FAI Harp Lager Cup final second replay Bray Wanderers 2 Finn Harps 1
Jason Byrne’s night at Tolka
IT’S the stuff that dreams are made of. Jason Byrne’s season looked over when he broke his leg in January at the Showgrounds in Sligo.
Last night the 20-year-old bagged a brace as Bray Wanderers came from behind to lift the FAI Cup beating Finn Harps 2-1 at Tolka Park.
For Bray and their captain Mick Doohan it was a night of mixed emotions. Doohan has played in losing two relegation battles this season for both Bray and Dundalk. But last night he lifted the FAI Cup which booked his side’s place in Europe for next season.
Finn Harps: McKenna, Scanlon, D Boyle, Dykes, Minnock, Mohan, Harkin, O’Brien, McGrenaghan, Speak, Mulligan.
Subs: R Boyle for Scanlon, Sheridan for McGrenaghan, Bradley for Mohan. Bray: Walsh, Kenny, Doohan, Lynch, Farrell, O’Connor, Tresson, Fox, Keogh, O’Brien, Byrne.
Subs: Smith for Farrell.
Ref: John McDermott (Dublin)
SEAMUS Downey will be available for Derry’s Championship Opener with Cavan at Casement on June 13 after receiving a one month suspension for his sending off against Dungiven last month.
Whether the Lavey full forward chooses to return to the Oak Leaf county set-up is a moot point after punishments were meted out following his club’s brawl at Ballinderry on May 3.
Downey was on the sidelines for the clash at Shamrock Park but sustained damage to his jaw, broken in a March NFL match, and had to undergo a check-up in the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Since the disturbances at Ballinderry’s Shamrock Park neither he nor brother Henry have returned to the county panel, despite discussions with joint-manager Eamonn Coleman.
THE squads have been finalised for tomorrow evening’s hurling challenge match between Galway and an Ulster Select at Strabane’s Sigerson Park.
The match, organised by the Strabane Shamrocks Hurling club, will benefit the Omagh Appeal Fund.
Galway, managed by Mattie Murphy, include in their starting line-up seven of the side who lost the National Hurling League final to Tipperary last weekend.
The Ulster select is managed by Antrim boss Seamus Elliott, who pitted his wits against the westerners in the divisional stages of the NHL.
The Saffron supremo includes six players from his own county in his squad and five Down men, including stayaway star Noel Sands.
Also taking part will be six players from Derry, among them dual star Geoffrey McGonigle, plus two from Tyrone and three from Donegal.
Match officials for the day will be Dickie Murphy from Wexford who has officiated at an All-Ireland senior and National League final, Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Bogle from the Strabane area.
Galway: Kevin Boyle; Michael Healy, Brian Feeney, Liam Hodgins; Nigel Shaughnessy, Fergus Flynn, Michael Donoghue; Tom Kavanagh, Brian Hanley; Pauric Walsh, Cathal Moore, Kevin Broderich; Fergal Healy, Donal Moran, Francis Forde. Subs: Noel Murphy, Brian Carr, Ronan Walsh, Brian Higgins, Declan O’ Brien, Fergal Gavin, Kieran Flaherty, Mickey Fahey.
Ulster Select (from): Seamus McMullan, Pauric McMullan, Liam Richmond, Owen McCloskey, Ronan Donnelly, Frankie McMullan (all Antrim); Stephen Murray, Paddy Monan, Michael Braniff, Gary Savage, Noel Sands (all Down); Niall Mullan, Geoffrey McGonigle, Michael Collins, Brendan Ward, Joe Young, Pat McCloy (all Derry); Marty Ward, Eddie Shields (Tyrone); Anthony McDaid, Ollie Flaherty, Martin Callaghan (all Donegal)
FORMER amateur champions Brian Magee and David Lowry will make their Belfast pro fight night debuts at the Maysfield Leisure Centre tomorrow night.
And the two stablemates are set to sample that special tumultuous home crowd support from a sell-out show says the organisers.
Commonwealth and British champion Damaen Kelly takes top billing on this SKY-boosted Maysfield bill with his two boxing buddies seeking to enhance their raw recruit status.
