EE - V1 IN CORK SPORTS WORLD TODAY Plunkett Carter on when tough times were good times Kilcoyne is hoping to end Ulster’s unbeaten run MUNSTER prop Dave Kilcoyne (below) is looking forward to building on his game time with Munster and Ireland in 2013, but before that there is a local derby against Ulster at Thomond Park tomorrow, 5.30pm, writes SEÁN McCARTHY. “I’m looking forward to 2013 and hoping to push on, but the main thing, at this stage, is the Ulster game. A win there would be a nice way to wrap up the year,” he said. Having faced tomorrow’s opponents already in the league this year, he knows he’ll be in for a tough day at the office. “It was a tough game up there earlier in the season. It was one of our better performances of the year, it was right up there, but we came away a point short,” he said. “We will try to rectify that when they come down here. It won’t be an easy task. We know exactly what we have to do. “It would be good if we manage to be the first to defeat them in the league this season.” ● See P47-49 for more rugby. BOXING RUGBY Friday, December 28, 2012 CORK SPORTS WORLD 1 A PICTORIAL JOURNEY DOWN SPORTING MEMORY LANE WITH PLUNKETT CARTER INSIDE TODAY When Tough times were good times Jim Barry remembered: Centre pages Immaculately attired, as usual, Jim “Tough” Barry on the victory podium in the Hogan Stand, for the last time, celebrates with Cork players Tony Connolly, Justin McCarthy, Seanie Barry, Jerry O’Sullivan and captain Gerald McCarthy after their surprise victory over Kilkenny in the 1966 All-Ireland Hurling final. Picture: Ref Exam Photo CORK boxer Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan (below) reckons that March 2 might be a more realistic date for his WBO Inter- national title de- fence against Farai Musiyiwa at the Neptune Stadium. The Leeside middle- weight was due to put his belt on the line versus December but the bout was postponed after he pulled out of the fight with a rib injury. The date for the new outing has been set for February 23 according to website Boxer, but O’Sul- livan is looking at the first Saturday in March. “I actually broke my ribs, admitted the Irish champion. “Christmas marked the third week of the in- jury and I was told to rest it for six weeks. “It’s frustrating, and it was very disappointing but as we said all along the fights is not off, it’s just been postponed. “I’m looking forward to the new date. I noticed it listed as February 23, but March 2 might be a more realistic date as I intend to be 100% fit.” Meanwhile, Andy Lee returns to the ring for the first time since the death of his coach Em- manuel Steward and his world title loss in Texas last summer when he fights in Belfast in Feb- ruary. The Limerick south- paw meets Anthony Fitzgerald on the Carl Frampton/Kiko Mar- tinez undercard at the Odyssey Arena on Feb- ruary 9. Lee was left deeply saddened after his coach Steward, who signed him to the Detroit Cronk gym in 2005, died last October. “It is a new start for me over here. I was in Amer- ica for a long time, said Lee, who ins now in Lon- don where he is being trained by Adam Booth. “It was tough losing my friend and trainer Emanuel Steward. I trained with Emanuel, lived with him and was very close with him. Be- fore he was sick I had already made my mind up to maybe try things with a new trainer. “To get back to World title fights I have to win fights. It’s as simple as that.” ● More box- ing on P32. By BERNARD O’NEILL Spike wants to fight in March Neptune date suits Gary SPORT Evening Echo Vodka United bag the bragging rights for 2012 charity challenge Anne Rodgers presents the Peter Rodgers memorial shield to Larry O’Neill, captain of Vodka United (Ex-Swan Cygnet), who defeated The Outpost XI in the 41st annual charity soccer challenge in aid of the Children’s Leukaemia fund at Blarney FC in Tower yesterday. See P50 for match report. Pardew gets hairdryer treatment from Fergie ALEX FERGUSON today defended his on-field outburst at referee Mike Dean and launched into an astonishing tirade at Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, describing him as a manager of a “wee club in the north east”. The Football Association announced yesterday that no action will be taken against the Manchester United manager. The Scot was furious after Dean overruled assistant Jake Collin and awarded Newcastle’s second goal in the 4-3 win on Boxing Day. Ferguson approached Dean as he made his way out for the second half, before rounding on the fourth official Neil Swarbrick and Collin. Pardew said that said Dean will have been “slightly disappointed” he did not take action against Ferguson. Today Ferguson hit back. “I was demonstrative but I was not out of order,” he said. “The press have had a field day. The only person they have not spoken to is Obama because he is busy, “It is unfortunate but I am the manager of the most famous club in the world. “Not Newcastle, a wee club in the north east. “I was demonstrative. I am always demonstrative. “Everyone knows that. I am an emotional guy. But I was not abusive. I shouted Mike over. We walked towards each other. I was only on (the pitch) three or four yards. That has been overplayed. ● See more on P52-53. SOCCER SWAN BEDS 2 VICARS ROAD, TOGHER 021 4961711 CORK’S ONLY EXCLUSIVE BED STORE €100 OFF 4’6”, 5’.0 and 6’.0 Pocket Sprung Mattresses SALE NOW ON