Sports briefs: Durkin is knock out success in Sydney
Aoibheann Durkin, left, from Ballaghaderreen, with her coach Renee McArdle.
Boxing: Aoibheann Durkin of Knocknacunny, Ballaghaderreen who now lives in Sydney, boxed in the recent Corporate Fighter Sydney Fight Night. The charity event raised $67,000 for various charities in Australia, with Aoibheann raising over $2,000 for her chosen charity ACON, Pride in Sport which is a not for profit LBGTQ+ sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations at all levels with the inclusion of employees, athletes, volunteers and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities.
She won her bout against Jodie Finnan, which took place on Friday, March 15 and was streamed online, comprehensively, winning all three two-minute rounds and knocking her opponent down in the third.
Aoibheann works as a personal trainer and yoga teacher at VIRGIN Active Gym in Sydney.
She is pictured after the result was declared with her coach Renee McArdle.
Rugby: The Ireland squad has been named for the upcoming Six Nations Women’s U18 Festival and in what is an incredible endorsement of the work taking place at Ballina RFC, the club has had no fewer than three players selected. The trio of Ailish Quinn, Gráinne Moran and Emily Foley are all picked for the tournament which takes place in Colwyn Bay, Wales, from March 29 to April 6.
Ailish, Gráinne and Emily are among several players who also featured in the tournament this time last year, while Emily Foley also featured in the Ireland U18s 7s side that finished fifth in the Rugby Europe U18 7s last year.
The format remains the same as last year with two 35-minute matches in the opening rounds and finishing with a full 70-minute clash on the final day.
Ireland will face England on March 29th, followed by Wales on April 2nd and will close out the tournament against Scotland on April 6th.
Golf: Padraic Costello won the Open Friday at Ballinrobe Golf Club on March 15. The 18-hole stableford saw him post a score of 38 points with the Gross prize won by Alan Jennings on 28 points.
The weekend competition was won by the pairing of Monty Heneghan and Barry Biggins who were 8 Up after their 18 holes. A best back nine from Michael McManamon and Kevin Finnegan saw them take the runners-up spot ahead of Gerard Sheridan and Kieran Hughes, after both pairings finished 7 Up.
The best front nine prize went to Seamus Langan and Richard Langan (5 Up) with the best back nine posted by Ger Fahy and Tommy Fahy (4 Up).
Soccer: The school has enjoyed plenty of success at this level in the past but last Thursday’s FAI Schools Minor ‘B’ Connacht Cup final turned out to be a sobering experience for the girls of St Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross. They made the long trip to Lecarrow in Co Roscommon to take on Glenamaddy Community School in what was the provincial final for Under 15 Small Schools, but it was the Galway girls who were much the stronger when winning on a 6-0 scoreline.
GAA: There was a high-scoring contest between the under-16 footballers of St Brendan’s College, Belmullet and St Gerald’s College, Castlebar when those two schools collided at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence. The victory in Thursday’s Mayo Post Primary Schools Colleran Cup ‘C’ final was secured by the boys from Belmullet who prospered on a 7-5 to 4-8 scoreline.
