Clifford named as top footballer

Kerry’s All-Ireland winning forward, David Clifford, was named as Minor Star Footballer of the Year, at the inaugural Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Awards lunch in Croke Park yesterday, with Cork corner forward Brian Turnbull securing the Hurler of the Year award.

Clifford was a key figure as Kerry secured their fourth Minor All-Ireland title in four years. The Fossa clubman scored 1-10 in the semi-final win over Cavan and 4-4 as Kerry defeated Derry in the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Final.

The “double-goal” introduced for the Euro Hockey League added a harsher look to an already-inflated scoreline as Banbridge fell 6-0 to Poland’s WKS Grunwald Poznan in their opening game in Barcelona. They play Racing of Belgium today.

Classic winning Irish jockey Jimmy Fortune has announced his retirement after a career spanning almost 30 years. Fortune won several big races including the St Leger on Lucarno in 2007, the 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Raven’s Pass and the Yorkshire Oaks on Dar Re Mi in 2009. ‘I love my racing, love the weighing room. It’s my life, so it’s been a difficult decision, but we all have to go sometime,’ 45-yearold Fortune told Racing UK.

Australia captain Steve Smith is expected to be fit for the Ashes despite returning home from the tour of India with a shoulder problem.

Smith will miss three Twenty20s on the sub-continent after falling awkwardly on his right shoulder during the an ODI in Nagpur.