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http://sport.irishexaminer.com/post/2013/06/05/Talking-yourself-up-is-the-new-talking-down.aspx

Talking yourself up is the new talking yourself down

John Fogarty

In case you didn't know, talking big is en vogue among the top counties in Gaelic football right now.

It's the new black and while Cork and Kerry have not yet cottoned on to it or maybe never will (we'll explain that shortly) the rest of this year's contenders are bigging themselves up.

In a sport pockmarked with poor mouth phrases, lip service and mind-numbing clichés, it's refreshing to see and perhaps points to the hardest-working generation of footballers finally realising it's okay to back themselves.

Just look at what they've been saying – Mayo manager James Horan following last month's victory over Galway: "We've guys out there playing up front who are as good as anyone in the country."

Mayo captain Andy Moran: "The old Irish thing is to talk yourselves down and you can't do that all the time. We believe we're a good team, we're trying to win a Connacht title, we're trying to challenge later on in the year if it comes to it."

Dublin's Michael Darragh Macauley last week: "We're all good footballers. We have a serious panel of footballers. He [Jim Gavin] wants lads to express themselves and I think that's important."

His team-mate Paul Flynn before Christmas: "The talent in Dublin football is frightening."

Jim McGuinness after beating Tyrone last month: "There was a lot of talk about putting all the eggs into one basket, but it was the same last year and the same the year before. That's what we do – it's Championship football.

"It will be no different next year. It was a media spin that got the whole debate going. Next year we will put all our eggs in that basket again."

Paddy McBrearty standing close to him after that same win: "We have probably the strongest squad that we have had since Jim took over."

None of the above could be identified as brash or as bordering on arrogance as say Ger Loughnane's famously accurate half-time sign-off to Marty Morrissey at half-time in the 1995 All-Ireland final. But when something as banal as a Galway player saying football is in the county's DNA is plastered on a Mayo dressing room wall that threshold is lowered somewhat.

Everything, it seems, can be taken as a slight. We've written before of the Kerry player who was approached by Donegal players at an end-of-season event last year asking him to explain his comments about the direction of football. The Donegal pair had felt his words were a thinly-veiled dig at them.

It can't go without mentioning that Mayo, Dublin and Donegal, the three counties well on their way to winning third consecutive provincial titles, all have sports psychologists in some shape or form.

McGuinness is, of course, a qualified one and then there is Kieran Shannon at Mayo while former world boxing champion Bernard Dunne fulfils the role of lifestyle coach with Dublin.

Kildare have a sports psychologist in Hugh Campbell and it was intriguing last week to see Eamonn Callaghan say it would be "a travesty" were his team not to win a Leinster title. Gaelic footballers' dealings with the media have become so bleached it would be silly to suggest there was no influence on their words.

As for Cork and Kerry? Well, as one learned colleague put it recently, they are old money. With their estates backed onto one another and a meeting at the boundaries guaranteed at least once a year, they are understandably reticent to be singing from the rooftops about what they've got.

With arguably the smallest following among football's echelon, Cork have reason to be unforthcoming but then they much prefer others to do it instead.

Paul Kerrigan gave a great insight into their mentality after winning the Division 1 final against Dublin two years ago: "It absolutely suited us down to the ground. We've been underdogs for the last six or seven years in every game.

"People have always questioned us. The Dubs were built up again and within their panel I'd say they didn't want that themselves. It just happens when you're in a Dublin team and it suited us perfectly. Nobody was talking about us and in the end we showed there was more hunger in us than them."

Kerry's coyness is more to do with not giving the game away. Cute hoors to the end, they are the GAA's version of the Venus flytraps, passing themselves off as inoffensive creatures only to snare their prey with deception.

Cian O'Neill, their Kildare-born selector and trainer, hasn't been afraid to exude self-confidence but even he, having featuring in five All-Ireland finals in the last five years, won't change winning habits of a lifetime.

Mayo and Donegal had to change. Being most people's second and third favourite teams was doing them no favours. Horan and McGuinness had to get their players as far away from those romantic failures as possible. The reason for Dublin's big talk? They just appear to be more comfortable in their own skin.

All three have walked the walk to varying degrees of success these past couple of seasons. If it's working for them why should they stop? The media, for one, won't be asking for a halt in such a practice.

Was going to put it in the youtube thread but it deserves its own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2b0bzUYq8Y

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=187773

One player turns up for county training!

14 March 2013

Four coaches for one player

Kilkenny football reached a new low last weekend...

The county minor selectors organised a training session to try to get some preparatory work in ahead of this year's Leinster MFC, but only one player showed up.

Four coaches were present, hoping to put the players through their paces.

Two clubs made contact with the organisers saying they would be unable to participate but the rest didn't even bother.

Brendan O'Sullivan from the Development Squads told Monday night's County Board meeting: "Heads go down when you mention football in the county.

"Clubs actively discourage lads from coming in. What happened was insulting to the lads involved, the other team officials and myself, and to the county.

"Give some chance to the youngsters or we can actually forget about football altogether."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/colm-orourke-everyone-will-gain-when-dubs-cross-great-dividing-line-29090627.html

Colm O'Rourke: Everyone will gain when Dubs cross great dividing line
Football in Dublin has too many resources – and players – to still be a single entity.

Colm O'Rourke – 24 February 2013

Some years ago a suggestion was circulated that consideration should be given to dividing up Dublin for football purposes and creating another couple of county teams. At the time there was shock and horror in most Dublin circles and the idea was given a short hearing. Maybe it is time to give it another airing, especially as Dublin football in general is in its healthiest state for decades.

The reason for this would appear to be that Dublin are extremely well-organised now. It does not mean that they are going to win the All-Ireland every year but we are moving towards a scenario where Dublin look as if they will dominate Leinster at minor and under 21 level indefinitely.

People always talk about structures and systems but the key to all of this is having the right personnel in charge of teams. If you get that part right and resource the teams properly in terms of gear, back-up with medics, dieticians, gym membership etc, then everything else will fall into place.

The other side of this is making sure that anyone who is unsuitable for a position is jettisoned quickly. It is no different to running any business in that regard. Keeping good managers in place for a while and then allowing them to move up the ladder can be seen to practical effect with Jim Gavin, successful at under 21 moving on to senior, and Dessie Farrell with a smashing group of minors now taking over the under 21s. In the background there is the guiding hand of John Costello, who ensures that teams have what they need. This is paying off in spades and the train has only left the station. There is a lot more to come.

So why then would anyone disrupt progress, especially as the Dubs are brand leaders and the financial locomotive which helps pay coaches, build grounds and paint the brightest possible image of the GAA all over the country?

It comes down to a question of fairness.

In the latest census, the population of Dublin is 1,273,000. The next highest population of a county in Leinster is Kildare with 210,000. Now it is more difficult for the GAA to gain a foothold in parts of Dublin than it is in any other county but even allowing for that, Dublin has a population which is over a million greater than the next biggest county in Leinster. At the moment, Kildare seem to be in the best position to challenge Dublin at both underage and senior yet they do start off at a major disadvantage.

Of course many Dubs will feel that mangling the county into various units, whether based on administrative units or collections of clubs, would destroy the supporter base and lead to apathy and they might not win anything either. Well, try the argument about winning with a county like Longford with a population of 39,000.

A lot of Dublin clubs pick from greater numbers than that. On top of this, many counties in Leinster run their underage teams reasonably well but have very little chance when the Dubs are organised as well as they are now. Are the smaller counties not worth protecting and given a real shot at a provincial title?

Naturally, there are those who feel that a break-up of Dublin is the penalty for doing things right and if they were not successful this would not arise. That is the dog-in-the-manger attitude. There is a bigger picture here. Dublin could easily have four under 14, under 16 and minor teams and the chances are that some of the combinations would meet in the Leinster final regularly. More importantly, it would give a much bigger number of players exposure to a much higher grade of football. At the moment there must be hundreds of very talented young players in Dublin who would walk on to many other county teams but never get a look-in with Dublin.

The opportunity of playing at a high level of football is what keeps a lot of young players interested. If it was with Dublin North or Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown would it make any difference? Hardly. As it is, a lot of talent drifts away in every county but this rate of attrition must surely be greater in Dublin even allowing for a lot of great clubs. The prospect of playing county football is a huge attraction in Croke Park and people would get used to a new name very quickly. Having greater numbers of underage teams would, eventually, lead to more than one side at senior level.

It would not suit the traditionalists and a swaying Hill 16 on a summer's day is a wonderful sight, but there will come a time when two teams from Dublin will meet in a Leinster senior final. Of course radical change like this would be very difficult and would involve setting up county boards

in new areas which may dilute the overall sponsorship take and create problems of identity for Dublin's current supporters.

At the moment, Dublin have a very exciting senior team with the introduction of many great young players. Sitting on the bench or not even getting a jersey is another team that would beat most other counties in Leinster. This is not a healthy situation for anyone but the players and management would certainly not want any change in the status quo until they have won at least one All-Ireland. This only goes to show that the best interests of the GAA in general and Dublin in particular are not the same on this topic.

Sooner or later, the turkeys will have to vote for Christmas. It would be better if Dublin started the process with at least two teams at all underage levels immediately which would give more of their own a chance and would show that fairness still means something.

It will take a brave Dublin chairman or secretary to propose this. The obvious thing to do is to sit back and say that helping to make the GAA a greater force is not their problem. Ultimately, though, it would be short-sighted not to realise that giving a bigger number of young footballers in Dublin a chance to play county football is in everyone's interest and is good for all other counties too.

http://eircomsports.eircom.net/News/news/gaa/EwanMacKennacolumn-2.aspx

Ewan MacKenna column: United they conquer, undivided and football falls

13:09, 27 Feb 2013 eircom Exclusive
Ewan MacKenna, Sports Journalist of the Year 2012

It seems like the announcement was made to a different world. Back in 2002, the Strategic Review Committee reported back their recommendations and the one that grabbed all the headlines involved splitting Dublin into two. Former GAA president Peter Quinn suggested that the county be separated at the Liffey for administrative purposes "to maximise penetration". But if the timing of the suggestion was off as it was far too radical for that era, and if the rationale was off too as Dublin have gone on and begun to maximise penetration as a united entity, it's a theory that hasn't gone away. All in all, Quinn and his group may have hit upon a good idea for the wrong reasons.

Last week, after a 37-point win in the Leinster under-21 football championship, heads were turned and voices were raised. On the other end of that humiliation were Carlow and their chairman Michael Meaney brought up some serious points that shouldn't be smothered by the laughter around the result. "It was a reflection on the massive gulf," he said. "You're talking about Dublin having 25 times the population of Carlow. For the 30,000 we've to pick a panel from, they've to get just one player. They just have the size, strength and numbers so that they can be selective with who they work with and their guys are into this from an early age right up through development squads."

Of course you've to look at your own garden first before giving out about the neighbour's. Also, you can overreact to a result between a heavyweight and a lightweight at this time of year. But that scoreline is part of a trend in football that will see the sport, in my view, move from elitism and close in on a monopoly over the next 15 years and that will be all down to Dublin doing things right.

When Quinn and his group brought out their proposals, the way Gaelic football worked was hugely different. Way behind professional sports, science was in its infancy and fitness and size were at a premium. Mick O'Dwyer could still take over lesser sides and have them compete and surprise bigger and better teams purely by not getting tired. Páidí Ó Sé could still send a bunch of players into a frenzy by breaking a table and that too could be enough to tip the balance. Passion often prevailed over preparation, tribalism could still overcome tactics, but that is happening less and less. Outside of Meath and Galway, in recent years the best counties have all gotten their houses in order in terms of everything from development squads to facilities to the coaching staff surrounding their seniors. It's led to less and less room for the little guy on the biggest days and that's even extended to the early part of the year where Division One is now populated by the best eight counties.

But this is just a resting place on the climb to where we are headed. The next stage involves even the better counties being unable to compete with Dublin. It's easy to look up the record books and show that the capital has three of the last four Leinster minor and under-21 titles, two of the last three under-21 All Irelands, and been to the last two All Ireland minor finals. It's easier still to take some outdated view and put it down to a purple patch that every county has and this just being a phase.

But look at the reasons behind the first part of that paragraph and you can disprove the second. Indeed that is vital as suggesting these things are cyclical is a disservice to the work Dublin have done and shows an ignorance towards the damage they could do. For, in an era of science over sweat, Dublin now have all the key ingredients to dominate and that isn't going away. In fact the more professional Gaelic football gets, the more Dublin will dominate.

Firstly they've the population. Half Ulster given the religious and political divide and Dublin not only has twice number of people as Connacht and a greater population than Munster, it also has a bigger population that the rest of Leinster and the Gaelic games playing community in the northern province. In short, forget a county, Dublin as a province would be the biggest in the country. Look at it this way, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown matches Kildare for numbers while both Fingal and South Dublin have populations that only Antrim and Cork are greater than.

But that has always been the case – if not quite as pronounced due to modern societal migration – and Dublin for their size have a relatively dire record in terms of being victorious. But combine population with other ingredients and matters become problematic.

It's basic economics that leads Dublin to have more money than everyone else but the work they have done has maximised their potential. They've a €1m-a-year main sponsorship deal. They have their official water supplier too, official Easter eggs, official calendars, official clothes. They even have Aer Lingus as their official carrier of choice replete with low-cost trips to the States over the next couple of years for both players and wives while a chunk of the panel are now driving Renaults as part of another deal. The money they get is spread over a greater area, yes, but such a comment is to neglect the huge economies of scale that are present and distorting the playing field further.

With unemployment lower in the capital, there's a better chance of keeping players in the country, and not only that, there's a better chance of finding jobs that allow those players time to train as their profile and commercial value is greater than that of non-Dublin players.  On top of that, the structures and organisation of the county board have put these circumstances to good use. Sure enough, you can only place 15 players on a pitch and there's only so much room on a bench, but Dublin are far more likely to find and mould elite players based on population, finance and framework. All that together and now it's a recipe for brilliant success for Dublin, but long term it's a recipe for disaster for the game.

If soccer had just one division that comprised of Manchester United in the Championship, we wonder how long it would still attract the interest and the attendances.

There are of course arguments against this. Some say Dublin have more people from abroad that will never play football and they've more competition from other sports. But I've never bought this. Look at immigration proportionately and it doesn't vary all that much. As for other games, growing up in Athy we had a choice of soccer, rugby, tennis, basketball, canoeing, horse riding and hockey to name but a few and that's the case in any rural town. These things are all relative.

None of this is Dublin's fault, mind. The basic premise of a nationalist sporting organisation wasn't on King John's mind when he visited this island in 1210. Instead he came up with a county system so administration would become easier. Eight-hundred-and-three years later and his borders have given Dublin a massive advantage. No one has ever claimed Gaelic football is fair and if it's not fair on the rest right now, it may not be fair on Dublin in the future when action is needed. We aren't suggesting breaking Dublin up right now but we are suggesting keeping a close eye on things over the next decade and being in a position to act accordingly. After all, even the Dublin County Board saw this coming.

In 2011, in their forward-thinking 'Blue Wave' document, they spoke of dominating the game at all levels.  They also spoke of requesting the status of a province, a permanent member on the GAA's most important body, the Management Committee, and a similar appointment on the executive of the Leinster Council on the basis that they feel the needs of Dublin require constant attention because of the numbers involved from top to bottom. None of those are outrageous demands. But to have all those things and to field one team is outrageous.

The next handful of years will show exactly why.

[A bag of curry chips]

Good a place as any to start. What do we make of this one?

Developer had insult carved into forehead by kidnapper

Missing property developer Kevin McGeever, who was found wandering at the side of a rural road, was mutilated and had an insult carved across his forehead.

Mr McGeever, who is currently in hospital, has told gardai he was abducted eight months ago by armed men but he cannot recall what happened to him after that.

He was discovered in a dishevelled state near Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, on Tuesday night and had lost about five stone in weight.

He had been reported missing to the gardai at Gort, Co Galway, on June 22 last.

The 68-year-old man has told gardai that he was abducted by three masked men at gunpoint from the garden of his mansion home at Craughwell, Co Galway, last May.

He said the kidnappers had demanded a ransom for his safe release but he did not know whether a ransom had been paid. Mr McGeever said he could not remember what had happened to him in the meantime but, as he was being released, he was given a mobile phone and warned to keep it with him at all times.

Gardai said he was feeble and thin when he was found and, apart from the weight loss, he had a lengthy beard and very long fingernails.

He was taken to Mullingar hospital where he was treated for malnutrition and dehydration.

The marking on his forehead was thought to have been cut into him with a knife.

Officers are trying to establish whether he had been held across the Border before he was dumped in Co Leitrim.

Mr McGeever told the couple who found him that he had been thrown out of a van and did not know where he was.

During the boom, he ran a successful property business selling luxury homes in Dubai to wealthy Irish and British clients.

He is currently listed in legal proceedings before the High Court in a case being taken against KMM Properties, which began in 2009.

Catherine Vallely discovered the missing man on the Leitrim-Cavan border on Tuesday night.

She was on her way home to Ballinamore with her partner Peter Rehill when they spotted him in the middle of the road.

"He had red trousers that made me think it was a cone in the middle of the road.

"When the man got into our car he told us he had no shoes on. He said three men threw him out of a van," Ms Vallely said.

'Eaten'

"The man said his name was Kevin and he didn't realise he was in Leitrim. He didn't even know the month," she said.

They brought him straight to Ballinamore garda station.

"A female garda immediately invited him in for a cup of tea.

"As he was eating tea and biscuits he asked her if she had any more. He said he hadn't eaten for God knows how long.

"He had a pair of enormous eyes in a very thin face and his cheekbones stuck out.

"He was rubbing his beard with fingers that had long nails. He was very well-educated, well-spoken and polite and articulate.

"He was just skin and bones," Ms Vallely said.

A bag of curry chips was brought to him as gardai discovered that he had been reported missing to their colleagues in Gort last May by his partner, Siobhan O'Callaghan.

"We were told he used to be 16 stone. He was just skin and bones," Ms Vallely added.

Mr McGeever's lavish mansion in Craughwell was empty yesterday.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271786/Kevin-McGeever-claims-held-EIGHT-MONTHS-thief-carved-forehead.html

Kavanagh leaving Lilies for Galway

By John Fogarty and Daragh Ó Conchúir

Friday, January 04, 2013

James Kavanagh could be on the verge of a dramatic switch from Kildare to Galway.

It was confirmed yesterday the former All Star nominee had withdrawn from the Lilywhites panel for personal reasons.

Despite working as a Garda in Dublin and living in Kildare, Ballymore Eustace clubman Kavanagh owns a house in Milltown and it is expected the forward will be lining out for the Galway club come championship time.

Contacted earlier this week, Kavanagh (27) said his intention is to eventually settle in Milltown but a switch wasn't yet on the cards.

Kavanagh, who grew up in Galway, played on the St Jarlath's team alongside the likes of Michael Meehan in the early 2000s.

Kavanagh was part of the Kildare U21 team that won the Leinster title in 2004. He was still eligible for that grade when making his senior championship debut against Wicklow the following year. He also came on as Laois thrashed Kildare in the Leinster semi-final and was handed his first start by Padraig Nolan in the subsequent All-Ireland qualifier against Sligo in Markievicz Park.

Kavanagh has been a regular since then and flourished under Kieran McGeeney's stewardship. His creativity and scoring threat off either foot earned him All-Star nominations in 2009 and 2010.

"James has opted out" confirmed the senior footballers' spokesman, Morgan O'Callaghan yesterday. "He just felt he couldn't give the time and so he won't be involved this year anyway.

"He has given a lot to Kildare football for a long time and we all wish him well."

Just speculation I'm guessing? One of the journalists seems to be standing by the story while the other says he intends to be back with Kildare after a break.

Goalkeepers: Anthony Nash (Cork), Nickie Quaid (Limerick), James Skehill (Galway).

Full Backs: Paul Murphy (Kilkenny), JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), Johnny Coen (Galway), Fergal Moore (Galway), Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny), Richie McCarthy (Limerick), Michael Cahill (Tipperary), Kevin Hynes (Galway), Shane O'Neill (Cork).

Half backs: Brian Hogan (Kilkenny), Brendan Bugler (Clare), Padraic Maher (Tipperary), David Collins (Galway), Michael Walsh (Waterford), Tony Óg Regan (Galway), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Niall Donoghue (Galway), Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny).

Midfielders: Andy Smith (Galway), Kevin Moran (Waterford), Stephen Molumphy (Waterford), Pa Cronin (Cork), Iarla Tannian (Galway), Michael Fennelly (Kilkenny).

Half Forwards: Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny), Cyril Donnellan (Galway), Niall Burke (Galway), Patrick Bonnar Maher (Tipperary), TJ Reid (Kilkenny), Pa Burke (Tipperary), Damien Hayes (Galway), Danny Sutcliffe (Dublin), Richie Power (Kilkenny).

Full forwards: Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny), Joe Canning (Galway), Noel McGrath (Tipperary), Patrick Horgan (Cork), John Mullane (Waterford), Brian O'Meara (Tipperary), Richie Hogan (Kilkenny), John Conlon (Clare), David Burke (Galway).


Nominations for Hurler of the Year

Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)
Paul Murphy (Kilkenny)
Joe Canning (Galway)


Nominations for Young Hurler of the Year

Johnny Coen (Galway)
Niall Burke (Galway)
Danny Sutcliffe (Dublin)

Shamlessly stolen from Broadsheet.ie. Smithfield Horse Fair today.

Fatalistic, pessimistic Irish still worth a visit, says guide book


RONAN McGREEVY

THE IRISH lack self-esteem despite a veneer of "garrulous sociability and self-deprecating twaddle", according to the latest edition of the Lonely Planet which has just been published.

The best-selling guide book says Irish people's reputation for having an "easygoing, affable nature is justified", but our reputation for friendliness is mostly a manifestation of our desire to chat – and our lack of self-esteem is our "dark secret".

The guide says the pub remains the number one attraction for visitors to Ireland and the focus of Irish life.

Ireland has not lost its "mojo" despite years of recession, says the guide: "the good times may have gone, but Dublin still knows how to have a good time".

While the book lavishes praise on the capital, it criticises the city's best-known tourist attractions, notably the Book of Kells and Temple Bar.

The Celtic Tiger may be over but Ireland remains a country transformed for the better over the last two decades, it says.

The writers opine that it may be "ridiculously crude and simplistic" to suggest the Irish are used to hard knocks, but, nevertheless, "there is some truth in it".

The Irish are "fatalistic and pessimistic to the core", which is why they have accepted their economic fate more readily than the Greeks, who have rioted in the streets.

While suspicious of praise and tending not to believe anything nice that's ever said about them, the Irish "wallow in false modesty like a sport" and are fond of the "peculiar art of self-deprecation".

Begrudgery is also regarded as a national sport and the writers find it amusing that Bono is subject to more criticism in Ireland than he is elsewhere.

The book has two pieces of advice for travellers. Don't use expressions like "top o' the morning to you" or "begorrah", which belong in 1950s Hollywood movies, and do buy your round. The book says "everything good about Ireland can be found in County Cork".

Galway city has "an overlaying vibe of fun and frolic that's addictive" but it is also "a very rainy city, even by Irish standards" and Derry city is a "pleasant surprise to many visitors" even if it is not pretty. The book is less than kind to Armagh city, which has "a dreary, rundown feel to it".

Larne is "lacking in the charm department", while Letterkenny has been "ruined by the excesses of the Celtic Tiger era".

By Donnchadh Boyle


Tuesday November 15 2011

LEINSTER rugby last night hit back at Dublin GAA chiefs who accused the Heineken Cup champions of "the subliminal exploitation of Dublin's unique" blue jersey.

In a strategy document for Dublin GAA 2011-2017 called 'Unleashing The Blue Wave', the county's top GAA officials stated that the "appeal of a flourishing professional franchise" represented a real challenge for GAA in the county and that they were determined to "reinforce the fact that Dublin is GAA Country."

"The Blue Jersey is an unique, inclusive brand, uniting Dublin's dense expanse, blurring the difference in class and possession which became so pointedly manifest during the delusional days of the Celtic Tiger," it says.

"It is an extraordinarily effective promotional tool, enshrined in the anthem of the county's often maligned but fiercely loyal supporters.

"We can't copyright a colour but the subliminal exploitation of Dublin's unique sporting hue by our competitors has not gone unnoticed.

"Mutual respect is essential in Irish sport yet the appeal of a flourishing professional franchise is still a real challenge in the struggle for hearts and minds in Dublin while the demographic shift continues to distort traditional values and interests.

"Our Blue affords Dublin GAA the greatest potential to evolve as the flagship brand of commercial sport in Ireland. Successful implementation of our strategy will also reinforce the fact that Dublin is GAA Country."

In a statement issued last night, a Leinster spokesman admitted their surprise at the "tone and timing" of the Dublin comments but insisted that while they were based in Dublin, they represented the province as a whole.

"Leinster are based in Dublin but are very much a 12-county team representing one province and that is reflected in both our playing staff and support base.

"We don't see ourselves as a threat and likewise we do not see the GAA as a threat. Many of our players have played GAA and we took great pleasure in the achievements of the Dublin footballers and the Kilkenny hurlers this season.

"We are a branch of the IRFU who deal with both the amateur and professional side of our game."

Only last month, Leinster rugby chiefs scored a notable coup when signing up Dublin's All-Ireland winning captain Bryan Cullen as an academy coach.

- Donnchadh Boyle

Irish Independent

Can't say I even noticed watching the game. Just makes it even harder to tell the players apart. Besides some helmets become iconic and you's lose that. Brian Lohan and his red helmet. Conor Hayes and his gold one, etc.

[4,581,269]

The preliminary results of the 2011 Census have revealed that the population in the Republic of Ireland was 4,581,269 on 10 April.

Census Results | Population of each province, county, city

That is about 100,000 people more than the Central Statistics Office had expected and it could have significant implications for economic planning in the years ahead.

The total number of people living in Ireland has increased by more than 341,000 people since the previous Census in 2006. This represents a change of 8.1% over the past five years.

Co Laois recorded the strongest population growth, with the number up by 20% in just five years.

Other counties showing strong population growth were Cavan 13.9%, Fingal 13.8%, Longford 13.3%, Meath 13.0% and Kildare 12.7%.

Cork City and Limerick City were the only two administrative counties with a fall in population.

The figures also show that net inward migration into Ireland remained positive at almost 119,000, which is far higher than previously expected.

In a reversal of the situation in 2006, the figures show there are now more females than males in the country with 981 men for every 1,000 women.

The figures show that almost 15% of the country's housing stock is currently vacant, with the concentration of vacancies mainly in the west of the country. There were 294,000 vacant dwellings in the State in April.

The extent of the population growth could have a significant bearing on Government efforts to rationalise social services and public spending.

It could also have implications for housing demand in the years ahead.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0630/census.html

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0630/censuspre2011.pdf

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0630/censustable.pdf

No not the new name of the local ice hockey team.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/06/16/photos-riots-fire-destruction-after-vancouvers-loss/

Phil Neville V Seamus Coleman


If u want a signed pair of my boots go to www.starsboots.com money goes to charity thanks

prob be best selling garys boots pal.. Won't get much money for yours!

hello seamie see ur sub again for the republic tomorrow night!!!

if I'm lucky I'll be sub.. Maybe won't even make the bench.. Any advice for me? U have plenty experience of being on the bench

sub for ireland-its like being sub for man utd youth team! Although u r a 50k signing from sligo bless!

yeah just glad to be here fizzer! Never thought I'd be so lucky!

u looking forward to next season.. U must be glad garys retired? Ur family might come watch u on a saturday now!

actually they will prob just stay in and watch him on sky sports instead of watching u!

does trapp say "run forest run" to u like moyesy does??

r u licking captain robbie keanes arse like u lick captain nevilles?

did ur brother play for man utd 600 times pal?? Thought not!!

when u upgrading ur caravan to a tent pal?

any more lip pal and I'll get peter walton to send u off again!!!!

were u going on holiday pal-isle of man??

why u getting angry pal.. U got got that angry on a match day u would be a great captain!!

be careful next season pal-everyone plays sh*t in their 2nd season!!!

does everyone play sh*t in there 15 season aswell?

16th season pal!

you counting ur 10 years on united bench?

gone quiet pal u been round to keaneys room to run his bath?

u gettin jealous?? I'll be back to look after u next season pal.. Do I still have to do all ur running tho??

here u r was getting worried keano let u off the lead?

keep playing the way u r m8 and you'll be back playing at widnes wit the reserves!

what did u miss last game of season for again.. Toothache?? Dnt think big dunc would miss a game cause of his tooth!

nice debut benfica away m8-what was the score??

5.0 pal.. A good captain would have been there to help his players but where were u??

u enjoy going to the world cups with england or was that gary AGAIN!? I'm sure u were proud to watch him!!

u like talking about gary m8-got a secret crush?

everyone likes gary more.. U should know that by now!!

have a great summer pal-reserves report back 5th july!

is that what date he told u.. Internationals not back until the 11th so see ya then! Night skipper x

topman come on macedonia!!

let's make a pact pal-no more slaughtering on twitter-i need u-u need me-agreed? Ask keano for permission 1st though!

u need me to do ur running.. Why do I need you??

I'm trying to hand u an olive branch pal-do u not want it?

I just want to know why I need u? Not a trick question.

lads don't like u pal-so have to protect u!

nev dnt start!! Because its you they dnt like.. And I dnt need u to protect me.. I protected u all season!

its all about u pal aint it! Good luck next season you will need it!

I know I will.. Uv had 15 years good luck! Well done! I know ur missing me really!

u licking charlie adams arse now too? Is it captains that turn u on??

hahahahaha good one pal! What a captain he was too.. He could actually pass to his team mates!

Might as well stick a thread up anyway.

Galway

1 Adrian Faherty
2 Alan Burke
3 Colin Forde
4 Johnny Duane
5 Gary O'Donnell
6 Greg Higgins
7 Gary Sice
8 Joe Bergin
9 Finian Hanley
10 Padraig Joyce
11 Owen Concannon
12 Cathal Kenny
13 Fiachra Breathnach
14 Paul Conroy
15 Cormac Bane

Durty Dubz

1. Michael Savage
2. Philly McMahon
3. Paul Brogan
4. Nicky Devereux
5. Paul Casey
6. Ger Brennan
7. Kevin Nolan
8. Denis Bastick
9. Seán Murray
10. Paul Flynn
11. Pat Burke
12. Bryan Cullen [capt]
13. Bernard Brogan
14. Diarmuid Connolly
15. Alan Brogan

Hope this game isn't decided by the full-forward lines anyway or we're goosed.

Retired Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville has been signed up by Sky Sports as part of the punditry team for next season, as exclusively revealed by Sportsmail in January.

The 35-year-old called time on his glittering career earlier this year, ahead of schedule, and has already made a handful of appearances in the television studios.

Neville's transition into broadcasting has been accelerated following the 'Linogate' affair which saw veterans Andy Gray and Richard Keys leave the company.

The defender is viewed by Sky as another front-line pundit to work alongside or alternate with Jamie Redknapp, both having the experience of a modern football dressing room.

However, the opinionated Neville will be a controversial appointment, especially on Merseyside with his well-documented dislike of Scousers, although former Anfield idol Redknapp, 37, can provide the counterbalance.

Sky are believed to initially have begun talks with Neville last summer as it became apparent that injuries where catching up with the 85-capped man.

The player, one of the most respected figures in the modern game, was not short of offers after hanging up his boots, with a coaching role at Old Trafford or a job with the Professional Footballers' Association two of the most tempting.

The confirmation from Sky comes on the same day details of Neville's testimonial were announced.

After his 18-year one-club career, the defender will be honoured when the Red Devils tackle Italian giants Juventus at Old Trafford on May 24.

His final game at West Brom on January 1 saw him fortunate to escape a red card for the second time this season and it was clear the huge number of injuries Neville suffered in the latter stages of his career had taken their toll.

Those difficult last few games will not be allowed to overshadow a fabulous career though, which began with a debut against Torpedo Moscow as a 17-year-old.

By the time he retired, Neville had made 602 appearances for the club he supported all his life, won eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and the Champions League in 1999. In addition, Neville won 85 England caps.

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/investigations/8194474/street-fight-central

Problem or some juvenile handbags hyped up?

Hacker translates DUP websites into Irish

A language activist has hacked into three DUP websites, temporarily translating their homepages into Irish.

On one, Peter Robinson was shown introducing himself in the language.

"Is mise Peadar Robinson agus tugaim tacaiocht don Acht na Gaelige" is translated as "I am Peter Robinson and I support an Irish Language Act".

Irish language legislation has been a source of friction at Stormont with the DUP repeatedly frustrating Sinn Fein appeals for its introduction.

The hacker, who calls himself Hector O'Hackatdawn, also broke into peterrobinson.org and jeffreydonaldson.org.

On its Twitter feed, the DUP said its website had been "temporarily affected by malicious activity".

It added that the police were now dealing with the issue.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12179367

Step

Stephen Fry to appear in 'Ros na Rún'

CHARLIE TAYLOR

Actor, broadcaster and well-knownTwitter user, Stephen Fry is to make a guest appearance on the Irish-language soap opera Ros na Rún .

Fry was invited to appear in the show after visiting the set in Connemara recently for a new BBC TV series on minority languages called Planet Word .

His cameo will be filmed in early December on a closed shoot in Spiddal, Co Galway.

Now in its fifteenth year, Ros na Rún is broadcast on TG4 every Tuesday and Thursday evenings with an omnibus edition airing on Sunday nights.

The show is also broadcast on WYBE public television in Philadelphia, in the US and on the Scottish Gaelic channel TeleG.

Ros na Rún , which celebrated its 1000th episode last New Year's Eve, has featured a number of strong storylines over the years covering issues such as domestic violence, suicide, rape, drugs, elder abuse and abortion.

The soap's series producer Hugh Farley said there is huge excitement on about Fry's forthcoming cameo appearance.

"Our team of scriptwriters are currently writing Stephen a cúpla focal for his special role and we plan to film a highly entertaining scene with Stephen and some of Ros na Rún' s best loved characters,"he said.

Only 48 pages to go to catch up with the Mayo lads. Get typing.

Liam Kearns is among a list of five nominees to succeed Joe Kernan as Galway football manager.

Kearns, who has expressed an interest in the vacancy, has also been nominated for the Limerick job - a position he held from 1999 to 2005. The Kerryman also had a spell in charge of Laois in 2006 and '07.

Galway minor boss Gerry Fahy, who managed Offaly in 2004, has also been nominated, as has former Clare manager Frank Doherty, who guided Caltra to an All-Ireland club title in 2004.

Pete Warren, who served as a selector under John O'Mahony when Galway won All-Ireland titles in 1998 and 2001, is also on the shortlist which is completed by former Mayo midfielder Pat Fallon, who had guided Barna to the semi-finals of the Galway SFC.

The Galway football board was due to meet last night to discuss the process for appointing the county's fourth manager since 2007.

Anyway straight away I would rule out Fahy and Doherty. Not the most inspiring list you'd ever see to be honest.