THE gates of the newly developed Casement Park were opened last night ahead of Sunday’s Ulster Championship match between Derry and Cavan.
The £2.1million redevelopment has left the west Belfast venue in impressive shape and Antrim officials were getting excited at last night’s unofficial opening about the prospect of big time football returning to Belfast.
In just seven short months the work has been completed and concrete seating and terracing now encloses the entire ground.
Health and Safety restrictions means the official capacity will be listed as 32,500, although Jack Rooney, one of the key men behind the development, claimed the ground could hold closer to 40,000.
The concrete seats below the stand and behind the Andersonstown Road end can hold 9,000 spectators with a further 2,000 in the stand.
Antrim received £900,000 from Making Belfast Work (DoE), £400,000 from the Peace and Reconciliation Fund, £320,00 from the Sports Council’s lottery fund, IR£300,000 from the Ulster Council and Central Council as well as £200,000 from the Antrim Committee in raising the monies needed for the redevelopment.
The official opening of the ground will take place on September 5.
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Ban signals end of de Bruin’s career
MICHELLE de Bruin’s career was effectively brought to an end yesterday after an arbitration panel upheld a four-year ban imposed on Ireland’s triple Olympic gold medalist.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne dismissed an appeal by the 29-year-old swimmer, who was banned by the sport’s governing body FINA for allegedly tampering with a urine sample.
In a statement, CAS said they did not accept de Bruin’s argument that it was up to FINA to eliminate all possibilities other than the swimmer herself had tampered with the sample.
The statement concluded: “Based on the facts of the case and the evidence before them, the arbitrators were of the opinion that FINA had convinced them that the Appelant (de Bruin) was the only person who had the motive and opportunity to manipulate the sample.”
Although De Bruin won’t have to hand back the four medals she won at Atlanta ‘96, she could be forced to surrender the two gold and two silver medals which she won at the European championships in Seville in 1997.
The decision has been described as a black day for Irish sport by Bernard Allen, who was Ireland’s minister for sport when de Bruin shocked the swimming world at the Atlanta games in 1996.
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McGuinness set to make Donegal cut despite rib injury
McGuinness set to make Donegal cut despite rib injury By Eamonn O’Hara JIM McGuinness, Donegal’s midfield play-maker and captain, underwent X-ray tests yesterday for ribs damaged during Sunday’s thrilling Championship draw against Armagh.
Aches, pains, hospital examinations and strains were the order of the day as the first round rivals assessed the injury damage from the battle of Ballybofey.
McGuinness appears to be the main concern following his accidental collision with centrefield partner James Ruane after 29 minutes.
Donegal manager Declan Bonner indicated, though, that the player will be included in their team for this weekend’s replay at Clones.
