at the launch Of the Con & Annie Memorial Stakes at Limerick Greyhound Stadium (L-R): Noel Earlie and Paul Foley of Martinstown Stud, Limerick hurler Diarmaid Byrnes, Mike O' Riordan of Limerick GAA, IGB CEO Ger Dollard, Joe Connells dog owner, IGB Chairman Frank Nyhan and Limerick hurler Pat Ryan.

8 still standing from Tipperary

Published: Tue 2 Apr 2019, 4:32 PM

Last updated: Tue 2 Apr 2019, 5:34 PM

Tipperary-based greyhounds make up a third of the field for one of the richest juvenile greyhound races in the world, following the second round heats of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake 2019.

Eight heats were run on Saturday night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, with the first three in each advancing to this weekend’s quarter finals.

Reddanswalk-based Michael J. O’ Donovan kennels three greyhounds in the quarter finals – Deadly Diamond and Mucky Brae, who have been drawn in the same heat, along with Dealy Storm. Golden’s Graham Holland has two representatives in Riverside Leo and Herecomesthehoney, with Michael Hogan (Grangeview West), Patrick Guilfoyle (Cabra Firmino) and Pat Buckley (Tullig Footpad) completing the impressive list of Tipperary representatives in the Kirby quarters.

The Liam Dowling-trained Ballymac Tas once again clocked the fastest time of the second round in 28.23 in the third heat.

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.

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.

Racing Support Officer with Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Liam Kennedy, commented: “We’re approaching our third Kirby weekend out of five now, so we’re getting down to the nitty gritty. The first two Saturdays saw some high quality, unpredictable racing here at Greenpark and we can’t see why this Saturday will be any different. What’s always been great about the Kirby, and we’re seeing it again this year, is there is huge involvement on a local level here in Limerick for owners and trainers, with a great mix from others nationwide and even the UK as well, having been inundated with entries for the competition. We’re looking forward to the quarter finals and wish all connections still involved – including the 24 assigned clubs – the very best of luck.”

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

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