The Irish News - Tuesday May 25 2010: Coulter set to captain Down due to Rogers injury
BENNY Coulter seems set to lead Down out against Donegal this Sunday with skipper Ambrose Rogers unlikely to play much, if any, part in Ballybofey.
The versatile Longstone clubman has had the cast removed from his foot after suffering a broken bone before the Division Two League final against Armagh, but Down’s entry into the Championship fray could come too soon for him.
Mourne county manager James McCartan appeared almost to rule Rogers out, saying: “If we get anything out of Ambrose at the weekend, it’ll be a bonus.”
At least Down have options at midfield, where Rogers has been deployed this season, including his predecessor as captain, Dan Gordon.
McCartan has no concerns about the armband having to go to Mayobridge man Coulter: “Benny’s the vice-captain so he’ll be stepping up to be captain. He’s been doing the business for us all year.”
What is a worry is the number of Down's defensive absentees which includes the manager’s younger brother Daniel, who is suspended.
Aidan Carr and Aidan Brannigan are both ruled out due to injuries, as is Kevin Duffin.
At least McCartan should be able to call on Brendan McArdle and Damien Rafferty, both of whom have been hampered by hamstring problems recently.
But Ronan Murtagh, who “picked up a knock in a club game on Friday night, he didn’t train with us on Saturday, but I’d hope it’s just that, a knock, a dead leg, nothing more than that,” said the manager.
OFFALY boss Joe Dooley will have to plan without three key players for Sunday’s Leinster Senior Hurling Championship opener against Antrim at Parnell Park.
Corner-back Stephen Egan and corner-forward Ger Healion are definitely out with shin splints and a broken finger respectively.
And they are likely to be joined on the sideline by versatile ace Brendan Murphy who is recovering from a long-term back problem.
In addition, due to a hand injury, there is some doubt about the availability of wing-forward Daniel Currams for the Donnycarney showdown.
But the majority of Faithful county fans will expect to see key players Brian Mullins and Brian Carroll restored to the starting line-up.
DECLAN Milligan (St Paul’s, Antrim) scooped the honours at the Irish Youth Championships in the National Stadium in Dublin last weekend.
Classy Milligan ousted tough Mac bantam Gavin McComb.
The west Belfast lad earned a 7-0 win over gutsy McComb.
“Declan didn’t give away a single point during his semi-final and final bouts,” said St Paul’s coach Ralph McKay.
And Immaculata ABC, Belfast came away with a gold and three silvers from the Irish Youth finals.
James Fryers claimed the lightweight honours with a 7-0 win over Crumlin’s Jason Conroy.
Two rights and a thudding left to the body in the second round saw Fryers command a 3-0 advantage at the end of the opening six minutes, an advantage he more than doubled in the final frame.
“That was a tough one,” said 2010 senior finalist Fryers.
“It was a very tight first round, but I always felt I was in control of the bout, although, in fairness, he boxed brilliantly.
“I’m delighted to be taking home this title for the club.”
LIVERPOOL: COMEBACK KINGS
2005: On this day 15 years ago Liverpool became champions of Europe for the fifth time after recovering from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties.
Rafa Benitez made a bold team selection by including Harry Kewell in favour of the more defensively-minded Dietmar Hamann, but saw his side fall behind after 52 seconds.
Andrea Pirlo's free-kick was met with a volley by Paolo Maldini.
Liverpool were stunned and struggled to recover their poise, with Kewell limping off injured amid jeers to be replaced by Vladimir Smicer.
Kaka sent Andriy Shevchenko hurtling down the right channel and his cutback teed up Hernan Crespo to tap home from close range for Milan's second.
Playmaker Kaka then played a pass of exquisite perfection to leave Jamie Carragher stretching in vain as Crespo burst through to score and seemingly put the game to bed before half-time.
With little to lose, Benitez made a brave tactical switch at half-time by replacing full-back Steve Finnan with Hamann and changing to a 3-5-2 formation.
The move paid dividends almost instantly as the Reds found themselves level by the 60th minute.
Gerrard headed his side's first goal after 54 minutes, with Smicer swiftly adding a second and Xabi Alonso firing home the rebound after seeing his penalty saved by Dida after Gerrard was brought down in the box.
Dudek produced two amazing late saves in extra-time before denying both Pirlo and Shevchenko in the penalty shoot-out.
In 1984, Liverpool had last won the European Cup on penalties, with Bruce Grobbelaar famously wobbling his knees.
Dudek produced a similar manoeuvre as Liverpool completed a sensational comeback.
QUICK QUIZ
1. What is the nickname of the New Zealand national cricket team?
2. What game did former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff play at County level as a child before experiencing cricket success?
3. The Roses Matches are played between which two county cricket clubs?
4. Who is England's all-time leading point sorer in rugby union?
5. In which Argentina city was Lionel Messi born?
6. What was unusual about Messi's first contract with Barcelona?
7. Who wore the No 10 jersey at Camp Nou before the Argentinean?
8. Former Chicago Bull Scottie Pippen played which position in basketball?
9. Where is the US National Basketball Association in talks to resume its season?
10. In which year was the first Super Bowl played?
(See quiz answers at bottom)
BIRTHDAYS
Daniel Passarella (soccer) - former Argentina defender, captain of the 1978 World Cup winners, born 1953.
Robert Croft (cricket) - Former Glamorgan and England off-spinner, born 1970.
Dougie Freedman (soccer) - Former Bolton, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest manager, born 1974.
Jonny Wilkinson (rugby union) - Former England fly-half who scored the drop goal that won the World Cup against Australia in Sydney in 2003, born 1979.
Demba Ba (soccer) - Former Chelsea and Newcastle striker, now at Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir, born 1985.
Geraint Thomas (cycling) - Two-time Olympic team pursuit gold medallist and 2018 Tour de France winner, born 1986.
James Morrison (soccer) - Former West Brom and Scotland midfielder, born 1986.
Yoan Gouffran (soccer) - Former Newcastle forward, now at Ararat-Armenia born 1986.
Cameron Van Der Burgh (swimming) - Men's 100 metres breaststroke gold medallist at 2012 Olympics and silver medallist at Rio 2016, born 1988.
Kagiso Rabada (cricket) -South Africa fast bowler, born 1995.
ON THIS DAY
1935: Jesse Owens set six athletics world records in 45 minutes at Ann Arbor, Michigan. His long jump record stood for 25 years.
1965: Muhammad Ali made light work of his first defence of the world heavyweight boxing crown, knocking out Sonny Liston in the first round.
1967: Celtic became the first British club to win the European Cup, beating Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon.
1977: Liverpool won their first European Cup, beating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 in Rome.
2003: Rangers won the Scottish Premier League title on goal difference from Celtic after a 6-1 win over Dunfermline.
2005: Liverpool won the Champions League final, beating AC Milan 3-2 on penalties in Istanbul after recovering from 3-0 down at half-time.
2011: FIFA's ethics committee confirmed it would investigate four officials - including presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam and vice president Jack Warner - following bribery allegations made by CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer.
2013: Northampton captain Dylan Hartley was sent off for dissent during his team's 37-17 Aviva Premiership final defeat against Leicester at Twickenham. A subsequent ban cost Hartley a place on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
2014: Rory McIlroy came from seven shots behind to claim a remarkable victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
2015: Real Madrid sacked head coach Carlo Ancelotti after the Spanish giants failed to win any major silverware during the 2014-15 campaign, despite the Italian leading the club to their 10th European Cup success in the 2013-14 season.
2018: Highly respected boxing trainer Brendan Ingle died at the age of 77.
2019: Celtic won a third consecutive domestic treble after beating Hearts 2-1 in the William Hill Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park.
QUICK QUIZ answers: 1. Black Caps; 2. Chess; 3. Lancashire and Yorkshire; 4. Jonny Wilkinson; 5. Rosario; 6. Written on a paper napkin; 7. Ronaldinho; 8. Small forward; 9. Disney World; 10. 1967.
