A fitting tribute to Shane

ON Tuesday afternoon Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn announced the details of an exciting charity match between his English Premier League side and a Munster XI which will form the centre-piece of ‘A Day For Shane’ in honour of Limerick man Shane Geoghegan.


The game, in association with the Shane Geoghegan Trust, will take place on Tuesday, July 13 at Thomond Park and although the game itself will kick-off at 7.45pm ‘A Day For Shane’ will also include a schools long puck competition, a celebrity penalty shoot-out, mini-rugby and hurling, celebrity Sumo wrestling and a parade of sport while Munster stars will also compete in a novel 100-metre dash.
The Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn was joined at the launch by Munster Rugby president Declan Madden, Limerick FC CEO Pat O’Sullivan and Tony Geoghegan of the Shane Geoghegan Trust.
“We are now bringing the team over to support the on-going work that the Shane Geoghegan Trust so valuably carries out. All funds from the night will go to this marvellous initiative and we hope to continue supporting it for a long time,” an enthusiastic Niall Quinn explained.
‘A Day For Shane’ has been billed as a family event and the ticket prices have been structured accordingly - €5 for children and €20 for adults.
Niall Quinn also insisted that Sunderland will be treating the game as part of their pre-season preparations and that Steve Bruce will bring his A squad to Thomond Park.
“Absolutely, Steve Bruce is really looking forward to coming,” Niall Quinn said.
“We have a pre-season plan worked out for our team and this is a very important part of it, it is the first game we play. The players will have done a fortnight’s training and will get themselves in shape for the game.”
Niall Quinn also called on the “powers that be” to back-up the work of the Shane Geoghegan Trust.
“Officially it’s a game of football for Sunderland, but there’s a lot more than that happening. A great family day, a sports and cultural day that will be so fitting to such a marvelous trust and to such a marvelous memory to keep alive like Shane Geoghegan’s. He was a brilliant and brave sportsman who did all he could as the captain of his club,” Quinn said.
“I want to get one very strong message out there, that the people that have the power back something like this. That they have the belief in the Shane Geoghegan Trust and back it all the way. I hope the people who have the purse strings will release those purse strings and grow and nurture the Shane Geoghegan Trust. The expertise to do it is there and I am 100 per cent certain that this will be such a successful thing over the years to come. This could be a fitting tribute to Shane, but it will only be a fitting tribute if people get behind it.”
The Munster XI selection, managed by Limerick FC’s Pat Scully, will be drawn from Airtricity League clubs around the province while the event organisers also hope to attract a number of established international footballers with links to Munster to be part of the team.
Pat O’Sullivan, CEO of Limerick FC, said he was delighted to have the Super Blues associated with such a momentous event: “Limerick FC are delighted to be able to assist the Shane Geoghegan Trust as the goals of both organisations are very similar in relation to their commitment to the local community.
“People on the ground in Limerick need to look within themselves and say what can we do to help,” Pat O’Sullivan insisted.
“I would like to think this trust could be a catalyst to help bring all the different mindsets and groups together. We should look at the problems we have in our city and recognise that sport is the simplest tool to help solve those problems. That’s the sole reason I got involved in Limerick soccer.
“We need to keep the club alive just like we need to keep the Shane Geoghegan Trust strong. But it’s not about money all the time, it’s about leadership.”
Munster Branch president Declan Madden said they were delighted to make Thomond Park available for this unique event: “Munster Rugby are delighted to be associated with such a worthy project and to be able to make Thomond Park available to host the Sunderland game. It is appropriate that Munster Rugby supports the Shane Geoghegan Trust as Shane was a true rugby person who played and loved the game, was a great clubman with Garryowen FC and embodied all the qualities of heart and spirit which makes Munster Rugby what it is.
“It’s terribly unfortunate what happened to Shane, that he was the unfortunate victim of a mindless crime.
“But if something good comes of this, having known Shane, he would be very happy.”
Tony Geoghegan, chairman of the Shane Geoghegan Trust and Shane’s uncle, said the event would be “a day for Shane, a day for Munster and a day for fun and I would urge the people of Munster to come out and support their team”.
The Shane Geoghegan Trust was set up in the aftermath of Shane’s murder to provide children with an alternative to anti-social behaviour by making a range of sporting and cultural activities available to them.
A ‘Day For Shane’ will take place on July 13 in Thomond Park.
Tickets for the event will range from €5 for children and €20 for adults. For more see: www.sgt3.com

Brian mcdonnell

McGahan delays naming his squad

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan has delayed naming his squad for Saturday’s glamour Magners League semi-final clash with Leinster until later today as a result of on-going injury doubts over several key players.
Winger Ian Dowling and captain Paul O’Connell have already been ruled out of Saturday’s tie at the RDS which begins at 8pm.
Keith Earls is rated a doubtful starter for the clash due to an on-going groin injury.
Munster coach Tony McGahan is hopeful that the vastly-experienced winger Doug Howlett will be available for the trip to Dublin.
McGahan is also keeping his fingers crossed that hooker Jerry Flannery and Mick O’Driscoll will be fit.
McGahan explained that captain Paul O’Connell is due to get out of hospital on Thursday, but the coach was unaware of the lock undergoing any procedure for his on-going groin injury.
John Hayes, who was rested for Sunday’s trip to Cardiff, will return to the squad.
Coach McGahan said the players had been boosted by their gritty performance at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday when a losing bonus point secured their passage into the inaugural Magners League play-offs.
“I think in the weekend game with Cardiff - even though we didn’t win - we had done enough to get the result and that has certainly given the squad a big boost,” Tony McGahan said.
“Heading into a semi-final weekend in Dublin there is plenty to be pleased about and we are certainly looking forward to that aspect of it.”
While Munster lost exactly half of their 18 regular season games in the Magners League, it was the holders ability to collect bonus points - six losing bonus points and three try bonus points - which ultimately helped secure their place in the play-offs.

COLM KINSELLA

Thiam - Andy Lee’s biggest test

LIMERICK pro boxer Andy Lee can move a step closer to a European or world championship title fight with his 21st win in this Saturday’s Yanjing Fight Night at the University Sports Arena.
The 25-year-old middleweight will face former European champion and two-time world title challenger Mamadou Thiam in his fourth professional fight in Limerick.


Lee headlines the attractive event which will feature a total of ten fights in what is the most exciting pro-boxing event to be staged in Limerick.
Two Irish titles will also be on the line in Limerick as local favourite Jamie Power looks to capture the Irish Light Heavyweight title against John Waldron while Dublin’s Ian Tims will put his unbeaten record on the line in an Irish Cruiserweight title decider with Michael Sweeney.
Tickets for the Yanjing Fight Night are priced from €30 and are available from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie) or from The University Sports Arena, the George Hotel and the South Court Hotel. The event will be televised live on RTE 2 from 9pm on Saturday.
Also boxing on Saturday will be world and European champion Katie Taylor in an exhibition bout in an international amateur contest.
“It’s always an incredible experience walking to the ring in your hometown,” said Lee who flew into Ireland this Monday after a training camp in Florida with coach Emanuel Steward.
“You recognise so many people in the crowd and it really brings it home to you that you are representing Limerick as much as you are yourself. The support is always incredible and the buzz in the city on the week of a fight when I head home is always great,” said Andy Lee, a former St Francis Boxing Club Olympian.
A win on Saturday should catapult Lee up the world rankings as he faces his toughest challenge to date.
Mamadou Thiam is one of boxing’s biggest hitters with an incredible 43 of his 46 wins coming via KO. The 38-year-old has a record of 46 wins from 54 contests over a career spanning back to 1993.
“Of course I am predicting a knockout, that is what I do for a living,” said Thiam as the Senegal-based Parisian vowed to knock out Andy Lee.
“Some people sell cars, some people build houses, some people drive buses, I knock people out. I suppose I’m like a dentist because we both take teeth out for a living. It’s not a personal thing for me, I’m sure Andy Lee is a very nice guy, but this is a business and a very hard business and there is no room for nice guys. Lee is a big name in Ireland, but I have fought at the highest level and I know what it takes to succeed there.
“Lee will be a good scalp for me and put me in a position to win another European title,” said Thiam.
“I’ve fought all over the world and I’m excited about fighting in Ireland. I heard that the scenery there is beautiful, but for Andy Lee the view from the canvas won’t be so pretty!”

Jerome O’Connell