Irish manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has recalled Shane Duffy to the Irish squad for tomorrow’s Nations League game against Finland at the Aviva and the game against England at Wembley on Sunday. The 32-year-old former Irish captain won his 61st cap against Hungary in June when John O’Shea was in charge, but has not featured in Hallgrimsson’s first four games.
Duffy has played his way back into the squad after some good performances for Norwich in the English Championship and Hallgrimsson is confident his aggression and power will add something he feels is missing from the team.
The manager said: ‘‘In the beginning, we went for the younger players, but I felt, especially last camp, there were some areas we can improve. For example, we lost a lot of duels, especially against Greece in the first half, and Duffy’s leadership, his character will probably help us in that area. It’s good to see what he brings in and I hope they will be the attributes he will come in with, leadership, a little bit more steel and winning duels, especially set pieces.’’ Duffy has scored seven international goals, many with his head from set pieces. Duffy is not the only senior player to return to the squad with 36-year-old captain Seamus Coleman, who missed last month’s double-header with a foot injury, included despite his Everton manager Sean Dyche revealing that the Donegal native is carrying a hamstring injury.
For these two games the manager will have to plan without Chiedozie Ogbene, who is facing up to eight months on the sidelines after undergoing Achilles surgery. Ogbene’s Ipswich Town teammate Jack Taylor, Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone, Preston leftwinger Robbie Brady, Aberdeen midfielder Jamie McGrath and Notts Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele, who are all injured. Included are Tom Cannon, who looked impressive when making his debut against Portugal back in June and Andrew Moran, who was capped under former manager Stephen Kenny. We have scored only two goals in four games under the new manager and both were against Finland in Helsinki last month.
DOLAN RIDES OUTSIDER
TO MELBOURNE CUP WIN
Kildare-born jockey Robbie Dolan won the famous Melbourne Cup in a photo-finish last week on the 80/1 chance Knight’s Choice. The 28-year-old moved to Australia eight years ago after a lack of opportunities at home. Although he has a long family history with racing – his father Bobby worked for two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Dermot Weld in Ireland – music almost drew him away. Better known as a singer on an Australian reality show, Robbie rode an absolute outsider to victory ahead of the international raiders and star imported stayers from Ireland. Dolan is an accomplished rider, with the Melbourne Cup being his 348th career win. His father Bobby who travelled with Robbie’s mother Paula to Australia for the race said: ‘‘I have just sired a Melbourne Cup winner and he has two legs.’’
FAI TO GET MORE
GOVERNMENT CASH
Last week the FAI saw its core State funding rise to €6 million as part of a new Memorandum of Understanding deal agreed with the Government. A four-year accord was brokered in early 2020 to rescue the association from looming financial collapse, providing €30.8m in collaboration with UEFA and Bank of Ireland to meet mortgage repayments and licensing bills on the Aviva Stadium along with covering staff payroll, among other outgoings. Four years later and the FAI remain €42m in debt as the drought in men’s major tournament qualifications extends to a decade.
State support is essential for the FAI to maintain its principal functions and in return a raft of governance reforms have been implemented in the aftermath of John Delaney’s 15-year tenure as CEO. Those measures, such as an even split of independent and football directors and 40 percent female on the 14-person board, will continue to apply as part of this successor pact. Moreover, that gender balance must cascade through the committee structure, notably the 135-strong General Assembly by June 2026.
Sports Minister Catherine Martin said last week, “If the FAI had been allowed to fail following its financial collapse, the consequences would have been catastrophic for Irish football at every level, from our international teams to grassroots and schools football.’’
MCCARTHY RETIRES
MURPHY RETURNS
Dublin midfielder James McCarthy has confirmed that he is retiring from inter-county action. The Ballymun Kickhams clubman won nine All-Ireland senior football meals, 14 Leinster titles, six National leagues and five All-Stars in a glittering career. McCarthy, whose father John was part of the great Dublin team of the 1970s, said: ‘‘This decision has not been an easy one to make but I feel it's the right time. I have been very fortunate to be involved in a golden period for Dublin GAA and I have played with the most incredible group of players. It really has been some of the best days of my life and I have memories to last a lifetime. The loyalty and friendship we have built is something I will always be thankful for.’’
Meanwhile Donegal’s Michael Murphy is making a comeback. Two years after retiring at the age of 33, Murphy is expected to be back in the Donegal colours for their opening game in the National League against Kerry in Killarney on Jan. 25. The 2012 All-Ireland winning captain has been persuaded to return to the fold by manager Jim McGuinness. In recent years Murphy has worked as a pundit and is a member of the Football Review Committee, whose rules will be trialled in the League next year.
FLOODLIGHTS
FOR PEARSE
Galway GAA are hoping that the new floodlights will be ready at Pearse Stadium in Salthill for the start of the National Football League campaign on Jan. 25. The provisional fixtures have been released for counties to review them and if approved they will see a repeat of the All-Ireland football final in Salthill in January. On the same weekend old rivals Dublin and Mayo are due to meet in Croke Park. It’s going to be an interesting National League campaign if the new rules suggested by Jim Gavin and his group are implemented.
CORK NEEDS
NEW BLOOD
Cork football manager John Cleary will need to introduce some new players to the senior ranks next year as a few senior players are retiring or taking a break. Stephen Sherlock, Damien Gore and Kevin Flahive are going travelling, while John O’Rourke and Killion O’Hanlon are both retiring. The loss of Sherlock will impact Cleary’s attacking options as the St Finbarr’s club has been Cork’s top scorer in Cleary’s three years in charge of The Rebels.
FAI, FA FINED FOR
ANTHEM BOOING
The FAI have been hit with fines totalling €25,000 off the back of events including the booing of “God Save The King” at the Nations League game between Ireland and England in September. The English FA have also been fined by the European governing body for the behavior of their supporters and the booing of the home team’s anthem in that game. UEFA’s match delegate included in his report on the game the fact that “God Save The King” was booed by a large section of the home support in that sold-out game at Lansdowne Road, earning the FAI a fine of €10,000. That fine is the standard UEFA punishment for that offense, but there were other punishments from European football’s disciplinary body over the presence of flares at the game as well as a home supporter being able to get onto the pitch. England’s FA were fined €6,000 for the actions of a well-known prankster from the away support who managed to get onto the pitch, in full England kit, and get close to the away team’s line-up just before the anthems. The fact that a section of England’s supporters booed “Amhrán na bhFiann” led to a separate €12,000 fine for the FA.
REF FARRELLY
NOT ON PANEL
Cavan’s Maggie Farrelly is not part of the national referees panel for the 2025 National Football Leagues. Farrelly, the first woman in history to officiate in a men’s inter-county game 10 years ago, has been on the list for the last three seasons. In 2022 Maggie, who played for Laragh United, made history when she became the first woman to referee the Cavan County final, between Ramor United and Gowna. The following year she stepped up to inter-county level when she took charge of the Division 4 National League game between Leitrim and London.
ROY AND RODDY
IN CONVERSATION
Tickets for “An evening with Roy Keane” in Cork next summer went on sale last Friday. Manchester United legend Keane will join author Roddy Doyle for the “in conversation” event at the Marquee, Cork, on July 7. Doyle co-authored Keane’s second biography, “The Second Half.” The Corkman’s first autobiography was co-written with journalist Eamon Dunphy, with the pair falling out afterwards. In contrast, Keane and Doyle remained friends after the publication of “The Second Half” and now the pair are collaborating again for a special chat.
