26 March 1998 Edition
Sportsview: Sonia back on track
After her disappointments at the Atlanta Olympics and in Athens, Cork's Sonia O'Sullivan is happily back to winning ways following her performance at the World Cross Country championship in Marrakesh in Morocco. Sonia struck gold and became World champion in the Long Course Championship on Saturday and the 4,000 metres on Sunday. Hopefully a lot more success to come.
National Leagues
Limerick and Cork are the only two counties with 100% records after week two of the National Hurling League. League champions Limerick defeated All-Ireland champions Clare in Division One A at the Gaelic Grounds while Cork saw off the challenge from neighbours Waterford by seven points. In the top division Antrim pulled off a deserved win over Dublin in Casement Park, dominating the early stages of the game. It was the 22nd minute before Dublin scored, the men in Saffron eventually winning by six points. Galway outclassed Offaly at Athenry, scoring 3-15 in the process. Wins also for Kilkenny, who got a boost lst week with the annoucement that star forward DJ Carey is coming back from his short-lived retirement from the game. Tipperary drew with Laois.
League run-ins North and South
Top of the table soccer clashes at the weekend in the National League with the last run-in to decide the destination of the championship. Title condenders St Pat's and Shelbourne were both in action. St Pat's played out a 1-1 draw with Cork City. Shels and Finn Harps obviously had their minds on the FAI Cup Semi-Final meeting between the two on 4 April. They played a 0-0 draw at Ballybofey on Saturday night. Shels remain top two points ahead of Pat's, who have a game in hand. Cork City, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians trail the top two and are fighting it out for a place in Europe next season.
At the other end of the table last season's champions Derry City are four places from the bottom, with Drogheda and Kilkenny City propping up the table.
North of the border Cliftonville can seriously talk of titles after their 1-0 home win at Solitude. Chasers Linfield and Portadown played out a 0-0 draw, with Glentoran the only one from the teams directly behind Cliftonvllie to win. Loyalty to one's club these days is a very rare thing. Nice to see that Cliftonville's goal-scorer Jody Tolan in this day and age has put his trial with English Premiership side Bolton Wanderers on hold, as he has no intentions of missing out on Cliftonville's success if they win the title. As he said in Monday's Irish News: ``We have a real chance of winning the league title and it means so much for me to be part of the side right now. The team can make history, why would I want to leave behind the chance of winning the league with the club I love playing for.''
A big game in Scotland this week as Celtic take on fellow title contenders Hearts at Parkhead. And just when things were looking rosy more headlines hit the papers. Manager Wim Jansen has reportedly a `get out' clause in his contract at Celtic. He also admits that he and Celtic General Manager Jock Brown ``were not drinking pals''. All this before one of the most important games of the season. Jansen denies using Celtic to build his reputation in anticipation of a return to a lucrative job in Holland. We'll see. A sellout crowd expected for this most crucial of games. Anyway, I've secured my ticket and I'm off on the razz in Glasgow!
BY CIARAN HEAPHEY
National Leagues
Limerick and Cork are the only two counties with 100% records after week two of the National Hurling League. League champions Limerick defeated All-Ireland champions Clare in Division One A at the Gaelic Grounds while Cork saw off the challenge from neighbours Waterford by seven points. In the top division Antrim pulled off a deserved win over Dublin in Casement Park, dominating the early stages of the game. It was the 22nd minute before Dublin scored, the men in Saffron eventually winning by six points. Galway outclassed Offaly at Athenry, scoring 3-15 in the process. Wins also for Kilkenny, who got a boost lst week with the annoucement that star forward DJ Carey is coming back from his short-lived retirement from the game. Tipperary drew with Laois.
League run-ins North and South
Top of the table soccer clashes at the weekend in the National League with the last run-in to decide the destination of the championship. Title condenders St Pat's and Shelbourne were both in action. St Pat's played out a 1-1 draw with Cork City. Shels and Finn Harps obviously had their minds on the FAI Cup Semi-Final meeting between the two on 4 April. They played a 0-0 draw at Ballybofey on Saturday night. Shels remain top two points ahead of Pat's, who have a game in hand. Cork City, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians trail the top two and are fighting it out for a place in Europe next season.
At the other end of the table last season's champions Derry City are four places from the bottom, with Drogheda and Kilkenny City propping up the table.
North of the border Cliftonville can seriously talk of titles after their 1-0 home win at Solitude. Chasers Linfield and Portadown played out a 0-0 draw, with Glentoran the only one from the teams directly behind Cliftonvllie to win. Loyalty to one's club these days is a very rare thing. Nice to see that Cliftonville's goal-scorer Jody Tolan in this day and age has put his trial with English Premiership side Bolton Wanderers on hold, as he has no intentions of missing out on Cliftonville's success if they win the title. As he said in Monday's Irish News: ``We have a real chance of winning the league title and it means so much for me to be part of the side right now. The team can make history, why would I want to leave behind the chance of winning the league with the club I love playing for.''
A big game in Scotland this week as Celtic take on fellow title contenders Hearts at Parkhead. And just when things were looking rosy more headlines hit the papers. Manager Wim Jansen has reportedly a `get out' clause in his contract at Celtic. He also admits that he and Celtic General Manager Jock Brown ``were not drinking pals''. All this before one of the most important games of the season. Jansen denies using Celtic to build his reputation in anticipation of a return to a lucrative job in Holland. We'll see. A sellout crowd expected for this most crucial of games. Anyway, I've secured my ticket and I'm off on the razz in Glasgow!
BY CIARAN HEAPHEY