Hunt rules himself out of medal chase

NEWS:FORMER BOHEMIANS skipper Kevin Hunt has dismissed the suggestion he might receive a league winner's medal when the club wraps up its 10th title. The Englishman played in just four games this season before being forced into retirement by a combination of injury and family-health issues.

"It would be great for me if they were able to win the league on Friday," said Hunt as details of his testimonial next Sunday were announced in Dublin yesterday.

"But I don't deserve one (a medal). I only started one game and we lost that so I didn't really make any contribution. To win the league takes such hard work and the players who put that in deserve the credit - and the medals."

Hunt is doing some scouting for Manchester City and expressed satisfaction with how things have gone for him since he left Dalymount Park in the summer.

"It's taken so much pressure off," he says. "When I was here and up all night I was coming into training wrecked while my wife was left with two babies all day on her own till I came home. Because they weren't well we didn't have anyone we could leave kids with. Now, we have more space and time and we're closer to Great Ormond Street hospital . . . so, to be honest, it's all sort of reinforced my decision to give up playing."

Hunt's popularity is reflected in the line-up for Sunday's game between a Bohemians XI managed by Roddy Collins and an International XI overseen by Eoin Hand.

Kenny Cunningham, Packie Bonner and Paul McGrath are among former Ireland players due to play alongside ex-Celtic stars Neil Lennon and Paul Lambert.

The manager Pat Fenlon, Tony O'Connor and Fergal Harkin are included in the Bohemians squad.

MAGUIRE BACK

DARRAGH MAGUIRE returns from suspension for this evening's game between Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers at Tolka Park but midfielder Joseph Ndo is again a doubt after missing the game against Cobh Ramblers with a thigh strain.

Tadhg Purcell, Aidan Price and John Martin are expected to be available to Pat Scully, while the visitors will have Daryl Robson suspended following his sending-off on Friday night against Bohemians.

Derek Pender will be back after serving his one-match ban.