THE €90,000 Ladbrokes Munster National will form the centrepiece of Limerick Racecourse’s most prestigious annual race day on Sunday next, October 10.
A top class field of runners is set to go to post for the Grade A feature race which is more than 100 years old. The action-packed programme of on-track action also includes an impressive supporting card. The 2010 Ladbrokes Munster National date is significant as it is ten years since the grand opening of this all encompassing racecourse at Greenmount Park.
A high class field of runners are expected to contest the 2010 running of the Ladbrokes Munster National.
Last year’s renewal was won by the Tom Taaffe-trained Treacle, with the Dashing George, trained in Rathkeale by Eric McNamara, finishing a very close second.
Local trainers have enjoyed a terrific record in the race in recent years with Askeaton handler, Davy Fitzgerald saddling Pearly Jack to take the top prize and the Patrickswell-based Michael Hourigan also landing the contest with Mossbank.
The opening contest on a seven race all-National Hunt card is due off at 2.30pm.
If the horses on show are somewhat of an appetiser for a day of entertainment, glamour and excitement, October 10 is also Ladies Day at Limerick Racecourse.
The now annual Munster National ladies day has become an important feature in this historical race meeting and Keane’s Jewellers, Limerick have once again supported the event.
Patrick Keane, of Keane’s Jewellers, will present a diamond ring valued at €5000 to the best dressed lady winner while the runner-up will receive a voucher for Isobel’s Boutique, Adare and the Revas Spa have put together a package for the recipient of the third place. Each of the ten finalists will receive a goodie bag which includes a €100 voucher for Keane’s Jellewers, Revas Spa items and a voucher for Isobel Boutique, Adare.
Several new features have also been added to the Munster National Itinerary at Greenmount Park this year. The Kidz Club will once again be in operation in the Munster Suite with further entertainment for children being provided outside of the main grandstand.
Children under-16 gain free admission so October 10 promises to be a wonderful day of racing, fun and excitement at Greenmount Park.
General admission is priced at €20 while the cost for those with concessions (students/senior citizens) is €10.
Further details, including on-line offers, are available at:
www.limerickraces.ie
Colm Kinsella
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Monday, October 04, 2010
Kilmallock kingpins
KILMALLOCK are back as the kingpins of Limerick club hurling. Yesterday the south Limerick town claimed their first county senior hurling title since 1994 when a decade of underage success was finally transformed into senior silverware.
“I felt confident coming in that we would win it, but I knew we would have to work really hard to win it because they were going to put it up to us,” said manager Tony Considine after Kilmallock’s 1-16 to 1-12 win over Emmets in the Gaelic Grounds.
“There was a lot of pressure over the years and that was weighing them down on their shoulders. Now that weight is gone off their shoulders once they have won,” said the former Clare hurling manager.
“I thought we hurled well. I thought we were the better team. I know we got a lucky goal, but there is no such thing as a bad goal and once we got on a run I thought we would be okay,” explained Considine.
Kilmallock now progress to the Munster club championship. On October 31 they will be away to the Clare champions in the provincial quarter-final.
Elsewhere in Limerick GAA circles Claughaun lost their senior hurling status over the weekend.
The ten-time senior champions were defeated by Garryspillane in the relegation play-off. The demise of their senior hurlers comes just two weeks after their senior footballers were also relegated to the intermediate ranks after a play-off defeat to Newcastle West.
Across the city there was better news for Na Piarsaigh when they qualified for the minor hurling premier championship final.
It will be a repeat of this year’s under-21 decider when Kilmallock are their opponents. Jake Mulcahy, Kevin O’Donnell, Mark O’Loughlin and Owen Webb-O’Rourke will all be hoping to add minor medals to the senior ones they won yesterday.
JEROME O’CONNELL
“I felt confident coming in that we would win it, but I knew we would have to work really hard to win it because they were going to put it up to us,” said manager Tony Considine after Kilmallock’s 1-16 to 1-12 win over Emmets in the Gaelic Grounds.
“There was a lot of pressure over the years and that was weighing them down on their shoulders. Now that weight is gone off their shoulders once they have won,” said the former Clare hurling manager.
“I thought we hurled well. I thought we were the better team. I know we got a lucky goal, but there is no such thing as a bad goal and once we got on a run I thought we would be okay,” explained Considine.
Kilmallock now progress to the Munster club championship. On October 31 they will be away to the Clare champions in the provincial quarter-final.
Elsewhere in Limerick GAA circles Claughaun lost their senior hurling status over the weekend.
The ten-time senior champions were defeated by Garryspillane in the relegation play-off. The demise of their senior hurlers comes just two weeks after their senior footballers were also relegated to the intermediate ranks after a play-off defeat to Newcastle West.
Across the city there was better news for Na Piarsaigh when they qualified for the minor hurling premier championship final.
It will be a repeat of this year’s under-21 decider when Kilmallock are their opponents. Jake Mulcahy, Kevin O’Donnell, Mark O’Loughlin and Owen Webb-O’Rourke will all be hoping to add minor medals to the senior ones they won yesterday.
JEROME O’CONNELL
‘It has all the ingredients for an epic and classic battle’
EMANUEL Steward is to step-up negotiations this week in an attempt to confirm Andy Lee’s world ranking middleweight contest against fellow Irishman John Duddy.
Lee brought his record to 24 wins from 25 pro fights over the weekend with a fourth round KO of Troy Lowry in the headline event of the ‘Fight Night at the Horseshoe’ boxing series at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
Immediately after the 26-year-old Castleconnell man’s latest win his manager Emanuel Steward set about securing the clash against Derry’s John Duddy.
“There is a great appetite and interest amongst Irish boxing fans and boxing fans in general about a showdown between these two young talented fighters.
“Both fighters are ranked in the top 10 of the world ratings,” explained Steward.
“It has all the ingredients for an epic and classic battle.
“Styles make fights and the contrasting styles of Lee and Duddy is very evident. Andy is a technical boxer who carries a lethal punch and John is a courageous ring warrior who likes a bloody war. Both fighters have plenty of heart and can fight in the trenches when the going gets tough. It would make an unbelievable fight,” said Steward.
The legendary Kronk boxing icon believes an all-Irish war between Lee and Duddy would go down in Irish boxing history as the greatest fight ever to happen since Irish prize fighters Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney fought in the ‘Battle of the Long Count’ world title clash on September 22, 1927 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
“I am very excited about trying to make the fight. It has drama and edge written all over it. It will be a memorable fight for Irish boxing fans that will go down in Irish boxing history as a classic.
“I think for both men it’s a huge fight at this stage of their careers and I believe Andy will be the victor and this will result in him moving closer to a world title shot in 2011. As far as I’m concerned Andy is the best middleweight in the division,” said Steward.
A possible date of December 4 in New York’s Madison Square Garden has already been mentioned, but it is still possible that the contest could be staged in the UL Sports Arena or in the O2 Arena, Dublin. Over the last few years speculation at times has been at fever pitch about the prospect of a Lee-Duddy encounter. Brian Peters Promotions made offers to both the Lee and Duddy camps last year to stage the fight in Limerick. However for a variety of reasons the fight did not get the go ahead. And, while his manager is working towards finalising details of the fight, Andy Lee is clear that he wants to face Duddy.
“There has never been a better time for the fight,” said the former Olympian.
“It is a fight were the stakes are stacked high and that neither fighter can afford to lose, a defining moment in our careers. It is an ‘Irish High Noon’ shootout, a winner takes all fight, where both fighters will be 100 per cent fired up for battle with their reputations and careers on the line and with the winner taking home more than his fight purse,” said Lee.
The Limerick man’s win over Troy Lowry last weekend was his second fight in just 15 days. Andy Lee knocked Lowry five times en route to being stopped at the end of the fourth round for his 19th KO of his career.
JEROME O’CONNELL
Lee brought his record to 24 wins from 25 pro fights over the weekend with a fourth round KO of Troy Lowry in the headline event of the ‘Fight Night at the Horseshoe’ boxing series at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
Immediately after the 26-year-old Castleconnell man’s latest win his manager Emanuel Steward set about securing the clash against Derry’s John Duddy.
“There is a great appetite and interest amongst Irish boxing fans and boxing fans in general about a showdown between these two young talented fighters.
“Both fighters are ranked in the top 10 of the world ratings,” explained Steward.
“It has all the ingredients for an epic and classic battle.
“Styles make fights and the contrasting styles of Lee and Duddy is very evident. Andy is a technical boxer who carries a lethal punch and John is a courageous ring warrior who likes a bloody war. Both fighters have plenty of heart and can fight in the trenches when the going gets tough. It would make an unbelievable fight,” said Steward.
The legendary Kronk boxing icon believes an all-Irish war between Lee and Duddy would go down in Irish boxing history as the greatest fight ever to happen since Irish prize fighters Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney fought in the ‘Battle of the Long Count’ world title clash on September 22, 1927 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
“I am very excited about trying to make the fight. It has drama and edge written all over it. It will be a memorable fight for Irish boxing fans that will go down in Irish boxing history as a classic.
“I think for both men it’s a huge fight at this stage of their careers and I believe Andy will be the victor and this will result in him moving closer to a world title shot in 2011. As far as I’m concerned Andy is the best middleweight in the division,” said Steward.
A possible date of December 4 in New York’s Madison Square Garden has already been mentioned, but it is still possible that the contest could be staged in the UL Sports Arena or in the O2 Arena, Dublin. Over the last few years speculation at times has been at fever pitch about the prospect of a Lee-Duddy encounter. Brian Peters Promotions made offers to both the Lee and Duddy camps last year to stage the fight in Limerick. However for a variety of reasons the fight did not get the go ahead. And, while his manager is working towards finalising details of the fight, Andy Lee is clear that he wants to face Duddy.
“There has never been a better time for the fight,” said the former Olympian.
“It is a fight were the stakes are stacked high and that neither fighter can afford to lose, a defining moment in our careers. It is an ‘Irish High Noon’ shootout, a winner takes all fight, where both fighters will be 100 per cent fired up for battle with their reputations and careers on the line and with the winner taking home more than his fight purse,” said Lee.
The Limerick man’s win over Troy Lowry last weekend was his second fight in just 15 days. Andy Lee knocked Lowry five times en route to being stopped at the end of the fourth round for his 19th KO of his career.
JEROME O’CONNELL
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