Inside Track: Curiosity Corner

KNOW YOUR INITIALS

1: They like to show off their grounds in Irish soccer

2: It’s part of rugby’s boiler-house

3: You’ll not see it at the Olympics, only at school sports

READ MORE: Dundalk are braced for "tough test" against UCD

4: A biker in Paris

5: He won an All-Ireland medal at midfield for Dublin

6: You’ll make ground if you’re good at this on the Gaelic football field

7: These were held at Blackrock many years ago

8: GAA President who performed the opening of Cooley’s McEvoy Park

9: An Englishman who was once head of World soccer

10: He played in goals for Louth in the recent past

MULLINS IN HUNT FOR RECORD

There are 23 tracks in the United Kingdom that stage only races over hurdles and fences. It’s Irish jockey Patrick Mullins’ aim to ride a winner at each of them, and perhaps even on the dual-purpose tracks as well. He was in the winners’ enclosure at Hexham in the north of England last Tuesday bringing his score to 17.

Mullins, assistant trainer to his all-conquering father, Willie, is, at 6’ 2”, tall as a jockey goes, but that hasn’t been a problem for him.

He already holds a record, having ridden more winners in Ireland than any other amateur. He’s got another talent – in 2024 he was named racing journalist of the year.

A BIT OF THIS AND THAT

Bill Shankly paid more for a player than any Liverpool manager before him when he agreed a fee of £150,000 for Arsenal’s Ray Kennedy, in 1983. The same day that he concluded the deal, the legendary Scot handed in his notice.

Ian St John, Jock Stein, Tommy Smith and Brian Clough were touted as possible replacements, but in the end, the Liverpool board settled for Shankly’s assistant, Bob Paisley. They’d have had no reason to regret their decision.

Soccer’s Jack Grealish and Declan Rise and cricket’s Eoin Morgan are just a few who played International for Ireland and then switched allegiance to England.

Although born in Liverpool, showjumper, Peter Charles, competed for Ireland when he came to this country to live with relations following the deaths of his parents.

He came under the guidance of Eddie Macken, and rode in the green colours for 14 years. He then returned to his homeland, and in 2012 was part of the England team that won gold at the London Olympics.

They should have left well enough alone. Ogie Moran won eight All-Ireland senior football titles for Kerry playing at centre half-forward. When he played in two other finals – which Kerry lost – he was on the right wing.

American cyclist, Greg LeMond, was the first non-European to win the Tour de France. As an amateur, he planned for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, but couldn’t complete due to President Jimmy Carter call for an American boycott.

LeMond had turned professional by the time the 1984 Games came around. Professionals were allowed to compete for the first time in 1996.

HE SAID

“It was the worst day in my life, in football. Someone coming up to you and saying ‘we think your time is up here’. They weren’t renewing my contract, that was bad enough, and then were selling me after 14 years.”

Pat Jennings, recalling the day he was told by Tottenham manager, Steve Burkinshaw that he was being let go. Spurs’ loss was Arsenal’s gain.

Newry-born Jennings would go on to have eight successful seasons at Highbury, winning an FAI Cup medal and continuing to play International football until he was 41.

ANSWERS

Know Your Initials: 1 Sligo Rovers, 2 Second Row, 3 Sack Race, 4 Stephen Roche, 5 Steve Rooney, 6 Solo Run, 7 Strand Races, 8 Séamus Ryan, 9 Stanley Rous, 10 Stuart Reynolds.