FAI manager short list expected

Brian Kerr, who seems certain to be on the short listm has been defending the Association.
“When people criticize the FAI, they should remember that we have qualified for three of the last four senior World Cup Finals and three of the last four Under 20 World Cup finals,” he said. “There are not many countries in Europe that can say that. So we must be doing something right.”
Meanwhile Roy Keane, the player everybody is hoping will return to play under the new manager, picked up a hamstring injury while playing for Manchester United in their FA Cup win over Portsmouth last Saturday. Keane, who has only just returned after a long lay off due to a hip operation, is expected to miss United’s next two games.

O’NEILL TO SIGN
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill says that he expects to sign a new contract with the club in the coming weeks. The Irishman has been putting off signing a contract for months. But prior to leaving for their winter break in Florida, Celtic chief executive Ian McLeod said: “Discussions are ongoing and amicable. We will continue with that dialogue and hopefully we will have something more concrete to say by the end of the month.”
If you sponsor Celtic, you must also sponsor Rangers and vice versa. When their current deal with NTL runs out at the end of this season the Old Firm clubs will switch to drinks company Carling in a deal reported to be worth $19 million. Carling which is owned by the American Coors company, has previously sponsored the English Premiership.

SIGN OF THE TIMES
In the future, making the sign of the cross at a soccer game could become a criminal offense in Scotland under plans by the Scottish Executive intended to combat sectarianism. A report by an all-party group of members of the Scottish parliament into religious bigotry has concluded that genuflecting and making the sign of the cross should be regarded s a breach of the peace.
“Many Catholic players use the sign of the cross before going on to the pitch or before taking a penalty,” a Catholic church spokesman said. “Would this mean they are guilty of a crime?”

ALL-STAR UPDATE
Nice touch from Vodafone, sponsors of the All-Stars game in San Diego on
Jan. 18. The hurling and football referees for 2002 will be presented with their awards on the West Coast later this month. John Bannon, from Longford, the football winner, will take charge of the game at Southwestern College between the 2001 and 2002 All-Star football teams. Hurling winner Aodhan MacSuibhne of Dublin will also travel with the official party. The 2002 team will be managed by Joe Kernan of Armagh while Galway manager John O’Mahony will take charge of the 2001 team. Six replacements have been named to cover for All-Star players who cannot travel. The players called up are: Benny Tierney (Armagh), Leigh O’Brien (Wexford), David Mitchell (Westmeath), Chris Lawn (Tyrone), Gareth Doherty (Derry) and Declan Browne (Tipperary).

UNDER LIGHTS
History will be made on Saturday, Feb. 1, when Cork and Kerry meet in a National Football League game under floodlights for the first time. The game, which will be the opening tie in the League for both counties, will be played at Pairc Ui Rinn in Cork and it will be the first-ever League game under lights. The stadium formerly known as Flower Lodge, was bought by the GAA in the early nineties, upgraded and renamed in honor of legendary Cork hurler Christy Ring. It can now accommodate 18,000 supporters.
Meanwhile, new Cork hurling manager Donal O’Grady has confirmed his selectors for the coming year. Joining O’Grady will be his St. Finbar’s colleague John Allen, Seanie O’Leary (Youghal) Fred Sheedy (Kilworth) and Donie Collins (Blackrock).

MORRIS FOR DUBLIN
In Dublin, Marty Morris, from the O’Toole’s club, is the new hurling manager.
He replaces former Kilkenny star Kevin Fennelly, who stepped down in December.
Also, the new Down football manager, Paddy O’Rourke, has included 12 newcomers in his panel for the upcoming National League campaign. Included among the new boys are Dan McCartan, a brother of James and Chris O’Neill, son of the great Sean O’Neill.
Also in Ulster, Brian McEniff, who was elected Chairman of the Donegal County Board in December, is to take over as senior football manager for the next 12 months. McEniff, failed to persuade Martin McHugh to take the job and the man who led Donegal to their only All-Ireland success in 1992, now takes charge of the county team for the fourth time. Brian, who has yet to announce his backroom team, will have his first game in charge on Sunday next, a McKenna Cup game against Cavan.

DOLAN UNDER FIRE
Some St. Patrick’s Athletic supporters have short memories. Last season, the
Saints would have been crowned premier division champions, but for a technicality over the registration of two of their players. Now after a bad run of results, there have calls for manager Pat Dolan to step down.
At most of the Saints games before Christmas a section of their supporters displayed banners urging Dolan to quit. However, a vital 2-0 win against league leaders Bohemians over the Christmas period lifted the Saints away from the relegation play off zone.
Dolan is also Managing Director of the club and when he brought in Liam
Buckley as football manager a few years back, it didn’t really work out. Dolan, who is only 34, has the full backing of his equally young chairman, Andy O’Callaghan.
“Sacking managers doesn’t always work,” O’Callaghan said. “We are obviously disappointed with our present situation considering the expectations we carried into the season. We respect the fact that some of our fans have strong views on the issue, but the board’s view is that a change of management is not the solution.”