February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Sean Creedon
Banned Irish swimmer Michelle Smith de Bruin is planning a career in law. Michelle has been accepted as a mature student at a number of Irish colleges. But her plans to go back to college have got to be put on hold as she is due her first baby next month.
De Bruin Smith’s lawyer, Peter Lennon, said, "Michelle has been accepted by UCC and a number of other colleges to study law this year. But she is pregnant and the baby is due in October, so there’s no question that she can begin studying this year."
Camogie final
Sunday’s All-Ireland senior camogie final between Kilkenny and Tipperary will be the first on the full-sized pitch at Croke Park and the first time that the teams will be 15-a-side. Kilkenny, after their recent dramatic semifinal victory over Cork, will be favorites to lift the O’Duffy Cup for the 13th time, while Tipp have never won the Cup.
On Saturday, RTE will televise live the two Ladies Football semifinals from Parnell Park. Great rivals Monaghan and Waterford clash once again; the other semifinal is between Mayo and Meath.
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O’Connor for hurling final
The referee for the All-Ireland hurling final between Cork and Kilkenny a week from Sunday will be Pat O’Connor from Limerick. He has got the job ahead of Wexford’s Dickie Murphy. Many people had anticipated that Murphy, who has refereed the last two finals, would make it three in a row, but severe criticism after recent big games may have come against the Wexford postman.
Meanwhile, John Maughan has quit as Mayo manager. Maughan, who has been in charge for four years, stood down after Mayo’s All-Ireland semifinal defeat by Cork. In his time he has led Mayo to three Connacht championship wins, but the elusive All-Ireland title eluded him.
Rovers at Santry
Shamrock Rovers are playing at Morton Stadium in Santry this season, their fifth home in 11 years. Since the Kilcoyne family sold Glemalure Park in Milltown for housing development in 1988, the Hoops have played at Dalymount Park, the RDS and Tolka Park. Now Rovers fans are hoping that they will have to spend only one season at the famous Northside athletics venue before moving to their new stadium in Tallaght, South Dublin. The move does not appear to be doing The Hoops any harm. They are top of the premier division of the Eircom League and next weekend, face fellow table toppers Derry City at The Brandywell.
Just when Rovers leave Tolka Park, Bohemians move in as tenants of Northside rivals Shelbourne. Bohs will play their home games at Tolka for the next few months while a new stand is being built at Dalymount.
Dundalk, who were relegated from the premier division last season, are not faring much better in division one. The County Louth club, who are pursuing an all-local policy under new manager Terry Eviston, have lost their opening three League games and are currently propping up the first division table.
New Tyrone manager
Tyrone will have a new manager when they open their Church and General National Football League Div. 1A campaign at home to Dublin on Oct. 31. Danny Ball, who has been in charge for the last three years, has decided to step down. But the glamour game in Div. 1A on the opening day of the new League campaign will be the meeting of Cork and Kerry. By then Cork could have the Sam Maguire to show off to their Kerry neighbors.
Trulli replaces Hill
Twenty-five-year-old driver Jarno Trulli will replace Damon Hill at Benson and Hedges Jordan next year. Eddie Jordan made the announcement last week. Trulli becomes the 20th driver to race for Jordan since the team arrived in Formula One eight years ago.
Irish shut out
No medals for Ireland in Seville at the world track and field championships. But Brendan Reilly set a Irish high jump record last week when he cleared 2.9 meters.