Sport
GAA Daily Round Up - Wed Feb 23rd
- Details
- Category: Sport
- Published on Wednesday, 23 February 2011 09:33
According to the Examiner, defenders Conor O’Brien and Hugh Maloney, as well as forward duo Paddy Fanning and Timmy Hammersley, were informed of the decision after Saturday night’s defeat to Dublin in the Allianz Hurling League.
Several media, including the Irish Independent, carry quotes from former Kerry star Darragh Ó Sé, who has suggested that the Kingdom would benefit from moving Kieran Donaghy from full forward back to midfield.
Kerry have struggled badly in midfield since Ó Sé decided to call time on his career after the 2009 season.
"I think that move would be a good idea," said Ó Sé. "I’d like to see him back out there for one or two League games anyway. Darran O’Sullivan is playing very well, Declan O’Sullivan is coming back in, throw him (Declan O’Sullivan) in at full-forward.
“I’d say it would do his (Donaghy’s) game no end of good either to get out around the middle and shake himself up a bit."
Mickey Harte, the Tyrone manager, has told the Irish Examiner that he expects his players to rally together and face off the threat of relegation to Division Three of the Allianz Football League.
"It is a tall order for us, but it’s one that we’ll face collectively. We’ll roll up our sleeves, we’ll take it on the chin and we’ll do the best we can,” said Harte
"These are still good players in Tyrone, we still have got a very strong panel. We have been through many battles together, and we’ll battle our way through this one too.”
Dublin manager Pat Gilroy has suggested that Paul Griffin could feature for Kilmacud Crokes in the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club final on March 17.
Griffin, the former Dublin captain, spent most of last season sidelined after sustaining cruciate knee damage in an Allianz league game against Monaghan.
"He played a little bit of football last Saturday with Kilmacud in training and he actually played a game last night (Monday)," said Gilroy in the Irish Times.
"He was flying, absolutely flying. I suppose he needs four to six weeks to get his fitness levels up. But he worked very hard in getting the knee right. It was great to see him get through it. He took a few knocks and he wasn’t in any way holding back so it was very positive.
"I think he will (play in the League). If Kilmacud are successful this weekend I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in contention for the club final."
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Young Footballer of the Year Aidan Walsh says he would like to play inter-county hurling for Cork in the future.
However, Walsh, 20, revealed that he turned down an invitation to play for the hurlers from Cork Senior hurling manager Denis Walsh at the start of the year.
"I was talking to Denis at the start of the year and I made my views clear straight away," he said. "If you try and play too much you get injured and then you don't play at all. I'm trying to cut down and manage the situation.
"If the opportunity came up again, I would love to try it. I have great time for hurling, I would love to hurl. I've no real preference really, it's whatever way I'm playing. Hopefully next year or the year after, I'll try it (dual status)."
The Irish Times reports that Ulster Council secretary Danny Murphy has welcomed the recent deal between the GAA and the GPA in his annual report.
“We recognise the tremendous commitment of our players as they are our most essential assets and they are deserving of our respect and support,” he wrote.
“We can all improve the relationships by having the administration structures in place as well as having the necessary players and management charters in place that ensure respect of and adherence to the amateur and voluntary ethos of our association.”
Meanwhile, Kildare defender Peter Kelly has been speaking to the Irish Independent about his recovery from the cruciate knee injury he sustained while playing for UCD in the O’Byrne Cup.
“There is not a whole lot I can do at the moment apart from a few leg exercises," he said.
"In the next couple of weeks I will go back into the gym and try to strengthen it up."