February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Sean Creedon
The FAI may look to have the Republic of Ireland’s 1-0 loss to Yugoslavia in Belgrade last November rendered void if, as expected, UEFA order Yugoslavia to play their remaining home games at a neutral venue. Yugoslavia’s next home game is not until June 9, when Malta are due to visit Belgrade.
"If UEFA see fit to take the remainder of Yugoslavia’s home games outside the country, we will have been seriously disadvantaged," an FAI spokesman said. "The playing pitch should be level for all and that clearly would not be the case if Croatia, Macedonia and Malta don’t have to go to Belgrade."
Yugoslavia’s next game in Group 8 is against The Republic at Lansdowne Road on June 5, but by then they may be thrown out of the competition.
With the postponement of the Macedonia game Irish supporters didn’t get an opportunity to see the controversial new black away strip which replaces the Orange one. Kit manufactures Umbro will unveil the jersey at a press conference in Dublin tomorrow when their slogan will be "The Boys are Black in Town."
Kings of the Barretts
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It’s going to be a battle of the Barretts at the National Stadium, Dublin, on April 30, when Galway-born Traveler Francie Barrett fights Seanie Barrett from Rylane in Cork to decide who is Irish champion at light welterweight. The Cork boxer had to have a rematch with Wexford’s Mark Wickham after the computer failed in the semifinal. Now he will meet Francie to see who takes the first step toward the Sydney Olympics on the undercard of the international against Sweden.
In other action at the Stadium last Friday Francie beat Welsh champion Alwyn Evans while Ireland beat the United, 4-3.
U20s ready for action
The Irish squad left Dublin on Monday for the World Under 20 Finals in Nigeria with almost a full-strength squad after the English clubs allowed their Irish-born players to travel. Their first game is against Mexico in Ibadan on Easter Sunday. Manager Brian Kerr is a methodical man and everybody will be well prepared
The FAI are bringing their own chef and among the boxes of medical supplies are several packets of condoms.
GAA bailout?
The GAA are hoping that Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy will bail them out as the country’s biggest amateur organization faces huge debts for the first time in its 115-year history. The GAA are prepared to go £50 million into the red to pay for its massive £140 million redevelopment of Croke Park.
Last year, the government gave the GAA £20 million from the National Lottery toward renovation work on the Cusack Stand side.
Work is already well under way on the Canal End and the demolition of the Hogan Stand is scheduled to begin after this year’s All-Ireland finals. It’s anticipated that the project will be completed in two years, four years ahead of schedule. The GAA will also raise money themselves and three days after going on sale premium seats for the new Hogan Stand raised £1 million. Minister McCreevy and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are both big GAA supporters and the GAA will probably get their cash.
Bud’s Derby incentive
Budweiser, who have been sponsoring the Irish Derby since 1986, are to continue their sponsorship for another five years at least. And to celebrate the millennium, Budweiser will give $1 million to next year’s winner on top of the regular prize money, provided it has previously won the English, French or Kentucky Derby. That’s a feat that was achieved last year when Dream Well won the French and Irish Derby. And Irish trainers are now paying more attention to the Kentucky Derby.
FAI semis set
Both FAI Harp Lager Cup semifinals will go ahead this weekend. Last week, Kilkenny City failed in their appeal against their expulsion after failing to travel to Ballybofey for their quarterfinal replay against Finn Harps. The Donegal club will now play Galway United at Terryland Park on Easter Sunday. Galway are going well in the First Division and knocked out Premier Division leaders St. Patrick’s Athletic at the quarterfinal stage. Galway, who joined the League in 1977, have appeared in two Cup finals. They lost the first in 1985 to Shamrock Rovers, but beat The Hoops in the 1991 decider. Harps have appeared in only one final, beating St. Patrick’s Athletic, 3-1, in 1974.
I fancy them to bridge that 25-year gap. Shelbourne are becoming the FAI Cup experts of the 1990s. The Reds are at home to struggling Bray Wanderers in the second semifinal on Good Friday and should qualify for their fifth straight final.
Irish World Cup hopes
Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews has suggested that if England get to host the 2006 World Cup, some of the games should be staged at the FAI’s proposed new stadium in Citywest, Dublin.
When the Rugby World Cup is held this autumn, games will be played in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. But it’s unlikely that the English soccer authorities would agree to have games in Ireland. They want to go it alone and to date have not even considered staging games in Wales or Scotland.
More Kelly surgery
It’s been a bad season for Drogheda-born defender Gary Kelly. He has not played for Leeds United since August and has not been able to add to his Irish caps tally. Now the 24-year-old needs a third operation to correct a shin splints problem.
Another Irish player who has been unlucky with injuries is Keith O’Neill. In fact the injuries have drastically reduced his valuation. A little over a year ago the striker was valued at £4 million, but last week the Dubliner moved from Norwich to Middlesbrough for £700,000.
Meanwhile, Lee Carsley’s has doubled his wages by moving down the Premiership. The Republic midfielder moved from Derby County to Blackburn Rovers in a £3.4 million deal. Career wise it seems a strange move, from Derby, who are in with a shout of a UEFA Cup spot next season, to relegation candidates Blackburn. So, could it be money?
At Blackburn Carsley will reportedly earn £15,000 per week, but Lee, who declared for The Republic through FIFA’s parental rule, says that money has never motivated him. "I have a family to worry about, but I come from a very poor area of Birmingham called Sheldon where this is no money at all, and I would be happy going back to live there any time," he said.
Celtic, Rangers TV deal
Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers don’t agree on much, except perhaps money. The financial clout of Celtic and Rangers was emphasized recently when the Old Firm sealed a record-breaking £13 million four-year shirt sponsorship deal with American cable TV company NTL.
The money will be split between the clubs, who are hoping that the deal will lead to a greater worldwide audience, with pay-per-view a future option. A few years back the great rivals were sponsored by the same company C.R. Smith. Rangers’ current deal with Scottish and Newcastle Breweries expires this season, while Celtic are tied to strip manufacturers Umbro for another season.
Leitrim manager quits
Leitrim are looking for a new football management team. Former Fermanagh star Peter McGinnity, who has been in charge for 18 months, quit last week following the League defeat by Offaly. Selectors Shane Heslin and Tomas Quinn also resigned. Leitrim, who won the Connacht championship in 1994, have gone down hill in recent years and lost their best player, Declan Darcy, who opted to play for his native Dublin. In the current League campaign, they have picked up only one point. And McGinnty’s departure, like Liam Austin’s in Cavan earlier this year, came after he lost the confidence of his players.