“Nightmare,” “tough,” “uphill.” They were some of the words used on Sunday to describe The Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2024 draw where we were grouped with: The Netherlands, France, Greece and Gibraltar. No doubt it’s going to very difficult for Stephen Kenny to get the Republic of Ireland to the finals in France in 2024. Netherlands and holders France will both be competing in the World Cup finals next month and will be amongst the favorites to compete for the trophy.
The top two countries qualify automatically for the finals, while the play-off situation is determined by the standings in the Nations League tournament which has just finished. The Republic are realistically around the cut-off line for that in 26th position. If Kenny’s team miss out on a top two spot, they will be hoping that the 20 automatic places are filled by teams ranked above them. Speaking after the draw on Sunday Kenny admitted it was a tough, but is looking forward to the challenge and some huge nights at the Aviva. The manager said: ‘‘It’s tough group but they are very exciting games and a challenge we will look forward to. We are looking forward to playing France and the Netherlands home and away; these will great occasions and Greece and Gibraltar will also present us with a real challenge also. It’s a group where teams can take points off each other so we can take confidence from that. To finish in the top two, we will have to achieve something extraordinary, but that has to be our ambition to do that. We have shown a capacity to get results against tough opposition with the likes of Portugal, Serbia and Belgium. We can take real encouragement from that.’’ A Jason McAteer goal gave us a famous World Cup win over Holland at Lansdowne Road in September 2001. And who can forget that infamous Thierry Henry hand ball in Paris to set up Gallas for an equalizer back in November 2019?
The action gets under way on March 27 when France visit the Aviva. Rest of fixtures: June 16 v Greece (Away), June 19 v Gibraltar (Home); Sept. 7 v France (Away); Sept. 10 v Netherlands (Home); Oct. 13 v Greece (Home); Oct. 16 v Gibraltar (Away) and Nov.18 v Netherlands (Away).
Meantime, Northern Ireland will fancy their chances of making an impact after bring drawn with: Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and San Marino, while England have been drawn to face Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.
NELSON IS NEW
MEATH MANAGER
Davy Nelson is set to become the new Meath Ladies football manager replacing Eamonn Murray. The Navan O’Mahony’s clubman’s name will go before a Meath LGFA committee this week for ratification. Former Carlow hurler Mark Brennan, who served as strength and conditioning coach under Murray, will act as coach with former Monaghan footballer Bernie Murray also set to be involved. Nelson is a highly-respected coach who led his home club to four Meath senior football titles. He also won a Monaghan senior football title with Latton O’Rahillys and also managed Meath under 21 and junior county teams.
CROKER SURFACE
IS OVERHAULED
The Croke Park pitch surface has been re-laid for the second time in 2022, but this time the entire surface has been covered with turf from the GAA’s farm in The Naul, North County Dublin. The surface was covered for two weeks to accommodate the five Garth Brooks concerts over two weekends in September. Earlier this year turf from the GAA’s 67-acre farm in Naul, which was bought the GAA in 2018 for harvesting of pitch-ready turf, was transported the short distance to Croke Park to cover three-quarters of the surface after Ed Sheeran played the venue. But this time it has undergone a complete overhaul, the first in a few years Stadium director Peter McKenna said: ‘‘The work has been scheduled for some time, but less usage during Covid allowed Croke Park to squeeze another bit of time out of it. The pitch was not being used as much so it was going to maintain its playability, but with two weeks covered during Garth Brooks, that was it, it was gone. So this gave us an opportunity to replace it in its entirety and it all comes from the Naul.” Remedial work around the perimeter and drainage work has also taken place in the last week and the expectation is that the new pitch ready for the annual Dublin Cumann na mBunscol finals at the end of this month.
LAOIS CONFIRM
SHANAHAN
Former Waterford hurler Dan Shanahan has joined the Laois senior hurling backroom team for the 2023 season. Willie Maher, who replaced Seamus Plunkett as Laois Manager last month, previously worked with Shanahan when he was a selector with Waterford in 2014 and the two men were also part of the management team at the Bennettsbridge club in Kilkenny last season.
Also former Tipperary star Brendan Maher has taken his first steps into inter-county management after confirming his role as part of the Offaly hurling backroom team for 2023. Maher, who captained Tipp to win the MacCarthy Cup in 2016, only hung up his inter-county boots at the end of the 2021 season, is linking up with his former Borris-Ileigh manager Johnny Kelly in Offaly. His older brother Martin is already a coach/selector Offaly, while Brendan will work as a performance coach
NO. 41 FOR
BALLYMAC
No stopping Ballymacarbry in Waterford Ladies football. The Ballymac ladies recently beat Comeragh Rangers to win their 41st consecutive Ladies senior final. Two goals from Sadhbh Hallinan and one each from Michelle Ryan, Sinead Kenrick and Aoife Barron helped them to a 5-11 to 2-6 victory over Comeragh Rangers, who they have now beaten in nine of the last ten county finals. Ryan has now won her 24th county medal, while it was a number 23 for captain Michelle McGrath.
JOYCE TO GET NOD
Padraic Joyce is expected to ratified for another three years as Galway senior football manager this week. This year, the Joyce led the Tribesmen to their first All-Ireland final appearance since he and his then team-mates beat Kildare in 2001. Galway lost the 2022 decider by four points to Kerry. Joyce’s team lost back-to-back Connacht finals to Mayo in his first two campaigns in charge, when Covid ensured there were no qualifiers. However, Galway gained their revenge in this year’s provincial quarter-final and beat Leitrim, Roscommon, Armagh and Derry before falling just short on the big day against Kerry.
DANES TO PROTEST HOSTS’
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
Denmark will wear “toned down” shirts for the World Cup to protest against host Qatar’s human rights record and its treatment of migrant workers. Kit provider Hummel has also designed a third, all-black kit, to represent the ‘‘color of mourning.’’ Hummel said it does not wish to be visible in a tournament it claims has cost thousands of lives. In a statement Hummel said: ‘‘We support the Danish national team but that is not the same as supporting Qatar as a host nation.’’ As part of the design, the Denmark badge is also ‘‘toned down.’’ Their playing kit will be a plain red home shirt and an all-white second kit. Denmark's training kit sponsors will also withdraw their logos to give room for messages critical of Qatar.
Meanwhile kit makers Adidas are at the centre of an argument between two African national teams after producing a new design for Algeria which Morocco officials say is tantamount to cultural appropriation. The new jersey features blue, yellow and teal patterned geometric shapes which the sports equipment company say is a tribute to one of the famous landmarks in the nation, the Mechouar Palace. In a social media post, Adidas announced: “Algeria culture wear collection, inspired by the architectural design of the iconic El Mechouar palace in Tlemcen.’’ However, it is argued that the design is akin to zellige, a Moroccan mosaic style, with a representative from that nation’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Communications responding with a demand to change the kit.
