Sport

In The Irish News - Jan 16 1998: Linfield manager David Jeffrey wants to see Derry City return to the Irish League.

LINFIELD manager David Jeffrey wants to see Derry City return to the Irish League.

Coleraine Football Club will also back a return of the Brandywell club to the north, secretary Freddie Monaghan said last night.

Jeffrey added that he wants Linfield to play at Solitude, home of Cliftonville FC.

Linfield manager Jeffrey said Derry City in the Irish League, “would be great for football, the community and sport.”

“As a football manager I would like to see Derry City come back to the Irish League.

“I have no personal difficulties speaking about such an issue.

“Derry City were forced out of the Irish League for matters not relating to football. For the sake of football, I would like Derry to return.''

There is growing concern for the future of Derry City after it was reported yesterday some National League clubs want the Brandywell side to pay for its players captured under the Bosman ruling within the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Ireland.

Unnamed National League clubs are also reportedly strengthening efforts to have Derry thrown out of the league.

City, due to their geographical location in the north, can take players out of contract to the Brandywell free of charge under the Bosman ruling.

The club however cannot sign free agents from leagues in Northern Ireland, England, Wales or Scotland.

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SAINTS flyweight star Liam Cunningham will be first to pick up the gauntlet for Ulster in the second semi-final series of the AllIreland Senior Championships at the National Stadium, Dublin tomorrow night.

The 20-year-old Twinbrook man, whose aim this year is to clinch a Commonwealth Games place in Kuala Lumpur, tangles with the current national Intermediate champion, Aidan McGahan. Cunningham is the first of five northern boxers in action with Tom Clare (Buncrana) bringing up the rearguard action at super heavy.

Docker’s club southpaw, Pat O’Donnell goes up against inside-the-distance winner Michael Hobbs (Arklow).

Certain travelling 'fans' of skilful St Canice’s southpaw Paul McCloskey would be well advised to leave plastic drinks bottles behind when they enter the hallowed National Stadium hall.

Boxing doesn’t deserve any further missile-throwing incidents as witnessed at the recent Ulster Hall finals.

Neither does the industrious St Canice’s committee nor multi-talented McCloskey, a 17-year-old in the Prince Hamed mould.

Tyrone’s Jim McKee has to deal with last year’s beaten Irish finalist Swinford’s Adrian Sheerin in the light heavy category,

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FERMANAGH county secretary Paddy Donnelly has called for action to ensure that future Ulster Senior Football Championship home games be held in Irvinestown and not at a neutral venue.

In his report to Sunday’s county convention he will tell delegates that “the club, in conjunction with the county board and Ulster Council, must try to rectify this situation.

“However, the impetus must come from the club initially.”

A motion to the convention will also recommend to Ulster Council that when a home team in the Senior Football Championship is forced to play at a neutral venue, the corresponding fixture should also be subject to the same requirement.

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ADRIAN O’Connor bettered his Atlanta Olympic’s time yesterday at the Perth World Championships by .01 of a second but neither the minimum margin nor the time of 58.55 seconds for the 100 metres backstroke race gave cause for great joy.

Adrian was seventh in his heat and placed 35th overall from 51.

Younger O’Connor brother Hugh in the same race was fifth in his heat and 37th overall in 59.55 second. So it’s dow