GALWAY SPORT NEWS

STARTING WITH GAELIC GAMES, and Galway Football Manager Alan Mulholland named his team after training last night for Sunday’s National Football League tie against Louth at Pearse Stadium. The team shows two changes from the Derry starting fifteen. Adrian Faherty replaces Manus Breathnach in goals, while Gary Sice comes in for Jonathan Ryan in the half forward line. Nicky Joyce who started last week in place of Cormac Bane retains the no 14 spot.

The team in full sees:

In Goals Adrian Faherty
A Full Back Line of Colin Forde, Captain Finian Hanley & Keith Kelly;
A Half Back Line of Garreth Bradshaw, Johnny Duane & Gary O’Donnell;
A Midfield Duo of Thomas Flynn & Fionntáin Ó Curraoin;
A Half Forward Line of Gary Sice, Paul Conroy & Mark Hehir;
And A Full Forward Line of Michael Martin, Nicky Joyce and Danny Cummins.

Sunday’s game throws-in at 2:30pm, and its part of a double header at Pearse Stadium, which sees the Galway Hurlers take on Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup Final at 12:45pm. Galway Hurling Manager Anthony Cunningham is expected to name his starting 15 for that game after training tonight.

Derrytesk forward Joe McKee will be eligible to play in Sunday’s All Ireland Junior final against Clonbur after the club successfully appealed the suspension handed down by the Central Hearings Committee as a result of the scenes which marred the semi-final clash with Dromid Pearses. Derrytresk will not be allowed to represent Tyrone or the province in club competitions for the next five years. However, the club have had their fine reduced from €5,000 to €2,500.

Meanwhile Clifden take on Foxford at the Connacht Centre of Excellence this evening from 5:30pm in the Connacht Senior C Championship Semi-Final. Meanwhile a meeting of Coiste Peil Na nOg Delegates will take place in Ionad Peile na Gaillmhe, Loughgeogre tonight at 7:30pm to arrange the U14 and U16 League and Championship draws for 2012.

Turning to HURLING, and both GMIT & NUI Galway were in Round 2 Fitzgibbon Cup action yesterday. NUI Galway drew 1-09 apiece with DIT in Dangan, whilst GMIT lost out to UCC 1-12 to 1-10 in Carnmore.

Meanwhile because of a clash of colours Gort will wear a mainly maroon jersey with Green and Gold trimming in Saturday’s All Ireland Club Semi Final (2pm) at the Gaelic Grounds. Injuries to Mark McMahon and Richie Cummins appear to have cleared up ahead of the big game with Coolderry in Limerick.

IN SOCCER, Harry Redknapp is the red-hot favourite with the bookies to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager. The Italian surprisingly resigned from the post last night. He went after discussions at the Football Association over his reaction to John Terry being stripped of the captain’s armband.

The line-up for the fifth round of the FA Cup is complete, after Sunderland saw off Middlesbrough in their replay last night. They went all the way to extra time with their north east rivals before completing a 2-1 win. It sets up a tie for the Black Cats against Arsenal.

Celtic are 4 points clear at the top of the SPL this morning. They swept aside Hearts 4-0 last night. The match wasn’t without controversy, as the Jambos had a perfectly good goal chalked out early on. Replays showed that Stephen Elliott’s header had crossed the line.

Manchester United are falling behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in the table offootball’s richest clubs. The new Deloitte Football Money League report shows that the revenues of the Premier League champions continue to grow, but they’re not keeping pace with the Spanish giants. A failure to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League should see the gap further widen next year.

Ivory Coast will play Zambia in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. Arsenal striker, Gervinho, scored for the Ivorians in their one – nil win over Mali in the semi finals. Mali beat Ghana by the same scoreline.

Barcelona are through to the final of the Copa del Rey. Cesc Fabregas was on the scoresheet last night as they beat Valencia two – nil in the second leg of their semi final for a three – nil aggregate win. They’ll now play Athletic Bilbao in the final.

IN BASKETBALL, St Josephs The Bish take on Douglas Community School Cork in the U16A Boys Final this afternoon at the National Basketball Arena. Tip-off is at 2 O’ Clock.

IN RUGBY, Declan Kidney will name his team today for Saturdays showdown with France in Paris, Stephen Ferris is available after his yellow card from last week was overturned yesterday.

Leinster take a nine-point lead into tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 action. Isa Nacewa, Isaac Boss, Kevin McLaughlin and Shane Jennings all start as they host Treviso at the RDS. But all eyes will be on young Colm O’Shea who makes his debut in midfield. Also tonight, Glasgow can move above Munster with a win over the Scarlets and both matches are away at five-past seven. Connacht are in action tomorrow evening away to Cardiff Blues at Arms Park (7:30pm).

IN GOLF, Rory McIlroy is back at the scene of his maiden European Tour title. The Dubai Desert Classic takes place from this morning. It’s the seventh time the Ulsterman has played in the event.

IN BADMINTON, all Grade 9 and 10 players wishing to compete in Sunday’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles Competition at Oranmore Badminton Club, which is in aid of the Chernobyl Rose Trip to Belarus, must register by 10 O Clock tonight with Blathnaid at 086 3961184.

IN DARTS, There’s a huge match on night one of the Premier League Darts in Manchester. World champion Adrian Lewis takes on the greatest of all time, Phil Taylor. They teamed up last week to win the World Cup for England.

FINALLY IN HORSE-RACING, Wolverhampton is the only cross-channel meeting to survive the weather today. Back home and there’s a seven race program this afternoon at Thurles. And Our Tip of the Day, RAPTOR, goes in the opening race there at 1:30pm.

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Basketball Results (Galway Area):

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• Ballina 62  Moycullen  74

Men’s Division 2

• Claregalway 64  Eagles  42
• Titans Themis  43  Barna  75
• Na Gaeil  57  Maree 72
• Titans LT (Kiras)  53  Tribes  62

Ladies Division

• Claregalway  62  Tuam  14
• Moycullen  48  Barna  31
• Na Gaeil  45  Carna  30
• Titanides  35  Tribes  24
• Corrib Lakers  65  Athenry  43

• Eagles  50  Tribes  56
• Maree  47  Titans Themis  26
• Claregalway  78  Na gaeil  51
• Barna  46  Titans LT (Kiras)  60

• Barna 43  Na Gaeil   56
• Claregalway  61  Corrib Lakers  41
• Titans  60  Corrib Celtics   37
• Athenry  49  Moycullen 77

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FBD Football League Fixtures 2012:

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Wednesday 4^th January

FBD League Rd 1

Sligo IT v Galway Ballyhaunis 6.30pm.

Sligo v NUIG COE 8.00pm

 

Saturday 7^th January 

FBD League Rd 2

Sligo IT v London Ballinode 7.30pm

 

Sunday 8^th January

FBD League Rd 2

Sligo v London Kent Park  2:00pm

NUIG v Galway Tuam 2:00pm

FBD League Rd 1 Section B

GMIT v  Roscommon Ballyforan 2:00pm

Mayo v   Leitrim Ballyhaunis 2:00pm

 

Saturday 14^th January

FBD League Rd 3

NUIG v London Ballyforan 7:30pm

 

Sunday 15^th January

FBD League Rd 3

Sligo IT v Sligo Enniscrone 2:00pm

Galway v London Ballinasloe 2:00pm

Sligo IT v NUIG Tourlestrane 2:00pm

Galway v Sligo Tuam 2:00pm

FBD League Rd 2 Section B

Leitrim v Roscommon Cloone 2:00pm

Mayo v GMIT Ballinrobe 2:00pm

 

Sunday 22^nd January

FBD League Rd 3 Section B

GMIT v Leitrim Strokestown 2:00pm

Roscommon v Mayo Ballinlough 2:00pm

 

Sunday 29^th January

FBD League Final

 

Format for deciding League & Round Robin Format

Where Teams finish with equal points for

Qualification for the Concluding Stages, the tie shall be decided

by the following means and in the order specified,

subject to Clause (d) below -

(i)Where two Teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting of the two Teams in the previous game in the Competition. (ii) Scoring Difference (subtracting the total Scores Against from total Scores For)  (iii) Highest Total Score For.  (iv) A Play Off. (d) If Disqualifications, Retirements or Walk Overs

materially affect the outcome of the Points Totals

(Scores) in the League Stage of a Championship, there shall be Play Offs to determine Qualification for the Concluding Stages of the Championship,

Third Level Colleges have first call on the First 3 Players from a County.