Sports shorts
With Pat Treacy
Kilkenny GAA show a healthy profit
The Kilkenny County GAA Board have bucked the national trend as they record a healthy profit of almost €225,000.
It is the fifth year in a row that the GAA Board has recorded a profit. Money from an appearance in the league final and a replay in the senior county final playing a vital role in the profit margin of a €5 million turnover.
The Bally Boys
St Patrick’s Ballyragget GAA club have produced a booklet to pay tribute to the junior hurling team that won the Kilkenny Junior hurling title for the first time since 1978.
The booklet is entitled ‘The Bally Boys’ and it has match reports,pictures of players and fans and the homecoming with the cup to Ballyragget. It is selling at various outlets around the parish for €5.
Jimmy O’ Brien vacates Village chair
After 11 years as chairman of the James Stephens GAA Club, Jimmy O’Brien has stepped down.
The former All-Ireland winning club captain has held the reins in the St Patrick’s parish club during a period that saw the senior team win three county titles, two Leinster championships and an All-Ireland club title.
The popular former half back was a very steady influence on the Village Club and he was very instrumental in initiating the buying the grounds for the new playing fields on the Kells Road.
Tommy Lanigan is the new chairman
Tom Lanigan takes over as chairman of the James Stephens GAA Club.
The Laois native has been involved with club for over 30 years as a player and a coach. Tommy served as manager and selector to many of the successful James Stephens under age and adult teams.
He recently retired as Principal of Abbey Community College Ferrybank where he oversaw the development of the new school since it was founded 2000 under the joint Trusteeship of the Kilkenny VEC and the Sisters of The Sacred Heart of Mary Ferrybank.
James Stephens selectors given green light
Kilkenny county senior hurling champions James Stephens have reappointed manager Niall Rigney and selectors Fran Whelan and Adrian Finan to guide their fortunes in 2012, as they bid to successfully defend their county title.
The ‘Village’ won back to back titles in 2004 and 2005 that also included two Leinster titles and an All Ireland Club title.
New officers in Kilmacow
Kilmacow GAA Club have new personnel at the top table.
The new officers are Chairman, Michael Atkins, Secretary,Michael Ryan and Treasurer, Shane Gaule.
Boxing Dowlings
Ballyragget’s Ciara Dowling defeated Sarah Goode from Wexford in the Leinster Lightweight Boxing Championship Final at the National Stadium on Tuesday night. Ciara put in a pwerful performance to win 11-5 on points.
Ciara had an impressive 16-9 win over Kim Turner from Kildare in the semi-final.
Castlecomer’s Jamie Dowling put in a fantastic final round to outscore Noel Somers of Dublin, 13-1, to retain his Welterweight title winning on points 23-10. Jamie had a tough semi final win Fergal Redmond of Arklow, coming from behind to win by a single point 14-13.
Jamie will join London Olympic qualifier Darren O’ Neill in action in the Paulstown Boxing Tournament on Saturday evening in Paulstown at 7pm.
Kenny Egan in Kilkenny on Saturday
Olympic Silver medallist Kenneth Egan will be in Kilkenny tomorrow (Saturday) signing his book Kenny Egan: My Story in Stonehouse Bookshop in Kieran Street at 4pm.
In the book he tells of the gruelling and unlikely journey to the top of Irish amateur boxing and also the the dramatic downward spiral which followed his silver medal win in The Bejiing Olympics in 2008.
Senior cross-country championships
The Kilkenny Senior cross-country championships take place in Gowran on Sunday at 12 noon in Bramblestown.
Gowran is also the place to be on Christmas morning if you want to participate in the St Vincent De Paul’s Charity Run after morning mass.