NEWS IN BRIEF
MCGRANE ON FORM: Damien McGrane, the former Wexford club professional, produced some terrific golf to finish ninth in the KLM Dutch Open at Hilversumsche.
He carded rounds of 68, 70 and 68, before a three under par 67 in the final round.
He earned €26,592 for his efforts, bringing his total earnings to €183,805. This left him in 58th position on the European tour order of merit, with his card safe for another season.
RACING CELEBRATIONS: A great year for Irish National Hunt racing was celebrated at the annual Murphy family lunch in the Horse and Hound, Ballinaboola.
The annual bash, hosted by Hilary Murphy and his brothers, Barry and George, saw racing owners, trainers and personalites travel from England, Wales, and all parts of Ireland to attend.
Among the locals to be honoured were Killenagh trainer Colm Murphy, and Wexford jockey Conor O’Dwyer, whose award was presented to his parents, Senan and Kay.
One very ‘Wexford’ occasion at Cheltenham was also marked, namely when the Paul Nolan-trained Dabiroun won the Fred Winter Juvenile hurdle. The horse was owned by Donal and Bridget O’Gorman from Adamstown.
FOUR ON BOARD: Four Wexford jockeys made it on to the leaderboard at the end of the pointto-point season which concluded in Kinsale, Co. Cork.
Robbie Moran (24 wins), Jamie Codd (18), Colin Motherway (twelve) and Liz Doyle (ten) all registered at national level, with the title taken by Galway-based Derek O’Connor who clocked an impressive 63 successes.
SPLASHING FEAT: Wexford Swimming Club received official confirmation from the Olympic Council of Ireland that 15-year-old Jack Nunn from Kilmore Quay was selected on the international team to compete in the European Youth Olympics in northern Italy.
He was part of an eight-strong team, with his colleagues including Shenagh O’Byrne from the New Ross club.
Coach Liam Murphy said it was a great boost for the club and that younger swimmers should take encouragement from such an achievement.
CAMOGIE LOSS: The Wexford Under-14 camogie team went down to a 4-11 to 1-2 defeat to Dublin in their second Leinster championship match, played in Bellefield on June 11, 2005.
The panel was: Sinéad Kearns, Laura Redmond, Amy Ryan, Laura Atkinson, Emma Doyle, Ashley Lacey (0-1), Orla Hall, Eimear O’Connor, Lisa Bolger (0-1), Linda Bolger, Leanne Nolan, Aoife Dunne, Mary Hayes, Sinéad Kehoe, Julie Gahan, Susie Griffiths, Johanna Crean, Ellen Kelly, Anne-Marie Foley, Ashley Doran, Tara Sinnott, Shauna Kearney, Niamh Quirke, Elaine Shanahan, Aoife Kehoe, Aoife O’Connor (1-0).
CULLEN HONOURED: Dedicated Kilanerin-Ballyfad club official Johnny Cullen was recognised for his marvellous contribution to the G.A.A. when he received a President’s Award from Seán Kelly at a function in Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork.
It was the second year of the scheme, with the hard-working Gael following in the footsteps of John Doyle (Buffers Alley), the recipient in 2004.