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Back in the day - Down camogie boss fuming over 'unsporting' Cork - The Irish News, May 11 1999

DOWN camogie manager Bernie McNally was still fuming yesterday over events surrounding Saturday’s National Senior League 3-13 to 1-5 semi-final defeat in Cork.

Down played the first 20 minutes or so with only 13 players against Cork’s 15 after Cork apparently insisted the game go ahead at the appointed time.

McNally, along with some of her players, was travelling by car and when it became apparent that they would not make the 6.45pm starting time she contacted Cork county board officials requesting that the throw-in be delayed until they arrived.

“I was satisfied that the game would be held up until we arrived, but was amazed to find it in progress when we drove up to the pitch,” she said.

“I immediately went to the referee, but he claimed that Cork had insisted the game start whether Down had enough players or not.

“This is scandalous. After all it is our third trip to Cork inside a year and they could not even wait 20 minutes for those travelling 300 miles to a game Cork were expected to win easily.”

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LAVEY brothers Henry and Seamus Downey met with the Derry joint-manager Eamon Coleman last night to discuss the fall-out from the abandoned club game against Ballinderry.

Seamus Downey is understood to have been considering his future in the inter-county game after being struck while spectating at the game, while his brother Henry is also thought to have been annoyed with events.

In common with several county players from both the Ballinderry and Lavey club, neither have trained with Derry since the violent club game.

Declan Bateson was the only player from either club to represent Derry in the McKenna Cup tie against Monaghan in Castleblayney on Sunday.

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PADDY Gribben’s busy season is added to by his selection on an Irish four-man team to face South Africa at Co Louth this month.

The test match will be played on May 26 and 27 with two foursomes and two fourball matches on the first day followed by two foursomes and four singles to finish.

The four members of the South African team will also compete in the British Amateur Championship at Royal County Down and in the East of Ireland Championship at Co Louth.

Joining Gribben in the Irish side will be Gary Cullen (Beaverstown), Noel Fox (Portmarnock) and Andrew McCormick (Scrabo) with the nontravelling reserves being Johnny Foster.

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PORTADOWN striker Vinny Arkins has joined his manager Ronnie McFall in signing a new three-year deal with the Shamrock Park club. The 28-year-old Dubliner has scored 67 goals for the mid Ulster side since joining them just over two seasons ago.

He had been linked with a move to Glentoran, Linfield, or Newry Town but the support of Ports fans and the lure of Uefa Cup football persuaded Arkins to stay put.

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DAISY Hill-born Fergal Kenzie has been given an unexpected call-up by Limerick senior hurling team manager Eamon Cregan.

With stand-in goalkeeper Albert Shanahan ruled out for the next four weeks Cregan has turned to 21-year-old Kenzie who plays his club hurling with the local Monaleen club.