Murray out for Galway

by Brendan Larkin
REGULAR goalkeeper Nigel Murray has been omitted from the Galway team for next Sunday's glamour under-21 All-Ireland hurling championship final against Cork at Semple Stadium.
Murray has not recovered from an ankle injury that has been troubling him since the semi-final against Kilkenny and has been replaced by Tomás Grogan who will be making his championship debut.
The Galway selectors have kept faith with the same full backline, half backline and midfielders, but have made one change in personnel and a couple of positional switches in their forward division.
Rory Gantley, who came on as a second half sub in the semi-final against Kilkenny, retains the right half forward position in place of Darren O'Shaughnessy who broken a toe in training.
The positional switches see Christy Connaughton move from full forward to the 40; Michael Kerins moves from left half forward to full forward and Michael Cullinane is now at left half forward.
Sunday's final is, according to Galway coach Noel Lane, a crucial game for hurling in the county.
"Our hurling has taken a severe battering this year in the other grades and it's vital that we win on Sunday to restore some pride in the game within the county.
"This is a big game for Galway. We are up against possibly one of the best teams seen at this level in years.
"If you look at their scoring record in the championship to date, they have amassed the staggering total of 16 goals and 65 points.
"Admittedly that total is from four games but it still gives you an idea of just how lethal their forwards are.
"We, on the other hand, have had only two games in the championship and with due respects to our opponents, those games were very one-sided affairs.
"We expected a much tougher contest from Kilkenny in the semi-final but we got it very easy. It would be fair to say we have not been tested at all this season.
"If we are to have any chance on Sunday we must match Cork's fire power. Our defence is solid enough but Joe Deane must be kept in check. Up front, Kevin Broderick is playing his best hurling and hopefully he can get through for a couple of goals, but Cork are equally strong in defence and scores will be hard earned.
"While Cork will start favourites, and deservedly so, I feel that if our lads play to their full potential we will be in with a great chance.
"It will come down to who wants the title most. There is an air of gloom in Galway over the defeats of our minors and seniors, and the under 21 side have every incentive to lift that gloom and restore some faith in our hurling," he said.
Galway and Cork have dominated this grade in recent years. Since 1990, the Westerners have won the title four times to Cork's one. Three years ago Galway defeated Cork in the semi-final by four points and went on to take the title with a comfortable win over Wexford.
Last year Cork regained the title after a 10 year absence and are confident they can win back to back titles for the first time since 1980-'81 when Tipp pulled it off.
GALWAY: T. Grogan; L. Madden, V. Maher, J. Feeney; F. Healy, M. Healy, G. Lynskey; A. Kerins, P. Walshe; R. Gantley, C. Connaughton, M. Cullinane; K. Broderick, M. Kerins, E. Cloonan.

O´ Sé to stay at Kerry helm until 1999

by Jim O'Sullivan
KERRY trainer, Paidí O´ Se, admitted yesterday that he had no difficulty deciding to remain at the helm for another year: "We have some unfinished business to take care of."
Nobody will be surprised, least of all Kerry football followers, that O´ Sé is continue.
The decision to stay could easily have been taken out of O´ Se's hands, when one considers the demands of the job and the way it impinges on his business in Ventry. However, it must be noted that his 'contract' with the Kerry County Board runs for a further year. Paramount, however, as he pointed out, is that he feels the need to deal with some unfinished business.
"I have a very good relationship with the present squad. I do not think it would be the right time to call it off," he said.
His decision to remain as trainer was influenced, he said, by the positive reaction of the players to the defeat by Kildare.
"We had a get together last week for Stephen Stack (who had retired from inter-county football) and most of the lads were there.
"As you could expect, they were all very disappointed at losing the All-Ireland semi-final. But, they are all very positive about the future.
"Time is passing on and, before they know it, they will be back into competitive football.''
O´ Sé said it was 'disappointing' to lose a player of Stephen Stack's calibre, commenting: "Obviously, Stephen has given his all for Kerry football. But, he was very positive that this was going to be his last year and he went out on a positive note.
"He had come in for a lot of criticism and some people looked on him as the most vulnerable part of the Kerry defence. But, he turned out to be its strongest part.
"That pleased him very much and I was certainly delighted for him.''
It was obvious, he conceded, that their sense of frustration at losing to Kildare was felt all the more as the All-Ireland final approached.
"I was very disappointed and so were all of the management. There's no shadow of a doubt about that. We made a massive effort during the year, but, things happened, like player defections and the death of Bernie O'Callaghan (a selector of last year's winning team), which took their toll.
"But, all credit to the players, before the game and after it. We are very fortunate that we have a very dedicated bunch," O´ Sé said. "And, I feel the lads will put this defeat behind them and get back down to business quickly. I still believe there is a lot of potential in this team.''
At a personal level, O´ Sé admitted that he had found the media attention during the year quite demanding at times. "I shunned away from that side,'' he said, explaining that he wanted to "keep a low profile."

'New age' Offaly outfit has the formula all others envy

by Justin McCarthy
LAST Sunday at Croke Park I sat centre ways in the Cusack Stand with the dug outs to my left and right. I had a perfect view of the proceedings and close enough to see what was happening in both camps.
In a way it was a bit different, two Leinster teams battling for supremacy. But it was still the biggest day in the hurling calendar. Would they do things differently, I thought to myself?
Different, I suppose, to say Cork or Tipperary who had been there on several occasions. Perhaps my traditional mind was swaying me. True, Kilkenny have seen it all before but Offaly, a rags to riches team this year for most of the season, they were nobody's child.
As the game was progressing both managers pranced up and down the line but I felt didn't really influence the players. And then Paudge Mulhare came racing out to Bond giving instructions. Fennelly had less disturbance except in the second half when they were being left behind. Had they been managers from a Munster team I feel they would have been more vocal, perhaps more exited, but these two were fairly cool. One could still see the influence of Paudge Mulhare, an old hand, a hurling man through and through.
He made a big difference on the sideline. As the game was getting on and Kilkenny were not making the headway I thought they would, Offaly were getting stronger and as the game entered into the last ten minutes it was one-way traffic.
The traditional team which showed some kind of form against Waterford were being pushed aside by a less traditional team — what have these Offaly fellas got that more famous counties used to have? Again my traditional mind was at me.
But deep down from watching so many games I now have come to realise that there are no certainties anymore. A different approach has taken place. I wonder is our way of thinking old fashioned? Are we judging players too much against past players and not recognising certain players to do the job and be effective on the big day?
Are traditional teams seen to be looking at big games differently and too selective in who plays where? If Simon Whelehan was in Cork or Tipperary, he wouldn't get on their intermediate team. Still last Sunday he came thundering into the game at corner back and kept Kilkenny's most dangerous player at bay. Kevin Kinihan, well he was good before, no not in Offaly terms, he's the stumbling block for all the good forwards. Take Johnny Pilkington, he comes and goes, and would not be considered a candidate for Cork or Tipp or Kilkenny, yet vital to Offaly and got better as the game went on. The three Dooleys, well they had their day, personally I really admire those fellows, brilliant stick men but to the big three counties not good enough.
Take Joe Errity — you can't convert a full back to become a lethal forward. But Offaly did. And then the biggest move of all, with Brian Whelehan. Granted he had the flu and may have to be moved but he didn't have any flu against Clare in Thurles and the classiest of wing backs is on the edge of the square. You'd be slated for doing something like this in the traditional counties but Offaly did it successfully.
It begs the question what lessons are to be learned by Offaly's success. Well they certainly know their hurling. They know how to position a team for a big game and they pick players who could do a job for them.
The past matters little to them, they can't compare fellas with those who played in the 50s, 60s or 70s because they had no successes really to go on. But they have genuine hurlers, some skilful, others brilliant, while all are committed to playing a vital role.
With such a small selection to pick from and the closeness of the hurling clubs there seems to be a great willingness to succeed.
Perhaps some in Munster want the "perfect" team of hurlers to take the field. Maybe we have too many experts looking in, too many comparisons to make and consequently are not finding the proper formula. Having too many to chose from doesn't help because several good prospects are not seriously looked at.
And we end up with a so-called team that resembles a former team but in a different era. Offaly have now captured the club, and county All-Ireland titles in the one year, a rare feat. They have two All-Ireland titles so far in the 90s and contested another.
It's time to sit up and take notice — Offaly are becoming the role model and nothing seems to be impossible to the Faithful county.

Limerick release eight of its panel

LIMERICK hurling boss Eamon Cregan has released eight of the panel that served him in the last Championship campaign.
Gone are high profile players Pa Carey, Dave Hennessy, Owen O'Neill, Sean O'Neill, Albert Shanahan, Ger Hegarty, Padraig Tobin and Anthony Carmody.
The manager has given the nod to Patrickswell trio Paul Carey, Paul O'Grady and Declan O'Grady as well as Brian Tobin (Mungret), Donie and Dave Ryan (Garryspillane), Pat Ahern (Tournafulla), John Morrissey (Ahane), Patsy Keyes, Stephen Lucey (Croom) and Brian Begley of Mungret.
Donie and Dave Ryan are brothers of Limerick star TJ Ryan and Stephen Lucey is the son of former Ireland rugby international Mick Lucey who also played for UCC.
There are others too on the extended list who will be notified about their inclusion over the next few days.
Michael Fitzgerald team liaison officer said it was the management's discretion to nominate other players at various stages.
Neither, he added, were those who had been released from the panel completely out of the frame. "They could be considered again at a later stage."
Limerick plan to stage one game per week starting next month leading up to the new year.
They are awaiting word from Croke Park on the format of the Oireachtas and they also intend taking part in the Southeast League which proved such a success last season.
It is envisaged that there will be an initial pool of 38 players reduced to 26 before the league commences next Spring.

Former captain blames Kilkenny

KILKENNY contributed to their own downfall in the All-Ireland Hurling final by getting their team all wrong.
That was the frank assessment of Kilkenny All-Ireland winning captain of 1993, Eddie O'Connor, who has accused Cats boss, Kevin Fennelly of ignoring some of the best hurling talent available in the county.
O'Connor said he was at a loss to know why former All-Star John Power was not called in to the panel at some stage or even given a trial.
O'Connor felt that Power's strength and experience would have been a huge asset in attack.
An attack, he said, that was somewhat lightweight in Sunday's final against Offaly.
He also made a strong case for stylish attacker Adrian Ronan, who he thought was at least good enough to be included on the panel.
O'Connor argued that the make-up of the Kilkenny team was wrong from midfield up.
He said Andy Comerford would have been better employed in a midfield role.
And O'Connor said, he was sure that Power would have been a better leader of the attack than anyone in Sunday's squad.
The Glenmore man was also of the opinion that Kevin Fennelly must have seen that he needed more strength up front.
But why, even up to the last minute, he didn't give Power a call was something that was puzzling a huge number of fans.
While he felt that Offaly played well, O'Connor thought that Kilkenny did themselves no favours at all by ignoring a rich talent like Power who was absolutely no use to the county sitting up in the stand at Croke Park on Sunday.

Leinster keep faith with
team that beat Ulster

by Karl Johnston
NOT surprisingly, the Leinster team which routed Ulster by 35-11 in the Guinness Interprovincial Championship at Ravenhill last week has been retained en bloc for next Saturday's European Cup match against Llanelli at Stradey Park.
Neither tight head prop Angus McKeen (calf muscle) nor wing-forward Pat Ward (hamstring) have recovered from their injuries and once again were not considered for selection.
Ireland's incumbent loose head Reggie Corrigan has shaken off the injury which brought a premature end to his South African tour last summer and came through last Monday's squad training session unscathed.
But Corrigan's lack of match practice means that Henry Hurley retains his place in the front row. Corrigan is due to play for Lansdowne against Suttonians in the Kitty O'Shea league next Sunday.
Fullback Kevin Nowlan, by-passed by the national selectors when their 47-man panel was announced earlier this week, no doubt will be keen to prove a point or two at Stradey Park next Saturday.
Nowlan, who won three Ireland caps last season before losing his place for the Five Nations Championship campaign, is the top try-scorer in the current Guinness Interprovincial Championship, with four in four appearances.
Llanelli and Leinster last met in the European Cup at Stradey Park in October 1996, when Leinster had built up a slender 17-16 lead at half-time. But with Frano Botica landing five penalty goals and two conversions, Llanelli came back to win by 34-17.
Henry Hurley and Victor Costello are the only survivors from that Leinster side. Next Saturday's team will again be captained by Gabriel Fulcher, the former Munster, London Irish and Cork Constitution lock.
LEINSTER: K Nowlan, G Dempsey, M Ridge, S Horgan, D Hickie; A McGowan, D Hegarty; H Hurley, S Byrne, E Byrne, P Holden, G Fulcher (capt.), T Brennan, C Brownlie, V Costello.
Replacements: B Carey, D O'Mahony, G D'Arcy, I McLaughlin, H Kos, D O'Brien, P Smyth.

Cork club primed up for a cup double

by Charlie Mulqueen
CORK GOLF CLUB set out on the first phase of what would be a magnificent double at Athlone this morning, when they take on Old Conna in the semi-final of the Bulmers Irish Junior Cup.
This is the first of the traditional three-day, end-of-season festival that draws clubs from all corners of the country in one of the most competitive, yet enjoyable, weeks of the golfing year. Cork, of course, are also through to the Senior Cup semi-finals, tomorrow.
The Barton Shield is the only one of five events due for completion today and there is every likelihood of some great matches to decide the inter-club foursomes title. First into action are County Sligo, the holders for the past two years, who are smarting after their sensational elimination from the Senior Cup in the Connacht decider by Connemara. Ken Kearney, last year's Irish champion, is again to the fore in the Sligo line-up, while their semi-final opponents, Grange, include former international Michael McGinley (a brother of professional Paul) in their quartet.
In the second match, Warrenpoint, powered by recently-crowned European champion, Paddy Gribben, will be fancied to overcome Limerick, who will be without Tim Rice, their Munster interprovincial. Rice has returned to college in Toledo. He is replaced by teenager, Martin Poucher, who has yet to figure in senior golf and, indeed, was a member of the club's Junior Cup side earlier in the year.
Gribben has certainly given a clear indication of how much the occasion means to Warrenpoint by passing up an invitation, as European amateur champion, to appear in this week's Lancome Trophy in Paris. The shield final is scheduled for 2.30 pm.
Prior to that, however, there will have been some hectic semi-final action in both the Junior Cup and Pierce Purcell Shield.
Cork have a nice blend of youth and experience as they face newcomers, Old Conna, in the first semi-final of the Junior Cup, though, there is rarely much between the teams at this level. Mark Ford is the sole survivor of the successful 1991 side. Diarmuid Leonard, a fine rugby wing-forward with Garryowen and Cork Constitution in his day, is a key man in the Old Conna line-up. The other semi-final is between Tuam and Strabane. The final takes place Friday morning.
Galway and Nenagh have proved themselves Pierce Purcell specialists and will be fancied to account for Woodbrook and Nuremore, respectively. Former inter-county footballer, Bosco McDermott, remains a key member of the Galway squad, having won his first title in 1988 and a couple of others since. The final will also be played on Friday morning.
The national finals are being played at Athlone for the first time. Local member, former international and current Irish selector, Eddie Dunne, dismisses suggestions the course will not prove a sufficiently severe test from the back tees. Only the Purcell Shield matches will go off forward markers. He also, rightly, pointed out that the course is in immaculate condition, with delightful views from the elevated clubhouse across Lough Ree. He said everything has been done to ensure a memorable three days.
Today's programme:
Bulmers Barton Shield semi-finals, 8. 30 a.m., Co Sligo v Grange, D. Dunne and T. Ford v S. Cranley and H. Hanley; K. Kearney and S. Heavey v M. McGinley and N. Ruane. 8. 50, Warrenpoint v Limerick, H. Armstrong and B. Orr v G. Vaughan and M. Poucher; P. Gribben and C. Campbell v M. Kemmy and M. O'Kelly. Final 2. 30 p.m.
Irish Junior Cup semi-finals, 9. 10, Cork v Old Conna, M. Ford v G. O'Gorman; P. Murphy v P. Hayde; J. Bruen v M. Kynes; J. Carroll v D. Leonard; J. McCarthy v P. McDonald. 10 a.m., Tuam v Strabane, O. McDonagh v S. McGranaghan; D. Coyne v D. Crawford; D. Scully v P. Kennedy; B. Cunniffee v R. McCay; J. Davin v F. Patterson.
Pierce Purcell Shield semi-finals, 10. 50 a.m., Galway v Woodbrook, P. Canney and W. Burke v T. Miley and L. Mahon; M. Breen and M. Corcoran v M. Hughes A. Miley; M. Murray and B. Keane v E. Cranley and G. Griffin; D. Byrne and B. McDermott v E. McSweeney and N. Murphy; J. Flaherty and T. Corcoran v D. Marsh and J. Murphy. 11. 40, Nenagh v Nuremore, T. Finan and S. O'Donoghue v N. Robinson and G. Edwards; T. Grace and L. Hackett v G. O'Gorman and T. McEntee; P. Martin and T. Gaynor v N. Kelly and P. Dempsey; P. Maloney and J. Hickey v K. Kelly and L. Daly; D. Ryan and B. Galvin v P. Ward and A. Weldrick.

Darina will relish longer trip

by Pat Keane
DARINA, who showed improved form at the Curragh last time, rates the nap in the D Cordell Lavarack Memorial Fillies Race at Gowran Park this afternoon.
The daughter of Danehill, unraced as a two-year-old, has been a model of consistency all season. Her Curragh second to Tadwiga, however, was in advance of anything she achieved previously.
Darina was always on the pace and it was only close home she gave best, by half a length, to the winner. That contest was over a mile and stepping up in trip now is all in favour of Jim Bolger's charge.
Bolger also has prospects with top weight The Bomber Liston in the Waterford Nursery.
Successful twice already, he clearly found five furlongs much too short when coming in fifth behind Wish List at Cork.The dropped in class, Pink Coral gets the nod to land the opening EBF Fillies Maiden. She cut little ice in the Moyglare Stud Stakes behind Edabiya at the Curragh last time.Pink Coral finished a well beaten ninth of 13, on ground that was almost certainly too soft, despite the fact she is by Sadler's Wells.
Aidan O'Brien's inmate is surely better judged on her debut run at Leopardstown on a faster surface. She ran a cracking race to be beaten a length and a half and the same behind Edabiya and Sunspangled.
There were a couple of smart sorts adrift of the selection then, which makes her the clear form choice this time out.
Ahinduclint has a leading chance of giving Gerry O'Neill his second winner as a trainer in the Milford Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old was beaten half a length by Fidalus at Limerick and now reopposes on 6lbs better terms.
Moneyclear, a creditable length runner up to Digital Signal at Tralee, gets the vote to keep the Frances Crowley bandwagon rolling in the Gowran Handicap Hurdle.

Kinane banned for careless riding

MICHAEL Kinane will miss the first day of the racing festival at Ascot next week, having picked up a two-day suspension for careless riding at Fairyhouse yesterday.
Kinane received the ban following his victory on Hamasah in the Mullinam Handicap but his mount was allowed keep the prize.
The suspension covers September 25-26, ruling him out of the fifth day of the Listowel Festival and also Saturday action, which could have included his involvement in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
The steward considered that the interference which Kinane and his mount had caused had not improved her finishing position and let the result stand, providing Dermot Weld with the second leg of a mixed double.
Simulacrum had initiated the double in the opening Tolka Maiden Hurdle, coming home a convincing six length winner from Aspiring. The winner was ridden by David Evans.
Trainer David Hanley, in Kentucky, missed seeing Nasanice win the Dunboyne Maiden in the hands of Eddie Ahern. Like Hamasah, this filly is owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum and she will now be stepped up in class.
The National Hunt action provided exciting prospect Dark Magic with his first success over hurdles. Dark Magic, off the track for over a year, overcame favourite Kings Banquet by a half a length.

Race crews carry on
regardless as days get shorter

THERE continues to be considerable racing activity even as the days grow shorter and this weekend is no exception, with Kinsale preparing for their final wrap-up of the season and Cove SC staging their rescheduled Cobh-Blackrock race.
The Blackrock event goes ahead on Sunday with favourable tides giving a start time of 14.00 for Class Four cruisers and class two dinghies, 14.30 for class one dinghies, 14.45 for cruiser classes 1,2 and 3, and 15.00 for the 1720 class.
In addition to the usual prizes there will be one commemorating the late Richard O'Reilly, a boating man long associated with Blackrock. There will also be some keepsakes awarded, on foot of the new found sponsors Alcatel.
Kinsale stage the McCarthy Trophy Race for cruisers at 14.00 on Saturday and the Perry Knox Gore Trophy All-In Race on Sunday at 14.30.
The Dragon Southern Championships will be held at Kinsale the following weekend.
There was a great deal of racing last weekend, and it was heart warming to see 47 competitors on the water at Kinsale for the first KYC-RCYC Optimist Combined Fleet Regatta. It was a tremendous success and now looks set to become an annual event for the youngsters.
The weather last Saturday played havoc with the opening of the Irish Championship for both the National 18 Class and the Skiff Class at Crosshaven and race officers, Dave Barry and John Moynihan, had to cancel. They squeezed in four of the five scheduled races off Cuskinny on the Sunday, with very tight racing and results often in doubt right to the finishing gun in shifty 15 to 30 knots of wind.
Tom Dwyer, with his crew of John Sullivan and John O'Mahoney, crowned a magnificent season by winning the National 18 title and taking it to his home club, the RCYC. The early honours were split between Dwyer, Anthony O'Leary and Tom Crosbie with each winning one of the first three races, and each also taking a second placing.
So it was all down to the final race to decide the issue. Crosbie looked good having taken a commanding lead but was steadily drawn in by O'Leary to the extent that they were together going around the top mark and on to the final run. But O'Leary and Crosbie were gybing and Dwyer took the direct route to the finish and came in ahead of both.
Dwyers, already winner of the Cock of the North British Championship, now goes on to the Irish Helmsman's Championship to be held in the 1720 keelboat next month. RCYC's Maurice O'Connell and Pete Smith triumphed overall in the Skiff Nationals.
The Collins Cup for Mirrors got underway at the weekend and will run to September 27. Top of the leaderboard after two races are Stephen and Rachel Woodward, with a first and a third. Even though race officer David O'Brien kept the fleet close to home on the Curlane Bank, increasing wind for the second race forced a large number of retirals.
Fresh winds at the RCYC on Saturday kept numbers small for the cruiser-racer fleet on Day Seven of the Heineken Super League and race officer, Dermot Foley, set harbour courses with a Grassy Walk finish. Jim Donegan's White Rooster, took both divisions in Class One as the only finisher. Dave Hennessy's Luas took Class Two and Stuart Nairn's Armorique won Class Three.
There was much less wind for the RCYC. traditional Naval race on Sunday with 23 cruiser-racers and four 1720's heading for the Haulbowline base. The falling tide and slackening wind provided some nail-biting moments by the Spit Bank, off Cobh.
In Class One, Channel, George Radley's Imp pipped Denis Doyle's Moonduster but the latter won Overall Echo. Yogi Bear won Class Two and Red Robin won Class Three.
The final race of the Carlsberg Mid-Week League was won by Luas in Channel and by Red Robin (K.Collins) in Echo. This Saturday there will a trophy race the RCYC while club cruisers have their muster to Ballycotton.
Other news from Crosshaven is local Olympic hopeful Mel Collinsand Fraser Brown (Ballyholme) are making real progress. Six months ago they embarked on a hectic training schedule with their new Olympic Class 49ER, doing the UK and Europe. They have done well against the best dinghy sailors and while not qualifying now for a grant under the International Card System help has come.
The ISA Olympic Committee have assisted them as number one 49ER team to race in the Sydney Olympic Regatta on September 16-26. The UK-McWilliams Series provided some excellent sailing at Kinsale last Sunday. In Class One, Echo, Miss Guided Missile (T and A. Kingston) won while in Channel, John Godkin scored in VSOP. Padraig O'Donovan's Chameleon won Class Two Echo, and Buster took Channel. Class Three was taken by Robert McCutcheon's Time Trapp.
Provisional results in the Cove September league were 1, Tom O'Sullivan's Tess;2, Richard Marshall Joyride in Balero; 3, Robert Keating and Barry McDonnell in Glannadg Contess.

French success nets
cyclist sports award

by John Murphy
OUTSTANDING success in France against top-quality opposition has earned Ciaran Power the Park Hotel Waterford Sport Star Of The Month award for August.
The 22-year-old Waterford city man won a stage in a four-day race cycling for his French club V C Saint Quentin and he also emerged as the winner of the green jersey. Later in the month, he gave one of his best ever performances, when he won the prestigious Grand Prix at Brancourt.
A winner of the sport star award three years ago, Power is currently participating in the Tour Of Hyhedo in Japan. He follows that with participation in two classics in France at the end of the month and the first week of October and on October 10 he will be bidding for world championship glory in Holland.
Presenting the award to him, Pierce Flynn, of the Park Hotel, said Ciaran Power is fast emerging as one of Ireland's top performers in one of the most gruelling sports. He said his victory in the FBD Milk Rás last May was another of his many outstanding achievement. He said Power's "potential is unlimited with victory in next month's world championships a very genuine possibility.''
Fr Pat Moran OSA, chairman of the adjudicating panel, said cyclists had won ten monthly awards since the inception of the sports star scheme seven years ago. That is a measure of the strength of the sport in Waterford and, in Ciaran Power, we have a man destined for the very top''.
The award winner said he was deeply honoured to receive this recognition for the second time in his career. He admitted to being very disappointed not to have been the May winner of the award, following his Milk Rás triumph, but, the award for August made up for that.
He said his schedule for the next month was a gruelling one, and he would be giving the world championships on October 10 his "very best shot."
Also present at the function were Ciaran's parents, Pat and Noeleen, his girlfriend, Lisa O'Connor, and members of the adjudicating panel.