February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Sean Creedon
Steve Collins, the former WBO World super-middleweight champion is hoping to make a comeback to the ring in the New Year.
“I didn’t really want to come back, but for personal and financial reasons I have to,” the man who likes to be known as the "Celtic Warrior" said.
A planned comeback by Collins earlier this year was canceled when he collapsed while sparring in a London gym. Collins, is rumored to have financial problems and has recently separated from his wife Gemma.
Hoops head Byrt sacked
The Irish Basketball Association have sacked coach Enda Byrt, for spending too much money preparing the team. In preparing the Irish team for the European qualifying tournament in Switzerland last May Byrt’s management team overspent the team budget by £5,800. Also Byrt’s policy of using a high percentage of Irish-American professionals and U.S.-based college players in his squad, seems to have been a factor against him.
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Ireland to host world X-C race
The World Cross Country Championships will be held in Ireland in 2001 and Dublin’s Phoenix Park is the favorite to host the race. Last Friday in Monaco the IAAF voted to award the race to the newly formed Irish Athletics Association (amalgamation of BLE and NACAI). The World Championship were previously staged in Ireland in 1979 when John Treacy won in Limerick and last March in Belfast.
Counties using subs
Although it looks like we could be witnessing the last National Football League campaign in its present format, this season’s the counties appear to be taking it more seriously than normal. The option to use five substitutes seems to be especially welcome, with several counties choosing to use 20 players per game. Only five counties have maximum points after just two round of games: Galway, Kerry, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois.
On Sunday, we will have the final round of League games before the Christmas break. Top of the bill will be the meeting of Dublin and Kerry at Parnell Park, which is all ticket. Shows that Dublin and Kerry can still pull a good crowd, even in November. Kerry are going very well, while Dublin are rebuilding. Seamus Moynihan should be back for The Kingdom, after missing the win over Tyrone and I expect a Kerry win. Reigning League champions Cork, still without a point, should get off the mark at home to Donegal.
Fitzgerald appeal rejected
The GAA’s Management Committee have rejected an appeal by Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald against the two-month suspension imposed by the Munster Council. Clare officials had claimed that the Munster Council had breached technical procedures when imposing the ban following a melee at the end of the Munster under 21 hurling final against Tipperary. But the Management Committee, headed by President Joe McDonagh, sided with the Munster Council and it now seems certain that Fitzgerald, who was the manager of the under 21 team, will be out on an all-star award.
Curran for Ards
After 14 years playing for Derry City in the FAI National League, Paul Curran has moved to Ards in the Irish League. 33 year-old Curran, who made over 500 first-team appearances for The Candystripes, is now aiming to help Ards win promotion to the Irish League premier division.
€ Gavin Dykes has been appointed player-manager of Finn Harps. Dykes, has done well since taking over at Finn Harps following the resignation of Charlie McGeever. Meanwhile McGeever has been linked with the vacant job at Sligo Rovers, following the departure of Jim McInally. The Scot quit after the 5-0 home defeat by Cork City. David Pugh, the former Sligo great is caretaker manager at The Showgrounds.
O’Flaherty in Tipp hot seat
Colm O’Flaherty is the new manager of the Tipperary senior footballers. O’Flaherty, who was a selector last year, replaces former Laois star Colm Browne in the hot seat in Tipp. His selectors will be James Meagher (Loughmore), Michael Fitzgerald (Fethard) and Jerry Cahill (Knockavilla). The Tipp team will be trained by Tom McGlinchey of the Garda College in Templemore.
€ The appointment of a county’s minor hurling manager rarely makes big news, but if a man of the caliber of Liam Griffin is in the running for the job, then everybody wants to know why he didn’t get it. It looks like the Wexford County Board offered the job to Griffin, who led Wexford to senior All-Ireland glory in 1996, with the proviso that he work with selectors nominated by Bord na nOg. When Griffin declined that offer, the minor manager’s job went to Eddie McDonald.