Sports Desk: Keane’s United aim for FA Cup

Keane will then be bidding for a rare feat, that of captaining successive cup-winning teams, something achieved only once previously by an Irishman. That was Danny Blanchflower, who skippered Tottenham to cup success in 1961 and 1962. The last man to captain back-to-back cup-winning teams was also a Spurs player, Steve Perryman in 1981 and 1982. This will be Keane seventh cup final, having also played in the cup final for Nottingham Forest and he will be hoping for his fourth winners medal.
It will be the first cup final meeting between these cup experts since 1979, when Liam Brady’s late cross set up the winner for Alan Sunderland. Back then Arsenal had six star Irish players in their team (three each from North and South), now they have neither Irish or English players, drawing their players from all over the world instead. The Gunners are next to United in the all-time cup roll of honor with nine wins and with both clubs having failed to win any silverware this season, this will be their last opportunity to do so. Arsenal will be slight favorites, but when did favoritism ever count for much in a cup final?
Meanwhile at home the final of the new Setanta Cup will be played at Tolka Park on Saturday night. At the time of writing the finalists are not known, but it looks like it could be Linfield and Shelbourne.

REIGNING CHAMPS
MEET EACH OTHER
We will have an unusual situation in Thurles on Sunday when Cork, the reigning All-Ireland hurling champions, make the first defense of their title, against reigning Munster champions Waterford. This comes about because Waterford beat Cork in last year’s Munster final, but the Rebels went on to win the McCarthy Cup via the back-door route. Star forward Paul Flynn, who is struggling with an injury, is the only worry for Waterford manager Justin McCarthy, while new Cork manager John Allen has added a few players to last year’s All-Ireland winning side.
There is action in all four provinces this weekend. In Carrick-on-Shannon, Dessie Dolan Sr. makes his championship debut as Leitrim boss when they host Sligo. In Omagh, Tyrone’s footballers will be favorites to beat Down, while in Leinster hurling Laois play Dublin in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.
Following the successful switch to Croke Park last summer, it now looks like this year’s Ulster football final will once again be played at GAA headquarters. Last year a crowd of over 67,000 turned up at Croke Park to see Armagh beat Donegal. The Ulster Council had made the decision to move from St Tiernach’s Park, Clones, when it looked like Armagh and Tyrone would meet in the final, but Donegal spoiled their plans. However, the move was still justified as they got 30,000 more than they could accommodate in Clones. One problem this is that the date for the Ulster final is July 17, the same day as the Leinster football final. But that problem can be solved by playing the Ulster final on Saturday, July 15. Ulster PRO Martin McAviney said: ‘The Ulster championship is shaping up to be another classic this year. So if we have to cater for demand for the final we will look at Croke Park again.’

RYDER STARS TO
START IN OPEN
Course designer Colin Montgomerie is among the players bidding to win this year’s Nissan Irish Open, which runs from May 19-22 at the new Carton House course in County Kildare. The Scot, who has been a regular at recent Irish Opens, is among the big names confirmed for the 2 million euro event. Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup colleagues Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and David Howell are all confirmed starters for the event which has an earlier than usual start this year.

BARTHEZ’S BAN EXTENDED
French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has had his ban for spitting at a referee extended and will now miss his country’s World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road next September. The flamboyant keeper initially got a six-month ban, with three months suspended, for spitting at the Moroccan referee during a friendly between his club Marseilles and Wydad Casablanca in Morocco last February. However, the French FA appealed against the decision of its own disciplinary committee, saying it wanted a tougher punishment. The ban will now be lifted on Oct. 14, provided Barthez agrees to do some community work. Jean Mazzella, president of the French federation disciplinary commission, justified the decision to ban the goalkeeper for only three months by saying Barthez had spat on the referee’s chest rather than in his face. But the referee’s union chief Bernad Saules said: ‘What’s the difference between a spit in the face, in the ear or on the chest?’ However, there may be a legal route open to the former Manchester United keeper. Apparently he could appeal to the French Olympic Committee, which has the power to overrule a football federation decision.
French will also be without David Trezeguet for the trip to Lansdowne Road on Sept. 7. The Juventus striker has been suspended for two games after head butting Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim, during France’s 1-1 draw with Israel in Tel Aviv in March. Trezeguet will also miss France’s home game against the Faroe Island on Sept. 3.
Meanwhile, Greek referee Kyros Vassaras will be in charge of the Republic’s World Cup game against Israel at Lansdowne Road on June 4. Vassaras should be well known to Irish supporters having officiated at the Celtic vs. Milan Championship League game at Parkhead in December and Liverpool’s Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen in February. He has yet to send off a player in Champions League or World Cup qualifier this season.

PRO, AMATEUR
PUGS MAKE NICE
Boxing history will be made in Dublin on June 4 when the National Stadium hosts its first-ever Pro-Am show. Belfast hosted a similar venture some time back, but this will the first-ever Pro-Am show at the home of boxing in The Republic. The idea is the brainchild of Paddy Hyland, whose three sons, Paul, Patrick and Edward all switched to the professional ranks last year. The three boys will naturally be in the show, as will fellow Dubliner Paul Griffin, who has recently returned from a five-year stint in Australia. Hyland, who is planning to have two more similar shows later this year, said: ‘The Pro-am concept is fairly common on the continent, particularly in France where it works very well. There is no reason why it cannot work in Ireland as well. We will have four international pro bouts and four amateur ones featuring some of the best boxers in the country and the aim is to give them all experience.’ In the past there was no love lost between the professional and amateur boxing scene in Ireland and up to recently such a promotion would have been just a dream.

LEINSTER MULL RDS
The Leinster Rugby Union are exploring the possibility of using the facilities at the Royal Dublin Society grounds in Ballsbridge while renovation work goes ahead at their own headquarters in Donnybrook. The RDS, which was used by Shamrock Rovers in the 1990s, could accommodate crowds of up to 15,000 which would be adequate for Leinster’s Celtic League games and would probably accommodate Heineken Cup games when Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped. In addition to using the playing facilities the Leinster Branch may also move their office accommodation to the RDS while building goes ahead in Donnybrook.
Meanwhile Failte Ireland has been confirmed as title sponsors of this year’s Dublin Horse Show at the RDS from Aug. 3-7. This year’s show will include a leg of the eight-round Samsung Super League Nations Cup series.

MILLER MADE CAREER
MISSTEP – EX-STAR
Glasgow Celtic legend Tommy Burns feels that Irish international Liam Miller was wrong to walk out on Celtic last year. The Cork-born midfielder infuriated Celtic fans by walking out on Parkhead to join Manchester United, where he has struggled to get first team football. Recent reports suggest that United may be willing to off-load Miller at the end of the season. Burns, who is now youth team boss at Parkhead said: ‘Liam should have stayed and won a few trophies before leaving for pastures new. He had developed well physically and had the experience of playing first team football in Denmark with Aarhus, which helped him enormously. The years between 18 and 22 are vital to a young player in his mental and physical development. Someone like Liam would be a good example of a player who came through our system, went to Denmark for a year, then came back and was ready to play at 22.’

SHELS, CITY
TO FACE OFF
The meeting of Eircom League premier division leaders Shelbourne and Derry City at Tolka Park is the plum tie to come out of the draw for the second round of the FAI Carlsberg Cup. Shels hopes of a League-Cup double were ended by the Candystripes last season. The only other all Premier Division tie sees Waterford United host St Patrick’s Athletic. But the cup is all about the minnows and non-league Waterford Crystal face a tough task, having been drawn away to Longford Town, who will be bidding for a third Cup win in-a-row. And Fanad United from North Donegal, travel to Dublin to meet Shamrock Rovers, who have won the Cup more times than any other club. The second round games will be played on the week-ending June 12.