34 DUBLIN GAZETTE CITY 1 March 2018 GAZETTE SPORT FastSport SOCCER: MCCUE HAILS CAREERS IN SPORTS PROGRAM ROLE FOR RETURNING PLAYERS BOYLAN ON TRACK IN APERLDOORN: FAI offer development route SANDYMOUNT’s Lydia Boylan will be among a group of six Irish riders competing across after UK football dream fades nine events at the 2018 UCI Track JAMES HENDICOTT “When Wolves appointed Cycling World [email protected] their current manager [Nuno Championships, Espírito Santo], for example he which take place IRISH football is currently brought five or six Portuguese in Apeldoorn, The exporting an astonishing players with him, and so some Netherlands this number of players over to the of the Irish players who were week. UK, in the hopes of making it to there were no longer needed. It Boylan will the big time. can be a very harsh world.” contest the Most, sadly, will come back The program has already multi-discipline having fallen short of the mark, had a big name success story, Omnium on Friday for reasons varying from not in 19-year-old Warren O’Hora. before taking on reaching the required quality to Having established himself at the Madison on suffering from injuries, or sheer Bohs last year, he signed for Saturday in tandem bad luck. Brighton during the January with Lydia Gurley. It’s problematic for the transfer window, making him Following a players, then, that many the first signing of the premier strong track world have an “all the eggs in one league club’s year. cup season Cycling basket” approach to the game, “It can help a lot with Ireland achieved abandoning their education something like O’Hora’s qualification spots and with it many alternative signing,” McCue said. in all targeted career paths in the hope of “When coaches in clubs events, including making it big in the world’s abroad are looking at players, the Madison, which most popular sport. they tend to take a holistic is a new event on The FAI is currently view these days. That obviously the 2020 Olympic supporting a program called the includes skill, technique, things Programme. FAI Careers In Sports Program, like that, but also how well Ireland has which is designed to assist with Warren O’Hora benefited from the FAI’s Careers in Sports Program prepared the player might be if already enjoyed reintegration for returning they get injured, or they don’t considerable players, provide a pathway to areas. and 30 in Cabra, Irishtown and told the Dublin Gazette, make it. success in this alternative careers, and provide They also help in preparation Clondalkin. emphasising the integration “Only about 1% of players event, with the qualifications as well as job for job interviews and producing “It’s for players who have benefits. who go over make the grade, duo of Boylan and preparation skills. a good CV, and are designed to been to the UK and dropped “We have players who come players like [Dubliner] Gurley winning The courses on offer lead to a provide employment options out and find it hard coming back after six or seven years Liam Whelan, who was at a silver medal at FETAC level 5 qualification in a should a player fail to make back, but also for players having not quite made the Manchester United, a ‘Busby the European variety of areas including swim the grade, or be cut short with looking for a route into League grade. It can happen very easily, Babe’ and went straight there, Championships last coaching, gym instruction, injury. They’re currently being of Ireland” Ken McCue, also of with something as simple as a that just doesn’t happen October. health and safety and soft skills offered in classes of between 20 Sport Against Racism Ireland, change of manager. anymore.” Thunder struck down by Pantovic’s final hook shot [email protected] were defeated by Belfast Star on Saturday, DCU Saints and Maree nail-biting game, where the lead Friday night. Indeed, in what is each broke the century mark changed hands on numerous GRIFFITH Swords Thunder one of the closest ever finishes in a ding-dong battle in Dublin, occasions in the second half, were denied victory over Garvey’s to a season, four of the top five which Saints eventually won but the remaining games of the Tralee Warriors last Saturday teams now have five losses apiece, out 109-102, while Black Amber season are set to be tough for night as Goran Pantovic finished to ensure that next weekend’s Templeogue had too much for Liffey as they bid farewell to a sharply delivered hook shot to battles – which sees Templeogue Moycullen in their battle in guard, Jazmen Boone, who is secure a memorable one-point, welcome Tralee, and Swords Galway on Sunday. moving to Australia. 75-74, win for the Warriors. travel to UCD – will be must wins Courtyard Liffey Celtics remain “We’re absolutely delighted In a thrilling finish to one of for all teams involved. top of the Women’s Super League with the win,” said Celtics’ head the big clashes of the weekend, Elsewhere around the league, table this weekend after a thrilling coach, Mark Byrne afterwards. Pantovic’s late, late basket saw KUBS secured their second win of 60-54 point win over Ambassador “It was a really tough and hard them win to leave them tied on the season against fellow Dublin UCC Glanmire on Saturday fought game, there was a lot at points at the top of the men’s club, Eanna on Saturday night, evening. stake and it was a bit nervy at basketball’s Super League table running out 75-67 point winners. Top scoring from Aine times, but to come up trumps Griffith Swords Thunder succumbed to a last ditch Garvey’s with UCD Marian, who lost their Pyrobel Killester had the better O’Connor and Sorcha Tiernan in a big game is really, really Tralee Warriors basket . Picture: Martin Doherty one-game cushion when they of UCC Demons in Clontarf on helped Liffey secure the win in a satisfying.”.