Midfielder out of semi-final with ankle injury

by Michael Ellard
COMING on the back of Wednesday's stunning reverse in the Munster Under 21 championship there was more bad news for Cork football yesterday.
Towering midfielder Liam Honohan has been ruled out of 'The Reds' side to meet Meath in the semi final of the Church and General National Football League at Croke Park on Sunday week because of severely damaged ankle ligaments.
Honohan went over on an ankle shortly after the start of the second half of last weekend's quarter final victory over Derry and aggravated an old injury.
An x-ray has revealed that there is no bone broken but Honohan will be on a crutches for the next couple of weeks.
A bitterly disappointed Honohan said yesterday that he could be out of the game for up to five weeks and that if Cork were to qualify for the League final he would still be on the missing list.
Honohan is now hoping that his injury will have healed up sufficiently to enable him to play with his club Bishopstown in their opening round of the TSB county senior football championship against city rivals St Michael's on May 15.
"The revelation that Liam will miss the Meath match is a big blow to us but it is an even bigger blow to the player himself.
"He has been playing very well, showing tremendous commitment and has been really enjoying his football," said Cork team official and Munster selector Paddy Sheehan.
Meanwhile Mark O'Sullivan, two goal hero of Cork's runaway victory over Derry last weekend has been delegated the full forward berth on the Munster team to meet Ulster in next Sunday's Railway Cup football semi final replay at Omagh. The Newmarket striker replaces Kerry's Liam Hassett, who drops down to the substitutes bench.
Another Cork player, Padraigh O'Mahony, has been named at right half forward. O'Mahony came on as a sub in the drawn game in Killarney, but has now been given first team preference after the Munster selectors agreed to a request from the Tipperary hurling selectors to release Declan Browne.
Clare's Martin Daly, who started the drawn game in the half forward line has now moved to left corner forward, the position previously occupied by Browne. Munster will be represented by six Cork players, including Ciaran O'Sullivan, who is selected at full back. Provincial champions Kerry have five players on the side, Clare two, and Limerick and Tipp one each.
Munster will fly by Jumbo Jet from Shannon to Belfast for the game but will return home by coach.
MUNSTER: D O'Keeffe (Kerry), M O'Donovan (Cork), C O'Sullivan (do), A Martin (Clare), M Cronin (Cork), S Moynihan (Kerry), E Breen (do), D O´ Sé (Kerry), J Quain (Limerick); P O'Mahony (Cork), J Kavanagh (do), D O´ Cinnéide (Kerry); P Lambert (Tipperary), M O'Sullivan (Cork), M Daly (Clare); subs: J Hanrahan (Clare), A Lynch (Cork), B O'Shea (Kerry), N Murphy (Cork), R Power (Waterford), A Dorgan (Cork), B Ruane (Clare), G Keane (do), L Hassett (Kerry).
ULSTER: F McConnell (Tyrone), P Devlin (do), M Magill (Down), P McGuinness (Fermanagh), N Hegarty (Donegal), S M Lockhart (Derry), G Coleman (do); A Tohill (do), J McGuinness (Donegal); E Gormley (Tyrone), P Canavan (do), J McCartan (Down); J Brolly (Derry), T Boyle (Donegal), B Devanney (do).

Tipperary minor footballers off to winning start

Tipperary 2-10
Limerick 1-8
TIPPERARY got their Munster Minor Football Championship campaign off to a winning start at Thurles last evening but they had some anxious moments before they saw off the challenge of a game Limerick side.
In a very lively encounter, Limerick were left to rue some poor finishing while Tipperary's opportunism in attack helped them to two goals which proved decisive.
Limerick opened brightly but were rocked in the 6th minute when Kevin Mulryan shot to the net after a Colm O'Brien free was fumbled. This gave Tipperary the initiative and they played some delightful football as they opened up a 1-8 to 0-4 interval lead.
Limerick looked in trouble but they came out in much more determined fashion in the second half. They dominated for extensive periods but their failure to take their chances in front of goal saw them make little in roads in to the Tipperary lead.
With the game going into injury time, Tipperary's Conor McCarthy punished a lapse in the Limerick defence with a goal that clinched the issue, although Mike Mansell had a goal for Limerick three minutes later, netting from a 20 metre free against a disorganised Tipperary defence.
It was a fine win for Tipperary and it augurs well for their chances in these preliminary stages of the championship. Goalkeeper Derek Breen made one spectacular save in the first half and handled confidently all through. Nial Sheehan, Tony Doyle, Kevin Mulryan, Colm O'Brien and Joe Keane were others to impress.
For a determined Limerick, Peter O'Dea, Eugene Mulcahy, Alan Burke, Mike Mansell, Mark Keane tried hard.
Tipperary scorers; K. Mulryan, C. McCarthy 1-1 each, T. Doyle, C. O'Brien, J. Keane, S. McKeogh 0-2 each.
Limerick; M. Mansell 1-3, M. Keane 0-3, J.P Ahern, D. Long 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY; D. Breen, N. Sheehan, P. Foley, S. Maher, P. Ryan, O. Kearney, K. O'Brien, N. Fitzgerald, T. Doyle, C. O'Brien, K. Mulryan, B. Brooks, C. McCarthy, J. Keane, S. McKeogh, subs. N. O'Dwyer for Brooks, T. King for Ryan.
LIMERICK; S. O'Donnell, T. Mullane, N. Shanahan, P. McCarthy, P. O'Dea, E. Mulcahy, O. Keating, A. Burke, D. Fitzgerald, J.P. Ahern, M. Scully, M. Mansell, B. Moran, M. Keane, D. Long, sub B. Quirke for Moran.
Referee: B. Power (Waterford).

Last gasp Hickey goal a Clare winner

Clare 1-7
Waterford 2-3
A LAST gasp goal one minute into injury time stole an improbable victory for Clare's minor footballers in the first game of their Munster Championship campaign against Waterford at Cusack Park, Ennis last night.
In a dreary tie characterised by glaring wides from both sides, Waterfordwill be bitterly disappointed that they allowed the tie to slip from their grasp, losing valuable points in the process in the round robin series where both they and Clare are grouped with Limerick and Tipperary.
Entering added time against a 14 man Clare side, after centre-forward Shane Mangan was sent off in the 29th minute after his second bookable offence, Waterford led by a solitary point.
However, it was not to prove enough as Clare full-forward, Stephen Hickey, after 61 minutes, shot low past goalkeeper Declan Hickey from 14 yards out to give Clare victory.
Waterford managed to reply instantly with a point from Ciaran O'Connor. However, it would prove the last kick of the match.
Prior to the last few drama filled moments, the match had proved very poor as a spectacle and with five minutes remaining in the second-half both sides had only managed one score apiece. Playing with a strong wind in the first-half, Clare took a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 21 minutes.
However, a wonder strike from Karl O'Keeffe signalled Waterford's intent with a pile-driver from 25 yards that flew past Dermot O'Brien into the top left hand corner.
Michael Cliffe scored an equaliser one minute later.
However, Clare went into the break leading by one point, courtesy of a Brian Fitzpatrick free.
Waterford took the lead in the 36th minute through a converted penalty from Stephen Barron after Seamus Cunningham was adjudged to have been pushed by Ger Hayes.
Both sides swapped scores before David Monaghan narrowed the gap to one point preparing the way for full for-ward Stephen Hickey to grab all the glory.
Scorers: Clare: Stephen Hickey 1-0 D Fitzpatrick 0-4 (2 f) D Monaghan 0-2(2f) S Mangan 0-1
Waterford: K O'Keeffe 1-0 S Barron 1-0 M Cliffe 0-2 C O'Connor 0-1.
CLARE: D O'Brien; T McGann, T Madigan, S Rouine; N Considine, R Finn, M. Kelly; R Forde, J McInerney (S Madigan 34 mins); B Fitzpatrick, S Mangan, D Monaghan; B Crowley (D Caffrey 45 mins), S Hickey, E Kane.
WATERFORD: D Hickey; G Hayes, M Lavin, E Rocket; N Hennessey, P Power (C O'Connor 49 mins), E Hogan; W Hennessey, K O'Keeffe; M Walsh, S Briggs, S Barron; M Cliffe, S Cunningham, E Walsh
Referee: Willie O'Mahony (Limerick).

Defence Forces take on Allstars

by Jim O'Sullivan, New York
THE visit by an accomplished Defence Forces Gaelic team to America this week will be brief, taking in games against the New York Allstars tonight and again on Sunday.
But, the implications could be far-reaching for New York and their historic involvement against Mayo in this season's Connacht football championship.
The Defence Forces, combining Army and Air Corps, with no Navy representative, believe they are capable of winning the series.
This view would be based on the potential in the side, even though a number of the high-profile players, notably Kildare's John Finn and Anthony Rainbow are nursing injuries, and the thoroughness of their preparation.
However any kind of a heavy defeat for New York would be seen as a morale-blow in the context of being admitted to the championship.
Conversely, a successful outcome to this weekend's games would have a very positive effect on their build-up to the game in Castlebar.
The seriousness with which the Defence Forces are approaching the games is indicated by the fact that the players trained a few hours after arriving here on Wednesday. Their hotel in Yonkers, is well away from downtown New York, its location favoured because of its proximity to Gaelic Park and nearby Van Courtland Park, where training sessions will be held every day.
Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Dave Stapleton, travelled over with the party and, while he has official business in the city, his presence indicates the importance with which the Army are treating the tour.
In another context they have been recognised by the different county managers in Ireland, among them Mick O'Dwyer. Four of his players, Finn, Rainbow, Dermot Earley and Padraig Brennan, are included in the panel, which is managed by Sean Finnegan.
Amongst the playing personnel, best known of the others would be Cork defender Mark O'Connor, who makes no secret about his disappointment at not being able to break back into the team, Tom Ryan, the Roscommon captain, and Clare wing-back Enda McGuane.
John Finn is rooming with Dublin star Jim Gavin and, while the pair are opponents off the field, in their professional life they are both Air Corps pilots.
Finn is recovering from a leg muscle injury and may not be risked for the first game. That would disappoint him because, a few weeks after Kildare's All-Ireland final appearance last September, he was invited out by the Donegal team to play in the New York championship semi-final.
"Unfortunately, I ruptured a quad with the first ball I went to. So, my memories of football in New York would not be the best.''
Mick O'Dwyer, he said, fully endorsed the trip. "He sees them as two very competitive games for the Kildare players. We need sharpness and the build-up for the championship starts here.
"By training with the Defence Forces and playing with the high pedigree players we have, it offers us the opportunity to play at a top level and to improve our sharpness for the Offaly (championship) game on June 13.
Following his initial injury, Finn missed all of Kildare's four pre-Christmas games in the League. Then, he suffered further misfortune when the other quad went. "It's a slow, healing process. It was disappointing to miss last Sunday's League quarter-final, but, hopefully I am on the road to recovery.''

Wexford make just one change

by Diarmuid O'Flynn
WEXFORD make just one change in personnel from the side that lost week's derby game with neighbours Kilkenny, for the final round game in the National League hurling series, in Gorey next Sunday.
Wing-back Declan Ruth is rested, to give a niggling hamstring injury a chance to recover, so Larry O'Gorman moves to Ruth's slot, with Colm Keogh coming in to the corner.
Dave Guiney was not considered, as he still hasn't recovered from a hamstring injury.
Wexford's interest in the League ended with that defeat, but it is a measure of their performance, and a statement of how seriously they are taking this game, that the side remains virtually unchanged for this game, which is of such importance to their old rivals from Cork.
This is a must-win game for the reigning champions, who must further hope that Tipperary lose to Waterford, if they themselves are to qualify for the semi-final.
However, even those two results in isolation may not be enough to qualify the Leesiders for the final stages. Currently well behind Tipp in point difference (1.62 to 1.41), to advance further, they need the combination of themselves winning by enough and Tipperary losing by enough to satisfy the mathematicians, come Sunday evening. It's a little complicated. And more than a little unlikely.
WEXFORD: D.Fitzhenry; C.Keogh, G.Cush, E.Furlong; L.O'Gorman, L.Dunne, R.Guiney; A.Fenlon, R.Quigley; L.Murphy, M.Storey, P.Codd; T.Dempsey, G.Laffan, C.McGrath. Subs: P.Carley, S.Flood, D.Ivers, D.Ryan, S.Colfer, R.McCarthy, M.Jordan, R.Hassey, E.Scallon.

Keane, Leahy out for vital tie with Munsters

by Barry Coughlan
ALL-IRELAND league hopefuls Garryowen are running scared in advance of their tie with Young Munster at Clifford Park tomorrow.
The odds against a Young Munster victory and the possible fall-out of Garryowen were cut yesterday with the news that Shane Leahy and Killian Keane are struggling with injuries.
Both have leg injuries and that has prompted coach John Hall to delay selection and give the two every chance of recovery.
If Leahy is ruled out it would involve just a straight swap with David Peters, but the scenario in relation to Keane's injury could be more complicated.
"It could involve switching a few players around," said a spokesman for the club.
Earlier in the week everything in the camp was looking much more rosy than in Young Munster circles.
Though the Clifford Park side have no chance of making the semi-finals, they would still take great delight in taking another scalp, and it should be remembered that they denied the light blues of a league title in the past with a spectacular victory at Dooradoyle in the last game of the season.
Young Munster coach Brian Hickey does not need to produce words of warning for Garryowen. The Dooradoyle club are well aware of what lies around the corner.
"You go out to win every match. There is no such thing as lying down and taking it easy in this game, particularly in Limerick. Young Munster will be going out to win and win well. There is no such thing as sentiment in that city," said Hickey.
Mike Lynch is ruled out through injury and Peter Clohessy is away in Argentina playing with the World XV to celebrate Argentina's Centenary year.
But if Leahy and Keane were to miss the game it could be a huge loss for Garryowen and it would balance the issue.
Garryowen are in second place with a healthy points difference but, like leaders Cork Constitution, they could still end up outside the top four were they to be beaten and other results went against them.
Four teams — Constitution, Garryowen, Lansdowne and Buccaneers — are all locked together on 14 points apiece.
Shannon and St Mary's come next as the only challengers on 12 points.
Lansdowne and Buccaneers clash in Ballinasloe and the winner could take all (unless they play a clever draw — which both sides deny will happen).
St Mary's could be the dark horses given that they are lining out against Galwegians, who have already been demoted.
Then, at Temple Hill a spectacular contest is in prospect between Cork Constitution and Shannon.
These old rivals have battled it out on many big occasions in the past but this could hardly be bigger — at least from Shannon's point of view.
With a big points difference, Constitution could still afford to lose and go through, but they wouldn't want to put themselves through that sweat.
For Shannon, the stakes are much higher. They have to win to have any chance and they probably have to win by a decent margin as well because they cannot take risks about what St Mary's might do in Galway.
Dungannon are certainly through, even though a few things still have to be sorted out — like one more win. DLSP are motoring well but Wanderers, Old Belvedere and Malone have games in hand. Nervy times for the Kilternan club.
At the bottom, it's all down to how Old Wesley do against Bective, how Dolphin fare in their match with UCC and how Skerries fare against Dungannon.
Midleton fans will travel to Belfast in force as they go in search of promotion at CIYMS.
Club spokesman John Colbert expects well over 200 people to travel from the East Cork town to support the red devils and points out that it probably won't be like an away fixture at all.
Joint coach Tom Mulcahy, who will bark the orders off the pitch as colleague Damon Urlich sorts things out on it, is happy that the Midleton supporters could outnumber the Belfast club.
"We have brought big crowds to Ballina and Ards. This could be the biggest because there is so much at stake. It's a big day for us," he said.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: T. Keating, A. Guinan, B. Carey, M. Jackson, D. Johnson, A. McGowan/N. O'Donovan, N. Assaf, D. Kavanagh, S. Byrne (captain), P. Jordan, H. Kos, R. Casey, R. Wheeler, L. Cullen, R. Rogers.
MIDLETON: G. Colbert, M. O'Mahony, N. Murphy (captain), J. Horgan, M. Colbert, J. Holland, D. Urlich, R. McArdle, M. Corkery, G. Eady, M. Cullinane, A. McCarthy, B. O'Connell, G. Lynch, I. Dunne.

1992 Gold medalist ready to tip the scales for a win

by Brendan Mooney
MICHAEL CARRUTH promises fireworks for his return to basics tomorrow night when he takes on the former British welterweight champion, Chris Saunders, at the National Stadium.
It will be a nostalgic return to headquarters for the WAA world champion who graced the stadium with distinction since he first boxed for a national senior title at the age of 18.
Since then he has done it all and while he fulfilled a long held ambition by taking the World Athletic Association title last year, the highlight of his career to date has to be his gold medal performance at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.
Since joining the paid ranks he has always wanted to return to the National Stadium where he won four national senior titles in three divisions.
Long periods of inactivity threatened to send Carruth into oblivion after he joined the overstocked Frank Warren stable.
When he eventually fought the tough German Michael Loewe for the WBO title he had to travel to Aachen where he lost on a disputed hometown decision.
When the promised returned never materialised the WAA title went some way towards satisfying his hunger but it was not the main course.
He intends to build on it and he will lay the foundations at the Stadium tomorrow night.
"I have not been as excited in a long time," he admitted. "I mean it will be exactly like old times."
When he boxed the Barnsley man in Mansfield back in June 1996 Carruth turned one of the most exciting performances of his career to win on a 10th round stoppage.
"Obviously I would hope to repeat that," he said. "But we are talking about a tough and rugged opponent."
"Don't be put off by the fact that we have not heard much about him for the past couple of years. He is an ex-British champion so the calibre is there and he still carries a very big reputation.
"He is a rugged opponent who likes to come forward with the double jab. He tries to get inside and dictate terms from close range.
"I would hope to pick him off but, let there be no doubt about it, this guy is coming here for a fight. He is going to have a go. But I should have the psychological advantage."
Carruth was speaking from the training camp in Drogheda where he has been preparing for the fight before returning to the Capital today for the lunch time weigh-in at Shelbourne Park.
This will be a big night for Dublin fans who will have another opportunity to cheer on middleweight Jim Rock who takes on Michael Alexander from Doncaster and former jockey, Willie Valentine, who has a four round engagement with the Newtownards bantamweight, Steve Quinn.
However, this will be another big night for former European junior champion, Cathal O'Grady, who meets Brockley cruiserweight, Kevin Mitchell, over a scheduled eight rounds.
It may be scheduled for eight but unlikely to go the distance with O'Grady keen to get going again after missing the last Vicar Street Show with a throat infection.
Both Carruth and Rock have now joined O'Grady in the Brian Peters stable and Carruth admitted yesterday that there is a buzz about the place. "It's all very exciting and it means that we will get plenty of exposure at home," Carruth said.
With another professional show scheduled for Dublin on June 19, Brian Peters has ushered in a whole new era for boxing in the Republic.
"It's the first time it has ever been done," the Meathman said. "There was a period of 10 years when we had just three professional fights down here."
The fact that TV 3 have rowed in with extensive coverage of boxing has proved an added boost.
Peters has been associated with boxing promotions since 1993 when he promoted Wayne McCullough at the National Basketball Arena with Prince Naseem Hamed on the undercard.
He was also involved with the promotion of Steve Collins and Chris Eubank at Millstreet and Pairc Ui Chaoimh, McCullough again at the Point, Collins and Cornelius Carr at The Point and Lennox Lewis in Dublin also.
It was only in recent times, however, that he became involved in Management and, apart from boxers like Carruth, O'Grady and Rock, he has an interesting newcomer to this island in action tomorrow night in Martin O'Malley from Washington who was involved in a box-off for the Olympics last time round.
A member of a family of 16 his parents hail from Mayo and tomorrow night he will box Peter Buckley from Birmingham in an eight round lightweight contest.
While in Ireland he played hurling in Kilkenny and, to date, he has won all of his eight professional fights - seven of them inside the distance.

McMahon's world qualifier
bid in California

by Brendan Mooney
MARIE McMAHON will chase a qualifying standard for this year's world championships when she lines up for the 10,000m at the Mount Sac Relays in California tomorrow.
The 24-year-old Clare girl was shattered by her performance in the long course race at the world cross-country in Belfast.
The following day a blood test showed her iron levels were low and this could have accounted for the fact that she felt tired for a long time after running the McDonnell's Cup A Soup national cross-country in Stranorlar.
She had been attributing that to the trip over from the US and then back again in just a matter of days but her performance in Belfast, where she finished 77th, sent her looking for the cause of the problem.
Since returning to Providence she has been working on the low iron level and is hoping that she can benefit this weekend.
"It would be nice to get a qualifying standard for the world championships. You don't get many opportunities at 10,000m."
"But then I could start preparing for the championships and maybe qualify at 5,000m as well."
Her coach, Ray Treacy, is hopeful but he has left her in no doubt about the task ahead. He told her not to take any chances and, if she is not feeling 100% during the race to pack it in and think about the next day.
Some of her best performances have come off the back of disappointing runs - showing a tenacity and ability to bounce back that were features of John Treacy's immense talent.
And, like John Treacy, she honed those talents at Providence College where she blossomed under the direction of John's older brother, Ray.
A few years ago she led Providence to their first ever NCAA cross-country title and finished second in the individual contest.
She has an indoor NCAA 5,000m title and a number of Big East titles to her credit and represented Ireland in the 5,000m at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Meanwhile James McIlroy will almost certainly get his outdoor season under way at the BLE Games in Santry on May 9.
The Larne lad who just missed out on a medal in the European 800m in Budapest last year was taking time off to sit an exam in Belfast yesterday.
He arrived back from warm weather training in Cyprus with his coaches, Sean and Maeve Kyle, last week and went to a weekend training camp in Surrey. He had gone a full 30 days without missing a day's training and will travel to the Bahamas for the Pan American Games on May 26.
There he will race against the Cuban record holder, Norberto Tellez, who was fourth in the 800m final at the Atlanta Olympics before going on to take silver in the world championships in Athens the following year.
Sean Kyle does not want him to go to the Bahamas without a race behind him and likely to ensure he has a run by putting him in the BLE Games at Santry on May 9.
He is on target for a big year. Apart from his training in Cyprus where he reeled off 48.2 for 400m and blazed 22.4 200m runs, all his physiology tests are showing he is moving in the right direction.
East Cork AC herald the beginning of the summer road racing season with their annual four- mile road race, The Castlemartyr 4, at Castlemartyr this evening (8.00pm).
This is the first and one of the most popular events on the summer calendar with prizes for the first six men and first three women as well as vets and juniors with teams of two to score (excluding prize winners). Changing facilities will be available at the Castlemartyr Community Hall.
Togher AC's annual open sports is also another big early season event and takes place on Sunday week, April 25, at The Mardyke (1.30pm).
There are more than 60 events on the programme catering for juveniles up to under-17 as well as juniors, seniors and vets. The senior men's programme will be comprised of 100m, 400m, 800m 3,000m and shot with 100m, 1,500m, shot and long jump for senior women and a junior men's 1,500m.

West Cork's Keohane to
compete in Euroseries

by Martin Walsh
THE EFDA Euroseries begins in Zolder in Belgium on Sunday with Clonakilty's Michael Keohane, amongst a line up representing some 11 countries. A series, that over 11 years has guided the likes of Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard, Rubens Barrichello onto Formula 1 grids, is seen as a vital cog for the future stars of motor racing.
Keohane, races with the Fortec outfit and will have Briton, Darren Malkin, as his team mate.
"I can't wait for the series to begin. There is no doubt it will be very tough. You just have to look at the entry with Thomas Scheckter, Jacky Van der Ende, Takuma Sato and Paul Edwards, to mention a few.
"I have raced in Zolder before and that should be of some benefit. It is important to get the season off "to a good start and in that respect, it would be great to get some championship points," the 18-year-old West Cork teenager said.
The competition in the EFDA series will be intense, and although he had a brief flirtation with the series last year, when he competed in a few rounds, a full season of 10 double headers begins in Belguim on Sunday. His programme also takes in the Europa Cup at circuits in the UK and the Leinster Trophy in Mondello next September is also on his busy itinerary.
Leading the impressive array of drivers is Thomas Scheckter, 18, son of former F1 champion, Jody, driving with the AR Motorsport. The South African and his Dutch team mate, Jacky Van der Ende, will probably be the team to beat.
Japanese star, Takuma Sato, races with Diamond Racing and has won the opening round of the Europa Cup in Donington where Keohane took fourth place. Sato is one of the quickest drivers to come out of Japan and will be watched closely over the season.
Another outfit, Vergani, the 1997 championship winning team, will be represented by Chilean, Cristian Mackenna and Brazilian, Carlos Domingos.
Apart from Keohane, the other Irish connection in the EFDA Euroseries centres on the Meritus team run by the Thompson brothers from Wexford. American Paul Edwards is their main driver and he won the Winter series last year. Qualifying for the double header takes place tomorrow with the races on Sunday at 11am and 4.50pm.
The Red Mills RIAC National Rally Championship moves to Monaghan on Sunday where Niall Maguire, in his McElvaney/Dawn Farms Subaru, bids for his first championship success of the season. Beaten on a tie-break on Sunday last, Maguire's opposition will include his Kerry rival, Gabriel Snow, also in a Subaru Impreza, Daniel Doherty (Subaru Legacy), Robert Moffett (Escort ), Ray Breen (Escort WRC) and James Harrison (Escort Cosworth).
Twenty reserves have already been slotted in to various starting slots, however, defending Red Mills champion, John Gilleece, is too far down a further list of 44 reserves to have a realistic chance of starting.
Elsewhere, a new season of the Darby O'Gill's Autocross Championship begins in Doyle's Pit, at 12 noon, on the outskirts of Killarney. The Specials of Ger Brennan, Gordon Percy, Alan Byrne and Richard Percy, are the main contenders.
In Tralee, the Kerry Motor Club are holding a Autotest, also beginning at noon and there is a full programme off Kart races in Kilcornan, Co Limerick.
In motorcycling, a total of 17 races are down for decision at the Fingal MC Irish and Clubman's Short Circuit Races at Mondello.
Star of the last outing, Kieran McCrory, is a contender.

Oxx takes easier option with Rafayda

by Michael Clower
JOHN OXX has decided to run Rafayda in the ten furlong R & A Bailey Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday rather than in the Kilkenny 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes over three furlongs less.
The Currabeg trainer said yesterday: "We look on Rafayda more as a middle distance filly than a miler so the longer race will suit better."
Rafayda won the Group Three C L Weld Park Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh last October on the second of her two starts.
Oxx added that he will run Listowel winner Apparatchik in the 1,000 Guineas Trial and Akbar in the Icon 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes. This Doyoun colt made a winning debut at Tipperary and was then third to Athlumney Lady in a Group Three at Leopardstown. He finished a length and a half behind Saffron Waldon that day and Aidan O'Brien's colt will again be in opposition.
Oxx added than Namid will reappear at the Curragh on Sunday week in the Tetrarch Stakes which has been renamed the Desert King Tetrarch Stakes after the subsequent dual classic winner who won the race two years ago.
"Namid may need the run but he is shaping up well and he is ready to have a race," said Oxx of his Anglesey Stakes winner.
Jim Gorman's Cobourg Lodge, winner of last season's Birdcatcher before finishing third in the Horris Hill at Newbury, will also have his first race of the season in the Tetrarch.
The owners of the colt paid £2,500 to put him in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at last December's second entry stage but there are doubts about him getting the trip.
Gorman said: "He stayed seven furlongs last season but not much further.
"We will have to see how he gets on in the Tetrarch where either Kevin Manning or Jamie Spencer will ride."
Pat Hughes, though, is eyeing a more immediate target with Lawz who scored over ten furlongs at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Co Carlow trainer said: "Lawz came out of that race in fine form and so he will go again at Leopardstown in the Pavilion & Conference Centre Handicap. Shane Kelly, who rode the horse at the Curragh, will again have the mount."
His Song, a big disappointment in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham, again ran well below his best at Aintree a week ago. But Mouse Morris has resisted the temptation to put him away for the season.
Morris said: "His Song seems very well in himself and so I am going to run him at Punchestown. He is in the Heineken Gold Cup but he is also in other races and I am not sure which he will go for."
Morris added that he intends running Boss Doyle, off the course since being pulled up in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown in early February, in the Whitbread Gold Cup at the end of the month.
The introduction of the Tote's new American computer system seems sure to be further delayed.
The casual staff met in Dublin on Tuesday night and it was agreed that a postal ballot would be held on the offer made last week. By law this will take 14 days and the staff then expect the Tote make an improved offer. Furthermore, once agreement is reached, the staff will need to have two or three training sessions with the new equipment. Tote Ireland had originally hoped to introduce the equipment at Punchestown and it then pencilled in the Naas meeting on May 5 as the new start date. But this also looks out and it now seems unlikely that it could start much before the end of next month.
French jump trainer Jacques Ortet has confirmed he is making plans to bring over Franco Reine Elodie for the IR£120,000 Heineken Gold Cup Chase at Punchestown on Wednesday week.
Franco Reine Elodie has won nearly £200,000 in prize money.
A spokesman for the trainer, who has a stable of 80 horses in Pau near Lourdes, said: ''We intend to make a serious challenge at Punchestown and this weekend we will be assessing the form of the Irish and English horses in this race.''
Christophe Pieux, who has won the last nine golden whips for the French jump jockeys' title, has been booked to ride.
Meanwhile Punchestown are leaving no stone unturned, literally, for their four-day racing Festival on April 27-30.
One of the famous stone walls and the double bank on the back straight have had to be demolished as part if the track widening process, to ensure there will be plenty of new racing ground to facilitate the extra Shell racing day on the Friday.
However, there will still be two double banks to be jumped.
Ruby's (named after Ted Walsh's father) in front of the stands and the old Double Banks at the far corner of the track.
Runners will also have to jump one existing stone wall as well in the traditional banks races in addition to two new obstacles being erected.

Disastrous comeback for Bradley

by Michael Robson
BELEAGUERED Graham Bradley suffered more misery yesterday at Cheltenham but remained optimistic of a favourable result for today's meeting with the Jockey Club.
Disaster struck on the jockey's return to action 24 hours after being bailed on a charge of conspiring to cheat when his only ride, Country Star, suffered a fatal injury.
Bradley, however, refused to be downcast and was still hopeful of clinging on to his riding licence.
The decision will be made after the Gold Cup-winning rider has appeared before a panel of three senior Jockey Club officials. The trio - Gurney Sheppard, David Oldrey and Michael Wyatt - have a variety of options as they mull over the serious nature of the allegations against Bradley.
The jockey received treatment for a shoulder injury after his ride on Country Star but eventually emerged from the weighing room and insisted: ''I'm very optimistic about tomorrow. You've got to be haven't you.
''I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the best. I want to carry on doing some thing that I've loved doing for the last 22 years.''
Bradley, 38, was the centre of attention as he prepared to partner Country Star in the Nicholson Holman Cup Handicap Chase.
He was hugged by his girlfriend Amanda Wilson before leaving the sanctity of the weighing room to be legged up by trainer Ed James.
Bradley was smiling as Country Star strode round the parade ring and the sparse crowd broke out into warm applause with several spectators shouting: ''Come on Brad.''
Unfortunately the race failed to provide the jockey with a boost as Country Star, the 5-2 joint favourite, broke down badly when in the lead as he approached the third last.
Bradley was pitched from the saddle as he pulled up the stricken horse and escaped unhurt. But his mount was not so lucky as he broke his near hind-leg and had to be put down.
''It's a shame I couldn't win and it's terribly disappointing. I was riding for some nice people,'' he said.
Country Star is part-owned by Caroline Brooks, the mother of Bradley's former boss Charlie Brooks.
Brooks was the trainer of Man Mood, the odds-on favourite which Bradley is accused of stopping in a two-horse race at Warwick in November 1996.
Brooks, now retired as a trainer, was himself arrested as part of the race-fixing and doping investigation.
But he was released without charge on Tuesday at Charing Cross police station when Bradley learned that he was to be charged.
''I'm here today principally to back up Graham,'' Brooks said.
''I'm appalled that he's got into this terrible situation on a horse that I trained.
"I've no doubt that's he done nothing wrong and I'm 100% behind him.''
Bradley's weighing-room colleagues gave him a warm welcome when he arrived at the course.
''The weighing room is being very supportive and most of the racing fraternity are supportive,'' said senior rider Carl Llewellyn.
''The jockeys are hoping that the Jockey Club will take a similar view to the FA in the Bruce Grobbelaar case. He was allowed to continue playing while the case was continuing.''
Meanwhile Richard Dunwoody was yesterday handed a leading chance to gain his first victory in the Stakis Casinos Scottish Grand National.
Dunwoody will partner Scotby in Saturday's Ayr contest, one of the few big jump races he hasn't won.
The former champion jockey will have to put up overweight on Scotby, who has been set to carry 10st in the marathon.
Dunwoody got down to 10st 2lb to ride Call It A Day into third place in the Martell Grand National last Saturday and expects to do just 1lb more this time.