Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Dont mention the WAR!

Young Gaelic Stars Exploding on Aussie Rules Scene

GAA officials have to wake up stop expressing concern and take action over the slow drain of these players from Ireland in recent years and the establishment of camps such as the one held in Limerick last year where AFL scouts can track the best young players in the game.

RISING Down football star Martin Clarke will sign for AFL club Collingwood today. Clarke will put pen to paper on a two-year international rookie contract with an option to extend the deal to three years with the Magpies.

The 2005 All-Ireland minor medal winner spent the month of July on trial at the Melbourne club. The trial and subsequent contract was arranged by former Roscommon footballer Paul Earley.

Clarke and his An Riocht club-mate, James Colgan, were the stars of Down's All-Ireland minor success and his loss will be a blow to the county's hopes of rebuilding under a new manager. Anyone who has ever watch Clarke play football, particularly at Ulster Colleges level will know what a superb footballer he is and what a huge loss his departure will be.

Clarke will become the fifth GAA player to swell the ranks of the AFL. Tadhg Kennelly is an established star with Sydney Swans and a Premiership winner last year, Setanta Ó hAilpín is in his third year with Carlton and making steady improvement while his brother Aisake is still in rookie ranks.

The former Laois minor Colm Begley has made remarkable progress with Brisbane Lions making his debut yesterday, setting a record for the fastest ever Rookie introduction!

Quinn to Sack himself!

The writing is on the wall for Niall Quinn's shortlived managerial career. In fairness to the Mighty Quinn he always knew it was a stop gap measure as he searched for a new manager at the Stadium of Light. Good news Niall...FORMER Charlton manager Alan Curbishley will be available for management once his six-month "break" finishes at the end of September.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of his book Valley of Dreams Curbishley, who announced his decision to step down as manager at the Valley on April 29 this year, made it clear that he had not "retired" and, although he was not actively looking, would consider offers in October.

'Shocked' Jones wants second sample test

Ah Marion, give it up...'Shocked' its time to own up and take it like the EPO hyped superhuman you are. FORMER triple Olympic champion Marion Jones said yesterday she was shocked her initial drugs test from a sample taken in June was positive. Jones added she had requested the testing of her second 'B' sample be dealt with quickly.

"I was shocked when I was informed about the positive 'A' sample," Jones said in the statement issued by her Los Angeles-area attorney Howard Jacobs.

England Have no Balls! Honest!!

Not content with been marginalised politically, England have now managed to isolate themselves on the cricket field with this latest debacle!..Who knew cricket could be so much fun!!

ON THE day Pakistan cast doubt on the rest of their tour, the England management team has been implicated in the ball-tampering row which erupted on the fourth day of the final Test at the Oval on Sunday and ended in the tourists being deemed to have forfeited the match.
It has emerged that on Sunday morning - the only day in the whole series when the issue of ball tampering arose - before the start of the day's play, England coach Duncan Fletcher went to see match referee Mike Procter.

Fletcher's visit was confirmed by an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman, who said: "It is not unusual for the England coach to meet with the match referee before play, but no complaint was made about the condition of the ball."

The implications of Fletcher's visit could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the rest of the tour, but also for the relations between the two boards and possibly even at diplomatic level between the two countries, given the depth of feeling expressed by the Pakistanis.

Would you be in my Grave as quick!!!

PAT ROE has moved quickly to put his hat in the ring for the Laois football job, expected to be declared vacant soon.

Mick O'Dwyer's departure is not yet official but when it is confirmed Roe, a former defender with the county who recently spearheaded a revival in Wexford fortunes, will be interested.

However, there was speculation in Laois last night that O'Dwyer would consider staying on if support was there for him to do so.

MIKE McNAMARA would be interested in taking over from Anthony Daly as Clare hurling manager but won't submit himself to any form of election.

McNamara, Clare's physical trainer when the county won All-Ireland titles in 1995 and '97 said he would consider a position he has always craved "if it was offered to me".

McNamara was trainer and selector to Ger Loughnane from 1995 to '99 but Loughnane changed his backroom team in 2000 and McNamara was replaced. He had indicated he would be going anyway.

1 comment:

An Smuigin said...

No sooner had Smuigin spoken then Niall Quinn announces he is stepping down from First Team duties...cue Alan Curbishley!