Irish Sports Desk Ulster Championships threatened by new FMD outbreak

By Sean Creedon

There are now growing fears that the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak in the North will cause chaos in this year’s Ulster Championship in hurling and football. Tyrone, who would have qualified for the final stages of the National Football League, have been thrown out of the competition and barred from playing intercounty games for 30 days.

Tyrone are due to play Armagh in the first round of the Ulster Championship in Clones on May 20. With a further outbreak in Cushendon, Antrim’s Ulster Championship game against Derry on May 13 also looks like it will have to be postponed.

England tabs Peyton

Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gerry Peyton has been called into new England manager Sven Goran Eriksson’s backroom team. Peyton, who won 33 caps for the Republic, impressed Eriksson when he coached in Sweden a few years back.

"My brief is to review the goalkeeping skills on offer in forthcoming matches. I will survey the top English goalies at club level and report back to the goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence," Peyton said.

Peyton is the second former Irish international to become involved with England. Former Irish captain Noel Cantwell is also doing some scouting for Dave Sexton in the England camp.

Milan eye Harte

Inter Milan are believed to want to take Irish international Ian Harte from Leeds as part of the Robbie Keane move to Elland Road. Leicester City are also interested in Harte and it looks like David O’Leary will be forced to off load some of his talent if he wants to buy new players this summer.

Bohs reach FAI final

Bohemians are through to this season’s FAI Harp Lager Cup final. On Good Friday, Bohs beat Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers 1-0 to qualify for their second final in a row. Last year, Bohs went down in a replay to double winners Shelbourne. But the Gypsies will have to wait another week to know who their opponents on May 13 will be. Waterford are at home to Longford in the second semifinal next Sunday.

Kennedy rejoins Republic

Mark Kennedy is back in the preliminary Irish squad of 30 for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra at Lansdowne Road on April 25.

Kennedy and Phil Babb were sent home from the Irish squad before the game against Holland last September after the pair were arrested for damaging a garda’s car in Harcourt Street, Dublin.

Kennedy is just back from injury, but Babb cannot even make the first 30.

The good news for Irish supporters is that beanpole striker Niall Quinn is back. Coventry’s utility man Barry Quinn is the only uncapped player on the squad.

The Republic have risen five places in the FIFA Rankings to 30th following the recent World Cup victory over Cyrpus and Andorra.

Stoic Staunton

Steve Staunton says he won’t let the boo boys get to him and is determined to end his playing days at Aston Villa. Staunton upset Villa supporters when he left the club to rejoin Liverpool under the Bosman ruling in 1998 and his return to the club was greeted with a mixed reaction from the terraces.

"Coming back to the club, I am an obvious choice for the fans," he said. "But if they are petty enough to be like that, then I’ll just carry on with it. Let them do it; I’m big enough to take it. They think I left Villa for certain things, but I had my own reasons and I was happy to come back here."

Fighting talk, but it’s not good for a player when the home supporters give him a hard time and don’t be surprised if Stan is on the way again next season.

Carey out for 6 weeks

Kilkenny hurling star D.J. Carey will be out for action for the next six weeks after picking up an injury playing football.

Carey was anxious to resume action after the stoppage for foot and mouth and lined out for the Gowran footballers against James Stephens. But he picked up a rib injury when falling awkwardly. Despite the setback, Carey says he will continue to play football whenever possible.

"I love playing football," he said. "The problem is that the games are usually played the night before Kilkenny play in the National Hurling League."

Last year, Carey made his intercounty debut for the Kilkenny senior footballers in an O’Byrne Cup game against Wexford.

Donegal drops Boyle

Tony Boyle has been dropped from the Donegal panel by manager Mickey Moran. Boyle, who, has played 100 championship games for the county, was one of the stars when Donegal won their first All-Ireland football final in 1992. He has recently been promoted in his job and the manager feels that the 31-year-old can no longer give the required commitment.

"Tony is no longer in the panel due to work commitments," Moran said. "I’ve discussed this with him and he accepts it. I have great respect for Tony and have done so since my Derry days."