"I'll be forever grateful" - Seán Óg Ó hAilpín speaks about returning to Cork's senior hurling panel



RETURN OF THE KING: Seán Óg Ó hAilpín is set to return

              Cork hurling icon Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has admitted he never expected to pull on the Rebel jersey again, after being cut from the squad by outgoing Cork senior hurling manager Denis Walsh last season.           
            Seán Óg was recalled to the set-up by returning Cork hurling supremo Jimmy Barry-Murphy and has spoken of his delight to return to Cork Christmas annual: "Holly Bough." 

Seán Óg captained Cork to 2005 All-Ireland

"I was ecstatic when I got the call.  I never believed I'd get a second chance and I'll be forever grateful to Jimmy Barry-Murphy for this opportunity."
            The three-time All-Ireland winner hopes to contribute to the development of the young guns on the panel next season. 
"I want to perform to the best of my ability and hopefully get the Cork hurling team back to winning ways, and to help and encourage younger players to be the best they can be."            
             He is confident Cork hurling can recover after a bleak few years. 
"With hard work and perserverence, Cork will once again return to winning ways.  The Cork footballers proved that in 2010."

No fairytale end of season for Shelbourne but Tolka Park faithful will be happy their club still exists - and as a Premier League club next season: 2011 Airtricity League season is over:

Tumultuous times but reminders of former glories for Shels

No other Irish club embraced the Celtic Tiger era with greater verve and ambition that Shels; no other club fell further into the abyss.  To see them back in the big-time can only be good for Irish football.


            Sligo Rovers completed the Airtricity League of Ireland season by lifting their second FAI Cup in a row - and for the second time in a row they won in a penalty shoot-out.  However, the real story of the 2011 Airtricity League season (aside from Shamrock Rovers' Annus Mirabulus) came from the First Division.
             Having gone out of business before the start of last season;  Cork City FC last week overcame all odds to pip Shelbourne to the First Division Title.  Shels were however promoted and today lost an unexpected Cup Final.  Never before had a club lost in the FAI Ford Cup, only to be re-instated.
             The truth is that had Shelbourne won today's showpiece; only the hardest of hearts would have begrudged them the crown.  No other Irish club embraced the Celtic Tiger era with greater verve and ambition that Shels;  almost no other club fell further into the abyss.  Six years ago;  Shelbourne came within 45 minutes of becoming the first Irish club to qualify for the cash cow that is the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.  18 months later;  the club stood on the precipice of extinction, or at the very least becoming an amateaur club.  Truth is that if the club had not gotten promoted this season; they would unquestionably have reverted back to a wholly part-time status.  

PENALTY KING:  Ciaran Kelly

            Top flight football is of course a very harsh world however and having taken the lead on the half-hour today, Shelbourne were wrongly reduced to ten men five minutes later.  It appeared as if there more illustrious opponents would proceed to take charge and win comfortably, but Sligo only netted once and in the end were happy to take the game to penalties.  In the last minute of extra-time; Sligo boss Paul Cook replaced first choice goalkeeper with Ciaran Kelly, who saved all four penalties he faced in last season's shoot-out.  The romantics would cry foul on such tactics, but many would counter; winning is the object of the game and Kelly is undoubtedly the best penalty saver in the Irish game.

2010 Cup Heroes: 2011 Cup Finals: Sligo celebrate win

             The romantics would also have wanted to see the plucky underdogs beat the odds and lift the Cup but football doesn't often act as we would like as 'keeper Kelly came up trumps once again and Shelbourne were to miss out on lifting the Cup by the narrowest of margins.  For the club that refused to die however, there were plenty reasons to celebrate from the 2011 season.

GAA President insists: "We ARE chasing illegal payments to managers:"

Cooney: a lot of talk but not much action

            GAA president Christy Cooney insists that the association remains committed to eradicating illegal payments to team managers, despite the long delay in devising a plan to counteract it.  

            Paying managers has been a controversial issue in the GAA for many years and it appeared as if they were ready to tackle it vigorously when director-general Paraic Duffy was asked to prepare a discussion document in April 2010. He delivered it a year ago but it has never been acted upon.

GAA Director General Paraic Duffy

            Cooney referred to managerial payments as a 'cancer' at Congress last April and promised to call Central Council and senior county officials together within two months to gather their views, after which a set of proposals would be formulated.  So far, no plan has emerged but, speaking in Gold Coast yesterday, Cooney said that work was ongoing. He also reiterated his opposition to outside managers.

            However, it's clear from country-wide experience that outside managers are still an attractive target for clubs and counties, with many casually ignoring the GAA's rules on illegal payments.

Brain hurt Gaelic footballer returns home:

            Fermanaagh footballer Mark McGovern;  who suffered severe head injuries in an off-the-ball incident in the US has returned home today.  The 23 year-old was induced into a coma because of the injuries he sustained in June, in his first match in the US.  His family was told he might not live.

            He suffered pneumonia and infection from the MRSA bug, but survived.  He has now endured an 18-day journey by land and sea to get home to Belcoo, because his condition means he cannot fly.  

            Mark's medical costs have already exceeded €700,000. A website to raise money for his treatment has been set up at support4markmcgovern.com.  

Rolland barred from Welsh Heineken Cup and Six Nations games:

CONTROVERSIAL CALL: Alain Rolland red cards Warburton

            The former Ireland scrum-half became public enemy No 1 in Wales when he sent-off Welsh captain Rob Warburton for a dangerous tackle on Vincent Clerc after just 18 minutes of the semi-final defeat by France.  
             Rolland was criticised for being too hasty in dismissing Warburton, though the Cardiff Blues flanker later pleaded guilty to making a dangerous tackle and was suspended for three weeks. Rolland also followed International Rugby Board (IRB) guidelines as amended last December and whilst castigated in some parts, he was praised in many others.

WISE DECISION: International Rugby Board

             Rolland will not officiate in any of Wales’s matches in the forthcoming Six Nations, nor will he be involved as an assistant referee or television match official.  The IRB gave no explanation for Rolland’s absence from Wales’s matches, but it will be the first time since 2008 that he has not taken charge of one of their games.

At long last; Dónal Óg Cusack has been named as Cork hurling captain:

100% COMMITMENT: Cork hurling captain Dónal Óg Cusack

"Roy Keane spoke to our team and while he was good, he wasn't as good as Dónal Óg,"  -  former Cork senior hurling manager John Allen      

              Whilst this (and many other) observer(s) believe that Dónal Óg Cusack should have been named as Cork senior hurling captain years ago;  he has at long last received the honour.  If a captain should lead by example;  then few could match this man for his dedication and absolute commitment to excellence.  The Cloyne man  the injuredShane O'Neill.  The fact it took so long for Cusack to become captain is probably mainly due to his outspoken nature and the controversies (particularly player's strikes) he has been involved in.

Cusack succeeds Shane O'Neill (above) as Cork captain

            New Cork senior hurling manager Jimmy Barry Murphy has explained that the decision was prompted by the injuries that last year's captain suffered:

"Shane O'Neill has stepped down as he suffered a number of injuries over the past twelve months and now wishes to concentrate on his own game. As a result, the management made the decision to appoint Donal Og as captain, with Patrick Horgan vice-captain," said Barry Murphy in a statement released by the Cork couny board.

FIFA Balon d'Or 2011 shortlist revealed: Amazingly there's no place for Cork City FC's Graham Cummins:

TERRIFIC SEASON: Cork's Graham Cummins (shirt raised)

            FIFA together with France Football magazine have revealed the 23-man shortlist for the 2011 Ballon d'Or.  There are eight nominees from European champions Barcelona and just a solitary Englishman (Wayne Rooney) on the shortlist.  Lionel Messi is favourite to win the award for the third year running, while Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, who completed last year's podium, are again named.

            The other Barcelona players named are defender Eric Abidal -- who was diagnosed with a liver tumour in March but recovered to play in the Champions League final -- Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, David Villa and Cesc Fabregas, who moved to the Camp Nou from Arsenal in the summer.

Messi: favourite to retain Title & Rooney; sole English nominee

            Barca's bitter rivals Real Madrid are also heavily represented with five nominees, as 2008 Ballon d'Or Cristiano Ronaldo is joined by Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso, Mesut Ozil and Frenchman Karim Benzema.

            Brazilian teenage sensation Neymar - of Santos - is the first player based outside of Europe to be shortlisted since Boca Juniors' Juan Roman Riquelme in 2007.

            In the coach of the year category, ten names were shortlisted with the chance to succeed Jose Mourinho, last year's winner.  Real Madrid coach Mourinho is on a diverse list that also features Oscar Washington Tabarez, who led Uruguay to glory in the Copa America.  Barcelona's Josep Guardiola will take some beating, however.

Sep Guardiola is odds on to lift Manager's Crown again

            A panel of journalists, as well as the coaches and captains of FIFA's 208 member associations will vote for the winners, who will be announced at a gala in Zurich, Switzerland on January 9 next year.

           

The 23 nominees for the Ballon d'Or (country/club):

Eric Abidal (FRA/Barcelona), Karim Benzema (FRA/Real Madrid), Sergio Aguero (ARG/Manchester City), Iker Casillas (ESP/Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (BRA/Barcelona), Samuel Eto'o (CMR/Anzhi Makhachkala), Cesc Fabregas (ESP/Barcelona), Diego Forlan (URU/Inter Milan), Andres Iniesta (ESP/Barcelona), Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona), Thomas Muller (GER/Bayern Munich), Nani (POR/Manchester United), Neymar (BRA/Santos), Mesut Ozil (GER/Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (ESP/Barcelona), Wayne Rooney (ENG/Manchester United), Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER/Bayern Munich), Wesley Sneijder (NED/Inter Milan), Luis Suarez (URU/Liverpool), David Villa (ESP/Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (ESP/Real Madrid), Xavi Hernandez (ESP/Barcelona).

Ten nominees for coach of the year (country/team):

Vicente Del Bosque (ESP/Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (SCO/Manchester United), Rudi Garcia (FRA/Lille), Josep Guardiola (ESP/Barcelona), Jurgen Klopp (GER/Borussia Dortmund), Joachim Loew (GER/Germany), Jose Mourinho (POR/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (URU/Uruguay), Andre Villas-Boas (POR/Chelsea), Arsene Wenger (FRA/Arsenal).