Other News In Brief

FAI And IFA Announce New Cross-Border Tournament

A new cross-border football competition has been officially announced which will the SSE Airtricity League Champions face the Danske Bank Premiership winners in a two-leg tie.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Irish Football Association (IFA) confirmed the new competition, which will be titled the Unite the Union Champions Cup.

The inaugural tournament will take place in November 2019, where Danske Bank Premiership Champions Linfield will face the winners of the SSE Airtricity League.

Trade union Unite will sponsor the event, with €50,000 set to go to the winners, €25,000 for the runners-up and a further €25,000 ring-fenced for community-based projects in the competing team's local areas.

Fran Gavin, FAI Competitions Director, said: "We're delighted to formally announce the Unite the Union Champions Cup and we're extremely excited for the competition to begin.

"I'd like to thank the IFA, in particular Patrick Nelson, who have been fantastic to work with on the project and it's great to see a cross-border tournament return. The clubs and players in the SSE Airtricity League are incredibly excited to see a competition like this back on the domestic calendar. 

"I'd also like to thank Unite, in particular Brendan Ogle and his colleagues, for their sponsorship of the tournament and the community work they're committed to as part of the competition, both north and south of the border. It's a unique sponsorship and we're looking forward to help promote Unite's equality agenda." 

Unite is sponsoring the event on a three-year contract to help promote equality and diversity in sport.

The tournament will be formally launched at the Unite union's Fifth Irish Policy Conference in Malahide on Monday 13 May.

Police Arrest Driver Four Times Over Legal Alcohol Limit

Police have arrested a woman who was driving near a Northern Ireland school while over four times over the legal alcohol limit.

The incident happened yesterday morning, Wednesday 08 May, shortly before 9am.

Writing on the PSNI's Facebook page, a spokesperson said: "Drink driving at any time is disgusting but it's particularly sickening when its in an area packed with school children.

"The female driver of this car was arrested early this morning more than FOUR times over the limit. Driving past hordes of school kids, before 9am, whilst more than four times over the limit - just take a minute to try and comprehend that."

County Armagh Route To Close For Resurfacing

The A3 Dobbin Road in Richhill, County Armagh, is set to close for resurfacing work.

Work will begin on the £337,000 scheme on Monday 13 May, which will see 600m of carriageway and hard shoulder improved.

Full road closures will be in operation from 8pm-6am on 12-18 May, 20-25 May and 27 May to 01 June.

Further closures will also be implemented on Saturday night through all day Sunday, finishing at 6am on Monday on the following dates:

• Saturday 18 May to Monday 20 May 2019;

• Saturday 25 May to Monday 27 May 2019;

• Saturday 01 June to Monday 03 June 2019.

Diversionary routes will be clearly signposted throughout the project.

The Department for Infrastructure is also implementing a temporary speed limit of 40mph from 20 May for three weeks.

The scheme is scheduled for completion on 03 June, subject to favourable weather conditions.



(JG/CM)