February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Sean Creedon
Most people would associate camogie with the GAA and rightly so. They play their games on GAA pitches and have offices at Croke Park. But even though the association is four years old, it is not properly affiliated to the GAA.
Now a new report headed by GAA presidential hopeful Sean McCaugue has come up with a set of recommendations to bring camogie into the mainstream of the GAA. It’s planned to increase the number of players from 13 to 15 a side, and also to use full-size GAA pitches. A "B" championship and veterans competition to try to bring back former players would also be introduced. McCaugue further proposes that the women switch from traditional skirts to shorts.
It’s no secret that the Camogie Association is jealous of the recent strides made by women’s Gaelic football and this move is seen as a bid to win back some ground.
Bond to stay with Offaly
There’s good news for Offaly hurling. Michael Bond, the Galwayman who led them to a surprise All-Ireland win this year, is staying on.
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Meanwhile in Kilkenny former county fullback Brian Cody steps into the managerial hot seat vacated recently by his cousin Kevin Fennelly.
Kildare star Dermot Earley is the latest Gaelic footballer to try his hand at basketball. The son of the former Roscommon star of the same name has joined Dublin club Denny Notre Dame for the winter months. The 20-year-old stands over 6-foot-3 and was a star basketball player at school.
Full forward John Crowley will captain Kerry next year. He takes over from fellow Glenflesk clubman Seamus Moynihan. The 23-year-old Crowley was captain of Kerry champions East Kerry this year. His father Derry is a former Kerry star.
And news of another former Kerry star, Tommy Doyle, who now lives in Ballincollig near Cork City, is the new manager of Cork club Douglas.
Former Tyrone midfielder Jody Gormley has declared for London. Gormley, who now works in London, made his debut for the Exiles in their recent National Football League game against Wicklow.
Rugby update
The Irish Rugby League team had their first-ever victory last week. The team, made mostly of English-based players, beat Scotland, 17-10, at Firhill. And so Ireland avoided the wooden spoon in the managerial Triangular Tournament won by France.
The FAI National League Premier Division looks like it will be a two-horse race this season, between Cork City and St. Patrick’s Athletic. St. Pat’s are the reigning champs, but they are under pressure to keep in touch with the Cork side managed by former dual star Dave Barry.
Meanwhile the domestic game has got a sponsorship boost with the news that Harp Lager have signed a new four-year contract with the FAA that will see the brand continue its sponsorship of the FAI Cup until the year 2002. Harp have sponsored the Cup competition since 1989 and they also sponsor the National League. Part of the new deal will see the four semifinalists from the FAI Junior Cup automatically qualify for the first round of next year’s Senior Cup. The draw for the first round will be made on Dec. 4.
Jordan sells chunk of team
Eddie Jordan has sold 40 percent of his Grand Prix team to Warburg, Pincus for £85 million. The deal will give the Dublin-born owner the impetus he needs to challenge at the very top in Formula One.
"We want to challenge for the world championship and this gives us the muscle to do that," Jordan said last week. "We’ve made great strides this year and this investment now allows us to challenge for new heights."
Warburg, Pincus was first alerted to the worth of Jordan as it watched sales of Jordan model racing cars, manufactured by their subsidiary Matel, far outstrip the pace of the real version. Now Jordan has the might of a $6 million corporation behind him.