Half the field eliminated after first round heats of the Kirby Memorial Stake 2019

96 greyhounds have been halved to 48 following the first round heats of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake 2019 at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

This year saw a record total of well over 100 entries for the richest Irish greyhound racing event outside of Dublin.

The competition sees Limerick clubs share in the event fund, with each of the greyhounds in the event assigned to a GAA, camogie, ladies football or handball club. The winning greyhound’s assigned club win a nominator prize of €10,000 and a free benefit night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

This year’s competition is the seventh annual running of the event, which first took place in 2013.

Sixteen heats were ran over two nights on Thursday and Saturday in an extended first round, with the Liam Dowling-trained pair Ballymac Tas – assigned to Granagh Ballingarry GAA club – and Ballymac Syd – assigned to Tournafulla camogie club – clocking the two fastest times in 27.97 and 28.07 respectively.

Racing Support Officer with Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Liam Kennedy, commented:

“The first round heats of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake had everything, with plenty of thrills and spills amid the high quality greyhound racing. It was great to see such a fantastic crowd present here in Greenpark. We’re sure the second round will provide the same this Saturday. I have no doubt the excitement will only increase as we reach the closing stages of the competition. I want to wish the best of luck to all still involved.”

Sponsored by Noreen and JP McManus in honour of her parents, Con & Annie Kirby, the competition has the biggest prize fund in Ireland after the Irish Greyhound Derby, with a total fund of €160,000. Limerick GAA clubs avail of €20,000 of this prize money.

An additional night’s racing will also take place in Limerick during the Kirby competition to facilitate local requirements for SIS racing entries and new novice racing events.

A ‘Cic and Puc Fada’ competition took place at the stadium last Saturday, with a ‘human race’ between club representatives to take place this weekend.

The Kirby Memorial Stake will run for four more consecutive Saturdays at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, with the final taking place on Easter Saturday, April 20^th.

ENDS

Key Event Dates:

First Round – Thursday, March 21 & Saturday, March 23

Second Round – Saturday, March 30

Third Round – Saturday, April 6

Semi Final – Saturday, April 13

Final – Saturday, April 20 (Easter weekend)

Prize money:

Winner – €80,000 (and €10,000 to assigned club)

Runner-up – €20,000 (and €5,000 to assigned club)

Third – €10,000 (and €2,000 to assigned club)

4^th, 5^th & 6^th – €5,000 each (and €1,000 each to assigned club)

Trap draw – first round: Heats 1,2 and 3 to take place on Thursday, 21^st March with heats 4 – 16 inclusive to take place on Saturday, 23^rdMarch.

Trap                Greyhound                             Club

Heat 1

1                      Tullig Footpad                         Athea Ladies Football

2                      Spoofer                                    Claughaun GAA

3                      Great Eastern                          Knockainey GAA

4                      Vigorous Luke                         Feenagh Kilmeedy GAA

5                      Garrai Rua                              Cappagh Handball

6                      Toast of Cabra                        Knockainey Ladies Football

Heat 2

1                      Mucky Brae                             Gerald Griffins Ladies Football

2                      Droopys Sim                            Ahane GAA

3                      Grangeview West                   Castletown Ballyagran GAA

4                      Milking It                                 Kilteely Dromkeen GAA

5                      Killahan Wonder                     Caherconlish GAA

6                      Redzer Ardfert                        Crecora GAA

Heat 3

1                      Droopys Danny                        Templeglantine GAA

2                      Sure Look Listen                      Ballylanders Ladies Football

3                      Ballymac Tas                           Granagh Ballingarry GAA

4                      Worseforwear                         Feohanagh Castlemahon Ladies Football

5                      Argentina                                Galbally GAA

6                      Boherna King                          Fedamore GAA

Heat 4

1                      Cabra Firmino                         Templeglantine Camogie

2                      Laughil Josh                             Banogue GAA

3                      Burren Ripple                          Murroe Boher Camogie

4                      Skywalker Wonder                  St. Senans GAA

5                      Battling Conor                         Granagh Ballingarry Camogie

6                      Ballydoyle Valor                      Mountcollins GAA

Heat 5

1                      Herecomesthehoney               Bruff Camogie

2                      Deadly Diamond                     Cappagh Ladies Football

3                      Adis Abebba                            Abbey Sarsfields GAA

4                      Glengar Mac                           Rathkeale GAA

5                      Camps Star                              Monagea Ladies Football

6                      Antigua Rum                           Na Piarsaigh GAA

Heat 6

1                      Jirano Classic                          Kilmallock Camogie

2                      El Favor                                   Glenroe GAA

3                      Winetavern Don                      Monagea GAA

4                      Riverside Leo                          Kildimo Pallaskenry GAA

5                      Izzys Legend                            Kilmallock GAA

6                      Likely Gift                                Mungret St Pauls GAA

Heat 7

1                      West Tip                                  Adare Ladies Football

2                      Toolmaker Josie                      Galbally Camogie

3                      Ardmulchan                            Knockaderry GAA

4                      Manuka Man                          St Kierans GAA

5                      Deadly Storm                          Dromin Athlacca GAA

6                      Ballymac Syd                           Tournafulla Camogie

Heat 8

1                      Toolmaker Me Dad                 Ballylanders GAA

2                      Killer Bee                                Ballinacurra Gaels GAA

3                      Claregalway Lad                     Ballybricken Bohermore GAA

4                      Smart Bolt                               Cappamore GAA

5                      Jaytee General                        St. Patricks Ladies Football

6                      Cuore Di Ferro                        Hospital Herbertstown GAA