RUGBY
Former Llaneillie and Wales supremo, Gareth Jenkins, is one of the leading candidates to succeed Jim Williams as Munster forwards coach from the start of next season.

IRFU and Munster officials are currently interviewing prospective candidates for Williams’ position.  Williams leaves Munster at the end of the current season to take up a role as assistant to Australia’s incoming coach, Robbie Deans, and Jenkins would be seen by many as the ideal replacement for the former Reds captain.

GAELIC GAMES
As RTÉ celebrates the 30th season of The Sunday Game, it shouldn’t be forgotten by Limerick readers that one of the programme’s early presenters was Newcastle West native Seán Óg O Ceallacháin, who continues to present Radio One’s Sunday Night gaelic games results slot.

He fronted The Sunday Game for a couple of the opening years.

Seán Óg was born in South Quay, Newcastle West in 1923 and will celebrate his 85th birthday next weekend.

His father, who worked with Nash’s Minerals, hailed from Tyrone, but mother Frances (Fanny) Madden came from Ballyhahill – her brother, DJ Madden, served as a Fine Gael TD for Limerick West.

SAILING
Sailor of the Year Ger O’Rourke has admitted that it’s not always the best sailors that make the cut for his ‘Chieftain.’

 “I run my boat religiously, the best people get the best slots.  And, the best people are not necessarily the best sailors, it’s people with the right attitude.  Sometimes you have to make tough decisions that don’t make you the most popular fell at the bar afterwards but if you want to get results you have to do those things.  If you don’t get results the no one is happy.  If you’re racing, you’re racing, there can be no half measures in that respect,” stated the Limerick man.

TENNIS
Conor Niland bridged a 14-month gap when he captured the ITF Futures Men’s Singles title in Bouremouth, England, defeating France’s Pierre Metenier 7-5 6-0 in the final.
The Limerickman, whose last tournament success was in Croatia in March of 2007, trailed 3-5 in the opening set, but he then reeled off the next nine games on the trot to end a run of three final runner-up spots since his Balkan victory.

However, Munster will be comforted by the fact that they will have the use of the same dressing room they used in 2006 when they beat Biarritz at the same venue. 

Also, it is unlikely that Munster will have any tickets on general sale.  The province will receive a limited allocation and they will be distributed through the clubs and the Munster Supporter’s Club.  Over 50,000 tickets were sold out at the start of February, having been available to purchase through the ERC and Ticketmaster since June of last year.

COURSING
DJ Histon has been appointed Chief Executive of the Irish Coursing Club and is set to take up office in July.

Histon has risen quickly through the ranks of the Limerick-based Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon) and only last year was appointed deputy CEO and Head of Regulation.  Now he moves into the top position in the Irish Coursing Club in succession to the long-serving Jerry Desmond, who is to retire.

He will also take over the editorial responsibilities of the Sporting Press newspaper and the management of Powerstown Park Racecourse, Clonmel.

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