Kerr pulls Republic out of trip to U.S.

“The problem with America was that we don’t know who else will be there and I wouldn’t like to be playing three teams who are of no relevance to us,” Kerr said about pulling his team out of scheduled competition in the States.
Kerr’s advice was obviously being taken on board by Fran Rooney and his colleagues in the FAI. In the bad old days, international managers accepted whatever friendlies or tours the suits in the FAI arranged for them.
So the Republic’s senior schedule for the remainder of the season now reads: March 31 vs. Czech Republic in Dublin; April 28 vs. Poland in Bydsgoszcz; May 27 vs. Romania in Dublin, and June 5 vs. Holland in Amsterdam.
Kerr will name his squad this week for the friendly against the Czech Republic this week. But there are unlikely to be many surprises. Graham Kavanagh, who looked like he was about to claim a midfield spot, is now out injured until the end of the season. Liverpool defender Steve Finnan, who has started only two of Kerr’s 12 games, could miss out through injury.

REPUBLIC HAS 330 REGISTERED
There has been speculation in recent weeks that Kevin Nolan of Bolton Wanderers, Jon Macken from Manchester City and Queen Park Rangers striker Kevin Gallen are about to declare for the Republic. Gallen’s brothers Joe and Stephen played for the Republic at Under-21 level, but Kevin opted for England. However, after a change of rule by FIFA, players can now switch allegiance, once they had a passport for their “new” country when they originally made their debut.
The rule is a bit vague, but Tottenham striker Freddie Kanoute recently lined out for Mali despite having played for France earlier in his career. Kevin Gallen recently wrote to Kerr saying that he wants to play for Ireland and Kerr has since watched him play.
“Kevin is playing well, but in Div. II,” Kerr said. “I was not convinced on what I saw that he is better than what we have at present. The same goes for Kevin Nolan. Overall there are 330 players registered with British clubs who are eligible to play for the Republic. And we know about them all. But first we need clarity on the passport issue from FIFA.”
Kerr has also ruled out an immediate call-up for Jonathan Douglas, who has been doing well with Blackburn Rovers in recent months. “onathan has done well this season but I don’t see him coming into the squad any time soon,” Kerr said.

MILLER MAY MAKE UTD.
DEBUT IN PHILLY
Emerging Irish star Liam Miller could make his debut for Manchester United against Glasgow Celtic in Philadelphia this summer. Miller, who is currently injured, signed a pre-contract agreement in January to join United from Celtic at the end of the current season.
Miller caught the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson when he played for Celtic against United in the U.S. last summer. Celtic, United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Roma will all take part in the 2004 Champions World Series this summer. So Chelsea’s Irish star, Damien Duff, denied an opportunity to travel to the U.S. last year with Blackburn Rovers and this year with the Republic of Ireland, should see his wish of visiting the United States come through.
Duff is not a great man for talking to the media, but last Sunday he gave an interview to the Sunday Independent in which he said that he would welcome Roy Keane back to the Irish squad.
“I would like to see Roy back,” Duff said. “He’s the best player Ireland’s ever had, and he is one of the best players currently playing. I love playing with Roy and I think he could come back. We have an awful young squad right now and I think the players Roy had problems with have all left.”

BOSS DROPS GILLESPIE
New Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez said Keith Gillespie will not be included in his squad for the friendly against Estonia in Tallinn on March 31. Sanchez said the decision has nothing to do with the Gillespie’s recent episode in Spain where together with two other Leicester City players he spent a few nights in jail after allegations of sexual aggression.
“Keith is a valued member of the squad, but just for this game I want to have a look at some of the younger players,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North’s proposed end-of-season Caribbean tour looks in jeopardy. They were due to play Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago. Now Jamaica say they are longer interested in the game which was due to played on May 30, while Trinidad and Tobago want to switch the game on June 5 to a United Kingdom venue.

WALSH BACKS KELLY
Sean Walsh, the Kerry County Board chairman, has come out in favor of his predecessor Sean Kelly. Commenting on the decision by the group of past presidents of the GAA to throw out all the motions referring to Rule 42 prior to this year’s Congress, Walsh said: “It was the worst week in the history of the GAA. Democracy in the association was done a very big disservice. We have always prided ourselves in the GAA as being able to debate the big issues. We have never been slow to make changes to the rule book when it’s required. The association’s president, Sean Kelly, must feel very let down by not having the issue debated at Congress because he has been speaking so publicly about it. I don’t think the motion would have got through this time, but I don’t think the power to decide how Croke Park is used should be taken away from Congress.”
Meanwhile, Kelly said that the thought of resigning never crossed his mind. “No, I didn’t contemplate standing down,” he said. “I decided I would fight from within, but I appreciate Sean Walsh’s support. The situation last week was not the most comfortable. What is needed now is a cooling-off period and then to try and ensure that this does not happen again.”

THE WEST’S AWAKE
Connacht are guaranteed plenty of support when they travel to play Harlequins in the semi-final of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup at the Stoop on April 11. The Parker Pen is like a second division of the Heineken Cup. Already 800 Connacht supporters have purchased travel packages and coupled with the Irish support in London they could have more support at the game than the home team.

HURLERS WANT HOME GAMES
Kerry’s hurling manager, Maurice Leahy, is a man you may not hear too much from. But when he speaks he makes sense. He’s annoyed that for the second year in a row Kerry has to travel for their Munster championship outing. The Kerry hurlers are doing well in the league and look like they could be promoted to the top flight again.
“We were away to Waterford, who were Munster champions last year,” Leahy said. “This year we have to travel to Pairc Ui Chaoimh to play Munster champions and All-Ireland finalists Cork. That is not the way to promote the game of hurling in the weaker counties. I don’t mind playing anyone in Tralee. It’s our ground and last year when we played Limerick there we had a crowd of around 7,000. That game brought out youngsters who were looking for pictures of the Kerry hurlers an autographs. That’s the way we should be going about it.”

LOHAN SWITCH WORKS
One of the big success stories of the National Hurling League has been the switch from cornerback to full forward of Clare’s Frank Lohan. For many years Lohan and his brother Brian were cornerstones of the Clare defense. But this year new Clare manager Anthony Daly decided to try Frank in the forward line. Already he’s hit six goals in five games, three league games and two pre-season friendlies.
Daly admits that Lohan is an all-arounder. “Back in the mid-1990s when Clare were holidaying in Thailand we organized a soccer game against a local team,” he said. “I had never seen Frank play before and didn’t now how good he was. We stuck him up center forward and he got a hat trick. He is a great soccer player, plays Gaelic football, golf and is also a brilliant swimmer.”
Daly also reckons that Lohan’s football brain is helping adjust to the forward line. “There is a lot more linking up in football and you can see that about Frank when he gets the ball,” he said. “Every time he is in possession he looks up and sees what’s one. A lot of hurlers almost have to think ‘will I pass or will I shoot.’ It’s natural with Frank.”

COPS PROBE GAA CLUB
Enniskillen Gaels GAA club in County Fermanagh is alleged to be among a number of clubs being investigated for fraud by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The club was reportedly added to a list of seven soccer clubs under scrutiny. The police were called in by the Northern Ireland Sports Council when monitoring checks raised concerns. Enniskillen Gaels secretary Gregory Kelly confirmed that the club received cash to upgrade Brewester Park, but said he was unaware of a police probe.

FLEMING LET GO
Curtis Fleming, the former Irish soccer international, has been told he will be released by Crystal Palace at the end of the season. The 33-year-old Curtis has not played in the Palace’s first team since chipping his fibula in January.
“Curtis is one of the best professionals I have ever worked with and he has been at the heart of everything I’ve tried here,” Palace manager Ian Dowie said. “It’s just a shame he got injured when he did because he’s such a great leader and offers so much around the place. I wanted to tell him early on because he deserves that.”
Fleming, who started in Dublin with St Patrick’s Athletic, might try for another club or maybe look for a coaching job.

DUNLOY GO DOWN
The Antrim club Dunloy were beaten by Newtownshandrum from Cork in the AIB All-Ireland club hurling final on St Patrick’s Day. It was Dunloy’s fourth defeat in a final. The rumor from Antrim is that a curse was put on the Dunloy hurlers many years ago when they went training on a night when there was a Mission in the local church.
Meanwhile, Dominic McKinley has resigned as Derry hurling manager for the second time in two months. McKinley, who was coaxed back after quitting in January, quit again last week after only nine players turned up for training.
“I am fed up bending the rules, this time I am not changing my mind,” McKinley said.