Tuesday lands across Carlow and Kilkenny and following a massive turnout in Netwatch Cullen Park last night for the annual Hurling for Cancer Research fundraiser, we’re straight back into the news cycle.
Let’s take a look at some of the stories coming across the KCLR desk for your Tuesday morning.
GAA
The annual Hurling For Cancer Research charity game took place in Netwatch Cullen Park last night. Jim Bolger’s Stars ran out winners on the night against Davy Russell’s Best, the game finishing a goal-high 15-13 to 11-11.
There was a huge crowd in attendance and players and celebrities got up close and personal with all the young fans and supporters for photographs and autographs after the event. A who’s who of GAA, racing, sports and TV stars were in Carlow’s county grounds as Paudie Clifford, Rachael Blackmore, Ursula Jacob, Paul McGrath, Miriam O’Callaghan, Michael Duignan and Barry Geraghty featured among those lending a hand as selectors, commentators, side-line officials, umpires and maor uisce. Cyrill Farrell and former All-Ireland referee Dickie Murphy were the men in charge, though some would say they forgot to bring out the whistles.
Since the first Hurling for Cancer Research match way back in 2011, over €1.5 million has generously been raised going directly towards vital cancer research work.
Elsewhere, Jim McGuinness has been appointed Donegal senior football manager for a second time. McGuinness guided the O’Donnell County team to three Ulster titles in a four-year stint that saw his side claim All-Ireland glory in 2012. Donegal exited at the preliminary quarter-final stage of this year’s championship and will play Division 2 football next season following relegation earlier this year.
His reappointment was ratified last night at a specially-convened meeting of the county board, with Colm McFadden, Neil McGee and Luke Barrett named as part of his backroom team, he was given a three-year term, with the option for a fourth year.
Soccer
Wrexham bid farewell to Ben Foster who has decided to retire from professional football again.
Foster began his professional career in 2001 with Stoke City, having joined from Racing Club Warwick. However, he never made an appearance for Stoke, and spent time on loan with Bristol City, Stafford Rangers, Kidderminster Harriers and Wrexham. He switched permanently to Man Utd in July 2005 but never really broke into the first team.
He announced his retirement from football in September 2022, before briefly coming out of retirement at Wrexham between March and August 2023. He saved a last-minute penalty for Wrexham against Notts County helping the team to promotion into League Two.
The Pat Maher shield gets underway this weekend with eight games down for decision in round one. See here for more details. Freebooters won the title last year against Bridge United but ‘Booters won’t be in action at the weekend as their game against Freshford is off.
Athletics
Rhasidat Adeleke secured herself an automatic qualifying spot into the final of the women’s 400m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest after she breezed her semi-final heat to take second place in 49.87.
“I was probably too comfortable in the first 200 metres,” she told media in the wake of the semi-finals. “I need to start using my 200-metre speed. I had to work too hard in my last 200, but that’s something I’m going to use in the next race.” That final is set to take place at 8.35pm on Wednesday.
Ciara Mageean also eased into the final of the 1500m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, the European silver medallist finishing third in a time of 4:02.70. Speaking to media after her race she said, “I’m feeling good, feeling happy with that, the aim was to be here and be in that final. Now I’m there, it’s anybody’s game”.
Racing
There’s domestic racing in Roscommon this evening, first of an eight-race card gets underway at 5.15pm.
