Your weekly Chronicle sports recap

IT'S Tuesday again, and it's time to review your weekly sports across the Borough.

As always, starting from a busy back page, Coleraine FC boss declares that his sides loss to Ballymena United on Boxing Day is "long gone" ahead of Friday nights home fixture to Oran Kearney's men. Coleraine hold an impressive home record this Season, 11 wins, a single draw and two loses. And across those contests, Coleraine scored 35 goals and conceding just 12 - a 23 goal difference. Fight night is around the corner for boxing fans, Matty Boreland steps back into the ring next Friday night to face his most experienced to date - Charles Tondo, who has had 33 outings compared to Matty's six. Regardless, Boreland is confident in the result, declaring that  he has improved much more since his Championship winning fight in September, and people will "be shocked at how much I've improved". Derry GAA manager praised the character of his side as they overcame "substantial odds" to defeat Kildare over the weekend. Derry lost skipper Conor Glass to a red card, and later two more players black carded.

Football

A busy week for Coleraine after defeating Portadown on the Tuesday night with a 2-1 finish, with the second goal coming in the dying seconds of the match after James Akitunde was able to latch onto Will Patching's corner kick, before travelling to Carrick rangers for the second week in a row - a Cup fixture where the Bannsiders were successful in AET, and a Premiership match - which ended in a 1-1 draw for Coleraine. Almost in identical fashion, Coleraine took the lead after Patching hit a corner kick that went into the top of Carrick's net before Carrick equalised before half time. But this week, Coleraine didn't have the AET to mount a late winner, Carrick were able to keep Coleraine at bay despite numerous attempts near the end and forced the draw. Three points couldn't have came at a better time on Saturday, League leaders Larne dropped three points in a 2-1 defeat to Portadown - which would have gave Coleraine the ideal chance to further close the gap between themselves and Larne at the top.

Limavady were successful in their North West derby trip to the Brandywell and maintained their comfortable enough lead at the top. Like Coleraine, they took the early lead, before Institute were able to put themselves on the score sheet shortly after. But just after the hour, Limavady talisman John Butcher netted their second goal and gave the Roesiders a lead that they kept onto for the last half-hour of the match. Limavady lead by five at the top with H&W Welders below them and Annagh United hot on the Welders' tail.

GAA

Derry followed up their fine victory over Mayo with an away fixture against a strong Meath team in Trim.
That ten point victory will have brought a new confidence to the Derry squad which has seen a big turnover of players from the previous year. A heavy defeat by Kerry in the opening round was not entirely unexpected but the next one against a very strong Laois team saw a big improvement despite defeat. In that game at Portlaoise Derry played 50 minutes a man down after the harsh dismissal of midfielder Thomas Brady. Brady was unable to play in the Mayo game where Derry were also short of Christy McNaughton and Meehaul MGrath. All three will be in contention for a start in Trim.

Golf

Michael Stewart and Robert Rainey have been in top form of late, winning five of the last seven 15 hole Saturday Stablefords at Portstewart Golf Club between them. This week Michael won the with a fine score of 41 points and Robert was second with 39 points, both playing off 22. Michael was through the opening nine holes in seven over par and got 25 points for that. He played the last six in four over par to add on another 16 for his winning total of 41.

Castlerock Golf Club’s Saturday Stableford was won by Division Three’s Gerald Devlin with a fine score of 38 points. The 28 handicapper dropped just seven shots over the front nine and had 25 points to show for that effort. A steady five over for the inward five saw another 13 points added to the card for the winning tally of 38. Tony Gahan carded 37 points to claim runners up spot. Off 25,Tony hit 23 points for his eight over par outward nine before pulling 14 more for a four over par back five for his total of 37. One point back with 36 on the card was 20 handicapper Michael Quinn. He didn’t score at the fifth but still gained 21 points for the front nine. Michael birdied the 11th and 15th in fours in a one over par back five for another 15 points. Peter Kilburn topped Division Two, after countback, with a 37-point card.

General

Team Ryano picked up a total of 14 medals for their club over the weekend, with nine gold, three silver and two bronze medals adding to the ever-growing grappling accolades for the team. A standout moment came in the form of a father-and-son success story, as Jimmy and Conor Boyle both reached the top of the podium to secure double gold medals for the club.
There was further success for Kyokan Judo, with dedicated Kyokan girls Charlotte and Ebony travelling to compete at the Liverpool Open Judo Championship. Charlotte delivered an outstanding performance, winning three fights to claim gold in the Pre-Cadet Girls Under 40kg category. Ebony showed resilience and determination after an opening defeat, regrouping to win her next two contests and secure bronze in the Pre-Cadet Girls Under 48kg division.

Two goals in the first quarter gave Coleraine Hockey's 1st XI all three points away at North Down at Comber Leisure Centre on Saturday. Karis McIntryre with a drag flick from penalty corner gave Coleraine an early lead and this was doubled after good work on the left from Gracie McNally who linked up with Ruby Caddoo in the circle and with a clever pass played in Aimee Gannon who scored a first time reverse hit. North Down came back strongly and Coleraine's defence of Erin Hart, Kenya McCartney, Beth Monaghan, Karis McIntyre and Ella Campbell dealt with the home attacks. Anna Shaw with a reverse hit went close to scoring Coleraine's third and Gracie McNally had a shot saved from the left side of the circle after good build up play from Ruby Caddoo and Kia McCartney.

For full reports and pictures, see this weeks Coleraine Chronicle.