DOMINIC McKinley is the latest name to rule himself out of contention as Antrim hurling manager.
The Loughgiel man had been mooted by county officials for a return to the job he held between 1995 and 1997 but last night he told the Irish News the timing was not right.
“I have spoken to John McSparran [Antrim hurling chairman], who is checking everybody out, but at this moment in time the post does not interest me.
“I’m two years out of it and I don’t feel like going back into such a difficult job....but it’s a job I’d like to do again at some time in the future - I’m a proud Antrim man after all.”
McKinley called for the Saffrons to adopt a long-term strategy: “Somebody has to come in and give the team stability, set out a plan for four or five years.
“From the top down, the right structures need to be in place.”
Until that is achieved he holds out little hope for his county on the All-Ireland stage.
BELFAST welterweight Neil Sinclair will take another step closer to title honours when he meets Portsmouth’s Paul Dyer at the Maysfield leisure centre on October 16.
Irish fight fans may recall Dyer (16-12-4) from a previous run-in with Antrim’s Mark Winters back in late 1996. Winters won that clash on points over six rounds before moving on to claim the British light welterweight crown.
Monkstown man Sinclair, making leaps and bounds up the ratings with impressive wins this year, will be hoping to follow Winters example.
Belfast flyweight Damaen Kelly and new Commonwealth champion Eamonn Magee headline the Maysfield promotion with another top Belfast fighting duo, Brian Magee and David Lowry also in action on the proposed nine bout bill.
Solid featherweight Lowry will trade punches with Sean Grant (Leeds) while middleweight Magee, currently in America with his trainer Harry Hawkins at the Lennox Lewis training camp in the Catskill Mountains, goes on against Londoner Steve Ryan
ST MARY’S Grammar Magherfelt beat St McCartan’s (Monaghan) 3-18 to 2-08 in the Rannafast Colleges Cup, fifth year A football.
Their win follows a draw and a defeat in the competition.
Notable performances for St Mary’s so far have come from goalkeeper Kieran Quinn, full forward David Barton, midfielder John O’Boyle and half forward Sean Ludlow.
