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i use my i pod and sensor to track the distance i moved while refereeing its between 8km and 9km per senior game most people don't believe me Kevin has a G.P.S system for monitoring players  and referees very expensive gear i think

Total non-story. There are drunken layabouts in every town every day, just waiting to mouth off (or worse) to anyone who doesn't know to steer clear. They never make the news.

Obviously Tourists are liable to run into "Dog Bites Man" difficulties, such as pickpocketing, drunks, rip-offs, ignorance, even hostility etc wherever they go.

Perhaps what made this incident "Man Bites Dog" (newsworthy) is that these particular tourists were drawn into what might be expected to be an entirely local problem (in this case, sectarianism).

Which for a city which is trying to attract Tourists via City of Culture etc, is especially depressing.

[Unless, of course, the Newsworthiness lies in the fact that it is Taigs  who are alleged to have indulged in Sectarianism. I mean, I always thought it was only Prods who did that sort of thing...  ]

Residents angry at 'Relief of Derry' on doorstep  A marcher urinates just outside the pensioner's front door.

Published on Tuesday 14 August 2012 09:55


The family of a Waterside pensioner have spoken of their distress at the "terrible conditions" their mother and her neighbours are forced to endure each August 12.


The daughter of the woman, who in her late 70s, said her mother and her neighbours become "prisoners in their own homes" during the annual celebrations and have to witness marchers and spectators using their gardens and laneways as urinals.

"The area in which she (the pensioner) lives is mostly pensioners," the woman's daughter said. She added that things have become progressively worse over the last few years - so much so that she instructed her mother to take pictures of the marchers and their actions.

Those pictures feature a number of marchers urinating in a laneway and against garden walls in The Triangle.

The woman further claims that her mother's 86 year-old neighbour was forced to clean up human excrement from her garden after two female spectators defecated on her lawn.

She said: "The seriousness of these offences is being scoffed at by the police on duty.

"My mother asked a policeman for help to move these people on and was told by him, 'Sorry, I cannot leave this spot unless I am instructed or given orders to'.

"Several other pensioners also complained to the PSNI who were on duty throughout the day, but again nothing was done to prevent it from happening."

The woman said she offers to take her mother away for the day each year but her mother feels she cannot leave her home as she fears she will come home to a bigger mess.

"All roads in and out of her area are closed from early morning and she has difficulty walking so basically she is a prisoner in her own home for an entire day," the woman said.

The Journal also received calls from residents of Simpson's Brae, one of whom said she witnessed "at least 100" marchers using the gable end of a nearby house as a urinal.

"It comes down to simple respect for the people of Derry and - I didn't see much of that about on Saturday," the second caller said.

one mans culture another mans imprisonment i'm sure the tourist seen nothing here to offend

have the misfortune to know one of the lads he'll probably cut out the article and keep it as a badge of honour just a clown

Passenger was an absolute ****. Couldnt give him enough punches to the head

+1 and a boot to the bollix

i was one of the people who climbed the fence at the oduffy terrace at the end of the game on sunday and would do it again. the feeling of being on the pitch to witness my county make history was unreal and must say that when the guard seen me jump over he just give me a sort of nod and didnt have a problem with it only person that did was the main stweard there. there would be no injuries or trouble if they would just let the people onto the field through the gates at the end of the game. they actually were gonna try stop that crowd at the bottom of the hill on sunday. by doing that they were risking way more injuries than if they would just let them on safely at the end. if donegal were to win the sam in september there is only 1 place i will want to be to see the trophy being lifted and that isnt sitting in a seat in the stand time the gaa realised this is tradition and stopping it takes away from the atmosphere slightly last years all ireland final presentation lacked any atmosphere tbh with all the dubs sitting in their seats imagine what it would of been like with them all on the field looking up to the hogan stand steps

i was stewarding the gate behind the goal at the o Duffy stand hope that wasn't you doing somersaults to get away from the supervisor great entertainment

Joanna Mills may 'defect' to GB + NI
Michael O'Neill, 26 July 2012





A very demoralised, dejected and disillusioned, Joanna Mills , has confirmed that she has decided not to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over her exclusion from the Irish 4 x 400m relay squad.

On Tuesday, it was announced ,as we reported then that Catriona Cuddihy had been reinstated to the Irish team at the expense of Mills.

"If I were successful in my CAS appeal, I don't think I would now be comfortable going into the environment of competing in London," Mills told BBC Northern Ireland

"I'm really disappointed with the way the whole thing has been handled, especially by Athletics Ireland, and I hope they learn from it."

"The whole way the high performance management and coaches have dealt with this issue is disheartening and I will have to make a decision"

"It should just be about times and who is running faster, but other factors are coming in to play.

"If it's meant to be, there will be other Olympic Games for me."

Mills said that in the light of recent events she had not ruled out the possibility of switching allegiance to the GB + NI organisation.

"I've got a lot of opportunities through Ireland. A lot of individuals in the set-up have been very good to me.

"I can't in any way ignore that but at the same time, the whole way the high performance management and coaches have dealt with this issue is disheartening and I will have to make a decision.

"But it's not one I'm going to make at the minute – in the middle of all this."

The 19 years old from Mills, Ballymena, was adamant that she holds no grudge against towards Catriona Cuddihy and wished her and the team well for the Games.

"I hope they enjoy it," she concluded

It is easy to understand how disappointed that Joanna Mills must be at this stage following the fiasco but equally it has been an extremely difficult time for Catriona Cuddihy. There are no real winners here.

For Mills though it would be a major error if she were to make any immediate decisions. Time is a great healer. She has a big future ahead of her with the Irish team as some of the present team members are most unlikely to be around in four years time and she has said in her statement, " a lot of individuals in the set-up have been very good to me".

For now, this incident must be put aside in the interests of the Irish team competing in London 2012 but clearly both the Olympic Council of Ireland and particularly Athletics Ireland have serious questions to answer once the Games are over.

Time for a major shake – up to the Athletics Ireland set up at Senior Management level whilst the Olympic Council of Ireland needs to explain why as the ultimate authority they did not satisfy themselves that the selection criteria laid down was clear and beyond legal challenge . Athletics Ireland also needs to explain why Joanna Mills was even included in their squad considering she had not signed the declaration that they had originally insisted all athletes must sign before being considered for the relay squad. Why have rules if one does not abide by them?

All in all, a sad episode in Irish athletics history and one which must not be repeated.

Conor Mortimer in shock sport switch
Aisling Crowe, 26 July 2012








In a sensational new twist to the Conor Mortimer saga, the former Mayo forward could soon be lining out for his country at Olympic handball.

Mortimer has been offered a chance to earn a place on the Irish Olympic Handball team for the European Championship qualifiers as part of a talent transfer programme launched by the Irish Olympic Handball Association (IOHA).
Lúcás Ó Ceallacháin general manager of the IOHA told the Irish Examiner that they had been in contact with the 30 year old in the wake of his decision to quit the Mayo panel just days before the Connacht final.

"What we actually launched this week is a talent transfer programme where we hope to attract athletes from other sports. Conor plays Gaelic football so he'd be a guy we would be interested in, but there are plenty of athletes from rugby to Gaelic games to basketball that could make the crossover."

The IOHA is trying to raise the standard of Olympic Handball in the country and has launched this initiative. As part of the talent transfer programme two places in the 16 man squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Belgium and Estonia have been reserved for recruits from other sports. Players interested in taking up the challenge will have to fight it out for the two spots.

The four game home and away qualifying campaign gets underway at the end of October.

Kerry supporters show huge Harte for Tyrone boss
Sharon Whelton, 25 July 2012








FOLLOWING his side's heavy loss to Kerry on Saturday last in Killarney, one could expect Tyrone manager Mickey Harte to make a swift exit from Fitzgerald Stadium.

However, Kerry supporters had other ideas, with hundreds of well-wishers waiting after the final whistle to show their support for the Red Hands boss and his side following his family's recent anguish.

For those unfamiliar with the tragedy, Harte's daughter Michaela was brutally murdered on her honeymoon in Mauritius early last year, with a recent trial ruling two men to be not guilty of her murder.

To make matters even worse, the Mauritian Sunday Times then published pictures of Michaela's body, which caused outrage among many Irish citizens, both young and old.

Even though his side were well beaten on the night by a superior Kerry side, it was truly heart-warming to see hundreds of Kerry fans clapping their opposition as they made their way to their team-bus.

It was a remarkable sight, thus showing the level of respect held by one and all for Harte, who has managed Tyrone for the past number of years.

Popular social media site Facebook published a short statement from the Tyrone GAA page, which fully explained the scenes in Fitzgerald Stadium.

Joe.ie reported that approximately 500 supporters (both men and women of young and old) waited around and began to clap when Harte and his panel of players emerged from their dressing room.

"When Mickey Harte appeared, a cheer of support went up," the website added. "As the coach headed down through Killarney, hundreds on the pavements took over where the others left off, warmly applauding Tyrone."

"There is no doubt that Ireland lost a lot and took a lot of wrong turns in the last few years. But if you wanted your faith in decency, respect, honour and dignity restored, then Killarney at about eight o'clock last Saturday evening was the place to be," the Tyrone GAA page stated.
"Inspirational. Unforgettable. Classy."

In a time where our country is steeped in economic crisis, it is undeniably refreshing to see such a level of respect and support directed towards one of the GAA's most-loved managers.

was great to see all the donegal fans with their players as long as it is conrolled to insure no one is hurt keep her lit

There seemed to be some controversy about a Johnston wide. Was anyone there that got a good view of it confirm if it was over or not? What was the score when this score wasn't given?

Thought it was wide myself.

There was an Ian Ryan free in the first half which was waved wide that looked fairly debatable.

had a great view both were wide very tight but definitely wide.

Not the SPL anyway.

Do the go down the leagues like the Ballroom of Romance asking "Are you dancing?"

are you asking

At least one man will save on petrol. Great opportunity for Cavan to take the scalp they left behind in 2008 when Kavanagh got Kildare out of jail in the last minute. We've angered the footballing gods and this could well be a fitting punishment.

Hopefully we'll see a few more of the young players given an opportunity but I doubt the manager is thinking long term now.

c.c.c.c.c must be delighted with that draw

all aboard the breffni bus 

The situation is quite farcical, but the kildare county board exploited a loophole in the rules, kinda in a way the transfer was delayed on purpose until the Kildare 1st round championship was played by croke park, and the committee was happy they pulled a fast one delaying Johnston playing to next year! but alias they got round it and nobody coming out of this smelling like roses, a quick transfer although wrong would have been best all round as he would have got it sooner or later once residency was proven

i don't agree if he was working in kildare i would understand the request but he is a teacher in cavan town while every player would love an AI medal i wouldn't sellout my county for one

Ill book the Doire Trasna mini-bus and me and ye will make a weekend of it, if the draw turns out to place Kildare and Cavan. That a deal?

i will speak to paddy to get the bus sorted