Sport

Back in the day - Ciaran Byrne and Padraig Matthews called up for Down duty - The Irish News, Feb 11 1999

Sean McAnee swings with a right but Holy Trinity’s Paul Lambe went on to win this flyweight semi-final
Sean McAnee swings with a right but Holy Trinity’s Paul Lambe went on to win this flyweight semi-final Sean McAnee swings with a right but Holy Trinity’s Paul Lambe went on to win this flyweight semi-final

DOWN have called up two players new to competitive inter-county football for Sunday’s NFL tie against Meath in Newcastle.

Burren’s Ciaran Byrne and Clonduff youngster Padraig Matthews are included in a new-look full-back line.

With Brian Burns moving to midfield and Paul Higgins named in the half-backs, Down U21 Byrne is given the number three shirt while Matthews takes the left corner-back slot.

Conor Deegan, who has not played for Down since last year’s Championship defeat by Armagh because of club commitments with Kilmacud Crokes, is named in the subs.

His two brothers Gregory and Gerard have been named on the right flank of the Mourne attack. Ciaran McCabe, who recently returned to the county squad, is given the number 14 jersey.

Cliftonville soccer goalkeeper Ciaran McLaughlin is named in the replacements but there is no place in the squad for Barry Breen who recently returned to county training after a long absence through injury.

Down were scheduled to announce their new team captain last night but this has been delayed until tomorrow evening.

Down: M McVeigh, F Caulfield, C Byrne, P Matthews, D Flynn, M Magill, P Higgins, B Burns, S Poland, Gregory Deegan, S Mulholland, J McCartan, Gerard Deegan, C McCabe, L Parr. Subs: C Rice, M McMurray, P McShane, S Ward, K Franklin, D McCartan, C Deegan, C McLaughlin, A Cole.

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ANTHONY Tohill has been selected at right half-forward in Derry’s team for Sunday’s home clash with Monaghan.

Tohill was an Allstar in the position in 1992.

Rory Boylan partners Dermot Heaney at midfield while it is Shane O’Kane’s turn to take the goalkeeping duties with managers Adrian McGuckin and Eamon Coleman rotating the position between O’Kane and Eoin McCloskey.

Fit-again Eamonn Burns leads the attack at centre half-forward while Joe Brolly is named at right full-forward with his clubmate Geoffrey McGonigle filling the number 14 jersey.

Derry: S O’Kane, S Donnelly, D O’Neill, S McGuckin, F Crossan, J McBride, G Coleman, D Heaney, R Boylan, A Tohill, E Burns, P Murphy, J Brolly, G McGonigle, J Cassidy. Offaly: P Kelly, C Daly, B Malone, D Foley, J Kenny, F Cullen, P O’Reilly, J Greenan, R Mooney, C Quinn, C McManus, M Daly, D Connolly, V Claffey, R Malone.

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KEVIN Brady, Antrim goalscorer last Sunday against London, is expected to start Sunday’s clash against Wicklow in Aughrim.

John McManus, whose indifferent performance against the Exiles was put down to a bout of flu, could be under pressure to hold onto his starting place.

Other changes in the Antrim forward line would not be a surprise.

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EVERGREEN Tommy Donnelly for the Mark Heagney club used short, sharp left hooks to good effect against a strong and durable opponent in James Russell of Lisburn in last night's Ulster Senior Championships.

In the third round it was a right cross from Donnelly that forced referee Gerry Daly to give the Lisburn man a standing count.

Russell tried hard in the final round but to no avail leaving Donnelly a convincing 20-7 computer scoring win.

Paul Lambe, an 18-year-old flyweight from the Holy Trinity Club, produced fireworks against the experienced Sean McAnee of the Ring Club, Derry downing his opponent in the first minute of the opening bell.

McAnee, however, produced a good comeback and was only 3-2 behind after the first round.

In the second round McAnee dominated and frequently caught Lambe with a clubbing right hand to lead 6-3 going into the third round but a good left hook and a right cross put the Derry boy on the canvas again.

After being caught with a left hook again McAnee tumbled to the canvas, he rose to his feet but the referee, Frank Rafferty, wisely continued the count.

In the bantamweight division, southpaw William Waite of the Holy Family Golden Gloves Club was technically superior to his aggressive opponent Gary Morrison from the All Saints Club.

Waite moved well and kept his composure throughout the first two rounds to lead 2-0.

Both boxers’ work became untidy in the third round which was shared 1-1 on computer scoring.

Waite, however, finished the stronger in the last round to record an 8-1 points victory.

Light Heavyweight: Tommy Donnelly (Mark Heagney) bt James Russell (Lisburn) 20-7; Patrick Smith (Keady) W/O Liam Reilly (Holy Trinity); Fly: Paul Lambe (Holy Trinity) K/O Rd 3 Sean McAnee (Ring); Bantam: William Waite (Holy Family GG) bt Gary Morrison (All Saints) 8-1 Feather: Michael O’Kane (Monkstown) bt Eugene O’Kane (Oak Leaf) 14-4; Dermott Hamill (All Saints) bt Hugh Brady (Newhill) 15-10 Light: Conor McAllister (Docker’s) lost to Eamonn Gillen (Antrim) 15-11 Light welter: Paul McCloskey (St Canice’s) bt Joe Harkin (Dunfanaghy) 12-2 Light middle: Martin Woods (Dunfanaghy) bt Francis Templeman (Docker’s) RSC3