February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Sean Creedon
The Republic will meet Andorra for the first time in a senior soccer international tonight, Wednesday, in Barcelona. Andorra will become the 55th country to play The Republic since 1926. The game will be played in the "mini stadium" at 5:45 p.m. and Irish supporters can later watch the Spain vs. France game in the massive Bernabeau Stadium. One has to go back to 1948 for Ireland’s last game in Barcelona, when the Republic lost 2-1 to Spain.
Andorra, the minnows of Group 2, have lost all six of their games to date, scoring just 3 goals and conceeding 19.
Shay Given was in goal in the 4-0 win over Cyprus on Saturday and maybe manager Mick McCarthy will give Alan Kelly a run tonight.
Kelly, has lost his place on the Irish team because he wasn’t playing first-team football with Blackburn Rovers. Last week it looked like 33-year-old Kelly was about to join Manchester United on loan until the end of the season, but in the end United opted for former Glasgow Rangers keeper Andy Goram. McCarthy says he wasn’t happy with the form of Kenny Cunningham, who was just back from injury, and Richard Dunne could return to the heart of the defense. But then Gary Breen could also be dropped.
Best ailing?
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Concern is growing that Irish soccer legend George Best is ailing. On Saturday, Best was due to work as a commentator on the Northern Ireland vs. Czech Republic game in Belfast, but his agent said he "did not feel up to it." Last week, Best failed to attend the official opening of a new restaurant by a long-time friend, the former Welsh Rugby star Barry John. The previous week the former Manchester United star had failed to attend a function at Old Trafford.
Gaelic games to resume
Gaelic Games resume this weekend with the All-Ireland club hurling semifinal between Graigue Ballycallan and Sixmilebridge at Thurles on Saturday. On Sunday, Ireland will have a full round of games in the National Hurling League, plus the rearranged National Football League game between Kerry and Dublin in Killarney.
Dublin will be without star forward Jason Sherlock, who picked up a three-month suspension last week. Jayo was sent off against Roscommon on Feb 10, but he will be back in plenty of time for the championship.
Two other players who received 12-week bans were Armagh wing-back Andrew McGann and Galway hurler Greg Kennedy. And Galway will be without full-back Brian Feeney for a full year. Feeney, an accountant by profession, will miss out as he has taken up a new job in Milan.
Leinster drop format
The Leinster GAA Council have abandoned their plans for a round-robin system in the Leinster hurling championship because of the fixture congestion caused by the foot-and-mouth threat.
"It’s a decision which no one wanted, but one in which everyone agreed was necessary in the circumstances and, hopefully, we will return to the format next year," said Leinster secretary Michael Delaney.
Soccer resumes
Domestic soccer action resumed last weekend when Longford Town caused a major upset by traveling to Inchicore and beating St Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 in a third-round replay of the FAI Cup. But the cup final will probably be delayed because of the outbreak of foot and mouth in County Louth. Dundalk, who are still in the cup, were not allowed to play their third-round game against Portmarnock last weekend. The tie has now been postponed five times, mainly because of waterlogged pitches.
FAI-Sky deal
Some good news for the FAI at last. The Association have renewed their contract with Sky Television for coverage of home games, which is worth £5 million. Sky also plan to cover this year’s FAI Cup Final and semifinals and finals in future years.
"It’s a great deal financially for the FAI and good news for Irish people abroad," FAI chief executive Bernard O’Byrne said.
Killarney rally postponed
The Circuit of Ireland Car Rally has already been postponed and now the Inernational Rally of the Lakes due to be held in Killarney over the May bank holiday weekend, has also been called off. Organizers hope to stage the event, which is of huge financial value to Killarney, later in the year.
All-Blacks for Belfast
The New Zealand All-Blacks will visit Belfast for the first time in 29 years when they play the Ireland "A" side at Ravenhill on Nov. 13.
The last time the All-Blacks played in Ravenhill was in 1972 when they beat Ulster 19-6. The New Zealanders will play Ireland in Dublin on Nov. 17 or 18 and later move on to play Scotland at Murrayfield.