Galway Advertiser 1997/1997_01_16/GA_16011997_E1_061.pdf 

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Time for United to Turn its Attention to League

Sport Editor: Linley Mac Kenzie

Galway United can now turn its attention fully to premiership promotion and Saturday's visitors are the high flying Kilkenny City. Alfie Hale's side has fallen only once this season, and formers as keeper Ashley Stephenson, Jimmy Donnelly, they represent one of the greatest threats to United's ambi Kevin Kelly, John Power, and the formidable Martin Reid. Such is the experience within this side that Hale will not tion of capturing a place in next year's premier division. Both sides faced premierppposition last weekend in the have to impress on his charges the importance of this tie. Hale was honoured on 14 occasions by his country after FAI Cup. Kilkenny battled back bravely in the second period to give Bohemians some uncomfortable moments serving with Waterford, Aston Villa, Doncaster Rovers, yoefore bowing out by 2 - 1. Galway seldom threatend to Newport County, and a myriad of League of Ireland clubs. arepeat their League Cup heroics in Turner's Cross - such Since retiring from the game, the 57-years-old has man aged Waterford on three occasions, Thurles, and Cobh f was the size of the absentee list. In the league Kilkenny have garnered 23 points, and they Ramblers taking up his appointment as manager of rest just one point behind leaders Drogheda United. The Kilkenny in July 1995. Having their most recent league game with Limerick H Cats' single loss this season was at the hands of lowly Monaghan United. However their record of six wins and postponed, United realise that the stakes for the club are five draws sees them eight points and four places ahead of particularly high on Saturday on and off the field. The club directors will hope the side's league cup exploits will J! United in the league table. caught: Galwegians John Casserly secures p o s s e s s i o n The position is stark for United as the campaign have a positive knock-on effect in terms of crowd atten [Saturday's ICL clash with Collegians. See review next page. approaches the halfway stage, and the westerners must dance. For League of Ireland enthusiasts Saturday's game rep effect an improvement immediately. ! Kilkenny's Pascal Keane represented a threat to United resents an inviting prospect. Kilkenny's ground develop when he sported the Waterford jersey before moving for a ment has won regard and respect within the game, while time to Belgium. Now enjoying a new lease of life, and those who watched them play against United in Terryland with 10 years League of Ireland experience behind him, earlier this season are in no way surprised at their bold I Keane will have to be policed vigilantly by the home promotion campaign. Denis Clarke will stress the significance of the game to defence. The Kilkenny striker is joint top of the leading By Linley Mackenzie his squad throughout the week. Having been singular in M scorers in the first division with seven goals. The Connacht rugby coaching position, which was undertaken by New Zealander Alfie Hale has also recruited the services of wily mid- his approach to the season with promotion as the stated Warren Gatland this season, is currently being advertised worldwide. 1 fielder Paul Cashin. A seasoned campaigner, who is ambition, the Galway manager will be most anxious that The move is part of the coaching" in each of the choice of province or apply d blessed with great vision, Cashin can be expected to be a the experience and talent within the United ranks starts to deliver on its promise. A big Terryland crowd could assist IRFU's decision to appoint four provinces. Applicants for all four posts. danger to United's ambitions on Saturday. However the The closing dates for a fulltime paid "director of can either specify their : ex-Waterford brigade is supplemented by such able per immeasurably. applications is February 7. and the IRFU hopes to have the coaches in place by mid June. Each province will have a By Linley Mackenzie panel of four, who will join Former Connacht coach George Hook did not make the suggestion; Irish Times rugby doyen Edmund Van Esbeck reckons be did; and former Irish coach Mick Doyle three IRFU officials to sift definitely did - yes, the great debate was if Galway's Eric Elwood should have been selected in the wake of Ireland's debacle against Italy. through the applications. Connacht coach Warren Gatland says: Already the Lansdowne Rd Elwood's claims for selection seemed to ments. have been so well known, except to the "I was disappointed when I was not "He has been the difference between a side headquarters has received Irish selectors - among them manager Pat offered an Irish contract so my aim this that struggles and a side that is able to com about 20 requests for appli Whelan, who is supposed to have the cast year was to prove to a lot of peopc that I am pete. He is the type of outhalf Ireland cation forms. needs - he can tackle and he's not afraid to ing vote. Amazingly just days prior to the not finished." Connacht's panel includes a break. Italian match Whelan claimed the outhalf It is typical of Elwood that when sugges make former IRFU president "He has matured, mellowed, and is a was not considered because he had a long tions were made that his time had passed, Tony Browne, former way to go to prove himself. It was a rather he produced one of his most outstanding much more relaxed on and off the field. Connacht chairman of Although Elwood has turned down offers selectors John Callanan, strange comment to make after Elwood had interprovincial seasons. been selected for squad training in the "It's down to enjoyment. I must say I of contracts cross-channel, he believes Connacht branch secretary Algarve - or was that just a sop to the am enjoying playing much more now. and professionalism has helped. Bobby McGann. and for "With more players declaring for mer Connacht branch presi increasing media pressure? everything seems to be going well. Throughout the interprovincial series "I'd have to put this season on a par with Connacht, we have been able lo play at a dent Gerry Kelly much higher standard. Certainly it has (Ballinasloe). These four, Elwood was the most consistent performer. 1993." Without doubt Elwood was Connacht's given me a new lease of life and appetite. in addition to three union He then produced a fine display for Ireland "general" this year - calling the shots, set- This year's interprovincial series and the officials, will form the A against the South Africans - although he had originally been chosen on the bench - ling up attack after anack, potting the European Conference brought the best out interview panel - Irish team and the next day he returned to the field to points, and taking time out to encourage of me and the rest of the guys." manager Pat Whelan, trea Conveying that message to Ireland's surer John Lyons, and help Connacht's challenge against the province's new crop of young players. Australia. If that was not enough - and it His contribution in points alone reads: 22 national selectors was more difficult. another official - possibly "People kept talking about me. but at the IRFU president Bobby should have been if the interpros are still of Connacht's 27 against Ulster, 17 of 22 Irish trials as the IRFU keeps maintaining - points in his side's victory over Leinster; end of the day it was down to the five Deacy - who will act as the Elwood has continued to lead Lansdowne 19 out of 34 points against Padova. and selectors whether I played again for panel's chairperson. A in their All Ireland league campaign, half of Connacht's 30 points in their victo Ireland." fourth official, the Irish At 27. Elwood believes he still has director of rugby develop ry over Orrell. notching the most points to date. ment, Ray Sotaham. will The Elwood debate has now raged far a something to offer. Having once been the darling of Irish rugby, when his arrival on the international couple of seasons. Originally hailed for his "Every time I put on a jersey, whether it is join the panel without vot Now the former Galwegian player is back superb kicking from either foot, his tack for my club or province. I have always ing rights. in favour - albeit in desperate times as stage in 1993 lifted Ireland after a string of disasters, the Lansdowne club man's career ling, and ability to break the gain line, played for my team first, and for myself Ireland seek to overcome thai embarassing questions were then raised over hit distrib second. All I can do right now is keep per Continued next page loss as they head into the Five Nations and nosedived to the point where he was left forming.'* out of Ireland's new contracture! arrange ution. Saturday's clash with the French.

Connacht Job Offered Worldwide

Elwood's Patience is Rewarded