Persistent injury rules out Paul O’Connell

MUNSTER flanker Niall Ronan has received a call-up to the Irish squad for four big end-of-season fixtures on a weekend when it was confirmed that an on-going groin injury would prevent inspirational lock Paul O’Connell from playing again this season.


Ronan has been drafted into the Ireland squad for Friday night’s glamour tie with the Barbarians at Thomond Park and the subsequent tour to New Zealand and Australia in place of injured Leinster player Kevin McLaughlin.
Ronan, who won the first of his two caps last year on the summer tour to Canada and the USA, has joined up with the rest of the squad in Limerick as they prepare for the first game of the tour against the Baa-Baas.
Thirty-year-old Paul O’Connell had been selected in Declan Kidney’s initial 33-man party in the hope that he would recover from a groin injury.
O’Connell suffered the injury during Ireland’s final RBS 6 Nations game against Scotland and has failed to recover in time for the tour with Ulster’s Ed O’Donoghue being called up as his replacement.
The Irish rugby squad assembled in Limerick on Saturday to begin preparations for the clash with the Barbarians at Thomond Park on Friday evening.
The squad members trained at the University of Limerick yesterday and earlier today.
The starting line-up to face the Barbarians set to be named on Wednesday next.
The Thomond Park clash will be the first time that Ireland has played the Barbarians on home soil since 2000.
The game is the first of four big end-of-season international fixtures facing Declan Kidney’s side in the coming weeks.
Ireland face a meeting with New Zealand in New Plymouth on June 12 before locking horns with the New Zealand Maoris team in Rotorua on June 18 as part of the Maoris centenary celebrations. The final game of the tour will see Ireland playing their Rugby World Cup Pool C opponents Australia in Brisbane on June 26.
The most recent meeting between Ireland and the Barbarians also coincided with the last Southern Hemisphere tour Ireland undertook in 2008 when Ireland played the Baa-Baas in Gloucester, winning the game 39-14.
The Barbarians were due to arrive in Limerick today following their 26-35 defeat to England at Twickenham yesterday. Munster full-back Paul Warwick featured for the Baa-Baas in that entertaining game.
The squad is due to hold a training session at Garryowen FC’s Dooradoyle grounds on Tuesday morning after which the side to face Ireland will be announced.
The Barbarians’ squad is coached by Philippe Saint-Andre who is assisted by Kingsley Jones. Both played for the Barbarians and worked successfully together in recent years as coaches with Sale Sharks.
Ireland’s summer match schedule - Friday, June 4: Barbarians v Ireland XV, Thomond Park, 7.45pm. Saturday, June 12: New Zealand v Ireland, Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, 7.35pm (8.35am Irish time). Friday, June 18: New Zealand Maori v Ireland XV, International Stadium, Rotorua, 7.35pm (8.35am Irish time).
Meanwhile one Munster player, scrum half Tomas O’Leary, has been included in the 2009-10 Magners League ‘Dream Team’ announced this weekend.
Selected by a panel of 16 media experts from the three Celtic nations, who have been following the Magners League all season, the Dream Team features players from no fewer than seven of the ten clubs in the competition.

COLM KINSELLA

Eight lucky teams through to tee up beside the pros

TWENTY-four lucky golfers are dreaming of teeing it up alongside one of the world’s biggest stars after making it through to play in July’s JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am at Adare manor Hotel and Golf Resort.
Just eight teams of three made it through from the 91 teams which competed in the Grand Qualifier held over two days at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.
The eight qualifying teams will be drawn to play in the company of one golf’s biggest names.
Among the qualifying teams for the July 5 and 6 Pro-Am was one which featured Cian Foley, son-in-law of Pro-Am host JP McManus.
Foley, married to JP McManus’ daughter Sue Anne, is a member of Dooks Golf Club in Kerry.
He was joined on the successful side by Neal Whelan of Rathbane Golf Club and Gary Neville of Adare Golf Club. The trio were representing the Lourdes Invalid Trust.
The leading team from the Grand Qualifier returned a stunning score of 57 points.
Under the ‘Par is Your Friend’ format each team was guaranteed 36 points.
The leading team, representing St Joseph’s Foundation, included Eric Murrihy and Michael Talty of Woodstock Golf Club, along with Evan Talty of Portlaoise GC.
The eighth team to qualify returned a score of 51 points. Among the teams to make it through was one featuring the Duggans, Bernard and Dan from Patrickswell, who are members of Adare Manor Golf Club and Croagh’s Michael Hanley of Adare Golf Club. Another Adare Manor member to qualify was Donal Byrnes, who was joined by Barry Leddin of Ballykisteen, and James Quinn of Charleville. Quinn and Leddin are also talented snooker players.
More than 8,000 club golfers tried their hand at making it through to last week’s Pro-Am Grand Qualifier at pre-qualifying events held throughout 2009 and 2010.
For each €10,000 generated by the pre-qualifying tournaments the organising charity or charities were able to enter one team in the Grand Qualifier.
In total local charities have already benefited to the tune of €910,000 which was generated at the pre-qualifying tournaments.

JP McManus Grand Qualifiers: St. Joseph’s Foundation (Evan Talty - Portlaoise; Eric Murrihy - Woodstock; Michael Talty - Woodstock), Lourdes Invalid Trust– (Bernard Hackett, Padraig Hackett & Ray Hackett - Nenagh), Moore Haven (Joe O’Dwyer, Nicky Cummins & Joe Franklin - Tipperary), Lourdes Invalid Trust (Gary Neville - Adare, Neal Whelan - Rathbane, & Cian Foley - Dooks), Brothers of Charity (Michael Hanley, Bernard Duggan, Dan Duggan - Adare Manor), Adare Community Complex (Barry Leddin - Ballykisteen, Donal Byrnes - Adare Manor & James Quinn - Charleville), Pieta House (Liam O’Sullivan, Brendan Broderick & Shane Gallagher - Newcastle West), St. Gabriel’s (Kevin O’Hora - Ballykisteen, Mike Casey - Dromoland & Tim Crowe - Dromoland).

COLM KINSELLA

Willie Casey now turns his attention to a European title

LIMERICK pro-boxer Willie Casey is targeting a European title fight after Saturday’s stunning success in Sky Sport’s Prizefighter Series.
The 28-year-old Southill man claimed the £32,000 winner’s prize after three impressive wins in the Prizefighter event at London’s York Hall.
“This victory means I’m up there at the top of the division and I’ve proved I can be with the best,” said a delighted Willie Casey, who entered the Super Bantamweight Prizefighter 12 event after injured forced the withdrawal of Wayne McCullough.
“I only came here with five fights on my record, but I beat everyone against all the odds.
“The best in Britain were in this competition including Esham Pickering and Jamie Arthur, but I’m the one left standing,” said Casey.
“It was a great opportunity and if a big fight comes up then I will always take it.
“Prizefighter came along and without hesitation I accepted it. I was a bit edgy before the start as I normally come on stronger in the later rounds, but then I had a fast start in my first fight.”
He added: “I showed a lot of character and that I have a big heart as there were some great lads in this.
“Who knows what the future holds?
“I might get a shot at the European title after winning Prizefighter. I’m very proud of everything I’ve done.”
After his win Willie Casey dedicated winning the title to his uncle Jim.
“I’m proud. I’m proud for my coaches, for my family, my wife and kids, my father and everyone else. This win puts me right up there; at the end of the day the ‘Big Bang’ wins. I wasn’t interested in the money, money was the least of my worries. It was all about the trophy and getting my name up there,” said Casey.
The Limerick man brought an unbeaten record of five wins into the Prizefighter Series. He made his pro-debut in October 2008.
A former Irish intermediate featherweight champion Willie Casey is a former member of Our Lady of St. Saviour Boxing Club in Southill.
Casey, who is being coached in Dublin by former Olympian and double European championship bronze medal winner Phil Sutcliffe is nicknamed ‘The Big Bang’ and is managed by Don O’Leary.
Casey claimed the winning trophy after an epic night of live boxing on Sky Sports with a unanimous points victory over Scottish substitute Paul McElhinney.
McElhinney got his chance in the final after Welshman Ricky Owen sustained a bad cut during his semi-final win denied him a final appearance.
Willie Casey won an incredible semi-final on points against Barnsley’s Josh Wale in a contest where a staggering 532 punches were thrown in three rounds.
“Up Limerick,” said a beaming Willie Casey into the live TV cameras after the he won a split decision.
“I’m going all out for the win now.
“I’m after beating all the odds and I’m going all the way,” said the Limerick man.
Casey had started the night with a third round stoppage of Mark Moran.

JEROME O’CONNELL