30 BLANCH GAZETTE 5 July 2012
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Fogarty honoured for services at Verona TOMMY Fogarty, a veteran of 45 years at Verona Football Club, has been awarded a Service to Football honour by the Leinster Senior League for his outstanding achievement at the Blanchardstown-based soccer institution. Now the chairman of Verona, Fogarty spent years in the role of a referee before returning to what he calls his “home away from home”. It was at the Leinster Senior League’s recent annual meeting that Fogarty was called upon to receive his award, being none the wiser of any such ceremony taking place. “It was the biggest surprise of my life,” said Fogarty. “I don’t know if anyone from our club knew about it, but it was a fantastic moment for me, it’s something that I will never forget.” “I’d say I’ve seen the club win 45 different cups and trophies, one for every year that I’ve been here. I really love Verona and the reception I received from the members was amazing after receiving the award. “There’s pictures up on Facebook and all; I wouldn’t even be able to turn the thing on,” said the humble veteran. In all his years at the club, Fogarty said he has witnessed some brilliant senior sides coming through the ranks, but none as good as the current side under the management of Paul Cassidy. They reached the semi-final of the FAI Intermediate Cup where they met LSL Sunday Senior high flyers Cherry Orchard after a brilliant run in the competition. They also finished sixth in LSL Sunday Senior One. “I think over the years here I’ve seen a big switch from amateur football to what seems to be a semi-professional take on the game now. “We had some great trips to Cork and Donegal, a fantastic run in the Intermediate Cup and I think the lads can go on to great things in the future. “They’re running like a well oiled machine and I hope I’m still at the club to see them go on to further glory. I’ll stay as long as I’m welcome,” said Fogarty.
GRIDIRON: LOCAL SIDE BOW OUT AFTER SUCCESSFUL SEASON
Rhinos Running Back Robert Pops on the charge during their playoff game against Carrickfergus Picture: Louise Maggie McPherson
Rhinos charge comes to end sport@gazettegroup.com
THE Dublin Rhinos season came to a shuddering halt at a rainswept Castleknock College at the weekend, as the Carrickfergus Knights came out on the right side of a 7-2 scoreline. Once again, the Rhinos offence just couldn’t get enough scores to see them over the line as their defence put on an heroic stand. On a rainy day, with converted wide receiver Sean Power at quarterback, the Rhinos ground game would have to be firing on all cylinders to see off the Knights, having
been on the winning side of a 7-3 scoreline up north a fortnight ago. Unfortunately for the home team, that wasn’t the case as the yellow and black defence swarmed everything that was run at them. Robert Pops and Shaun Douglas both made first downs, with Power attempting to break the resistance, but the Spencer McDowell-led Knights defence would hold firm. A Fintan Corr punt return would put the Rhinos in good field position, but the ensuing field goal effort was blocked. As the second half wore on and the spectre of
overtime hung in the air, mistakes piled up. Missed kicks from the Rhinos offence were offset by Trojan efforts by their defence. Eoin Fox made the play of the game with a spectacular diving catch, while Adam Skelly also added an interception. Nick Newby and Stephen Mooney anchored the Rhinos line, stopping the Knights time and again, while Corr, Fox, Dan Breslin and Sam Monson ensured the ball could not move into any dangerous territory. After a third miss from a field goal, the Knights took over and the rain began to pour. For many,
that set the tone of inevitability as the Knights stand-in QB Spencer McDowell hit two huge passes and a QB sneak to take a 7-0 lead. The Rhinos would attempt to drive back down the field, but were stopped by a Gary McElkerney interception which allowed the Knights run the game out. With eight seconds left, they would run a punt back into the endzone, giving the Rhinos a safety, but expiring the clock and setting Carrickfergus up for a semifinal against Limerick this weekend. After a perfect start to the season against Tul-
lamore, the Rhinos would lose three in a row, scrape a win over the Dublin Dragons, lose against Trinity and finish 4-4 after two wins against Craigavon and Carrickfergus. The rollercoaster ride ended on Sunday, after a second play-off appearance in the team’s existence. Having lost starting QB Stephen Macken to emigration and his backup Joe Grey to injury, as well as depletions to the linebacking and receiving corps, the Rhinos will rightly be proud of their achievements this year, but will set their sights on a Shamrock Bowl appearance in 2013.
Kennedy continues to set British pace sport@gazettegroup.com
JACK Kennedy, from Clonsilla, is setting the pace at the top of the pile in the British Supersport table after round 5 of the season at Knockhill. After a series of ‘Jack Attacks’, the signature move of Kennedy, the Dub has put on some exciting performances that have had crowds on the edge of their seats winning Round 2 of the opening meeting at Brands Hatch, Round 2 of the third meeting at Oulton Park before going on to dominate proceedings at Snet-
terton 300, bagging both rounds over the weekend. After coming off his Appleyard Yamaha last May at a meeting in Thruxton, Kennedy recovered from a serious back injury to take a win at the last meeting of the season at Brands Hatch, proving to be a sign of things to come. The showing of determination and resilience did not go unnoticed, and it wasn’t long before other Supersport teams were knocking on the door of the Irishman, vying for the signature and aggressive style of
the 24 year old pilot. Now racing under the MarTrain Yamaha banner, Kennedy has proved himself to be one of the big dogs in the Supersport series leading with 182.5 points with his closest rival, Glen Richards, trailing behind on 164 points. The sixth round of the series in Oultan Park will take place this weekend where Kennedy will look to put further distance between himself and his fellow competitors at the first race on Saturday and the second, the following day, on Sunday.