February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The Clare hurlers have a great record at Croke Park since they made the big breakthrough in 1995, losing only once in 11 games at GAA headquarters. Significantly, that solitary defeat came against Kilkenny in the 1999 semifinal.
The Cats will be Clare’s opponents again in Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final at Croker. The backdoor system worked well for Clare this year. After losing to Tipperary in the first round of the Munster championship, the Bannermen regrouped and had confidence-inspiring victories over Wexford and Galway before beating Waterford in the semifinal. But I don’t think they are good enough to beat Kilkenny, who possess too many star players.
D.J. Carey had a great game in Kilkenny’s semifinal triumph over Tipperary, but as has been proven in the past, Carey can also be marked out of a game. But I still fancy Kilkenny for their 27th All-Ireland senior hurling title, which would put them within one victory of equaling the record of 28 held by Cork.
The referee on Sunday will be Aodan MacSuibhne from Dublin. The St Jude’s clubman will be the first Dublin referee to get the All-Ireland hurling final since current county board chairman John Bailey was awarded hurling’s top fixtures back in 1986. MacSuibhne stood in for Dickie Murphy in the semifinal between Kilkenny and Clare when Murphy was ruled out due to a referee’s strike in Wexford.
Mick Recalls Babb
Phil Babb is back in the Irish squad for Saturday’s European Championship opener against Russia in Moscow. Babb and Mark Kennedy were dropped by manager Mick McCarthy following their with a Garda car in Harcourt Street, Dublin, prior to opening game in the World Cup qualifiers against Holland back in September 2000.
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Kennedy made his return last year, but is currently injured. Babb was called up as a late replacement for the game against Finland in Helsinki but didn’t travel.
There was also a promotion for John O’Shea from the Under 21 squad. O’Shea, who has one senior cap, has been playing regularly for Manchester United this season following an injury to Rio Ferdinand. Meanwhile, Richard Dunne, currently out of favor at Manchester City, has been dropped, as has another central defender, Andy O’Brien.
A few years back, Ireland would have been happy with an away draw against Russia. But such is the confidence in the Irish squad now that most Irish supporters are expecting to get maximum points in Moscow on Saturday.
GAC Review Brawl
Kerry footballer Tomas O Se and Cork’s Philip Clifford have been called before the GAA’s Games Administration Committee after the GAC viewed a video of the All-Ireland semifinal. O Se and Clifford were among a group of players involved in the second-half brawl at Croke Park on the Aug 25 won by Kerry at Croke Park. Neither player was sent off, but O Se could now miss the All-Ireland final.
Cork’s Colin Corkery, who was sent off in the game, has also been called before the GAC to explain his behavior during the game and his criticism of referee Brian White.
Meanwhile, Kerry’s Tom O’Sullivan still does not know if he will be available for selection for the All-Ireland Final on Sept. 22. O’Sullivan was sent off with Fionan Murray. If he gets a four-week ban, he would be free to play, as the ban would end on the eve of the final.
Eircom Road Warriors
It’s looking like four of the top premier division clubs from the Eircom League could be in the semifinals of this season’s FAI Cup. But the four are all drawn away in this weekend quarterfinals and, of course, the Cup is famous for its shocks.
League leaders Bohemians have been paired with Bray Wanderers for the fourth successive year, but they should still be capable of winning in the Carlisle Grounds. Second-place Cork City face a long trip to Ballybofey to take on Finn Harps. St. Patrick’s Athletic are also traveling north, to face Derry City at The Brandywell, where they lost 2-0 in the League last year. Cup experts Shamrock Rovers are also away to Kilkenny City. It may take a few replays, but my four for the semifinals are Cork City, Bohemians, St. Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers.
Chip Off the Old Block
There was a familiar name on the Irish Under 18 team sheet in a tournament in the Czech Republic last week. Andrew Bonner, son of the famous goalkeeper Packie, made his debut for the Irish in their 3-3 draw against Norway. Although Andrews is over 6 feet tall, he likes to score goals rather than prevent them and is a striker. He plays his club football for Scottish club Queens Park.
Tobin Quits Roscommon
Roscommon are looking for a new football manager following the news that John Tobin is to take up a full-time coaching job with the Connacht Council. Tobin, who was a star player with Galway, is also giving up his teaching job at Tuam CBS. No names have yet been mentioned as likely candidates for the job. Last month, the Roscommon County Board disbanded the county panel following a summer when some of the players were caught on video playing pool in the nude in a Derry hotel and allegations of various other pranks.
McCoy Wins 1,700th
Irish-born jockey Tony McCoy broke Richard Dunwoody’s three-year-old record when he rode his 1,700th winner over the jumps at Uttoxeter last week. The horse that gave McCoy the new record, Might Montefalco, was trained by former champion jockey Jonjo O’Neill. Dunwoody took 16 seasons to reach his total, while McCoy did it in half the time. Bookies are now offering odds of 3-to-1 that McCoy will ride 300 winners or more this season.