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Corduff have been stripped of their Ulster Junior football title.

Swanlinbar are the 2010 Ulster club junior football champions after winning last night's appeal to the Ulster Council.

The Cavan club, who were defeated by Monaghan junior champions Corduff in last month's provincial decider at Kingspan Breffni Park, were awarded the title after being successful in their appeal against the legality of one of the opposition's players.

The hearing found that a Corduff substitute ,who scored a decisive goal in the game, was Under 16 last season and under GAA rules adult teams are not permitted to field Under 16 players.

As a result, the game was forfeited to Swad and they will now go on to represent Ulster in the semi-finals of the All-Ireland club JFC.



A bit of a joke......

Confirmed tonight. Stephen McGinnitty and Declan Smyth are his selectors. Colin O'Hare is team trainer.

Does anyone know how to get stuff saved on Sky+ onto dvd?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8TRXJ0SHm4





A Green Party backbencher apologised in the Dáil this afternoon after he told a Labour TD to "f**k you'' during heated exchanges on the Social Welfare Bill.

Paul Gogarty, who represents Dublin Mid West, had been challenged by Opposition TDs to vote against the Bill later this evening.

Mr Gogarty said that the Green party had succeeded in getting the size of the social welfare cuts reduced. As he continued to speak, defending his support for the Bill, he was heckled by Labour party TDs.

Turning to Labour TD Emmet Stagg, he shouted: "f**k you, Deputy Stagg. f**k you.''

Mr Gogarty then apologised for his "unparliamentary langugage''. He said he was outraged that somebody should question his sincerity.

Mr Gogarty said he would take at face value the sincerity of TDs on the opposite benches, "although I know, also, that perhaps some of your colleagues were more interested in point-scoring and political opportunism than sincerity''.

He added that if he was on the Opposition benches, without knowing the figures, he would be clamouring for blood.

Mr Gogarty said that he had received texts from public servants and those drawing social welfare saying that the Budget was shameful and a disgrace.

Throughtout today's debate, a succession of opposition TDs have criticised the social welfare cuts.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin said that there were difficult choices to be made in dealing with the social welfare budget.

"Nobody relishes having to do that, but we also made choices which were positive,'' she added.

The final vote on the Bill will take place at 6.30pm, when the Government is expected to have a comfortable majority.

Nudie Hughes
Eamonn McEneaney
Gerr McCarville

According to i105-107 for disciplinary reasons......

I'd heard they were under pressure for their places, but I'd be very surprised if this was true.

Any word of this?

According to i105-107 news, he was dropped for an alleged 'breach of dicipline'.

From herald.ie

Mark Vaughan has been dropped from the Dublin senior football squad.

The Kilmacud Crokes attacker is believed to have been let go by management for disciplinary reasons and will not play any part in Dublin's preparations for their All-Ireland SFC quarter-final on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Vaughan has missed all of Dublin's championship games so far this summer due to a back injury but has resumed full training in recent weeks and is thought to have been in the running for a return to the match day squad for their last eight tie.

He was not listed as a substitute in any of Dublin's three championship games to date, but has formed part of the extended training squad in recent weeks as he attempted to break his way into manager Pat Gilroy's plans for their post Leinster campaign.

One of Crokes most influential players earlier this year as they went all the way to an All-Ireland club title with the defeat of Crossmaglen Rangers in Croke Park on St Patrick's Day, Vaughan missed almost Dublin's entire league campaign as a result and made just one appearance, as a late substitute for Conal Keaney against Westmeath in the final game of their Division 2 programme.

However, he was sent by management to correct a long-term back problem, ruling him out of Dublin's Leinster campaign. Back in mid-June, however, Gilroy was optimistic about Vaughan's chance of playing this summer, insisting "we'd expect him back in training in three to four weeks, but he has a good bit to go to get himself right."

The player is understood to be fully fit after receiving extensive treatment on his lower back but now finds himself out in the inter-county cold for the foreseeable future.

- Conor McKeon

What's the story with all the traffic disruption around Newry?

Paul McGrane anounced his retirement at Armagh training last night.

Very few have given what he gave to the jersey, and an absolute gentleman off the field.

From Independent.ie

A dispute has arisen today as to who scored the Republic of Ireland's equalising goal against Italy in last night's World Cup qualifier.

The 87th minute goal in Bari rescued a vital Group Eight point for Giovanni Trapattoni's side, and has been credited to captain Robbie Keane.

But Noel Hunt later claimed he was the last man to get a touch to the ball, and confirmed this evening he has taken-up the matter officially.

Tottenham frontman Keane appeared to stab the ball past Gianluigi Buffon during last night's game, but closer examination of the footage would appear to show the Reading striker has some claim to the glory.

"I called the FAI first and then just had to make sure that they had video evidence," Waterford man Hunt told his local radio station Beat 102 103 this evening.

"They think I have grounds for an appeal so it's a matter I will go looking at."

The issue of who got the goal has been a subject of debate in papers and on the internet since full-time last night, and the Reading striker thinks he deserves acknowledgement for it.

"It would be a great start for me for my international career," Hunt said.

"You know I played a friendly there against Poland, so to come on and play some way well and contribute and score a goal against the World Champions in a World Cup qualifier is massive."

There was a good debate on the purpose of its existence on the Late Late Show.

We have all made cutbacks in our own workplaces and lives, should the Government follow suit?

Should we abolish the upper house?

Well gach duine, I'm looking for a gaa-related baby present for a girl ........ any ideas?

From independent.ie

A FORMER GAA club treasurer has been warned by a judge that she must repay almost €100,000 she stole from it if she wants to avoid a long jail sentence.

Patricia Carroll (49), from Chapel Street, Kilfinane, Co Limerick, has put her family home up for sale in a bid to repay Blackrock GAA club in south Limerick the €98,316 she stole between October 2005 and March 2007.

However, Judge Carroll Moran was informed that because of the current economic climate, the mother, who comes from a well-respected GAA family, has been unable to sell the property.

Ms Carroll, who pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to multiple charges of forging cheques to the value of €34,773 and stealing €63,543 from the weekly club lotto, has been jailed until tomorrow's sentencing.

Prosecuting barrister Michael Collins told the court that the club's balance sheets had been altered by the guilty party to cover her tracks.


Lotto

Although Ms Carroll did not attend the lotto draws, she insisted that the money be dropped into her home so it could be lodged in her account, the court heard.

Retired Det Gda Tim Hartnett told the court that the club learned their finances were not in order in 2007 when a man who sanded their GAA field was left with an outstanding bill of €7,780, while Limerick dog track received a cheque for €3,200 which bounced.

Club chairman George Douglas called to Ms Carroll's home, and was informed that she was in financial difficulties and the club's solicitor advised Mr Douglas that they contact the gardai.

Det Gda Hartnett said she admitted taking the money over the course of four interviews, but did not realise the amounts were so high.

Ms Carroll's family come from the Kilmallock/Kilfinane area of Limerick and she has one daughter. Her father was a well-respected member of Blackrock GAA club and also served on the county's south GAA board. She had no previous convictions prior to these offences.

Mr Collins said the GAA club operated on a shoestring budget and relied on the support of the local community and were struggling "big time" as a result of the theft.

Defence barrister Mark Nicholas said her house has been put up for sale and an offer of €80,000 was made, but it fell through. The house remained on the market and a second auctioneer has been appointed.

"She is utterly regretful for what she did and has no trappings of wealth. Her reputation is in tatters. She is now ridiculed and that will continue for the future," commented Mr Nicholas, who added that what happened to the GAA was "a disgrace".

He added that Ms Carroll was quite prepared for a legal charge to be put in place on her property for the GAA club.

Judge Moran noted that the legal charge for the club would be better than nothing, but said it "will not help the GAA club for the foreseeable future".

"They (Blackrock GAA) need the money in liquid form," he said.

"I'm not making any promise that I will not impose a prison sentence, but there is no question that the money must be refunded to the club if there is any alternative to a long prison sentence," Judge Moran said.

"Clearly, I accept we are living in a time when there is no movement in residential property. Nobody knows how long this will last, but it won't last forever. It's all very well bemoaning the present economic state, but where does it get us," he continued.

Judge Moran adjourned the case until tomorrow and ordered that Ms Carroll be kept in custody until then.

Superquinn has confirmed it is to shed 400 jobs and close its Dundalk Store.

67 jobs will be lost in Dundalk with the remaining jobs lost across the rest of the chain from senior management down.

Superquinn has 24 stores in all.

Today's redundancy announcement is the equivalent of 12% of the staff.

In addition to the job losses, Superquinn said it is looking for remaining staff to agree to more flexible working terms and conditions to protect the remaining jobs and secure the future of the chain.

CEO Simon Burke says that most of the job losses will be amongst full-time staff.

The Mandate Trade Union, which represents the majority of Superquinn workers, said it was shocked and disappointed by the announcement.

However the union's Assistant General Secretary, Gerry Light, said it would be wrong to say they were entirely surprised given the current economic circumstances and the the impact of the cross border shopping.

He said the fact that it is Dundalk that is the store to close is not without significance.

Mr Light said that for workers in Dundalk the reality of cross-border shopping has come home to roost today.

He said he was now calling on the public and the Government to stop talking about the potential consequences of cross-border shopping and to start looking at the realities and to act accordingly.

Scary news....

Stephen Ireland and Andy Reid have not been named in the 25-man Republic of Ireland squad to face Georgia in a 2010 World Cup qualifier next month.


Speculation had mounted that the 22-year-old Manchester City midfielder would end his self-imposed exile by declaring himself available for his country once again.

Ireland, who has been one of the only players to show any form at City this season, has not played for his country since September 2007.

Reid has been out of favour at Sunderland, which made his return unlikely.

The midfielder was dropped from the international squad following a disagreement with manager Giovanni Trapattoni earlier in the campaign.

However, there are returns for Espanyol full-back Steve Finnan and Birmingham City's Steven Kelly, who missed the last two games through injury.

'Today, Andy Reid or Ireland, please, it's finished. We speak with them. To clarify, it's finished,' Trapattoni told a news conference.


'We are aiming to win. I hope the players will come back with the same spirit full determination like they had in November. I hope they haven't forgotten the work done until now.


'This will be the first match of a very important year ahead in our challenge to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

'Georgia are strong opposition but we believe in ourselves as a team and I look forward to our fans help to give us a home advantage throughout the 90 minutes.'

Trapattoni's assistant Liam Brady added that the door remains open to the Manchester City player.

Brady said: 'We went to Manchester and we agreed with Stephen Ireland that he would be able to come back if he wanted to come back.'


The FAI also announced this morning that it will set up a 1,500 seat singing section for fans to lead home support in the Davin Stand.

Ireland defeated Georgia 2-1 in the German city of Mainz in September to launch their qualifying campaign in style.

The game was controversially switched from Tblisi because of the volatile political situation in the former Soviet republic at the time.


IRELAND squad to face Georgia on 11 February at Croke Park:

Goalkeepers

Shay Given
Dean Kiely
Keiren Westwood


Defenders


Alex Bruce
Damien Delaney
John O'Shea
Kevin Foley
Paul McShane
Richard Dunne
Stephen Kelly
Steve Finnan
Kevin Kilbane


Midfielders


Aiden McGeady
Damien Duff
Darron Gibson
Glenn Whelan
Keith Andrews
Liam Miller
Stephen Hunt
Andy Keogh


Forwards


Caleb Folan
Kevin Doyle
Robbie Keane
Shane Long
Noel Hunt

With all the talk of a pay freeze, or even a pay cut in the civil service. What do you think?
Should civil servants suffer the ills of the economy along with the rest of us, or should they receive their increments etc?

January
31st January GAA 125 Spectacle Event - National Football League

February
7th February Ireland V France (IRFU)
11th February Republic of Ireland v Georgia (FAI)
14th February GAA All Ireland Intermediate/Junior Club Hurling Finals
15th February GAA All Ireland Intermediate/Junior Club Football Finals
28th February Ireland V England (IRFU)

March
17th March AIB All Ireland Club Finals
28th March Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria (FAI)

April

May
16th/17th May Proposed Stadium Event

June
7th June GAA Leinster Championship - Dublin v Meath & Dublin v Antrim
13th June Take That Concert
28th June GAA Leinster Football Semi-Finals

July
5th July GAA Leinster Hurling Final
12th July GAA Leinster Football Final
19th July Proposed Concert Date

August
1st, 2nd, 3rd August GAA All Ireland Football Quarter Finals (Monday TBC)
9th August Nickey Rackard Final & GAA All Ireland Senior Hurling Semi Finals
16th August Christy Ring Cup Finals & GAA All Ireland Minor & Senior Hurling Semi Finals
23rd August GAA All Ireland Football Semi Finals (Munster v Ulster)
30th August GAA All Ireland Football Semi Finals (Leinster v Connacht)

September
6th September GAA All Ireland Hurling Final
13th September GAA All Ireland Camogie Final (U21 Hurling Final)
20th September GAA All Ireland Football Final
27th September GAA All Ireland Ladies Football Finals

October
4th October GAA All Ireland Football Finals - if replay
10th October Republic of Ireland v Italy (FAI)
14th October Republic of Ireland v Montenegro (FAI)

November
1st November Ireland v Australia International Rules
14th November Potential Soccer World Cup Playoff
15th November Guinness Autumn Internationals Ireland v Australia (IRFU)
18th November Potential Soccer World Cup Playoff
28th November Guinness Autumn Internationals Ireland v South Africa (IRFU)

From RTE.IE

ECB interest rate cut by 0.75 points
  Thursday, 4 December 2008 19:40
The European Central Bank has cut its interest rate by 0.75%, its biggest ever move as inflation plummets and the Eurozone economy sinks deeper into recession.

The move takes the ECB's main refinancing rate to 2.50%, its lowest in nearly two and a half years.

It is the third cut in barely two months amid signs that the financial crisis is biting hard into the real economy.

AdvertisementMany commentators expect rates to fall further in the short-term, as the Eurozone moves deeper into recession.

The rate cut was modest compared with a 100 basis point reduction made by the Bank of England and a huge 175 cut by Sweden's central bank earlier in the day.

But Mr Trichet noted that it was the ECB's third cut in little more than two months, meaning that euro zone interest rates were now 175 basis points lower than they were in the summer -- a scale of cuts rarely seen in continental Europe since World War II.

'Inflation rates are expected to be in line with price stability over the policy-relevant horizon, supporting the purchasing power of incomes and savings', he told a news conference.

'The decline in inflation rates is due mainly to the fall in commodity prices and the significant slowdown in economic activity.'

Eurozone inflation plunged by 1.1 percentage points in November, the biggest drop since the Eurozone was created 10 years ago.

Some economists have talked about the threat of deflation hitting the Eurozone, where consumer prices fall across the board for a lengthy period, and can hit economies severely.

But Mr Trichet played down these risks, stressing that falling inflation rates did not equate to deflation.

It was just announced that Andy Reid has been left out of the Ireland squad.

Il Trap names Ireland squad
Monday, 10 November 2008 14:21
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni today named his 23-man squad for the friendly against Poland at Croke Park on 19 November.

The only major surprise is the omission of Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid, who has had a somewhat strained relationship with the manager.

Reid was named in the Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia, Montenegro and Cyprus earlier this year but was an unused substitute in all three games.

It was widely speculated that Reid's fallout with the manager was related to incidents off the pitch following Ireland's 2-1 win over Georgia.


Republic of Ireland squad v Poland, Wednesday, 19 November, Croke Park, 8.00pm:


Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Newcastle United), Dean Kiely (West Brom), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United).

Defenders: Paul McShane (Hull City), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic), Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Damien Delaney (QPR), Kevin Foley (Wolves).

Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Glasgow Celtic), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Damien Duff (Newcastle United)
Stephen Hunt (Reading), Liam Miller (Sunderland), Andy Keogh (Wolves).

Forwards: Robbie Keane (Liverpool), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Anthony Stokes (Sheffield United), Caleb Folan (Hull City), Shane Long (Reading).

WEXFORD SFC FINAL: NEWLY-CROWNED Wexford senior football champions Kilanerin have pulled out of the Leinster championship. Kilanerin, who won the county title on Saturday, were scheduled to play Navan O'Mahony's in their opening round game yesterday, 24 hours after winning the title for the first time since 2003.

However, club chairman Pat Murray said the decision was left to the players and they decided it would not be right to play the game just 24 hours after winning the title. "We would have loved to have represented Wexford in the Leinster championship . . . but given the knocks and injury count, we would have been fielding short at least six to seven players."

So for the first time Wexford will not be represented in the Leinster championship brought about by the failure of the County Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) to play any championship games in May, with only one round played in both senior hurling and football during the summer.

An awful indictment of any county board.