Irish Jockey Tragically Dies
ALL Irish racing was called off last Sunday as a mark of respect to the late Sean Cleary, the 22-year-old apprentice jockey who died from serious head injuries after a fall at Galway a week earlier.
Cleary was widely regarded as one of the country’s top young jockeys, and his death has been met with dismay and disbelief across the country.
Fellow apprentice David Condon, who rode Holy Orders in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, led the tributes to his colleague.
He said, “Sean was a very good friend of mine. We went racing on numerous occasions when he was working with Jim Bolger. It’s very sad news and I will riding on Tuesday in Sean’s memory.”
Sadly Condon failed to win the Melbourne Cup held on Tuesday in his friend’s memory, the Willie Mullins trained Holy Orders finishing 17th of a 20 strong field in Australia.
Athlone born Cleary had ridden 14 winners this season for Waterford trainer Pat Flynn after spending his first three years as an apprentice with Bolger.
In a statement, Walter Halley, the Turf Club’s medical officer, said, “It is with deep regret that I announce the death of Sean Cleary following severe head injuries sustained at Galway on Sunday, October 26. His tragic death is deeply mourned by the Cleary family, the Turf Club and everyone in Irish racing.”
Trainer Flynn also paid tribute to Cleary when he said, “It’s a terrible situation that Sean was cruelly mowed down in the prime of his life.
“He was very dedicated, was enjoying his best season and had a real future as a strong lightweight. He was a credit to his family. He always came in in good form and there was never a complaint whether you wanted him to ride five or six lots or pick stones on the gallops.”
Fellow trainer Pat Martin said, “Sean rode some smashing races on difficult horses for me. I particularly remember him settling One For The Money beautifully at Tipperary before coming through to win well.
“He always was a pleasure to deal with and I will miss him terribly.”
Celtic Shut Out Kilmarnock
RIVAL bosses Martin O’Neill and Jim Jefferies sat on opposite sides of the fence when it came to discussing referee Hugh Dallas’ performance as Celtic won 5-0 against Kilmarnock on Saturday to maintain their impressive start to the season.
Dallas infuriated Jefferies when he awarded a first-half penalty to the Celts after Stilian Petrov went down under a challenge from Gary McDonald.
Chris Sutton, back at Rugby Park for the first time since the controversy at the end of last season, duly scored from the spot on his way to a hat-trick and his boss had no doubts that the decision was justified.
“Yes I did think it was a penalty,” O’Neill said. “Have you seen it since? I am surprised that there is some uncertainty but I’ll take your word for it.”
Jefferies saw things somewhat differently. “The ref was a disgrace,” snapped Jefferies. “He is meant to be Scotland’s number one referee but not on that performance.”
O’Neill was more interested in championing the “Sutton for England” campaign after the player’s latest hat-trick on a day that saw Liam Miller sparkle again and John Hartson and Shaun Maloney score the other Celtic goals.
“Everything happened to Chris off the park after the last game here,” said O’Neill. “But he played brilliantly and had a hat-trick, even though two came from the spot.
“He’s playing well enough for us to say that he is certainly worth being looked at by the England management and I am pushing him for that.”
O’Neill is also beginning to think about life without Sutton’s strike partner Henrik Larsson as the Swede continues to stick to his decision to leave Celtic when his contract expires in the summer.
And the Parkhead supremo admits he will have a job on his hand replacing Larsson, just as he has never really replaced Lubo Moravcik.
“It’s the same with Larsson as it was with Lubo Moravcik,” claimed O’Neill.
“He is a wonderfully gifted player and a wonderful talent – and great players are always hard to replace.”
O’Neill is also ready to offer Jackie McNamara a new deal after the midfielder forced himself back into contention with club and country.
“I thought Jackie was exceptional against Kilmarnock,” said O’Neill. “His performances this season haven’t surprised me at all.
“His contract is up at the end of the season and I will be speaking to his agent about a new deal – but he has definitely revived both his club and international career.”
Celtic, meanwhile, will meet Hibernian in the quarterfinals of the CIS Cup if they overcome Partick Thistle in the last 16.
World Cup for
Under-20s
IRISH under-20 manager Gerry Smith has urged his players to see the bigger picture when they go to Dubai for the World Cup finals at the end of the month.
Smith takes the team that qualified under Brian Kerr’s tutelage to the finals adamant that some of his players can force their way into Kerr’s senior Irish side.
“After the recent result in Switzerland there is a chance for all young Irish players to force their way into Brian’s plans and there is no better place to do that than at a World Cup finals,” said Smith, who named his squad after last week’s impressive 2-0 win against Italy in a Dublin friendly.
The Republic face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and the Ivory Coast in their group games, beginning on November 29.
The Irish squad for Dubai is: Wayne Henderson (Aston Villa), Brian Murphy (Swansea City), Stephen Paisley (Longford Town), Paddy McCarthy (Manchester City), Stephen Capper (Scarborough), Stephen Brennan (Newcastle United), John Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Kelly (Watford – on loan from Manchester City), Darren Potter (Liverpool), Sean Thornton (Sunderland), David Bell (Rushden and Diamonds), Graham Ward (Kidderminster Harriers), Michael Foley (Liverpool), Liam Kearney (Cork City), Adrian Deane (Charlton Athletic), Willo Flood (Manchester City), Jonathan Daly (Stockport County), Kevin Doyle (Cork City), Stephen Elliott (Manchester City), Glenn Whelan (Manchester City).
Lawrie Top Euro Rookie
DUBLINER Peter Lawrie made history on Monday when he became the first Irishman to win the European Tour’s prestigious Rookie of the Year award after finishing 55th on the Order of Merit in his debut year on tour.
“I looked at the list of past winners of the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year some time ago and was amazed to discover that no Irishman had ever won it, especially when you think of how well people like Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington played early in their careers,” he said.
“It’s nice to get one up on the lads. This is a trophy they won’t get another chance of winning. This is a great accolade and when you look at the great players who have won it in the past, it makes me feel very proud.”
Previous winners of the award include Colin Montgomerie, Tony Jacklin and Nick Faldo.
Meath Backs Boylan
SEAN Boylan received a stunning vote for confidence from delegates to the Meath County Board on Monday night when he was returned as Royal County boss on a 69-19 vote.
Boylan saw off Dunshaughlin manager Eamonn Barry for the second year in a row, 22 years after he was first appointed to the Meath job.
“It is a great honor for me to be Meath manager and as long as the County Board want me, I will be there for them,” said Boylan.
“I have had 21 great years with the county. I know I have made some friends and some enemies along the way but the good thing is that they are all still talking to me.
“I look forward to the new year now and to another Leinster championship campaign.”
Clarke for Houston
DARREN Clarke will fly the flag for Ireland at the $6 million Tour Championship in Houston this week after sneaking into the field for the first time thanks to his 13th spot finish at the Volvo Masters in Valderrama on Sunday.
Clarke’s American entry means Padraig Harrington is the only Irishman in the Great Britain and Ireland team to take on continental Europe in the Seve Trophy in Spain this weekend.
In other golf news, Baltray, otherwise known as Co. Louth, is to host the Nissan Irish Open for the first time next July.
GAA Shorts
FORMER Galway United and St. Patrick’s Athletic striker John Glynn is to work with new Clare boss Anthony Daly on the physical preparation of the Banner County team for next year’s Munster hurling championship . . .
THE GAA are to extend their deal with their Aussie Rules counterparts to secure the future of the Compromise Rules series despite Ireland’s defeat in this year’s event. And they have also proposed adding the Railway Cup deciders to the agenda when they return to Australia in two years. Connacht meet Leinster in this year’s hurling final in Rome on Saturday . . .
NEW Tipperary boss Ken Hogan has hauled his players in for training ahead of schedule as he looks to make his mark with the Premier County . . .
FORMER inter-county stars Declan Nash and Damien Quigley have been named as selectors by newly appointed Limerick hurling boss Pad Joe Whelahan . . .
LUKE Dempsey, deposed as Westmeath boss two months ago, has declined the opportunity to take charge of the Wexford senior football team.
Soccer Shorts
PREMIERSHIP leaders Arsenal have again been linked with Tottenham Hotspur captain Stephen Carr, out of contract at White Hart Lane next summer . . .
IRISH under-21 goalkeeper Saul Deeney has gone on trial at Premiership club Wolves.
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