlay both have tonsillitis, McBarron has a hamstring pull which could also rule him out of Fermanagh’s B championship decider against Monaghan on Sunday, while O’Neill has a back strain.

On the plus side Ciaran McCrossan is available again after missing the defeat against Coleraine while Kevin Franklin came through Down’s NFL game against Clare on Sunday unscathed and will play.

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LA SALLE emerged victorious from a goal-packed MacNamee Cup semi-final replay at Belfast’s Rossa Park yesterday, beating St Mary’s CBS by 5-3 to 3-5.

Stars for La Salle were Jim Peoples and Gary Nelson, both first years, who between them contributed three goals and one point. Niall Grago (1-1), Stephen Harbinson (1-0) and Gary Rafferty (0- 1) completed the La Salle scoring.

St Mary’s responded with scores from Kevin Franklin (1-2), Noel Rooney (0-3), Darren Brunty (1- 0), and Niall Reilly (1-0), but it was not enough to prevent La Salle progressing to meet St Columba’s of Portaferry in the final.