February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
“Had we won the three in-a-row last September, I wouldn’t have continued and I think it would have been the same with a few other players,” he said last week. “Cork played well and they were the better team on the day. We didn’t really perform well in the second half, but I don’t think tiredness had anything to do with that.
“I have spoken to manager Brian Cody and I intend to fight for a place on the team. I never expected any guarantees and I don’t expect any now, either.” Carey, who didn’t travel with the Kilkenny squad to Florida for their recent holiday, will begin training at the end of January. However, work commitments mean he will not be available for selection until early March, which will be his 18th year on the intercounty scene.
Good tidyings also for new Wexford manager Seamus Murphy with the news that the experienced Adrian Fenlon is also staying on for another 12 months and that veteran Dave Guiney is making a comeback. But Offaly supporters will have to wait another month to see if their star hurler Brian Whelahan is prepared to stay on for another year. In Tipperary, there have been a number of retirements and manager Ken Hogan is working off a small panel at present. There is no definite word yet on whether Tommy Dunne will continue to wear the blue and gold. Dunne is not expected to make a decision until Toomevara’s interest in the All-Ireland club champioinship is over.
O’GARA’S READY
FOR 6 NATIONS
Out-half Ronan O’Gara should be back in the Munster team’s Celtic League game against Llanelli Scarlets a week from Friday. O’Gara injured his right hand in the Celtic League game against Leinster on New Year’s Day. He has been named in the 35-man Irish squad for the Six Nations championship, which commences against Italy in Rome on Feb. 6. Gordon D’Arcy, who missed the autumn internationals against South Africa, the U.S. and Argentina, returns, and there are five uncapped players in the squad: Shaun Payne (Munster), Kieran Campbell, Ronan McCormack, Roger Wilson (Ulster) and Connacht hooker Bernard Jackman.
FRIENDLY MAY
FOLLOW WC TIE
There was speculation last week that Germany may play the Republic in a friendly international at Lansdowne Road on March 30. The Boys in Green travel to Tel Aviv on March 26 to play Israel in the World Cup, but March 30 is also an international date and the FAI have been searching for suitable opponents. A friendly following a vital World Cup game will not be much use to Irish manger Brian Kerr, but, unfortunately, that’s the way the dates fall this year
Meanwhile, the nominations have been announced for the Eircom/FAI International Player of the Year awards. Surprisingly, Damien Duff is not listed. The three nominations for the senior award are Shay Given, Kevin Kilbane and Robbie Keane. The young player nominees are Liam Miller, John O’Shea and Andy Reid. The awards will be presented at a banquet in Citywest on Feb. 6, when the Irish squad are all in Dublin to prepare for the friendly against Portugal on Feb. 9.
In other news, Ian Harte, who has been out of favor with Brian Kerr for recent games, will definitely not get a recall for the Portugal game. Harte, now playing for Spanish club Levante, had surgery in Manchester last week to remedy a groin problem and will be out for at least six weeks.
TURF CLUB
PLANS HOTEL
The Irish Turf Club has lodged an application with Kildare County Council for a major facelift for the Curragh Racecourse. A recent