February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Micko began his managerial career with Kerry in June 1975 and after 54 championship games and eight All-Ireland titles, he moved to Kildare where he clocked up another 35 championship games. Sunday’s game will be O’Dwyer’s 11th championship game in charge of Laois and, following their poor performance against Westmeath last Saturday, they will find it difficult to lift their game against Tyrone, who have been improving gradually via the backdoor route. But then maybe I am writing off O’Dwyer too soon. Micko has probably gone as far as he can with Laois, but no doubt there will be some other county willing to call on the experience of the Kerryman if he wishes to continue in management into his seventies.
O’MAHONY MAY QUIT
With the number of counties dropping out of the All-Ireland football championship growing by the week, the future of many intercounty managers is up for discussion. So far only two managers have quit, Declan Rowley in Leitrim and Denis Connerton in Longford. But there is increasing speculation that John O’Mahony may be about to step down after seven years with Galway. O’Mahony put off making a quick decision following the Connacht semifinal defeat by Mayo. Galway were still in the under-21 championship where O’Mahony was also in charge. But last week Mayo also ended Galway’s under-21 hopes and now it looks like the man who has led three different counties to Connacht titles may be about to step down.
Val Andrews has confirmed that he is staying on in Louth and despite a very disappointing campaign Billy Morgan is hanging on in Cork. Kerryman John Kennedy is expected to be confirmed as Clare manager for another year. Sligo are one of the few teams taking part in the B competition for the Tommy Murphy Cup, but manager James Kearins said he will not available for this competition. However, he plans to be in charge of the Yeats county again next year. In Carlow, Luke Dempsey will continue provided he gets the financial backing needed from the county board. Chairman Eddie Byrne said: ‘Luke wants physios, the team to go away for weekends and thinks they need a lot of gym work for next year. There is a huge expense involved with players’ gear, food and travel. We are on the brink of a breakthrough but money doesn’t grow on trees.’
Meanwhile, Cork forward Colin Corkery said he has no plans to retire from intercounty action. “I am only 33 and will give it another 12 months to try and win that elusive All-Ireland medal,” said Corkery, who managed to lose a lot of weight this summer. “But we are light years behind the northern counties in terms of physical fitness and condition and until such time as we get that right, we will lag behind.”
DUFF SET TO RETURN
Republic of Ireland star Damien Duff could return to action this week in the U.S. Duff traveled with Chelsea for their summer tour and could make a comeback after his shoulder injury against Roma in Pittsburgh today or in the final game of the tour against AC Milan in Philadelphia on Aug. 2.
PATS CAN’T AFFORD TEAM
St. Patrick’s Athletic manager Johnny McDonnell said that his entire squad of players will be up for sale when the transfer windows opens on Aug. 1. The Saints cannot afford their full-time players and will revert to a part-time set up. “Some of our players are on more money than Glen Crowe and Jason Byrne, the two top strikers in the League. We have to cut our cloth and start again. Going full time has not worked for us and I think the club were too rash in going fulltime and didn’t think out where they wanted to go,” said McDonnell, who recently took over as manager from Eamon Collins.
BIG-HITTER DALY DESIGNS COURSE
Big hitter John Daly is the co-designer with Ireland’s Mel Flanagan of the new Blarney Golf Resort in County Cork. Work on the Blarney project has begun and the plan is to have it open by September 2005. The course will measure over 7,000 yards from the championship tees and there will be a number of John Daly Tees to tempt those who fancy themselves as big hitters. It is only the second course that Daly has co-designed after his first foray in the field coming in Wicked Stick in South Carolina. The other elements of the Blarney site include a 63 bedroom hotel, leisure center and 53 apartments.
SWISS WILL MISS STAR
Alexander Frei will miss Switzerland’s World Cup qualifier against he Republic of Ireland on Sept. 7. The striker picked up a three-match ban after a spitting incident involving England midfielder Steven Gerrard during the Euro 2004 Finals. The incident was not seen by the match referee, but photographic evidence later proved that Frei had spat. Frei missed Switzerland’s final game in Euro 2004 and will also miss his country’s World Cup opener against the Faroe Islands on Sept. 4.
Sign up to The Irish Echo Newsletter
McGRATH SON OPTS FOR GAA
The sons of former Irish international Paul McGrath are continuing their father’s sporting tradition. The eldest son Chris was an apprentice with Liverpool for a few seasons and played for Ireland at under-16 level. Meanwhile one of his other sons James seems to prefer Gaelic football. He lined out for Warwickshire in the recent Feile na Gael competition held in County Tyrone and according to reports was one of the English club’s most talented players.
Meanwhile his poor father has fallen off the wagon again and is back in rehab. However, Waterford United said they will stand by him and his job as director of football will be there for him when he is fit to resume.
HAYES BACKS LEINSTER PLAN
Galway hurling manager Conor Hayes said he would like the county to play in Leinster so that his team would have more competitive games. This is at odds with the Galway County Board spokesman Phelim Murphy, who last week said that they had no regrets regarding their decision to decline the proposal from the Hurling Development Committee to play in Leinster. But the likelihood is that Galway will persevere with Connacht for another year. There is a new system being introduced next year which will guarantee Galway at least three competitive games.
UNITED OWNER AIDS LIMERICK
Millionaire businessman J.P. McManus had donated