[caption id="attachment_70804" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Waterford's Maurice Shanahan gets the better of Oisin Gough of Dublin in a game earlier this month. "]
Seventy-seven motions will go before delegates at the GAA’s annual congress in Portlaoise next weekend; many will be ruled out of order for one reason or another, others will be withthrawn to allow motions that have better wording to go forward and of course a few will be passed. One of the most interesting motions on the agenda this year is that players like Cavan’s Seánie Johnson, who wish to transfer from one county to another, will in future have to play in that season’s local championship first. Another motion will suggest that counties should be able to have up to four sponsors on their jerseys.
The Roscommon County Board will be looking for support for their proposal to bring forward the dates for the All-Ireland hurling and football finals by one week. Roscommon want the hurling final on the last Sunday in August and the football final the following Sunday. Traditionally, the finals are played on the first and third Sundays in September, but when there are five Sunday in September, as happens this year, the finals are on the second and fourth Sundays. The thinking behind Roscommon’s motion is that playing the finals earlier would allow more time for counties to complete their own domestic club football and hurling championships.
Meanwhile Laois-born National School principal Liam O’Neill, who didn’t have any opponents this time last year when the voting took place for president-elect, will take over from Cork’s Christy Cooney as the Association’s next president at Congress this weekend.
DUB HURLERS STRUGGLE
Twelve months ago the Dublin hurlers were on top of the world, winning the National League title for the first time in since 1939. That win over Kilkenny was followed by a good championship performance. But now after a few luckless encounters in the top flight this spring, the Dubs are in danger of relegation from divsion 1A of the League. On Sunday next Dublin will meet Galway in a relegation play-off at O’Connor Park, Tullamore. Galway has often promised a lot in recent years but always fail to deliver. New manager Anthony Cunningham has introduced several under-21 players to the team, but it looks like Galway’s old failings are continuing.. It’s a hard one to call, but I think Dublin can just about survive in the top flight for another year. Meanwhile Wexford and Laois play off at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny on Sunday to decide who will be relegated from division 1B.
SYNCHRONISED COULD
GET BIG RACE DOUBLE
Next Saturday is Grand National day in England and there is something special about the Aintree Grand National because for many people in Britain and Ireland it’s the only time of the year they will have a bet. As usual there will be plenty of Irish interest at Aintree and J.P.McManus, who won the race with Don’t Push It in 2010, is certain to have a few runners. Tony McCoy rode the winner for J.P. two years ago, his first-ever success in the National, and other recent Irish winning jockeys were Ruby Walsh and Paul Carberry. With ante-post favourite Prince De Beauchene ruled out with injury, Walsh may now ride one of Willie Mullins’s horses or he could ride Seabass for his father Ted. And if the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Synchronised runs he will be bidding to become the first horse since 1934 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National in the same year. Other Irish interest could be the Pat Taffee-trained Treacle. Tom’s father Pat was a winner twice at Aintree. It really is a difficult race to try and pick a winner and it’s one of those races when are probably just as well to close you eyes and stick a pin in the race card.
DONEGAL’S MURPHY
SAYS HE’LL PLAY
Donegal full forward Michael Murphy is confident that he will be fit for his county’s first defense of their Ulster football title against Cavan on May 20. The young Donegal captain injured his knee in a League game against Dublin at Croke Park on March 24. Initially it was thought Murphy would need surgery to rectify the knee problem, but thankfully surgery was not required and he now hopes to be back to full fitness for the Cavan game after working on a rehab program for the injury.
JUST ONE TWIN
FOR U.S. MATCH
Just one of the Maguire twins who play out of the Slieve Russell club in County Cavan, has been selected for the British and Irish Curtis Cup team against the United States at the Nairn Golf Club in Scotlandin June. Leona is in, but her sister Lisa has to be content with a place in the reserves. Lisa was on the losing team alongside her sister two years ago. Stephanie Meadow of Royal Portrush, currently ranked number 10 in the world is the only other Irish player on theteam. Only three of the British and Irish team: Maguire, Holy Clyburn and Pamela Pretswell have Curtis Cup experience. They were in the team beaten 12.5 to 7.5 in Massachusetts two years ago.
REDS IN WORST
RUN SINCE 1954
Liverpool FC is going through one of the worst periods of their recent history right now and one wonders how long the Pool’s American owners will be patient with manager Kenny Dalglish. Many football commentators reckon that Dalglish was foolish to return as manager to Anfield where he was once revered, but then most managers think they can arrest a slide at their favorite club. Former Irish striker John Aldridge, who played under Dalglish in the 1980s during the Scot’s first spell in charge has not doubt that the club is in a crisis Aldo said: .“There is no getting away from the fact that Liverpool are now in a crisis. To lose six out of seven in the league is something the club won’t ever tolerate, we can’t tolerate that. To have picked up just eight points out of 36 since the turn of the year is shambolic, that’s relegation form. The fact that this is the worst run in the league since 1954 speaks volumes. Questions are being asked and they need to be answered.’’ Liverpool has already qualified for the Europa League next season after winning the League Cup, but even the most loyal Liverpool supporters have long given on any hope of a place in the Champions League next season. On Saturday Liverpool will be back in cup action when they meet Merseyside rivals Everton in the first of this season’s FA Cup semifinals at Wembley. A win over Everton would temporarily lift the gloom at Anfield, but at this stage it seems unlikely that Dalglish will be in charge of the Reds next season. The second FA Cup semifinal between Spurs and Chelsea will be played at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.
QUINN SAYS HIS
KIDS COME FIRST
Several former Irish internationals will be getting extra work this summer working as analysts for various Irish and British media outlets at Euro 2012. Already Kevin Kilbane, who played in most of Ireland’s qualifying campaign before being injured, has been signed up to work for BBC Five Live in Poland. But Niall Quinn said he will not be taking up any offers to work in June. The former Irish striker, who now lives in County Kildare said: ”My daughter is doing her Leaving Cert and my son will be sitting the Junior Cert and I want to be there for them.’’
