Derry City v Kilkenny postponed

Football

Derry City's re-arranged eircom League Premier Division against Kilkenny scheduled for Wednesday evening has been postponed.

Derry officials took the decision on Tuesday because of a frozen pitch.

The club felt it would be unfair to ask Kilkenny to travel up north early on Wednesday with the likelihood that the evening game would be called off.

Shelbourne didn't extend the same courtesy to Derry at the weekend with the game scheduled for Tolka Park called off less than an hour before the planned 5pm kick-off.

Derry had already completed their four hour journey to Dublin when news of the postponement came through.

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Rugby

AIB All-Ireland League results on Sat 13
Jan - Division Two: Ballynahinch 24-24 Dolphin, Bective Rangers 21-27 UCD, Greystones 15-7 City of Derry, Malone 0-34 Carlow, Old Belvedere 27-7 Midleton, Portadown 12-22 UL Bohemians, Sunday's Well 47-8 Old Wesley, UCC 18-19 Wanderers.

Division Three: Ballina 18-10 Highfield, Suttonians 18-22 Thomond, Bangor 14-5 Monkstown, Dublin University 32-3 Corinthians, Naas 15-3 Banbridge, Instonians 15-15 Waterpark, Richgmond 21-48 Barnhall, Skerries 50-7 Ards.

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Hockey

Results from Saturday, 13 January - Harp Senior League Section One: Raphoe 0-6 Instonians, Lisnagarvey 2-1 Mossley, Annadale 5-2 NICS, Cookstown 4-3 Newry, North Down 1-2 Banbridge.

Section Two: Kilkeel 3-0 Bangor, Portrush p-p Cliftonville, S Antrim 1-1 RUC, Antrim 3-0 Larne, QUB 5-1 Portadown, Harlequins 5-2 Parkview.

Ladies Peugeot 206 Senior League Section One: Ards 0-0 Knock, Ballymoney P-P Randalstown, Coleraine 0-3 North Down, Portadown 1-3 Pegasus

Section Two: Ballymena 4-1 Queens, Saintfield 1-1 Banbridge, Civil Service 2-1 Omagh, Priorians P-P Enniskillen

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GAA

A late point by skipper Pauric Duffy helped Pearse Ogs defeat Cavan Gaels 1-12 to 0-14 in Sunday's Green Gate Ulster Club Minor Football final.

Duffy hit the winning score from a penalty and was afterwards declared the player of the tournament.

The victory meant much to the Ogs after losing the three previous finals in the competition.

The crucial moment of the match was Conor Clarke's goal right on half-time which meant Cavan Gaels only led by a point at the break - 0-8 to 1-4.

In injury-time, Nicholas Walsh had an exceptionally difficult chance to earn the Cavan club a replay.

However, his free from 45 metres, and into a stiff breeze, dropped short.

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GAA

Six Ulster players have been included in the 25 strong Ireland panel for the U17 International Rules series against Australia in April.

Derry trio Neil Collins, Ruairi Convery and Paul Young will be joined by Paul Doherty (Antrim) plus Cavan pair Patrick Brady and Mark McKeever.

The first two matches will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (12 April and 16 April) with the final test in Perth (19 April).

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Sports Grants

The Sports Council for Northern Ireland has announced £7.1m of funding to be spent on sport in the province.

Sports Council chairman Eric Saunders said the programme would enable his organisation to be "more strategic with our lottery funds".

He highlighted the new Talented Junior Programme which will provide investment in the development of youth squads over the next three years.

"This is another important development in our commitment to provide a suitable environment for our best young athletes to realise their true potential at future Olympic, Commonwealth and world events,'' said Saunders.

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Rugby

Tom Kiernan and Tony O'Reilly have been inducted into Rugby Writers of Ireland Hall of Fame.

Kiernan starred for Munster, Ireland and the Lions while O'Reilly made his international debut as an 18-year-old against France in 1955.

O'Reilly earned 25 caps in a career spanning three decades and also represented the Lions.

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GAA

Sigerson Cup holders Queen's will face their Belfast rivals St Mary's University College in the opening round of this season's competition on February 14.

Jordanstown will face Cork IT in the preliminary round on January 27.

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Motorsport

The Circuit of Ireland Rally will return in 2001 but with a new base and format.

The 2001 event will be largely centred on Enniskillen from April 14/16.

Stages will take place on both sides of the border.

As well as being the first round of the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac Championship, it will also incorporate the Easter Stages Rally on the Easter Monday.

The Easter Monday event is part of the Northern Ireland Championship when crews from the province will join the event.

Circuit clerk of the course Chris Beck is planning a 25 stage covering 400 miles.

Action will take place in Fermanagh, Tyrone, Cavan and Leitrim.

The Circuit of Ireland didn't take place in 2000 because of a date clash as organisers of the Rally of the Lakes in Kerry had claimed the Easter weekend.

In recent years, the Circuit has been based in Bangor but organisers are confident that the switch to west of the Bann will prove beneficial.

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Cycling

Belfast cyclist David McCann has joined the paid ranks.

McCann will sign for the Polish team Mat Ceresit on Tuesday.

The Belfastman was ranked number one amateur rider on the French domesic circuit in 2000 and also finished a creditable 44th in the Olympic Road Race in Sydney.

The 27-year-old is the reigning Irish champion and he joins his compatriots Ciaran Power and Mark Scanlon in the paid ranks.

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GAA

Tyrone champions Errigal Ciaran and beaten finalists Carrickmore have both received byes into the second round of the 2001 county championship.

Errigal will face either Kildress or newly promotion Gortin in round two while Carrickmore will meet Moortown.

Coalisland have been drawn against Eglish while Ardboe will tackle Aghyaran.

Round one: (A) Beragh v Clonoe, (B) Donaghmore v Brackaville, (C) Gortin v Kildress, (D) Aghyaran v Ardboe, (E) Edendork v Omagh, (F) Dromore v Clan na Gael, (G) Trillick v Strabane, (H) Eglish v Coalisland.

Round two: G v B, E v F, H v Killyclogher, Carrickmore v Moortown, Moy v Cookstown, D v Galbally, Loughmacrory v A, C v Errigal Ciaran.

Intermediate Championship - round one: Killyman v Aghaloo, ER O'Neill v Dungannon, Augher v Fintona, Stewartstown v Drumquin, Pomeroy v Tattyreagh, Urney v Clogher, Rock v Greencastle.

Junior Championship - round one: Dregish v Castlederg, Glenelly v Brocagh, Eskra v Derrytresk, Newtownstewart v Drumragh.

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Hockey

Favourites Lisnagarvey face a tough fourth round tie against YMCA in the Irish Senior Cup.

'Garvey are bidding to reach their 10th final in 15 seasons.

Ulster League joint leaders Cookstown will tackle holders Pembroke Wanderers.

The Tyrone team, winners in 1986, have lost only twice in the current season.

Banbridge have been drawn against Trinity while Instonians will have home advantage for their clash against either Bangor or Avoca.

Games will be played on 27 January

Fourth round draw: Newry v North Down, Instonians v Avoca, Banbridge v Dublin University, Aer Lingus v Monkstown, Pembroke v Cookstown, Glennane v Railway Union, Dublin YMCA v Lisnagarvey, NI Civil Service v Cork Harlequins.

Draw for the women's Sharwoods Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals to be played on 20 January: Hermes v Portadown (UCD Belfield 2.30pm); Randalstown v Ballymoney (Antrim Forum 2.30pm); Pegasus v Cork Harlequins (QUB, Malone Road 2.30pm); Pembroke Wanderers v Old Alexandra (Ballsbridge 2.00pm).

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Football

Alex Ferguson is to be star guest at the Northern Ireland Milk Cup's gala anniversary dinner next year.

The March event will mark the successful youth tournament's 18th year.