SOCCER: TREATY United will aim, with a game in hand, to secure their long-awaited SSE Airtricity First Division play-off position with a return from their away outing against Waterford United on Friday night.
Now unbeaten in five league starts (the latest of which was a 1-1 home draw with Galway United, with the goal courtesy of in-form Enda Curran), Tommy Barrett’s side will be confident of collecting the points on offer in the Southeast.
A result on the road would be the perfect tonic ahead of Sunday week’s glamour FAI Cup semi-final tie with Derry City at The Brandywell.
Treaty complete their regular league programme with a visit from fellow promotion play-off challengers Wexford Youths on October 21.
JUNIOR SOCCER: IN THE pick of the fixtures, league leaders Fairview Rangers (for whom International AJ O’Connor is in brilliant scoring form) will entertain Aisling Annacotty in all-premier FAI Junior Cup on Sunday (kick-off, 2pm).
Elsewhere, last season’s finalists Pike Rovers – who made a shock exit away to St Michael’s in the Munster Champions Cup on Sunday – are home to Nenagh and Ballynanty Rovers welcome Caherdavin Celtic.
The competition begins on Saturday when Regional United host Corbally United.
As a mark of respect to the late Mike Hanley of Foynes, the Desmond League postponed all its weekend fixtures. Mr Hanley served as league chairman for some 40 years, and was also deeply involved with the sport at both provincial and national level, at which he long-served on the FAI Senior Council.
RUGBY: YOUNG Munster entertain Garryowen in the pick of the round two fixtures in Division 1A of the Energia All-Ireland League on Saturday next, kick-off at Tom Clifford Park is at 5.30pm.
Neither team won on the opening weekend, as the Cookies, under the captaincy this season of Dan Walsh, were pipped at the death in a bruising affair away to Cork Constitution. The Light Blues suffered a heavy home loss to Dublin University at Dooradoyle.
Elsewhere in the top-flight on Saturday, Shannon – beaten at the weekend by last season’s runners-up Terenure College – have a 700km roundtrip to face Ballynanhinch (county Down).
In Division 2A, Old Crescent welcome Queen’s University and UL Bohemian travel to Cashel. Bruff, the only local side to win on Saturday (20-18, home to Omagh Academicals), visit Tullamore in Division 2C.
RACING: Veteran Limerick trainer Michael Hourigan rolled back the years with a tremendous double at Killarney on Sunday, providing jockey Darragh O’Keeffe with two-thirds of a memorable three-timer.
Winning Rascal, a winner at the Listowel Harvest Festival, justified 100/30 favouritism in the Play the Tote Exacta on Every Race Handicap Hurdle and Sanibel Island (5/1) stole the show in the Tote.ie Never Beaten By SP Handicap Chase.
“Tom Doran (owner) got fed up with him and sent him down as a present for myself and my wife (Anne). So, it’s a bonus that he’s won for us. He’s a winter horse, so we should have a bit of fun with him,” Hourigan revealed to irishracing.com.
GREYHOUND RACING: Adamant Approach, trained in Caherconlish by John Rainsford, is the likely favourite for the Donal Scanlon Memorial A2 525 Final at Limerick next Saturday night.
The feature, which carries a winners’ prize of €1,600, is the centrepiece of an attractive 12-race programme, with the opener, as ever, timed for 7.40pm.
GAA: NOMINATIONS close next weekend for six positions on the Limerick GAA Executive which will become available at the end of the year due to the enforced retirements of Chairman John Cregan, Vice-Chairman Seamus McNamara, Treasurer Liam Bourke, Assistant Treasurer Sean Burke, Assistant Secretary Eamon Phelan, and PRO Hugh Murphy.
Under association rules, no person can serve more than five years and for this sextet their time will expire at December’s Annual Convention.
Names mentioned for the top position are McNamara (Fr Casey’s), Emmett O’Brien of Kildimo/Pallaskenry, and Seamus Twomey (Granagh/Ballingarry).
GOLF: A WELL supported fundraiser by the Ladies of Rathbane GC has raised a significant sum for the Mid Western Cancer Foundation.
Captain Sheila Manning expressed her thanks to members for their support as she, along with Rita Barry, presented a cheque for €2,300 to Dr Thamir Mahgoub and Maureen Kyne, Cancer Nurse Specialist at the weekend.
