After the drama involved in playing Israel twice last month, we should have a quieter international window this weekend, with an away game against Austria on Saturday and a home game against Kosovo on Tuesday next, which will be the Republic of Ireland’s last game of 2026. When naming his squad for the two upcoming games, Irish coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said that Séamus Coleman will be involved with the Irish squad in these games in a hybrid player/coach role amid uncertainty over whether the defender will continue his playing career. Explaining the decision to bring Coleman back Heimir said: ‘‘Hopefully that will get him to start playing again and that is our aim, to try to push him to continue playing.’’
Captain Nathan Collins returns after a calf issue kept him out of the last window, but midfielder Josh Cullen is not included having returned to club action with Burnley after almost a year out with a serious knee injury. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who opted out of the two games against Israel during the last window, is also absent but this time it’s due to injury having missed the last two Championship matches with his club Bolton Wanderers. He is replaced by Everton's Mark Travers. But no word on the fitness of Brighton’s Evan Ferguson. QPR’s Harvey Vale also makes the squad again after his late injury saw him ruled out of the last two games, but the in-form Owen Elding of Hibernian will instead link up with the under-21s for their crucial European Championship play-offs against Finland; the first leg is in Tampere on Nov. 13 with the second leg in Cork on Nov. 17.
Meanwhile Eoin Kenny, the 20-year-old son of former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, has received a call-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad for their upcoming Nations League games at home to Ukraine and away to Hungary. Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee has also been given a first senior call-up by manager Michael O’Neill. Kenny is currently playing for English Championship club Portsmouth, having joined from Dundalk earlier this year. Eoin was born in Derry, while his father was managing Derry City and qualifies for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and has represented both at underage level.
Our game against Austria on Saturday will be played in Linz, a city in Northern Austria that will bring back bad memories for mature Irish fans like myself, who remember a 6-0 defeat there in a European Championship qualifier in October 1971. Fifty-five years ago, after he replaced Mick Meagan as Irish manager, Liam Tuohy was fed up with English-based players withdrawing from the Irish squad. So Tuohy went with ten League of Ireland players plus Paddy Mulligan, who had left Shamrock Rovers for Chelsea two years earlier. Tuohy gave first caps to: goalkeeper Paddy Roche, Al Finucane, Tommy McConville, John Herrick, Mick Kearin, Mick Martin, Mick Gannon and Damien Richardson, players who were all well known in the League of Ireland. Also in team that day was Mick Leech, who at time was the regular top goal scorer in the domestic league, Frank O’Neill, also from Rovers, and Waterford’s Alfie Hale. They were all decent players, but an international team of League of Ireland stars was always likely to be beaten. That was our last qualifying game for the Euro ‘72 finals and we were already bottom of a group that was won by Italy.
5-YEAR EXTENSION
FOR NEW YORK
New York will continue to be part of the Connacht Senior football championship for at least another five years. The decision has been taken by Connacht GAA in conjunction with New York after a review was conducted at the end of the current cycle earlier this year. Rising costs were cited as increasingly prohibitive for travelling counties, with flights, accommodation and subsistence all rising significantly in this decade. There have been suggestions to expand the New York rota to all the provinces while the GAA president Jarlath Burns suggested last year that the All-Ireland champions could begin their defence in New York as an alternative. New York have been playing in the Connacht championship since 1999, initially at Connacht venues but always in Gaelic Park since the start of the century. Their only Connacht Championship win came against a Leitrim team managed by Andy Moran, on penalties in 2023. Moran was Mayo manager when they won Sam last July. Sligo will travel to New York next year, Leitrim will be back in the Big Apple in 2028 with Mayo, Galway and Roscommon again taking the fixtures up to 2031.
LEINSTER RUGBY
HIRES MCNAMARA
Leinster Rugby confirmed last week that Bordeaux’s attack coach Noel McNamara will replace Leo Cullen as Leinster head coach next season. The 43 yea-old Clare native will be returning to Leinster Rugby having previously worked with the club in several roles, including Academy Manager and Leinster ‘A’ Head Coach during a five-year spell between 2016 and 2021. He also coached the Ireland Under 20’s to a Grand Slam in 2019 before spending two years in Durban with the Sharks as their Attack and Backs Coach prior to joining Bordeaux. McNamara will remain in his position with Bourdeaux for the remainder of the 2026/27 season before taking up his new role with Leinster on July 1 2027. Leinster CEO, Shane Nolan said: ‘‘We are delighted to welcome Noel McNamara as the new Head Coach. Noel has a long association with the club and emerged as our preferred candidate very early in the process. His transition into the role will be seamless and we look forward to welcoming him here next July after this season reaches its conclusion.’’
MURPHY RETIRES
FROM DONEGAL
Donegal’s Michael Murphy last week announced his retirement from inter-county football for the second time at the age of 37. Donegal County Board Chairperson Mary Coughlan said: ‘‘Alas, we always knew this day would come but we are privileged to have watched the stellar career of Michael Murphy up close. What he has given Donegal GAA on-and-off the field is simply extraordinary while always an ambassador par excellence and role-model for so many young people in our county and beyond. He is one of the giants of the modern game and when players talk about leaving the jersey in a better place on retiring, Michael has certainly done that. He has carried himself with tremendous dignity and integrity at all times.’’
Donegal’s 2012 All-Ireland winning captain had initially retired in late 2022 and subsequently sat on the Football Review Committee which devised the enhanced rules which dramatically changed the sport in the interim. Murphy made his 200th appearance for Donegal in what was his last game for the county, their All-Ireland championship Round 3 loss to Dublin in June.
In Sligo former Tyrone football Ryan McMenamin has replaced fellow Eamonn McGee in the Sligo senior football backroom team for 2027. McGee informed the Sligo county board he was unable to commit the time required for an intercounty management role. McMenamin, who has previously managed Fermanagh manager and coached the Cavan footballers, now links-up with his former Tyrone colleague Joe McMahon in the new Sligo set-up which is now led by Dessie Sloyan, who shared the managerial duties with Eamon O’Hara this year. O’Hara is now assistant manager.
FALLON TAPPED
BY FITZMAURICE
After a few weeks of speculation the Galway County Board confirmed last week that they have given new manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice a three-year term and they also confirmed his backroom team. The former Kerry footballer and manager, who replaces Padriac Joyce, has included well-known soccer pundit and UEFA pro Licence holder Lisa Fallon in his backroom team. Ballincollig and Ireland’s senior men’s basketball assistant coach Ciarán O’Sullivan is another interesting addition. He will combine his current commitments with a role in the Galway setup. O’Sullivan has said he will be offering a basketball perspective on one-on-one defending and transition. Also Kevin Johnson has stepped away from his role as Galway under 20 football manager to support Fitzmaurice. Dave Morris was part of the Galway setup under Joyce and he will stay on with the Kerryman, while former Galway footballers Gareth Bradshaw and Gary O’Donnell are also included in Fitzmaurice’s backroom team.
LOCAL HERO
TO BE HONORED
Mick Jordan, who now lives in Fermoy, will be honored by his local municipal district council in January for his achievement in 1967. Jordan, who was only 23 years old at the time, overcame a much bigger opponent, Kildare’s Michael Collins, knocking him out in front of a capacity crowd at the National Stadium in Dublin. The victory added a national title to his Munster crown and made him a celebrated figure in North Cork. Long before Chris Eubank became famous for vaulting into the ring, Jordan had perfected the move himself. During his heyday Jordan was a member of the Ballyhooly Boxing club.
CRICKET’S STOKELL
BEGINS SUSPENSION
Irish cricket international Rebecca Stokell has started a voluntary period of suspension after testing positive for a banned substance during Ireland’s game against Sri Lanka in Bristol, during the T20 World Cup in June. It’s understood the prescription drug involved was not performance enhancing but athletes have to follow strict procedures and the 26-year-old Ireland batter has acknowledged she did not comply with the regulations.
Speaking last week Stokell, who has been capped 109 times, said: ‘‘I fully accept my mistake and have voluntarily entered into a period of suspension ahead of the findings being returned. While this was not performance-related in any way, I understand that I am responsible for following the anti-doping guidelines and I hope that I can be back playing for Ireland as soon as possible.”
Stokell has been capped 109 times, director of high performance at Cricket Ireland Graeme West said: ‘‘While we feel very sorry for Rebecca and have provided the level of support appropriate in these circumstances, this incident does serve as a reminder to all our international players that the anti-doping rules are in place to protect both the sport and the athletes themselves. All players must adhere to the standards and responsibilities expected, and we will continue to educate our players regularly on these matters and why they are important.”
