By Sean Creedon
Catherina McKiernan will join 30,000 women runners on the streets of Dublin for the Adidas 10K road race on Sunday. It will be the Cavan runner’s first competitive race since she won the London marathon last month. Catherina won the Dublin race last year and Adidas are also her major sponsors. After her mini marathon run, McKiernan’s next race will be an 11K road race in Oporto on June 28.
Her next marathon race is likely to be in Berlin in September or Amsterdam or New York in November. But according to agent Ray Flynn, it’s unlikely to be the Big Apple.
“Her next marathon should be over a course where she has a chance of running a really fast time,” he said. “I believe she is capable of breaking the world record, but if Catherina and her coach were to go down that road I would probably not be inclined to recommend New York because the fastest time there is around 2:24 and the weather there can be stifling.”
Meanwhile, Sonia O’Sullivan will have her first competitive track race of the Summer in Paris on Thursday, June 4. Later in the month, O’Sullivan hopes to return to Cork for the Cork City Sports meeting.
Gaelic update
Sign up to The Irish Echo Newsletter
One of the biggest problems being a selector on an intercounty team is when you feel that you still have something to offer as a player. That’s the problem which Dublin selector John O’Leary faced. With the Dubs’ defense leaking goals, O’Leary decided to come out of retirement and has rejoined the squad for Sunday’s Leinster Championship game against Kildare at Croke Park.
Kildare have promised much in recent years, but always seem to fail to the Dubs. Last year, they were very unlucky in a marathon series with Meath, but sometime they are going to beat Dublin in the championship and maybe this will be their year. The winners of the Dublin-Kildare game will meet either Laois or Westmeath, who meet in the curtain-raiser at Croke Park on Sunday.
With two provincial champions already gone at the first hurdle, Cavan will be on their guard when they face Fermanagh at Breffni Park on Sunday. Cavan needed a replay to see off Fermanagh last year and former Down star Liam Austin will not be taking anything for granted in his first championship game in charge of the Breffni men.
Youngsters open with Croatia
The Republic of Ireland Youths have been drawn with hosts Cyprus, England and Croatia in the European Youths championship next month. Brian Kerr’s team, who will be based in Larnaca, will open their campaign against Croatia on July 19. They meet England two days later and end their qualifying program against the host country on July 23.
Jordan denies rumors
Eddie Jordan has denied speculation that he is ready to end his eight-year quest for Formula One glory and walk away with an estimated _50 million. Rumors have been circulating that Jordan was ready to sell his Silverstone-based team. It has been a disappointing season for Jordan, whose drivers, Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher, have failed to score a World Championship point in the first six races of the season.
“I’ve heard the rumors and they are complete nonsense,” Jordan said. “This is my life and there is nothing else I would rather do. I have never even thought about quitting.”
The Grand Prix circus moves to Montreal this weekend but is unlikely to bring a change of fortune for the Dublin-born owner.
Quinn fails to win promotion
Disappointment for Irish international Niall Quinn, who failed to win promotion back to the English Premiership with Sunderland. Quinn scored twice for the Rokerites, but they lost 7-6 to London club, Charlton, in the playoff at Wembley. Charlton were captained by another Irish international, Mark Kinsella.
Other Irish players in the news are Steve Staunton, who has turned down a lucrative four-year contract with Aston Villa, and is to leave the club. Staunton will take advantage of the Bosman ruling to move as a free agent and he has already been linked to his former club Liverpool, Tottenham and Blackburn Rovers.
Meanwhile, Alan Kernaghan has signed a new two-year deal with Scottish club St. Johnstone. Kernaghan, currently out of favor with Mick McCarthy, had been on loan from Manchester City.
Blow to Wimbledon
The English Football Association have dealt a damning blow to Wimbledon’s ambition to move to Dublin. Responding to a presentation made by Sam Hammam, the Wimbledon chairman of the Executive Committee of the English FA emphasized its support for the views of the FAI. The English FA say they will continue to respect the views of its sister association and will not undertake any action in this area, unless, or until the FAI removed its objections. Is this the end of the matter?