He's been absolutely superb said the Irish Manager Sean McCaffrey of his goalkeeper Ger Hanley at the UEFA Under 17 Championships in Turkey. Even though Ireland conceded six goals and lost all three games it is remarkable that the goalkeeper should be Ireland's player of the tournament. So congrats to the Barna man who will do his Leaving Cert next year in the Bish and who plays his soccer with Salthill Devon.

Now we'll never know! The superiority of NUIG in universities rowing was frustrated somewhat when the Irish Universities Wylie Cup due to be held on Friday 18th April in Castlewellan Co. Down was called off due to bad weather. Mind you there was always the possibility of College being frustrated on the water (as distinct from off the water) but we don't think so. The academic year is only so long and exams have to be sat and the Irish rowing calendar is very full so for the first time since 1981 and before that 1934 the competition was cancelled. Seamus Darby is alive and well!

College students are rowing up the river since 1849, competing in the Wylie since the beginning in 1922 but never even won a race until 1958 when they won the least of the three Wylie contests - a maiden or novice, but now NUIG is without a doubt the university rowing bigwigs.

College were poised to add to their sixth consecutive Wylie Cup and to their twelfth in total. Last year NUIG won eight in a row Senior Eights (2000 to 2007) to head that list over Trinity's seven in a row Senior Eights (1940 to 1946). The real frustrating bit is that College were anxious to improve on the 6 in a row Wylies and leave the QUB's 6 in a row (1952-1957) record in the shade. It wasn't to be this year but the consecutive element will still be valid next year. Won't it? College crews are by nature transient but there are constants such as coach Tom Touhy and cox Ruadhán Cooke. They make the big difference.

It is appropriate, nay more a tremendous achievement, that three of the oarsmen in the Irish Heavyweight Four at the World Cup Regatta in Munich last weekend James Wall, Cormac Folan and Alan Martin are from the NUIG club. Limerick born Sean O'Neill completes the crew. Beijing looms.

Speaking of College and bad weather the students made light work of their recent trip to Limerick. College swept the boards with wins in the Senior Eights, Senior Fours and Senior Sculls in most difficult conditions.

But then it is not all about College. In Ghent last weekend Tribesmen, The Jes and the Galway Rowing club came home laden with medals. GRC's John Forde and Marc Stephens probably had the biggest success when winning the Mens Senior Pairs leaving the Germans, the French and the British crews in their wake. Another pair a composite of Dave Mannion from college and Danny O'Dowd of Galway Rowing Club leave Galway today for Duisburg in Germany where they will compete in the Mens Lightweight Pairs this weekend. Busy times on the water.

For the third consecutive year there will be a novel sporting fundraiser on Friday for the heart organisation Croí, called the Oughterard International Golfing and Angling Fundraising Event. Joe Healy has the details on 086 8195880.

Given that Galway beat Cork 2-22 to 0-24 in the National Hurling League semi-final and lost to Tipperary 3-18 to 3-16 in the final, two high scoring games keenly contested, it is reasonable to assume that Galway are up with the big boys for the championship. One could hope for a change in the order of pecking and a meaningful challenge to the black and ambers. After all lots of bookmakers have made Galway second favourites. But just when you start to dream, David Collins Galway's first choice captain is out for the championship and in the same breath Henry Shefflin, who had no chance of a return, is now poised to crucify us again! It's not fair!