Many thanks to Erins Isle for hosting the finals of Div 2 and 3 of Féile na nGael and to Thomas Davis for hosting Division 3 of competition.

92 girls from across Dublin turned up for the trials on Saturday and Sunday to select next year’s U14 panels.

Eimear Butler, Aine Fanning, Jacinta Buckley, Joan Twomey, Fiona Ní Shúilleabháin and Paul Beecher observed the girls and selected the panels to go forward.

Training starts in St Brigid’s next Sunday morning 1st November at 9am, all selected girls have been informed and should attend.

Many thanks to all who participated in the U8-9 Blitz in the Phoenix Park.

Convention is on Saturday 28 November in St Olafs.

Clubs are reminded to submit their articles for Dublin GAA Yearbook 2010 immediately to dubyearbook2010@live.ie.

Recently crowned Young Gaelic Footballer of the Year Michael Murphy is considering a move to the AFL, according to a report in the Donegal Democrat.

Murphy, who was Donegal’s top scorer and shining light in this year’s championship, reportedly met with AFL player agent Ricky Nixon earlier this week in Dublin who offered the youngster the chance to try his hand at Aussie Rules.

Up to five clubs are said to be interested in the services of the first-year DCU student, with Murphy reportedly taking time to discuss his options with his parents before making any commitment either way.

Laois’s Colm Begley has become the latest Irish AFL player to give up on an Aussie Rules career, with the news confirmed today that he has quit St Kilda to return to Ireland.

The decision comes in the wake of a raft of recent defections, with Martin Clarke and Kevin Dyas both recently quitting Collingwood and Brendan Murphy’s departure from the Sydney Swans over a month ago.

Begley made just one senior appearance for the club last season, although considering the fact that he was attempting to break into the best overall team in the competition, it could be argued that his year hadn’t been an entirely unsuccessful one.

Laois's Colm Begley pictured shortly after signing for St Kilda late last year. The former Brisbane Lion has quit the club to return to Ireland.

His form with the Saints’ feeder club Sandringham had been consistently excellent, while he had also made the team’s list of emergencies on more than one occasion.

However, despite all that, the club revealed today that Begley had decided to call it quits and head back home.

“It has been a mutual decision between the club and Colm for him not to be retained on St Kilda’s list. Colm has expressed an interest to return to Ireland to pursue additional interests and we appreciate his efforts at the club during the past 12 months,” St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.

The news comes hot on the heels of the revelation that Kerry star Tommy Walsh has signed with the Saints, while Walsh’s Kingdom team mate David Moran is understood to be en route Down Under for a two-week trial.

Elsewhere, Begley’s county compatriot Zac Tuohy is understood to have signed a two-year rookie deal with Carlton, joining Cork’s Setanta Ó hAilpín who recently put pen to a new deal with the Blues.

Cork’s Ciaran Sheehan had also been offered a rookie deal at Carlton but turned it down to pursue a GAA career with the Rebel County.

Meanwhile, a raft of other Irish youngsters are understood to have had trials in recent weeks, with Donegal’s Sean O’Kennedy trying out with Collingwood and North Melbourne offering opportunities to Dublin’s James McCarthy and Cavan’s Barry Reilly.

Down minor star James O’Reilly has also signed a two-year deal with Richmond, becoming the club’s first-ever Irish recruit.

 by Aaron Dunne

Tadhg Kennelly has revealed that he is considering a return to the AFL amid a storm of controversy that has blown up in Ireland in the wake of comments in his autobiography.

An excerpt from his new book, Unfinished Business, which was published in last week’s Sunday Independent, indicated that Tadhg had intentionally struck Cork’s Nicholas Murphy in the opening minutes of the All-Ireland final. 

Kennelly received no punishment for the tackle at the time and was promptly cleared by a match review panel, but controversy has again reared its head over the incident due to the comments in his new book.

In a statement released on Monday, Kennelly claimed that the newspaper excerpt had been taken out of context, and that he had been misquoted in the book by Melbourne ghost writer Scott Gullen, but that he took “100 per cent responsibilty” for not proof reading the final chapter himself.

“I’m going to charge in and hit someone at the start,” he is quoted in the book as having said to room mate Paul Galvin on the eve of the decider, while the rest of the controversial excerpt read: “My theory was that I really wanted to set the tone for our side. We wanted Cork to know that we were a totally different animal to the one they’d faced three months earlier. 

“As we got to our positions, I looked across at [Paul] Galvin, who nodded, and then positioned myself on the line ready to race in when the referee put the ball in the air. My eyes were almost rolling around in the back of my head. I was like a raging bull.”

In his statement, however, Kennelly tried to distance himself from the remarks, putting the blame on Herald Sun sports journalist Scott Gullen, and the Sunday Independent newspaper for printing an excerpt he claims was out of context.

“The words, ‘while I hadn’t wanted to come in and seriously injure anyone, I was determined to make a statement’ were not included in the extract from the book, even though this sentence followed on. That one line would have clarified my intentions but it was not included in the piece,” Kennelly’s statement read.

The Kerryman also revealed how deeply the furore had upset him and his family, adding that the whole episode has been his worst period since his father Tim’s death in 2005.

“The controversy arising from the incident involving Nicholas Murphy in the All-Ireland final, and an account of which was published in the Sunday Independent, has devastated both me and my family. I have been publicly vilified and I want to tell the truth.

“I admit I have made a mistake and a big one. I should never have allowed the piece regarding the incident with Nicholas to be described in the fashion it was.

“I gave an interview to the Australian ghost writer Scotty Gallon just a couple of days after the All-Ireland. I didn’t read it over as I should have, and the first account I saw of the incident was on last Sunday morning.

“Scotty used an expression ‘cop that’ to describe my feelings immediately after I connected with Nicholas. I said no such thing.

“The Wednesday after the All-Ireland was a rush. We had a deadline to meet. Books don’t get formatted and printed overnight. I was on a high and the last thing I wanted was to talk to Scotty over the phone. Looking back on it, I should have read a proof of the finished chapter. I didn’t and I paid the price. My fault 100 per cent.”

The Echo has approached Mr Gullen for comment but is yet to hear back from him.

Meanwhile, the former Premiership-winning player’s return to the AFL may be just around the corner, as he revealed yesterday that he has just 10 days to make a call on his future. The list deadline for AFL club’s is October 31.

“The offer was always there [to return to the Swans]… It’s no secret that Sydney are looking to recruit and they see my experience counting with some of the younger players… It’s obviously a huge decision but it’s one I have to make in the next 10 days.”

Kennelly also revealed that a coaching role could be part of his brief if he did return.

“There would be a coaching opportunity there at some stage. I’d say at the most I’d have two years left in me as an AFL player, maybe three. There are a lot of things to consider and obviously financial security is one. My girlfriend Nicole is also living there. But I honestly haven’t made up my mind. I’m torn on it.”

Kennelly is due in Sydney in early November for the launch of the book at which time a decision on his future is expected.

Former Sydney Swan Tadhg Kennelly will start at left-half forward for Kerry in this Sunday’s All-Ireland final clash with Cork after the Kingdom’s starting line-up was revealed last night.

Manager Jack O’Connor has made one change to his team for Sunday’s final, as Tommy Walsh, who is set to trial with AFL club St Kilda later this year, returning to the starting side in place of Donnacha Walsh.

Tadhg Kennelly will start in this Sunday's All-Ireland final.

That means captain Declan O’Sullivan switches from the full-forward line to centre-forward, with  Kennelly moving to left half-forward as he hopes to claim the Sam Maguire at the first attempt since returning from Australia.

Meanwhile, Colm Cooper and Paul Galvin have both shaken off recent injuries to take their place as the Kingdom chase their fifth title this decade.

Kieran Donaghy has been named amongst the substitutes after returning to training following his recent foot injury.

Cork manager Conor Counihan, meanwhile, has named an unchanged side for the September showpiece.

Counihan opted to remain loyal to the Rebels outfit that disposed of defending champions Tyrone in the semi-finals despite a major doubt over the fitness of Ray Carey.

The Clyda Rovers clubman suffered a shoulder injury in training and could end up missing the showdown with the county’s provincial rivals.

Dual star Eoin Cadogan, who came on as a subsitiute against the Red Hands last time out, could deputise for an injured Carey, while Kieran O’Connor is also challenging for a starting berth in the backs.

The Cork line-up will feature eight of the side that started the 2007 All-Ireland final against Kerry, which the Kingdom won at a canter.

Kerry: Diarmuid Murphy (Dingle); Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Tommy Griffin (Dingle), Tom O’Sullivan (Rathmore);  Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Mike McCarthy (Kilcummin), Killian Young (Renard); Darragh Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Seamus Scanlon (Currow); Paul Galvin (Finuge), Declan O’Sullivan (Piarsaigh Na Dromada), Tadhg Kennelly (Listowel Emmett’s); Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes), Tommy Walsh (Kerins O’Rahilly), Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) (C). 



Cork: Alan Quirke (Valley Rovers); Ray Carey (Clyda Rovers), Michael Shields (St Finbarr’s), Anthony Lynch (Naomh Aban); Noel O’Leary (Cill na Martra), Graham Canty (Bantry Blues) (C), John Miskella (Ballincollig); Alan O’Connor (St Colum’s), Nicholas Murphy (Carrigaline); Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers), Pearse O’Neill (Aghada), Paddy Kelly (Ballincollig); Daniel Goulding (Éire Óg), Colm O’Neill (Ballyclough), Donnacha O’Connor (Ballydesmond).

Hurling and Gaelic Football are Ireland’s national sports. This suits me just fine, as it means I don’t have to hear a word about basketball, baseball, or American football aside from when my friends back home update their Facebook statuses. Thank you, Expatriate Life, for catering to my lifelong guilt about being totally uninterested in my country’s national pastimes. I’m a bookworm – what do you want from me? Let me shrivel up in my room in peace.

As a foreigner, I have an excellent excuse not to know or care about Irish sports. Perversely, that almost makes me more interested in them. Chalk it up to that bookworm thing again; I love learning new things and without constant pressure from my fellow countrymen to care lest I be considered weird, it’s game on.

Gaelic Football – referred to as “Football,” “Gaelic,” and “Gah” – is thought to have evolved from an ancient Irish ball game called caid. It is played by teams of 15 on a rectangular grass field with H-shaped goals at the end. Players compete to get the round, leather balls through the goals. Highest score wins. To me, this sounds a lot like American Football apart from the shape of the ball, but Sean insists that it’s nothing like bloody American Football. For one, the ball is in continuous play. For two, the players don’t wear protective padding or helmets. Gah, Sean says, is more like soccer, except players can carry the ball.

Image from Wikipedia.

Hurling is Ireland’s other great sport. Before you assume that it’s a disgusting contest played after a great night down the pub, I will explain: Hurling is much like field hockey or lacross – the object is for 15-player teams to get a ball (sliotar) through their respective goals by using a wooden stick (hurley ) to move the ball down a large, rectangular grass field.

Image from Wikipedia.

A shot scored over the goalpost’s crossbar earns one point and a goal under the crossbar earns three. Hurling is thought to be one of the world’s fastest team sports, but no protective padding is worn by the players although a plastic helmet/faceguard is recommended. The female version of Hurling is called Camogie . I move to call girl Hurlers “Ghurlers” but no one I’ve suggested it to seems to think this is clever.

Whether or not they’re on official teams, all children play Hurling and Gaelic Football in school. Though Sean is a karate MASTER who enjoys the mayhem of the World Cup, team sports are only the faintest blip on his radar. His mother once told me that when Sean was made to play Gaelic Football as a child, he ran down the field with all his might … away from the other players. That’s just one of the many reasons we’re super friends.

Down star Marty Clarke has been named in the emergencies for Collingwood’s AFL semi-final clash with the Adelaide Crows tomorrow night at the MCG.

Clarke has been out of favour at the club in recent weeks, and has been playing with the Magpies’ VFL affiliate, but some good recent form in the VFL and a host of injuries at Collingwood have seen him elevated back into senior contention.

However, he is unlikely to play any part in the game which kicks off at the MCG at 7.30pm, barring a late injury.

Only one other Irish player – St Kilda’s Colm Begley – remains in contention to pick up an AFL winner’s medal after Michael Quinn’s Essendon and Setanta Ó hAilpín’s Carlton were both knocked out of the playoffs last weekend.

There has, as yet, been no announcement on the future of Ó hAilpín whose contract runs out at the end of the season.

The Sydney Swans have clearly not been daunted by the defections of Tadhg Kennelly and rookies Brendan Murphy and Kyle Coney, announcing last week the signing of another young Irish GAA star.

Derry senior star Chris McKaigue has just signed a new deal with the club, and will arrive in Australia in November.

NEW RECRUIT: Derry senior star Chris McKaigue has signed for the Sydney Swans.

Swans football operations manager Andrew Ireland said he would be delighted if he could be as good as Tadhg Kennelly, but acknowledged that Kennelly had set the bar ridiculously high.

“Tadhg set a high benchmark and if we’re lucky enough to get another Tadhg, we will be enraptured by it,” he said.

“It was not easy to do what Tadhg did. Not only do you have to be a good player, you have to have a strong will to be away from your family and focus on your new life.

“But Chris is hugely dedicated and really keen to join us,” Ireland said.

Swans football development manager Stuart Maxfield said 19-year-old McKaigue, who will be added to the rookie list, had great leadership qualities.

During a visit to the Swans 12 months ago, McKaigue showed brilliant athleticism, said Maxfield, who hoped that the Irishman would make a defender.

Rumours of Down star Marty Clarke’s imminent departure from Collingwood have continued in the Irish press in recent weeks, while the Magpies themselves have refused to talk about the possibility that Clarke intends to return to Ireland at the end of the season.

The 21-year-old refused an opportunity to dispel the rumours when he knocked back an interview request from the Irish Echo in the lead up to Collingwood’s finals defeat against St Kilda last week.

Officially, the club stated that they would not comment on rumour, but that the reports in the Irish press were “mythical” and “not based on anything anyone has said”.

However, the omission of Clarke from the Magpies’ finals opener against the Saints, and the fact that he has been a notable absentee from the entire senior squad in recent weeks since returning to Australia from his sister’s wedding, seem to indicate that something is amiss.

A spokesperson for the club told the Echo that it was merely a drop in form that had cost the 21-year-old his place in the senior side, but that the club remained optimistic on his progress off the back of recent performances for Collingwood’s VFL equivalent.

“He’s just had a drop in form there and that’s cost him his place in the squad. But he’s been going well with the VFL side and he’s on the cusp of maybe getting back into the senior side.

“He was in the squad of 25 a few weeks back so he’s right there, and he’s eligible for selection at any time.”

The Magpies sustained a couple of injuries last weekend which may open the door for Clarke.

by Aaron Dunne

No Irish players will feature in this weekend’s opening round of the AFL finals after the teams were announced last night.

Essendon rookie Michael Quinn is the only Irish player to have even made the overall squad of a finals team after he was named in the emergencies list for the depleted Bombers, but the biggest disappointment came with the omission of Setanta Ó hAilpín.

The Corkman has been in top form this season and will consider himself highly unlucky not to have made the team for the Blues’ clash with Brisbane in the Gabba on Saturday night.

It was conceivable at one point that there may have been two Irish players featuring in that game, but Mayo starlet Pearce Hanley has also failed to make the Lions’ team despite recovering from a hamstring injury.

Laois’s Colm Begley will also watch on from the sidelines after not making the Saints’ final squad ahead of their clash with Collingwood on Sunday, while Down’s Marty Clarke has continued his absence from the Magpies’ team.

The first round of the finals kicks off tonight in Adeliade as the Crows host the Bombers at AAMI Stadium from 8pm.

I’ve just nudged over the 25,000 word mark with my first ever novel attempt that doesn’t involve ghosts, vampires, drug busts or camogie infighting (those being novel attempts one through four, respectively). And I have a pretty good notion of what’s going to happen in the remaining 25,000 words. Let’s hope I motor through it. I’m as yet unemployed, and in one of the most stimulating cities in the world, so no excuses!

EDIT: How could I forget failed novels #5 and #6? REINCARNATION and MAN RECONNECTING WITH HIS FATHER respectively. Oh dear.

Demonised over a training ground incident that will forever haunt him, Setanta Ó hAilpín has battled through it all to pass the 50 game milestone with Carlton.
AARON DUNNE caught up with the enigmatic Corkman.

—————————————————————————————————

It’s been a year of soaring highs and stomach-churning lows for Carlton Blues star
Setanta Ó hAilpín.

Back in February, his whole world seemed to be crashing down around him.

His brother Aisake had left Melbourne to return to Ireland, and a training ground incident with team-mate Cameron Cloke had made headline news around the sporting world.

Setanta was at his lowest ebb. And he was suffering alone.

But through all that turmoil emerged a bigger man. Through all the obstacles, many of which were admittedly of his own making, he has grown into a superstar on the rise.

Despite recent injury headaches he’s become a key part of his club’s march towards the top eight in the AFL. Finals footy is on the horizon for the Corkman.

The most triumphant stories often emerge from the greatest of adversity, and having come through the mill, Setanta has grown exponentially.

Although not wishing to delve too deeply into just what happened that infamous day on the Carlton training ground where he knocked Cloke out cold with a roundhouse left hook before booting his proned body up the backside for good measure, he does explain briefly what brought the whole thing on.

Sheer frustration.

“In life you get your ups and downs, and obviously this year didn’t start the way I would have liked,” Setanta recalls philosophically. “It was more frustration than anything.

“I’d finally found out what had been causing all my injury problems. I’d had a heap of scans over the last few years to try and find out what the problem was, and finally found out that I had two blocked arteries in my legs.

“Back in November I’d had the operation to solve that and I was really behind the eight ball coming back.

“When I returned I was really unfit and there was a real build-up of frustration there. My body wasn’t able to do the things I was usually able to do and it all built up.

“There’s heaps of ways you could look at it [the incident], but what I did at the end with the kick wasn’t on at all. Not only in this game, but it wouldn’t have been on in GAA. So I was a bit disappointed with that. I let my frustration get the better of me.

“But after that I just told myself that I’d put the head down and the bum up and work as hard as I could. The more you put in the better the outcome will be and I’d like to think I’ve earned a bit of respect now. Hopefully I can keep going that way.

“I’ve done my time now and I’d like to think that if a situation like that arose again I wouldn’t react the same way. I’ve moved on since then and, to be honest, I just want to put the whole thing behind me.”

Another low point had come with the departure of his brother.

His younger sibling had been a crutch for Setanta in a city so far from home, and it was a body blow to lose him. With the sky falling, he found himself all alone in Melbourne.

“Yeah I definitely really missed him when he left. He’s only two years younger than me and growing up we did everything together. We went to school together, we trained together, and we would have played in most teams together.

“So not only was he my brother he was also a good friend. To have him around when things weren’t going well used to be great. We could bounce off one another.

“When he left a part of me felt really sad because he was the only family I had out here. It was pretty disappointing and a bit sad for me, but I suppose that’s life.

“He’s moving on to bigger and better things and hopefully he’ll progress to become a good hurler and that’s something he needs to do for himself, to go out and find his own feet.”

When he first arrived in Australia, Sydney Swans star Tadhg Kennelly had been a big inspiration to him. He even changed his guernsey number to 17, jointly in honour of Kennelly and March 17, St Patrick’s Day. He is in regular contact with the Listowel man, who moved home to play with the Kingdom earlier in the year.

But the role of father figure has now fallen back on Setanta’s ample shoulders with the recent arrival of Carlton’s new recruits, Zach Tuohy from Laois and fellow Corkman Ciaran Sheehan.

“I ring Tadhg the odd time allright. I spoke to him a few weeks ago there actually. I talk to him about football and about how he’s going and how I’m going.

“I’d be watching him on Setanta Sports and he watches my games any chance he gets. But it’s great to stay in touch.

“The two lads (Tuohy and Sheehan) arrived in Melbourne last week so they’re just getting into things and taking it nice and slow. They’re here for a month, and the development squad people are taking them through the routine and getting them accustomed to life in professional sport.”

Setanta watched the Cork v Galway All-Ireland hurling qualifier at his home in Melbourne with the two Irish recruits just a few days before we caught up with him.

It’s one of those things you can never really get away from, no matter how hard you try. He’ll always be a Corkman – and a hurling man to boot – and watching his two brothers tog out for the Rebels in the championship cauldron is always going to be tough to stomach when you’re on the other side of the planet.

“Yeah, that’s when you really feel the homesickness. Watching the game was tough. Having been there myself and having played in championship games like that, that’s when you really start to feel homesick.

“Having Seán Óg and Aisake out there, all I wanted to do was go out and play with my two brothers. Having them both there playing for Cork, it gets a bit sad at times looking at them. But I suppose that’s life, ya know.”

Despite all his trials and tribulations in 2009, Setanta has emerged with a positive outlook.

He was in top form, kicking a career high four goals against Frematle in Perth in early July, before the injury bogeyman returned to haunt him. He’s philosophical about his physical health these days though.

It’s just a temporary setback in his mind now, even if the timing was unlucky and the nature of the complaint bizarre and unfortunate in equal measures.

“I did my hammy there about three weeks ago. I got a knee in the back that I got in the Essendon game (June 26) and that swelled up and bled into my hamstring.

“I flew the following week to Perth and it bled into my leg so that’s what happened. It’s not the sort of injury you’d exactly be used to, but that’s the game and you’ve just got to get on with it.

“I was just starting to play a bit of consistent footy so it was disappointing in that way with the timing of it. But I can’t tell the future, things are going to happen and you’re going to get injured. You’ve just got to get on with it and try to get it right again.”

On a personal note it’s been a great year for him. One milestone he never thought he’d reach was that of playing 50 games which he achieved this season. In doing so he became just the fourth Irishman to reach the mark, joining Tadhg Kennelly, Sean Wight, and Jim Stynes.

“When I came out here first all I wanted to do was play one game. Once I had that under my belt I started to get the taste for things, and so getting to 50 games was something a bit special for myself.”

But the priority now is team honours. Carlton sit just inside the top eight on the ladder, with a fourth-placed finish still a realistic target.

“Hopefully we’ll make the eight. At the club here we’re just taking each game as it comes, gathering the winds.

“At the end of the year if we’re in the top eight we’ll be very happy, but I’m hopeful that will happen. We haven’t played finals in seven years and it would be great for the boys to get a taste of finals football.

“I’ve been here six years now and haven’t played finals yet. I think in my first year we won 10 games and it’s been pretty much just downhill since then. But in the last couple of years things have been very promising and there’s definitely light at the end of the tunnel.

“We’re improving every year, and as this year has gone on we’ve been improving too. It would be great to make the eight after being out of it for so long.”

Talking of finals, the topic of a potential medal soon rears its head. Pushed as to whether a Premiership medal or an All-Ireland would mean more to him, you begin to realise that he’s only 26 years old and has actually spent almost all of his adult life playing Aussie Rules in Melbourne.

So, has the childhood dream of lifting Liam or Sam been replaced by something he’s worked towards for every single day of his entire professional adult life.

“Both are equal in my mind I think. Playing hurling growing up since I was five years old, and training and playing with at Na Piarsaigh, all I ever wanted to do was to wear the Cork jersey. Having been there myself, and playing in a losing All-Ireland final, it’s always been a burning ambition of mine to win an All-Ireland.

“But moving over here to play football, the Premiership medal is the big thing. Playing a game I didn’t grow up with, to win a Premiership medal and emulate Tadhg, that would be the ultimate for me I think.

“But who knows, hopefully some day I could win both. I hold both in very high regard. Only a few people on this earth get the chance to play in Grand Finals or All-Ireland finals, and to win one is very special.

“To be able to look back on your career when it’s all said and done and be able to say you’ve won either would be something very special.”

Setanta’s contract with the Blues runs out at the end of the season, and his future has been a hot topic on the internet message boards for Carlton fans.

His recent form has dragged him right back into contention for a new deal one would have to think, but he says it’s not something he’s thinking about at all.

“I’m just working on improving in every game as much as I can. It’s one step at a time. I’m just trying to play each game week in and week out and let the rest of that stuff look after itself at the end of the year.”

All will become a lot clearer at season’s end.

The International Rules series which was due to take place in Ireland this October has been postponed until 2010.

The series, which pits the cream of the AFL against the best Irish Gaelic footballers, was due to be held over two Tests later this year – the first in the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on October 24 and the second in Croke Park on October 31.

However, AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou explained that he had spoken to GAA Director General Paraic Duffy on a number of occasions over the last week and that the two organisations had agreed to defer the series to October of 2010.
 


Mr Demetriou said the world economic situation had caused a major re-think for the AFL, prompting it to seek to defer the series for 12 months.
 


“The relationship with the GAA and the exchange of information over the last decade has been extremely important to us for the growth of the AFL as an organisation,” Mr Demetriou said.
 


“The current global situation has severely impacted on the sponsorship and support opportunities available for sporting organisations around the world and we needed to make a responsible decision and wait for 12 months.
 


“I’d like to thank the GAA for their professionalism and understanding in working through this decision, which indicates how strong our relationship continues to be.
 


“We are confident that the global market can continue its gradual return to strength and we and the GAA can plan over this 12 months for a fantastic series next year,” he said.
 


GAA President Christy Cooney said the GAA was disappointed with the outcome after considerable preparation work had already been put in place, but was understanding of the circumstances behind the decision and was pleased there was a commitment to resume the matches in 2010. 

“The GAA had been most anxious for the series to proceed as planned, particularly in view of the huge amount of work that had already been carried out by team management, officials and the organising committees on both sides of the world,” Cooney said.

“it was the intention of the GAA to ensure that the commitment made to Limerick GAA in respect of the 2009 Series would be honoured in 2010 and that all things being equal the Gaelic Grounds would host the first Test in 2010.”

The HSE Community Games Munster Finals were held recently in the University of Limerick.  Co. Tipperary came away with 2 Gold and 6 Silver medals.  The gold medals were won by St. Peter’s & Paul’s in the Girls Under 12 Skittle and by Ballingarry in the Under 16 Tag Rugby.  Our silver medals came in the Under 11 Tag Rugby Ballingarry, Under 13 Hardcourt Tennis Ballina, Under 13 Boys Rounders Grangemockler, Under 14 Skittle St. Peter’s & Paul’s, Under 14 Camogie Cahir and Under 16 Girls Basketball Clerihan.  Despite the torrential rain all the teams who took part thoroughly enjoyed the finals and the first class facilities that were made available to them all day long in the University.

Co. Tipperary hosted this year’s Munster Games and with the help of the Munster Board it was a very successful Games.  Seamus Hogan from St. Flannan’s was the Games director and he was ably assisted by a number of people from the County.  Fabien Jones, St. Flannan’s co-ordinated Under 11 Hurling, Willie Jones co-ordinated Soccer, Mary O’Shea Ballingarry co-ordinated Tag Rugby which was refereed by June Ryan from St. Flannan’s.  Corina Kennedy Roscrea co-ordinated Hardcourt Tennis, Enda Mullally Roscrea worked with the Munster Finance Committee, Mick England Roscrea sat on the Appeals Committee which thankfully was the least active place to be on the day.   Martin O’Keeffe Cahir umpired Camogie, Mary Moroney Silvermines refereed Rounders with Rebecca & Laura from Roscrea who umpired these games. Adrian Anglim co-ordinated Skittles and Peggy Colville Fethard, Joan, Claire & Carol Hogan from St. Flannan’s worked hard throughout the day in the Office.  A big thank you especially to young Carol Hogan for all her hard work on the day with the Trophies and Plaques.

Dates for your Diary:

Our next County Board meeting is on Thursday 13^th August in the Horse & Jockey.  If your area has anyone travelling to AIT for the National Finals it is imperative that you attend.

The National Finals will be held in AIT from Fri 14^th to Sun 16^th August and again from Fri 21^st Aug to Sun 23^rd Aug.

Collingwood FC has strengthened its Gaelic ties even further, recruiting two Irish students on a sports science scholarship programme at the club.

Tara Hamilton, 22, from DCU, and 21-year-old Kevin White from University of Limerick have been working with the club for the last four months and neither are ruling out the prospect of one day making Australia home to pursue their careers.

Irish students Tara Hamilton and Kevin White have been learning the ropes at Collingwood.

“I always wanted to work in professional sport and to get the opportunity is amazing,” Kevin said.

“When I saw it advertised, I was really keen as I knew of David Buttifant (Sports Science director) from exercise physiology research papers. He is one of the best exercise physiologists in Australia if not in the world at the minute.

“I could definitely see myself staying here. The professionalism at the club is unbelievable.

“What the players do on a day-to-day basis, how they support each other and act on and off the field is amazing. To get the chance to work with such great lads is amazing.”

Both students were chosen from a large number of applicants and had to go through a tough selection process.

“It’s something that I always aspired to do at home but I didn’t think the opportunity would arise. When it did come around there was no way I was going to let it pass by,” Tara explains.

The programme is the brainchild of Buttifant, who hopes the scholarship can continue on an annual basis.

“We’re always looking at new ways to enhance the current (sports science) programme we have at the club,” the sports science director says.

“We wanted to have a link with Ireland because of Martin Clarke and Kevin Dyas.

“We wanted to have an affiliation with Irish universities. It’s win, win for us because we get access to high calibre students from Ireland and we can use them for practical work here at the club, while they go back with practical experience and expertise that they can use in Gaelic football.

“I suppose it’s giving something back to the Irish football community.”

While the Pies are encouraging the development of their Irish links, they’re not as encouraging of developing social links between their Irish playing staff of Martin Clarke and Kevin Dyas and their two students.

Kevin and Tara haven’t even been out for one drink with the Irish playing contingent.

“We don’t encourage them to fraternise with the players. Ideally we like to keep it all very professional with the playing group.

“They’re here to work, not to socialise with players. There’s a certain ethical and professional conduct that we expect. The code of behaviour is very high and very important,” Buttifant says.

While socialising with players isn’t encouraged, the two students are certainly encouraged to support them on the playing field. Both admit to being dedicated Magpie fans.

“Once you come over here and get to know all the players you just become so attached.

“On game day you’re always on the edge of your seat.”

And that seat happens to be a particularly good vantage point on the ground.  The pair sit on the players’ bench to conduct match duties which include dehydration testing on urine samples and the assigning and analysis of player GPS tracking devices which record players’ movements during a match.

“It’s really exciting to be on the bench and see everything that happens first hand. It’s also interesting to see each individual player in the build up to the game,” White says.

The UL student is especially impressed by the preparation of his compatriot Martin Clarke.

“Marty’s pretty relaxed before games. He doesn’t listen to his iPod or anything, he just always has his hands on the ball and is always kicking it around down in the changing rooms.

“He’s normally the first player on the field as well, just so he can get a feel for the ground.

“He isn’t a big speaker, he does all his talking on the field.

“He’s always composed when he gets the ball. He has a knack for finding space and is so good at using the ball. He’s also really fit so he covers a big distance every game.”

One of DCU student Tara’s main responsibilities is to monitor players’ nutrition. She reveals that some players have unexpected ways of keeping their energy levels up.

“I follow what foods they’re taking in throughout the game. Some have gels, others lollies (sweets). The odd player will even have bread with jam on it,” she says.

Buttifant has been impressed with the work ethic of the students. So much so that he says that this particular stint may not be their last involvement with the club.

“It’s worked out really well for us also as they’ve been a great acquisition to us.

“So if they decide that they might like to do a Masters or a PhD, we’d definitely entertain that and try and facilitate it if at all possible.”

With students due to participate on an annual basis, Buttifant insists that he’s not concerned that the Pies’ entire sports science staff could end up hailing from Ireland.

“Who knows, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing,” he laughs.

 by Catherine Murphy

The Elaine Kelly cup was last week competed for by four Lucan primary schools – Scoil Mhuire Woodview, St Andrew’s, Scoil Mhuire GNS and Archbishop Ryan, Balgaddy – at Lucan Sarsfields’ 12th Lock grounds.

On a marvellous evening for camogie, with over 100 players taking part, Archbishop Ryan narrowly edged out St Andrew’s in the final by 2-1 to 1-1.

Shauna Barron and Ruby Lawlor played superbly throughout for St Andrews and Julie Lang scored the goal of the tournament.

However, Archbishop Ryan, with player of the tournament, Sarah Boland, and newcomers to camogie Mary Omole, Ayobami Akinse and Ralva Kidikula, were too strong in the end and deservedly .

A year ago, Laois star Conor Meredith was pretty sure that his AFL dream was going to materialise.

The Brisbane Lions were showing considerable interest in signing the Gaelic footballer and a subsequent trial at the club seemed almost certain to yield a contract.

But then, in just a short space of time, things changed.

Leigh Matthews departed and Michael Voss took the reins. Not only did the club delist Meredith’s compatriot Colm Begley, but they were no longer interested in acquiring the services of the then 19-year-old.

With Pearce Hanley left as the sole Irish representative at the Lions, Meredith was forced to look at other options.

Despite the setback, Meredith’s dream of pursuing an AFL career did eventuate.

Signed by North Melbourne after a successful showing in Ricky Nixon’s draft camp and a trial at the club, he hasn’t looked back.

And despite Melbourne proving itself to be a less sunny climate than the location he initially looked destined to make his home, he still gets asked by friends at home how he’s enjoying the weather.

“People at home are always asking if I’m going to the beach today or if I’ve been sunbathing,” he laughs.

The perception of Melbourne as an Australian city constantly basking in sunlight isn’t the only myth that Meredith finds himself fielding questions about from home.

The North Melbourne rookie says the speedy debuts of Collingwood’s Martin Clarke and more recently Essendon’s Michael Quinn has given a false impression of what’s 
required to make the top grade.

“Because those guys made it so quickly, people at home think that you can come over here and play straight away but it’s definitely not the case. People at home kind of think that you’re on holiday rather than being at work and it being your job.

“They ask me if it’s good craic at the weekends and am I out much, but to be honest I can’t remember the last time I had a big night out.

“I’ve played nine Sunday games in a row so there isn’t much time for going out.

“I think it’s been two-and-a-half months since I was out. It’s definitely a false impression that people have at home. Often people will ask me, ‘So will we see you on the telly?’. They don’t understand the amount of hard work that’s required before then.”

Meredith’s claims are certainly backed up by statistics. Out of nine Irish players currently on AFL books, only one player is playing senior football every week – Martin Clarke.

Essendon’s Michael Quinn made a startling debut in round two but has played just one game since, further emphasising how tough it is to keep a senior berth.

Setanta Ó hAilpín is also struggling to get his place having been promoted last weekend from the reserves to play just his third senior game for the year.

Even Colm Begley, who played 29 games with his former club the Brisbane Lions, has yet to make his senior debut with his new club St Kilda. The four other Irish recruits – Pearce Hanley, Brendan Murphy, Kevin Dyas and Brian Donnelly have yet to play a senior game in 2009.

“My parents [Kate and Noel] were over a few weeks ago and they really saw just how tough it is with early mornings and extra training sessions,” Meredith said.

“We do long days and often I’ll be staying behind putting in extra time with the development coaches when the other boys are going home so it’s pretty tough.

“All the time you’re just trying to get to the same level as the Australian players.”

So far, the 20-year-old’s hard work and lack of social life is certainly paying off.

Having started his Aussie rules career in reserves 
‘reserves’, two weeks ago he was promoted to the first 
reserves. And by chance he faced his fellow countyman and compatriot Colm Begley when his side Werribbe met Sandringham in the VFL.

“I caught up with him after the game. I was playing half back and he was down back too so we didn’t bump into each other at all. It would have been good if we did but it didn’t happen,” Meredith laughs.

“He said that he thought I’d done really well considering it was my first game. He said he wouldn’t have known at all. He just said to keep working hard and enjoying it, which is the main thing. There’s a huge jump, even from the twos twos, so I can’t even imagine what the jump would be like to AFL level.”

Meredith said one of the most challenging aspects of his new sport is adapting to the full-bodied tackle.

“One of the main things I’ve been focusing on is my tackling. The tackling is pretty full on here. There’s a bit of a difference between being shouldered at home and getting knocked off course with your running to being taken down to the ground.”

But whenever the work load is tough or questions about his progress from home get frustrating, he has one inspiration he draws on.

“I always think of Tadhg Kennelly. It took him nearly two years and he turned into an amazing player.”

Watch this space.

 by Catherine Murphy

GAA clubs across the world are being approached to submit their club crests for inclusion on a commemorative wall that is being built outside the entrance to the GAA Museum in Croke Park.

As part of the GAA 125 celebrations, the Falla na gClubanna is being created in recognition of the role that clubs play in the GAA, and the intention is that every club will have their crest displayed.

The deadline for the collection of crests is June 30, so, to make sure of inclusion, contact your County Development Officer.

Dublin’s U-13 camogie team recently won the James Hurley Shield blitz competition with fine performances in each of their games on the road to the final.

The team, filled with local talent, played with great heart and determination, drawing with Offaly before beating Kerry and a Cork Primary School selection to set up a final against Offaly. The girls were improving all day and saved their best performance for the final, running out winners by 3-5 to 0-2.

Player of the Tournament was Niamh Byrne from Lucan Sarsfields. For more information, see www.dublincamogie.ie

Cuala’s juvenile girls’ teams have been recording a succession of fine results over recent weeks.

The highest accolade last weekend went to the U-10 team who recorded wins against Ballyboden in camogie and Kilmacud Crokes in football. The U-11s also had a big win against St Judes in camogie.

This weekend, the U-9 camogie team play St Mark’s on Sunday, the U-10 footballers play St Brigid’s on Saturday, and the U-11s play Clontarf in football on Saturday and Raheny in camogie on Sunday.

The U-12s play Naomh Barrog (camogie) on Saturday, and Lucan (football) on Sunday.

Wrapping up a busy weekend, the U13s play Oliver Plunkett’s (camogie) on Saturday, and St Brigid’s (football) on Sunday.