Hockey: Limerick Hockey Club, formed to reinvigorate the game in the city, play their inaugural match when they meet Cork C of I B in the Munster first division at Garryduff tomorrow, reports Dermot Ashmore.
Captained by former international Robby Ryan, who scored the winning goal for Avoca in the 1966 Irish Senior Cup final against Lisnagarvey, the new Limerick side include ex-members of Catholic Institute and LPYMA, notably Ryan, Kevin Fleming, Brian Downes and Malcolm Bell, as well as Dubliner Tom Connell from Corinthians.
Corinthians, meanwhile, continue to welcome players from near and far, with Mike McKillop from Zimbabwe being the latest overseas recruit. He and Colin Stewart were well contained as Aer Lingus gained full points in their opening Leinster Senior League outing last weekend. The Corinthians pair will be hoping to stretch the Avoca defence with greater success at Whitechurch Park tomorrow, but Trevor Dagg and David Hanna are bound to resist robustly.
Irish Cup holders Harlequins open the defence of their Munster title away to Bandon this weekend, still reeling from the news that they have been relegated to the B Division of next April's European Cup Winners Cup because the club was unable to play host to the competition, reports Mary Hannigan.
While the European Hockey Federation was left with little option but to draw a name from a hat, when none of the eight clubs in the A Division offered to stage the event, Harlequins were desperately unlucky to see their name emerge and be given the ultimatum: play host or be relegated. They now swap places with Italy's Libertas San Saba, who have been promoted after agreeing to stage the A Division.
"It's a big step down for us and it's a real pity for Ireland to drop down considering how well Hermes did last year when they won the bronze," said Karen O'Brien. "In saying that, I suppose because it's our first time in Europe maybe it won't be such a shock to the system facing opposition that won't be quite as strong, and what we have to do now is go all out to win gold and get Ireland back in to the A Division."
Motor Cycling: Four-time world superbike champion Carl Fogarty announced his retirement yesterday. The British star smashed his left arm in three places in the second round of this season's world championship at Phillip Island, Australia in April.
He had an operation to pin the arm but has struggled to regain strength and movement in the limb this summer.
At a special testing session at Mugello Italy at the start of this week, the 34-year-old realised he was fighting a losing battle. "All good things come to an end. It has to end some day," said Fogarty.
