HARD-hitting Ulster featherweight David Lowry is set to join the professional code with a possible link up with London manager Frank Maloney.
The province’s top amateurs are set to weigh in for the Ulster senior championships on February 6 but the 22-year-old Albert Foundry boxer looks certain to make the switch to the professional game before then.
Manager Maloney is due in Belfast next week to promote Damaen Kelly’s bid to add the British flyweight title to his Commonwealth crown. Kelly will meet Jason Booth on March 13 for the vacant title in a double header Sky presentation which will link up with the Lennox Lewis v Evander Holyfield World heavyweight battle in New York.
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CLIFTONVILLE are, as usual, proving hard to beat. They are however, not winning enough games and drawn outcomes will continue to force a realistic threat of relegation.
The introduction of Peter Withnell into an attack lacking confidence, will boost the champions today. It remains to be seen whether Withnell is a long term answer.
Glentoran love to play at Solitude and always raise their game for the task. It should prove an exciting affair with a pacey game suiting the Glentoran attack.
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DARREN Clarke wants to light up the world of golf this year – without lighting up himself. Clarke, runner-up to Colin Montgomerie in last season’s European Order of Merit, has given up smoking in the hope that being healthier will also make him a better player.
“I had so many second places last year and maybe now and again I was getting a bit tired coming down the final few holes,” said the 30-year-old Tyroneman. “I want to see if giving up cigarettes makes a difference – very few of the top players smoke.
“It’s also anti-social nowadays and sets a bad example. The better I play the more I’m on television and I think it looks terrible.
“A close friend died and I have had enough of it. I started when I was about 15 and smoked about 30 a day.”
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ROBBIE Keane helped Wolves to a 2-1 victory over Tranmere in the Nationwide League Division One at Prenton Park last night.
The Republic of Ireland international opened the scoring in the first minute, before Fernando Gomez made it 2-0 in the 12th minute. George Santos pulled one back for Tranmere in the 20th minute but it was not enough.
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ARMAGH’S full-forward Barry Duffy resumed county training this week ahead of the resumption of the National Football League.
Duffy has not played for Armagh since June’s Ulster SFC semi-final defeat by Derry and underwent a groin operation last September.
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PRESTON’S celebrations after scoring their first goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup tie on Monday night (pictured). When Kurt Nogan put the ball in the onion bag to give his side a shock 1-0 lead against last season’s double winners, club mascot the Deepdale Duck, was perfectly positioned to join in the euphoric celebrations.
He didn’t miss the opportunity and promptly found himself buried under a pile of Preston players much to the amusement of millions of SKY viewers.
