Year 9 and 10 pupils at Foyle College, Jordan McGrory, Colm Kuan, Jamie McKee, Brian Boyle and their teacher, Alistair Manning, enjoying their exclusive webchat with Sean McCarter live from New York. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Photography.

The skipper of the Derry “LondonDerry” Doire yacht has linked up via live webcam with pupils at the Derry school he attended as a boy.

After nine months at sea, Sean McCarter is taking a well-earned break in New York ahead of the 12-strong fleet’s departure this Saturday from North Cove Marina for the 2,850 mile Atlantic crossing on Race 13 of 16 with the fleet expected to arrive in Derry on 21 June next.

And he was delighted to chat live from the “Big Apple” with students at Foyle College.

Sean and the Derry Clipper crew will also meet with a delegation from Derry, led by the city’s newly-elected Mayor Cllr Brenda Stevenson, which is visit the “city that never sleeps.”

The fleet’s arrival in Derry will be the highlight of  the Maritime Festival which will feature an open air concert by the legendary Beach Boys.

The yachts will leave Foyleside  on 29 June for 770 mile crossing to Den Helder in Holland with the round the world race finishing in London early next month.

George Jackson,  with a fantastic score of 44 points over the very long Prehen course had three points to spare over  Ian Dixon on 41 points in winning the Everglades Hotel Open at City of Derry Golf Club.

Kevin Crumley and Peter Villa were separated by the break of tie rule for third and fourth place respectively.

City of Derry +1 handicapper, Kealan Quigg, took the gross prize.

Result:

1st George Jackson 44pts

2nd Ian Dixon 41pts

3rd Kevin Crumley 40pts

4th Peter Villa 40pts

Gross Kealan Quigg 34pts

Visitor Kenny Richmond 36pts

Lady Marie Gillispie 21pts

Prize presentation will take place tonight (Friday) 9.30pm.

Eddie McMenamin made a welcome return to the winners enclosure in the City Hotel sponsored Open at City of Derry yesterday.

Playing off a handicap of 13, Eddie put together a great score of 42 points followed by hard working Council member John Flynn with 40 points and the very consistent Iain Anthony in third place.

Result:

1. Eddie McMenamin (13) 42 pts

2. John Flynn (13) 40 pts

3. Iain Anthony (5) 39 pts

Gross; James Lindsay (0) 38 pts

Visitor; Jack Mc Ateer (14) 39 pts

First nine: Aaron Taylor (1) 20 pts

Second nine: Neil Duncan (17) 22 pts

Ladies: Jackie Mc Nulty (29) 23 pts

Presentation will take place tonight (Friday) at 9.30pm.

Derry will be without Cailean O’Boyle for their All-Ireland senior football qualifiers after the Lavey forward decision to spend the summer in America. 

O’Boyle, a regular in manager Brian McIver’s side, jetted out to the US yesterday ensuring he will play not part in Derry’s quest for All-Ireland glory this year.

O’Boyle has played nine times for Derry this year.

He was included in McIver’s starting line-up in Oakleafers’ Ulster Championship quarter-final defeat to Donegal in Celtic Park on Sunday week last but was replaced in the 44th minute.

His departure is an even bigger blow for Lavey, who captained in both football and hurling last year.

O’Boyle took to social media to reveal his decision to go to America was a difficult one.

Before boarding his flight, he tweeted: “On (en) route to USA, wasn’t an easy decision leaving but looking forward to starting a new chapter, everyone have a nice summer.”

All members of Doire Colmcille CLG are asked to report to St Columba’s Church, Long Tower at 7.00pm on Monday next to form the traditional guard of honour at the St Columba’s Day celebrations.

The club has performed this role for many years in recognition of Derry’s patron saint from which both the city and club take their name.

This year’s celebration will be the first presided over by new Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Donal McKeown, who was installed as leader of the Catholic Church in the diocese in April.

Gerry Gill: brought Cockhill level.

Finn Harps are through to the next round of the FAI Cup but Buncrana side Cockhill Celtic are out.

Harps defeated Leinster Senior League side Belgrove/Home Farm 1-0 at Frank Cooke Park, Pat McCann scoring the all-important goal in the eighth minute.

Ulster Senior League champions Cockhill put up a great performance away to Airtricity Premiership side Drogheda United.

The home side went ahead through Declan O’Brien but former Derry City midfielder Gerry Gill brought the Inishowen side level with a penalty.

Gerard McLaughlin put Donal O’Brien’s side in front early in the second half but last year’s beaten finalists fought back with goals from Declan O’Brien (two) and Gavin Houlihan to go into the hat for the third round draw.

City of Derry members dominated the prizes in the the Campsie Paper Company Open Mixed Foursome taking all three prizes at Prehen.

Stephen McKeegan and Gerda Laird took first place on a break of tie.

Result:

1. Gerda Laird and Stephen Mc Keegan 36 (bot)

2. Mary O Doherty and Sean Mc Kane 36

3. Bernadette North and Reg North 36

Shane Duffy.

Derry man Shane Duffy made his full international debut for the Republic of Ireland in the 1-1 draw with Costa Rica.

Duffy, currently on the books of Premiership club giants and who spent last season on loan at SkyBet Championship side Yeovil Town, was one of two Derry men Martin O’Neill included in the starting line-up for the clash which took place in Philadephia at 1.00am (Irish time) – the other was former Derry City favourite James McClean.

Former Derry City keeper, David Forde, also played in the game in which Kevin Doyle ended a two-year goal drought with an 18th minute strike.

Duffy had been on the fringes of the Irish set-up during the Trappattoni era, and was named in a number of squads, but never made his full debut during the Italian’s spell as manager.

He had represented Northern Ireland at underage level but switched allegiances to the Republic of Ireland when they showed an interest in capping him at under-19 level in 2010.

Cliff Byrne.

Cliff Byrne is set to start for Derry City in tonight’s FAI second round clash with Cobh Ramblers at St Colman’s Park (kick off 7.45pm).

The return of the defender, one of City’s most consistent performers, is a welcome boost for Candystripes boss Peter Hutton as his side aim to bounce back from last week’s 5-2 league hammering by St Patrick’s Athletic – the Brandywell club’s heaviest defeat of the season so far.

Derry will go into the game favourites to progress to the third round as Cobh, who are propping up the Airtricity Division One, having not won a league game to date.

Barry McNamee: put Derry in front.

Cobh Ramblers 0 Derry City 2

Derry City booked their place in the next round of the FAI Cup with a 2-0 win over Airtricity Division One side Cobh Ramblers at St Colman’s Park tonight.

After a scoreless first half, Barry McNamee’ fired Derry in front in the 54th minute.

Rory Patterson sealed the win when he found the back of the net in the 80th minute.

FAI Cup Results

Saturday

Sheriff YC 0 Shamrock Rovers (McCabe 2, Kilduff 6, Waters 49, Zayed 64)

Limerick FC (Gaffney 71) Bohemians (Beattie 35, Kavanagh 60) 0

Friday

Drogheda United (O’Brien 1, 67, 72, Holohan 72) 4 Cockhill Celtic (Gill pen 20, McLaughlin 46) 2

Shelbourne 1 (Keggan 16) 1 Waterford 0

Wexford (Shortt 60) 1 Bray Wanderers 0

Athlone Town 0 Longford Town (O’Sullivan 77, Salmon pen 79) 2

Cork City (O’Sullivan 4, Dennehy 25, 44, Lehane 30, Morrissey 50, Turner 70) 6 St Mochta’s 0

Dundalk (McMillan 31, Horgan 47, Gartland 65) 3 Sligo Rovers 0

St Patrick’s CY 0 St Patrick’s Athletic (Byrne 43, Fahey 53, Kavanagh 87) 3

UC Dublin (Creevy 68) 1 Galway (Molloy 29, Walsh 59, Keegan 90+2) 3

Belgrove 0 Finn Harps (McCann 8) 1

Collinstown 0 Avondale United 2

Mayfield United 1, Malahide United 3

Heading home: the crew of the Derry “LondonDerry” Doire yacht.

The Derry “LondonDerry” Doire has begun the 2,850 mile journey home across the Atlantic from New York on Race 14 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

And skipper Sean McCarter is looking forward to sailing the River Foyle in approximately two weeks time.

He said: “I can’t wait to sail down the Foyle at the end of the race.

“I grew up in Derry, it’s my home town but I’ve only sailed down the Foyle five or six times which is spectacular to do anyway, with beautiful views and sailing under the new bridge.

“It’s a great place to sail in to but to do it as the skipper of the home team on the race is something I will remember for the rest of my life and I know the crew will too.”

There are eight races on tonight’s greyhound card at Brandywell Stadium in Derry.

Runners are (first race 8.00pm):

Race 1 (300 yards): 1, Sourhill Ruby; 2, Surfer Spidey; 3, Sticky Tank; 4, Radiator Springs; 5, Augustine Hotdog; 6, Chez Nous.

Race 2 Managers Select Sprint (300 yards); 1, Farloe Joop; 2, Zula Zepplin; 3, Rough Twilight; 4, Equity Row; 5, Cushie Willow; 6, Boherash Noir.

Race 3 Managers Select Spring (300 yards): 1, Lord Ben; 2, Ballymac Regal; 3, Glenside Sky; 4, Finnside Bolt; 5, Fanore Blue; 6, Sourhill Pearl.

Race 4 Billy and Sheila Memorial 525 (525 yards): 1, Lillie Mais Boy; 2, Culture Annie; 3, Kittys Taffy; 4, Ballyill Stream; 5, Counterfit; 6, Smurfing Oddball.

Race 5 Gatillo Kennels 500 (500 yards): 1, Wee Bubbles; 2, Sugarland Spook; 3, Oilean Daktari; 4, Mulroy Ninja; 5, Oghill Revenge 6, Glencroft Belle.

Race 6 Track Bookmakers 500 (500 yards): 1, Greenville Dove; 2, Obadiah; 3, Sunrise Rumble; 4, Drumabey Lena; 5, Ardnasool Rio; 6, Milltown Blaze.

Race 7 Billy and Sheila Quigley Memorial 525 (525 yards): 1, Leave It Be; 2, Kevins Katie 3, Another Chico; 4, Ballard Blue Ivy; 5, Dynamo Milllar; 6, Westminster Cash.

Race 8 Gatillo Kennels 500 (500 yards): 1, Sourhill Serena; 2, Whiterock Diva; 3, Wilbrook Mint; 4, Mays Tubby; 5, Pretty Jockey; 6, Donford Jane.

City of Derry Golf Club put in a faultless performance at the weekend to progress to the next round of the Fred Daly Trophy.

Down five mates to two against Ballyliffin, the Prehen club turned it round at hem, winning all seven matches to progress on a scoreline of nine games to give.

Ronan Burns and Jordan Dunn won both matches home away.

City of Derry now play Dunmurray GC in the next round.

Paul McIntosh (15) won the final competition of the City of Derry Open Week yesterday with a magnificent score of 45 points.

Playing in excellent conditions, Paul started and finished the front nine with four pointer birdies at the par three first and par fourth ninth holes giving him 23pts going out.

He continued his good form, scoring with a further 22pts on the back nine.

Second place went to inform Jim McDaid (15) with 41pts even though he blanked holes on both the front and back nines.

Third place went to Rob Jefferson (13) with 40pts helped by birdies on the third and seventh par fives.

Seamus Given had his first ever hole in one at the first while the gross score was won by Graham Hepburn (5) with 29pts gross.

The best visitor was Victor Brolly (17) with 38pts and the best lady was Ann Wallace (18) with a credible 33pts in spite of her two blanks at the 7th and 12th holes.

O’Doherty Bros Open Stableford 

Big hitting Gary Leckey (11) won the O’Doherty Bros Open Stableford at City of Derry on Saturday with 41pts, with a steady round consisting of 12 pars.

Second was Anthony Faulkner (19) with 40pts, third Richard Peoples (16) with 39pts and fourth was Alaster Duncan (19) on break of tie with 38pts.

The gross score was won by scratch player Kealan Quigg with 36pts.

The best visitor was Hugh Hunter (13) Ballyliffin with 26pts and the best lady was Kathleen Desmond (35) with 31pts.

Cabaret Night

Tickets (priced £6) are available at the bar from Ciara or Rowenda for the 20 June cabaret night featuring Gene Fitzpatrick with dancing to Felix Healy.

Non members most welcome.

Jason Smyth

Paralympic champion, Jason Smyth (Derry City Track Club), claimed another title at the Northern Ireland and Ulster Track and Field Championships held the Mary Peter’s Track in Belfast at the weekend.

The Eglinton runner clocked 10.87 seconds to take the gold medal in the 100 metres, finishing with a comfortable margin over Raheny Shamrocks AC’s Jamie Davis (11.09secs) and Liverpool Harriers’ Oliver Back (11.14secs).

Foyle Valley AC’s Scott Rankin ran a personal best of 12.41.00 to finish in second pace in the 5,000 metres, behind Annadale Striders Eddie McGinley who broke the tape in 14.35.10.

City of Derry Spartan Declan Reid claimed third place in 14.44.90.

Fergal Doherty: expected to be fit to face Longford.

Derry’s senior footballers have been drawn against Longford in the first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Brian McIver’s side were first drawn out of the hat this morning and will be at home against the Leinster side who were defeated by two points by Wexford at the weekend on a scoreline of 1-15 to 1-13.

Meanwhile, McIver is confident Fergal Doherty and Gerard O’Kane will both have recovered from injury in time to line out for the Celtic Park clash on Sat 21 June next.

Midfielder Doherty was forced to leave the field in Derry’s Ulster Championship quarter-final defeat by Donegal while half-back O’Kane was carried off with ankle ligament damage during Glenullin’s defeat to Dungiven in the All-County Football League on Sunday week last.

Results from tonight’s greyhound racing at Brandywell Stadium in Derry were:

Race 1 (300 yards): 1, Radiator Springs 2/1; Surfer Spidey 6/4 fav. Time: 17.44. Distance: 3 lengths.

Race 2 Managers Select Sprint, round one heat two (300 yards); 1, Cushie Willow 4/6 fav; 2 Zula Zepplin 7/4. Time: 17.24. Distance: 6.5 lengths.

Race 3 Managers Select Sprint, round one heat two (300 yards): 1, Finnside Bolt 6/4 fav; 2, Lord Ben 5/2. Time: 17.14. Distance: 1.5 lengths.

Race 4 Billy and Sheila Memorial 525, round one heat one  (525 yards): 1, Kittys Taffy 3/1; 2, Smurfing Oddball 3/1. Time: 29.62. Distance: half a length.

Race 5 Gatillo Kennels 500, round one heat two (500 yards): 1, Wee Bubbles 2/1 fav; 2, Oghill Revenge 5/2. Time; 28.96. Distance: 2 lengths.

Race 6 Track Bookmakers 500, round one heat two (500 yards): 1, Obadiah 2/1; 2, Sunrise Rumble 5/4 fav. Time: 28.76. Distance: 4 lengths.

Race 7 Billy and Sheila Quigley Memorial 525, round one heat two (525 yards): 1, Another Chico 3/1; 2, Leave It Be 5/2 fav. Time: 29.91. Distance: 6 lengths.

Race 8 Gatillo Kennels 500. round one heat three (500 yards): 1, Pretty Jockey 5/2 fav; 2, Bonford Jane 4/1. Time: 28.66. Distance: 3.5 lengths.

Colmcille  senior team coach, Brian Duffy, has urged all players to make a special effort to attend training to refocus efforts following a number of disappointing results.

Colmcille were on the wrong end of a 0-15 to 1-07 defeat at the hands of Ardmore at the weekend.

Next up is a home game against Drum this weekend.

Further details will be released in advance of the fixture.

The club’s minors play Banagher on Monday and all eligible players are urged to make themselves available.

Players should contact coach, Brian Duffy on 07909717703.

The club management thanks all members who turned out last night (Monday) to provide the traditional guard of honour at St Columba’s Church, Long Tower for the St Columba’s Day celebrations.

Training for the club’s underage girls’ team continues at St Columb’s College on Wednesday nights at 7.00pm.

Players should bring boots for training on the grass pitches.

A number of Doire Colmcille kit bags are available for purchase at £20 each.

Further details from club chairman, Mark Higgins.

Training times and venues for all Doire Colmcille club teams for the coming months are as follows:

Underage training has now moved outdoors at St Columb’s College.

Under 8-12, St Columb’s college, Thursdays 7-8pm and Saturdays 11.00am-12.30pm.

Nursery Group, St Columb’s College, Thursdays 6.15 – 7.00pm.

Players should bring boots, waterproof jacket, water and £2.

Doire Colmcille is keen to welcome new players.

Anyone interested should just turn up and make themselves known to any of the club coaches.

Indoor training has now finished at St Cecilia’s for the summer.

Under-14, St Columb’s college 3G pitch, Saturdays, 11.00am to 12.30pm.

Under-16s, St Columb’s College 3G pitch, Saturdays, 11.00am to 12.30pm and Brooke Park indoor, Tuesdays, 8.00pm to 9.00pm.

Under-18s, Tuesdays and Thursdays, St Columb’s College (7.00pm).

Seniors, Tuesdays and Thursdays, St Columb’s College (7.00pm).

The club is open to anyone wishing to become involved in Gaelic games in any capacity.Anyone interested in joining the club should contact Doire Colmcille club secretary, Paul Crocker at secretary.doirecolmcille.derry@gaa.ie or by phone at 07732713968.

Caite Skelly.

Have you ever seen a tantrum, elephant or KGB in action on the River Foyle?

The chances are you haven’t, but all that is about to change when some of the world’s top watersports athletes unleash their adrenalin at the LegenDerry Maritime Festival.

Tantrums, elephants and KGBs are just some of the terms for death-defying tricks and flips used in wakeboarding, the sport developed from a combination of waterskiing, snowboarding and surfing techniques.

Co. Derry man Rob Skelly. who is the agent in Ireland for Xtreme Action events, is bringing an elite display team to thrill the crowds at the nine-day Festival.

Among those taking part will be Rob’s 16-year-old daredevil daughter Caite, who has been involved in watersport shows and demonstrations around Ireland since the age of four.

Talented Caite Skelly started waterskiing at the age of two. In 2009 she took up barefooting – waterskiing at around 45mph with no skis – and she is currently Ireland’s only female barefooter.

The schoolgirl will fit in high-octane demos for spectators at the LegenDerry Maritime Festival from June 21~29 alongside her GCSE exams.

Her brother Joe, a qualified waterski coach who will be taking ‘try it and see’ taster sessions at Prehen, is sitting his A-Levels and will celebrate his 18th birthday during the Festival.

The first weekend of the Festival will feature exhilarating displays by four members of the Irish wakeboarding team who perform as far afield as the Spanish holiday island of Ibiza.

The display team includes David O’Caoimh from Dublin doing 900 degree spins; David Coates from Belfast, head instructor at Xtreme Gene – the top wakeboarding school in Europe based at Cordoba in Spain who is the Irish cable wakeboarding champion; Ashley Murray from Armagh, Irish junior men’s champion; and Aisling Deegan from Dublin, Irish junior ladies champion.

The second weekend will feature wakeboarding barefoot team members Anthony Burgess, world pro freestyle jetski champion, and Jason Bleasdale, ranked number 3 in the UK freestyle jetski who will perform stand-up flips, spins and 20ft back flips.

Anthony Burgess will also demonstrate his skills at flyboarding and perform tricks including ‘dolphins’, a technique performed 30ft high in the air.

Paul Hughes, the owner of Xtreme Action, will be compering the jetski and flyboarding displays, while Brian Deeghan (sister of Aisling) will MC the wakeboarding displays.
Festival-goers can expect to be wowed by whirly birds, consisting of back flips with 350 degree rotations; tantrums; slim chance fives, which are 540 degree vertical spins; elephants; and KGB flips on the water.

Rob Skelly, who runs The Edge Watersports, has been teaching waterskiing and wakeboarding for 22 years. As well as operating the biggest waterski pro shop in Ireland, he works as a lecturer in TV and film and production arts at the Northern Regional College in Coleraine. The Skellys are a family of high achievers in every sense of the word!

The live water displays will take place at Queen’s Quay from 4.00pm to 9.00pm on 21 and 22 June and from 1.30pm to 9.00pm on  26, 27 and 28 June.

Following the success of last year’s event and the huge interest in the recent Giro D’Italia, the second Maiden City Criterium Cycle Race taking place on the city centre streets of Derry tonight, is expected to attract record crowds.

Organised by the Foyle Cycling Club, a criterium or “crit” is an intense road race on closed-off city streets.

Both speeds and adrenaline will be high as riders do battle, not only against each other, but the steep hills – including Shipquay Street – and narrow streets of the historic walled city for cash prizes and the honour of being crowned Derry’s fastest cyclist on 10 June.

Mark Moroney, chairperson of Foyle Cycling Club, said the event would see “thrilling, high speed” cycle racing over the city centre course - starting in Foyle Street and taking in Shipquay Street, Ferryquay Street, Market Street, Orchard Street and finishing in Foyle Street.

Last year’s winner, Glen Kinning, is expected to return to take on highly competitive cyclists from across Ireland and Britain.

The event is being sponsored by the Quayside Centre.

Mark Moroney said: “We are elated and very grateful that Quayside Centre have agreed to support the Crit this year.”

Andy Barr, manager of Quayside Centre said they welcomed the opportunity to support this event.

He added: “Building on the success of last years event we were delighted to have an opportunity to support and sustain this year’s race. It’s a fantastic sporting event for the city.”

Racing will begin at 7.00pm the A4 race of 20 minutes and two laps followed by the main race of A* (A1-2-3′s), 50 minutes and two laps.