[caption id="attachment_66914" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Irish captain Robbie Keane with manager Giovanni Trapattoni."]
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni says he might consider resting captain Robbie Keane for the European Championship game away to Andorra on Friday Oct. 7. Keane is due to play for LA Galaxy in their re-arranged MSL game against New York Red Bulls on Tuesday Oct. 4 and it would it be a mad dash for Keane to catch a flight to Dublin and then link up with the Irish squad who will probably depart for Andorra on Wednesday Oct. 5. Under FIFA's five-day rule Trapattoni could compel Galaxy to release Keane, but the Irish boss has hinted that he may keep him in reserve for the final game in the group against Armenia in Dublin on Oct. 11, which is likely to be much tougher than the Andorra game. Trap said: ''I will watch LA's game against New York game on DVD and then talk to Robbie. He could play both games, but I will rely on what Robbie tells me. He is always keen to play for his country.''
CORK AIM FOR
6 IN 7 YEARS
On Croke Park on Sunday next with the All-Ireland women's senior, intermediate and junior finals to be decided. The big one is the senior final where Cork, who made it five in a row in 2009, take on Monaghan. In the history of women's football counties have tended to dominate for long periods. Kerry won nine in a row from 1983 to 1990, then Waterford made the breakthrough, followed by Monaghan and Mayo. Monaghan had won two their All-Ireland titles in 1996 and 1997, long before Cork won their first-ever senior title in 2005. Cork's great run was ended last year and this year they should be able to get full attention from their dual players, some of whom also played Camogie for the Rebels. The counties last met in a final in 2008 when Cork won four in a row. In the intermediate final Cavan play Westmeath and New York will be making their first final appearance since 1999 when they play Wicklow in the Junior Final.
PATS THROUGH
TO FAI SEMIS
It's 50 years since St Patrick's Athletic won the FAI Cup and there have been many disappointments along the way since then for Saints supporters. Hopes of bringing the Cup back to Inchicore must be rising again after Pats became the first club to qualify for this year's semifinals with a 1-0 win over Cork City on Friday night. Bohemians and Dundalk played out a scoreless draw at Oriel Park, while Shamrock Rovers' away tie against Sligo Rovers was put back until Monday night to allow the Hoops recover from their 3-0 defeat to Rubin Kazan in the Europa League. After a successful appeal Shelbourne are back in the FAI Cup and they will now meet Limerick in a re-arranged quarterfinal. The FAI Cup semifinal draw is due to be made next Monday.
Meanwhile The Republic of Ireland women began their UEFA 2013 campaign with 2-0 win over Wales in Newport on Saturday. Denise O'Sullivan scored both goals in her senior debut, but the defence and goalkeeper Emma Byrne must also take some credit for keeping the Welsh at bay. The Irish women now play France in Turner's Cross, Cork tomorrow.
OPEN DATE COULD
RULE OUT MCILROY
We could have a new date for the Irish Open next year if talks with a potential new sponsor work out. The European Tour is currently in discussion with a new sponsor, reported to be Zurich International and there is talk of a move from the August Bank Holiday to the end of June. Either way it looks like the Irish Open will be played in Killarney again in 2012. However, a June date could rule out Rory McIlroy, who according to his manager Chubby Chandler, could be playing at the AT&T National at Congressional that week.
MCENEANEY
STAYS ON
Seamus McEneaney is to continue as manager of the Meath senior football team for another year at least. The Monaghan man got the backing of the majority of the delegates at the monthly meeting of the Meath County Board last week. Former selectors Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan had letters read out at the meeting outlining their reasons for quitting mid-way through the season. But McEneaney is pressing ahead with a new backroom team comprising of: Tom Keague (selector), Marty McElkennon (coach/trainer) and Graham Geraghty (player/selector). Seamus also welcomed the appointment of former Meath manager Seán Boylan as director of football. He said: ''The appointment of Seán Boylan is an incredibly intelligent move by chairman Barney Allen. It's a very shrewd decision and one that is sure to benefit Meath football in the long term.''
In Sligo, Kevin Walsh looks like he will continue as the county's senior football manager for a fourth year. Walsh had been mentioned a possible candidate for the vacancy in his native Galway, but it looks like that job will go to Galway under 21 manager Alan Mulholland. And Peter Fitzpatrick is to continue as Louth football manager for another year. Fitzpatrick is the only intercounty manager, who is also a member of Dáil Eireann.
Meanwhile in hurling John McIntyre has stepped down in Galway. The Tipperary-born manager had been in charge for three years. Already Davy Fitzgerald is mentioned as a possible replacement despite being earlier linked with the Clare job. Anthony Cunningham, who recently led Galway to All-Ireland under 21 success, has indicated that he would be interested, but Mattie Murphy, who had managed the Galway minors to six All-Ireland minor titles, says he is not.
FLOODLIT WIN
FOR FINALISTS
Here's an interesting fact I came across earlier this year. On September 24, 1947 the first-ever floodlight GAA game was played in New York when a combined Cavan-Kerry team beat a New York selection 6-7 to 1-9. Ten days earlier Cavan had beaten Kerry in the All-Ireland football final at the Polo Grounds. I'm not sure of the venue for the floodlit game, but I don't think it was the Polo grounds. Maybe some long time readers can remember the game?
STRINGER ISN'T FINISHED
Peter Stringer was naturally disappointed that he didn't make the Irish squad for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. But the 33 year-old is not sulking. The scrum half, who won 98 Irish caps is back playing with Munster in the Rabo Direct Pro12 League, which is the new name for the old Celtic League or Magners League. Stringer, whose contract is up at the end of the season, says he has no intention of retiring. He said: ''I have no intention of finishing playing at the end of this season and I can see myself playing rugby for another few years for sure. I am feeling good and I still enjoy playing the game.''
MCCONVILLE SAYS
SPONSOR NOT IDEAL
Former Armagh star Oisin McConville is not really happy that a bookmaker is now sponsoring his club Crossmaglen Rangers, but says he will still pull on the club jersey. McConville, who revealed his gambling addiction in his autobiography "The Gambler" and now counsels addicts, says it's far from ideal that Bar One Racing has come on board as the club's sponsor. He said: ''It's not ideal for me to be out there talking to young people about addiction and then pulling on a jersey with a bookmakers logo on it. But at the end of the day the club is bigger than any one individual. I have spoken to the sponsor Barney O'Hare and he is a good fella. We have five or six hundred members and it just happens that I am one person who gambles compulsively.''
O MUIRCHEARTAIGH
IN GUINNESS BOOK
Seán Og O Ceallacháin is already in the Guinness Book of Record for his Sunday might GAA results program on RTE radio, which ended earlier this year. Now another GAA man has made it in the famous book. Commentator Micheál O Muircheartaigh is included in the 2012 issue for the longest career as a live mach commentator spanning 62 years from March 1949 to October 2010.
