Brian is All Ireland bound again

THE curtain came down on the local ploughing season on Sunday at Foulkstown, just outside the city on the Waterford Road where the cold didn’t deter 48 competitors turning up to plough a great sod belonging to the McGrath and Smithwicks families. And the ladies committee of the Danesfort Ploughing Association, under the guidance of chairwoman, Mary Ireland, kept everybody warm with hot goodies.

Working under the watchful eye of many friends, Brian Ireland displayed all his ability to win the senior reversible class and book his place on the Kilkenny team for the All Ireland Ploughing Championships in September where he will defend his national crown and judging by his form in recent weeks, he will be a strong favourite to do so.

Results: Senior Conventional: 1 Eamon Treacy, Carlow 109; 2 Tommy Cuddihy, Kilkenny 106; 3 John Treacy 105. Intermediate Conventional: 1 D J McHugh, Laois 101; 2 Paul Kirwan, Waterford 98; 3 Alan Davis, Laois 96. Under-28 conventional: 1 Sean Treacy, Carlow 104; 2 Benny Greene, Laois 103; 3 John Doody, Kilkenny 95. Three furrow standard: 1 Ned Conway, Kilkenny 86; 2 Edward Forristal, Kilkenny 77. Senior reversible: 1 Brian Ireland, Danesfort 121; 2 Karl Davis, Laois 115; 3 Garry Ireland, Danesfort 111. Under-28 reversible:1 Daniel Dwyer, Johnstown.