DAMIEN O’Reilly, the man who stepped into the breach the last time Cavan were in crisis, didn’t rule out a return to management last night following the resignation of Liam Austin.
The 31-year-old took over as Cavan manager on a temporary basis when Martin McHugh resigned following the team’s defeat to Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final in 1997.
The versatile Mullahoran player, forced to bring his inter-county career to a premature end because of injury, took charge of the first half of Cavan’s National League campaign until Liam Austin was appointed on new year’s day last year.
“I hate to see Cavan in this situation,” said O’Reilly, “and although I couldn’t see myself getting involved at the moment I wouldn’t rule myself totally out.”
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THE vacant Antrim senior hurling management post has not attracted potential candidates, county chairman Joe O’Boyle confirmed last night.
Following Wednesday’s first meeting of the Antrim county executive in 1999, the hurling post was discussed but only three candidates are in line for consideration.
One candidate, Dunloy manager Seamus Elliot, said yesterday that he “wasn’t sure if he wanted” to become Antrim boss. He said that he had not been contacted by the county board recently and could not make a decision until he’d been invited to an interview.
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PINK Panther Jim Rock will tangle with Doncaster middleweight Jimmy Vincent in the first of a series of Brian Peters promotions in Dublin on January 22.
The enterprising Peters has lined up just four fights for his “Rock in Vicars Street” bill but promises a programme of entertainment for fight fans before the main event gets underway around 9pm.
Rock had been hoping to fight for Irish title honours on the bill but found no takers at light middle, middle or super middleweight. Rising Irish cruiserweight Cathal O’Grady, unbeaten to date, takes on Darren Corbett’s old foe Nigel Rafferty in a bout viewed by Peters as “a cagey test for Cathal.”
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GORT na Mona step into the spotlight this weekend as they represent Ulster in the 40x20 AllIreland Club Championship finals at Croke Park.
Gort na Mona has the chance of keeping the All-Ireland title in Belfast for another year.
In tomorrow’s semi-final they will play Munster champions Glenbeigh from Kerry while the other pairing is Garryhill (Carlow) and Ballaghadereen (Mayo).
The northerners line-up will be Paddy Crothers, John McGarry, Ricky McCann and Eddie Mallon but the team got a bit of setback this week when beaten in the local leagues by St Paul’s.
Still, the Gort na Mona boys will not doubt put that behind them and prove to be worthy Ulster representatives.
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Derry managers Adrian McGuckin and Eamon Coleman will be looking at more than 80 players next week in a novel senior football trials league.
Four different teams will be selected and will play each other on a league basis over a period from Sunday January 10 to Sunday January 17 (weather permitting). This will be done in an effort to look at the complete talent available to the managers.
Team A, The Moyolas panel: Ballymaguigan - Martin Rafferty; Loup - Ronan Rocks, Johnny McBride, Paul McFlynn, Finbarr Martin; Magherafelt - Gary Coleman, Jonathan Kelly, Jonathan Niblock, Dermot McErlean; Castledawson - Dermot Heaney, Adrian Heaney, Conor Gribben, Michael Gribben; Moneymore - Mark O’Neill, Gerard Diamond; Ballinderry - Sean Donnelly, Declan Bateson, Enda Muldoon, Nial McCusker, Darren Conway, Michael Conlon, Gerard Cassidy. Managers - D Barton, Noel Mullan, and P Young.
Team B, The Bannsiders panel: Newbridge - D Dougan and G Walls; Bellaghy - J Mulholland, G Diamond, J Cassidy, P Diamond, P Downey, C McNally, D O’Neill, C Scullion; Lavey - O Collins, K McCloy, M Hasson, S Downey, H Downey, B McCormick, G Doyle, G Cushnahan; Greenlough - Adrian O’Neill, Aidan McPeake, Vincent McDonald, Patrick O’Neill, Gareth O’Neill.
Managers - D Cassidy and P Crozier.
