League of Ireland Premier Division
UCD 2 v 2 Derry City.

Derry City twice came from behind to share the points with UCD at the Belfield on Friday night. The students were 1-0 up at half time with Dean Marshall scoring for the home side in stoppage-time. The Derry equalizer came in the 67th minute through Daniel Lafferty. UCD where back in front straight after the kick off with Graham Rusk’s scoring from 20 yards.Six minutes from time the Candystrips scored for the second time with a header from Stewart Greacen securing a share of the points. With Sligo Rovers beating Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Derry have dropped to fourth in the table now six points behind leaders St. Patrick Athletics.

Derry City Manager Stephen Kenny spoke with Oisin Kelly on Saturday Sport.
 

The Taoiseach is expected to be among the dignitaries attending the opening of the new Peace Bridge in Derry today.

The iconic structure cost over 13 million pounds and has taken a year and a half to build.

It links the nationalist and unionist communities in the city.

Mo Durkan is from ILEX – the company that built the bridge.

She explains what it will do for the city:

A motion will be brought before Monday’s monthly meeting of Donegal County Council looking for it to give its support to Sean Gallagher efforts to secure a presidential candidacy.

The business man and “Dragon” Seán Gallagher has Donegal roots with his father born and raised close to Killygordan.

A motion to back his bid to run for the Aras will be proposed in the council chamber by Councillor Patrick McGowen.

Mr Gallagher has been outlining what difference he could make if elected the country’s next president:

The Special Olympics kick off in Greece today.

Team Ireland has 126 athletes involved – representing every county in the country.

Donegal will be represented by Footballers Oliver Boyle from Letterkenny, Adrian Clarke, Stephen Nesbitt, Gareth Egan and Luke Egan from Lifford, Mario McShane from Barnesmore and Hugh Sweeney from Letterkenny. Shaun Bradley from Letterkenny will compete in kayaking.

The games take place in Athens until July 4th.

A Donegal Deputy says students due to attend 3rd level in September are facing hardship once again because the government has yet to issue 3rd level grant application forms.

There are fears that the students will not have their grants in time to cover their weekly rental costs, deposits and registration fees.

This was a major problem in 2009 but last year the situation was eased when the government issued the grant application forms in late May.

Fianna Fail Deputy Charlie McConalogue says forms have yet to be issued this year, and no date has been given as to when they will:

Monreagh National School in Carrigans has closed its doors for the final time, with a new school building set to open in September.

There are 25 pupils at the school, with 28 enrolled for the next academic year.

School principal Kerry Harris says while the old building is now in a dangerous state and was no longer fit for purpose, it has served the local community for over 150 years……….

A weekend of events is planned in Derry to mark the opening of the new Peace Bridge.

The cycle and footbridge cost £14 million, and is 312 metres in length.

As part of the opening celebrations, 600 children from schools all over the city will walk across the bridge before the official opening at 2pm tomorrow.

There’ll be a major fireworks display in the city tomorrow night.

The HSE is being urged to drop a €3 a day charge which is being imposed on disabled adults attending training centres in Donegal.

Up to now, the HSE has provided transport to the centres, and accepted free travel passes.

However, as part of a wide ranging cost cutting exercise, the HSE says it can no longer afford to absorb the cost itself, and must impose a charge.

Donegal Sinn Fein Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn says this is a direct result of government policy, and he believes people will be outraged………

A Donegal SW Deputy is called on Councillors Barry O’Neill and Frank McBrearty to resign from their respective parties in light of confirmation that cancer services will not be returned to Sligo General.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly last night confirmed services would not be returned but did say the issues was under review.

Prior to the last general election Fine Gael Councillor Barry O’Neill and Labour Councillor Frank Mc Brearty said they would resign if cancer services were not returned to Sligo.

Since then Councillor O’Neil has changed the time frame to the term of this government while Councillor McBrearty said his pledge applied only if he was elected to the Dail.

However, Independent Deputy Thomas Pringle says that’s not a valid distinction………

The HSE has been called on to do all it can to ensure that Letterkenny General Hospital has its full quota of Junior Doctors.

It was reported yesterday that Letterkenny General Hospital’s Emergancy Department will be down seven junior doctors from July 11th.

The HSE has already said contingency measures are being put in place to ensure continuity of service.

Labour Senator Jimmy Harte has met with Junior Minister Roisin Shorthall n the issue, and says the HSE must ensure that Letterkenny General gets its share of any new Junior Doctors who come to work in Ireland…..