February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Cody then banned spectators from some of the team’s recent training sessions in Nowlan Park where it’s rumoured he made some radical positional changes.
Earlier in the summer it looked like Kilkenny were unbeatable when they scored six goals against Offaly. But Wexford really put it up to them in the Leinster final. However, it seems that just the sight of a black and amber jersey is enough motivation for any Wexford player to lift his game. But now some pundits claim that Kilkenny are living on their reputation and that a fresh Galway team can take them, in the second of the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals on Sunday next.
Galway snatched an amazing victory from Tipperary at the quarterfinal stage. And further good news for manager Conor Hayes is that Kevin Broderick is now fit to resume. But the Cloonan brothers, Eugene and Diarmuid are unlikely to get a call-up at this stage.
I think there is one more kick in Kilkenny and with D.J. Carey admitting that this will be his last season I think he and his colleagues will lift their game for the Gowran man and give him the All-Ireland stage for his farewell appearance.
London will meet Louth in the first-ever Nicky Rackard Cup Final in the curtain-raiser at Croke Park on Sunday. Coincidentally the former Wexford star set the record for the highest score in a senior hurling championship when he hit seven goals and seven points against Antrim in the All-Ireland semi-final back in 1954.
ITALY RETURN RECALLS
’85 DALYMOUNT CRUSH
Memories of a crazy night at Dalymount Park will come flooding back for many Irish fans when Italy visit Lansdowne Road this evening. Even current Irish coach Brian Kerr admits that he nearly got killed in the crush at Dalymount back in February 1985 when Italy last visited Dublin. The FAI, in their wisdom, decided that the old Phibsboro venue could accommodate the expected attendance. But Irish people like to come out and see the big stars and the official attendance was 40,000. With the terraces cramped some fans were allowed on to the touchline for their own safety. And but for Liam Brady, who was then playing with Inter Milan, I think the game would have been abandoned.
We should have a similar attendance tonight as many fans who cannot get tickets for next month’s game against France may take advantage of the opportunity to see the Boys in Green. The much-maligned FAI have made some progress in the intervening years. And hundreds of supporters who failed to make it to Torshavn to see the World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands in June got complimentary tickets for tonight’s game. Planes carrying the fans from Dublin were not able to land in fog-bound Torshavn.
HARTE MAY BE STUCK
IN SPANISH 2ND DIV.
Irish defender Ian Harte faces another season in Spain unless his club Levante drop their asking price. Harte, who was recalled to the Irish squad for the games last June, couldn’t prevent his new club from dropping out of the top division of La Liga. Now Levante, who got Harte for free from Leeds United, are looking for