There's an old saying that a new broom sweeps clean. It's much the same with new managers in the GAA; a new man comes in with fresh ideas, new training methods, different game plans and often work wonders with a club or county.
That's what has happened with Derry and Donegal who meet in the Ulster senior football final in Clones on Sunday next. Jimmy McGuinness, who at 38 is the youngest manager in Ulster, has always had a keen interest in coaching. And after taking Donegal to the All-Ireland under 21 final last year, he was promoted to take charge of the seniors this year. Under McGuinness Donegal won division two of the National League and now they now back in the Ulster final for the first time since 2006. Donegal's last win in Ulster was away back in 1992, the same year they went on to win the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time. In the intervening 19 years they have been beaten in five finals. While McGuinness is a young man starting off on the managerial road, Derry's John Brennan is a veteran in the game, having managed several club sides in his native Derry and nearby Tyrone. At 73, he is second to the legendary Mick O'Dwyer in the seniority stakes.
In the National League, Derry finished with ten points, the same as Donegal and Laois, who contested the division two final thanks to a superior points difference to Derry's. The Oak Leaf men maintained their good run in the Ulster championship where they beat Fermanagh and then caused a major upset by playing really attractive football in their semifinal win over Armagh.
This will be their first Ulster final appearance since 2000. Under Brennan, Derry are making full use of the big men in the team, while McGuinness' tactics are often a bit negative. Donegal have a match-winner in their exciting young full forward Michael Murphy but I fancy Derry to take the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time since 1998.
ROSCOMMON AIM TO RETAIN TITLE
After a near disaster against London in Ruislip where they needed extra time to get over the Exiles, Mayo recovered to beat old rivals Galway in the Connacht semifinal and qualify for next Sunday's final against Roscommon at Dr. Hyde Park. The semifinal against Galway in Castlebar was played in terrible weather conditions and it was difficult to know how good or bad both teams were.
Meanwhile Roscommon under Fergal O'Donnell are bidding to win back to back Connacht titles for the first time since 1991 when they beat Mayo in a replay. Their first game in the Connacht championship was back on May Day when they beat New York at Gaelic Park. The Rossies then had an easy semifinal win over Leitrim at Carrick on Shannon on yet another wet Irish Sunday.
So hopefully the weather will be kinder on Sunday next and we might see a good game of football. Mayo always do well in Connacht and then implode when they get to Croke Park. I always feel that Mayo teams get homesick when they pass Kinnegad or Enfield, but last year they didn't even make it to Croke Park, losing to Longford at Pearse Stadium as they tried to take the scenic route to Croker. I like Mayo people, love their jerseys, but I have grown weary seeing their senior teams collapse and I give a hesitant vote to the Rossies to retain the Nestor Cup for the first time in 20 years.
REPUBLIC FOR BARCELONA
The Republic's European Championship qualifier against Andorra on Oct. 7 is likely to be played in Barcelona. The Andorran FA has written to UEFA requesting permission to play the game in the Catalan headquarters to accommodate an expected large crowd from Ireland. When we last played Andorra away in 2001 the game was also played in Barcelona, where we won 3-0 with goals from Ian Harte from the penalty spot, Kevin Kilbane and Matt Holland. The attendance ten years ago was 4,000.
Meanwhile Irish international Seán St. Ledger has completed his transfer from Preston to Leicester. St. Ledger has gotten a three-year deal with Leicester, who are now managed by former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.
RICHARDSON TAPS CUNNINGHAM
Damien Richardson, the manager of the Airtricity League of Ireland team for the upcoming Dublin Super Cup at the Aviva Stadium at the end of the month, has appointed former Irish international Kenny Cunningham as his assistant. Cunningham, a former Irish international captain, has never played in the League of Ireland, but he is familiar with the domestic scene and has taken his preliminary coaching badges.
Meanwhile Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O'Neill has brought in his former Northern Ireland colleague Jim Magilton as an interim assistant manager of The Hoops. Last week Trevor Crolly quit as O'Neill's assistant at Rovers.
HAYES APPEARS ON WAY OUT
John Hayes could have played his last game for Munster after the province confirmed they have no plans to extend his contract beyond the World Cup. The legendary prop who will turn 38 in November was left out the 45-man squad released by Munster last week, fuelling speculation that the "Bull" is set to retire after the tournament in New Zealand. Hayes has played 201 times for Munster and has won 104 caps for Ireland, but has been out of favor at international level since the November Series.
Meanwhile Munster Rugby has turned to a former Aussie Rules trainer to get them into shape for the new season. Bryce Cavanagh, who has coached Sydney Swans, will replace Englishman Paul Darbyshire, who recent succumbed to Motor Neuron disease at the age of 41. Cavanagh, who previously worked with the NSW Waratahs before switching the Aussie Rules, linked up with Munster as their strength and conditioning coach last week.
SHEEHAN SIDELINED
Cork forward Ciaran Sheehan is the latest GAA player to suffer a cruciate knee injury. Sheehan picked up the injury in the Munster final defeat to Kerry at Killarney on July 2nd and will miss the rest of the season. Other intercounty players out of action this summer with cartilage problems include Sheehan's Cork colleague Colm O'Neill, Paddy Bradley (Derry), David Moran (Kerry), John Galvin (Limerick), Dermot Earley and Peter Kelly (Kildare), Conor Mortimer (Mayo), Mark Davoren and Stephen Hiney (Dublin), David Bray (Meath), Eamon O'Hara (Sligo) and John Tennyson (Kilkenny). Some GAA supporters claim that new blade-style boots are causing the cruciate injuries.
