Wednesday 12 December 2012

Wednesday morning headlines



GAA


Gerry Kavanagh has been appointed as the new Laois GAA Chairman following last night's Annual Convention in Portlaoise.

The Stradbally clubman was elected unopposed by delegates to the role, succeeding Brian Allen.

It had been thought that outgoing Vice-Chairman Kavanagh  would be in competition for the role with former Chairman Dick Miller.

However, Miller; current Treasurer Martin Byrne and Kieran Delaney all withdrew their interest.

Outgoing chairman Brian Allen is the new PRO with Portlaoise's Peter O'Neill the new vice chairman, Paschal McEvoy takes up the role of assistant treasurer, Niall Handy retains his position as Secretary. 

The other positions are Jody Conway (Irish and Cultural Officer), Tom Jones (Development Officer) Pat O'Sullivan (Coaching Officer), Anthony Delaney is the Central Council representative while Kieran Leavy and Michael Carroll are the delegates to Leinster Council. 

Laois County Board also reported a surplus of €58,063 while there was €41,400 depreciation on O'Moore Park.




Eoin Kelly and Brendan Cummins have both been named in the Tipperary panel for the 2013 Allianz league.

Lar Corbett is also included although Tipp manager Eamon O'Shea says that the Thurles Sarsfields contingent will remain with their club until their interest in the All Ireland championship is over.

O'Shea says he will stay in contact with Sars' players Corbett, Pa Bourke, Michael Cahill and Pádraic Maher but they won't train with the panel.



Eire Og in Carlow will host the Leinster Schools Senior Hurling B Semi Final between Grennan College and Heywood at noon today

While Ardscoil Chiarain Clara and Mullingar Community College meet in the Final of the 13 a side North Leinster Juvenile D Football at 1.30 in Clara



SOCCER

Athlone rivals Willow Park and St Peters clash in the Umbro FAI Junior Cup's 4th Round this evening

The winners of the 7.30 kick off at Willow Park will go on to play Ballymun in the next round


Arsenal have been knocked-out of the League Cup after a shock quarter-final defeat to Bradford City. 

The League Two side continued their incredible run of penalty shoot-out success after captain Thomas Vermaelen went from hero to villan for the Gunners. 

Garry Thompson's thumping finish at the back-post gave Bradford the lead after just 16 minutes, but Vermaelen forced the game into extra-time with an 88th minute header. 

Despite fielding a strong side from the start, Arsenal couldn't find a second goal and Bradford won the shoot-out 3-2 after Vermaelen missed the final kick for the visitors.


In the other quarter-final, Aston Villa thrashed their hosts, Norwich 4-1. 

Villa boss Paul Lambert enjoyed a winning return to Carrow Road after bouncing-back from going a goal down to book their place in the semi-finals. 

Steve Morison gave the Canaries the lead, but Villa's Brett Holman equalised just two minutes later. A late brace from substitute Andreas Weimann put the visitors in charge before Christian Benteke rounded-off the scoring in stoppage time.

Tonight Swansea host Middlesbrough at 7.45.


Sunderland have climbed out of the Premier League drop zone after a convincing 3-0 win over Reading at the Stadium of Light. 

The pressure has eased significantly on manager Martin O'Neill after a much-needed victory that sees them move up to 15th in the table and also leaves Reading six points off safety. 

Irish international James McClean gave the home side the perfect start after just three minutes. Top-scorer Steven Fletcher added a second before Stephane Sessegnon wrapped-up the points in injury time.
 

Aberdeen are into the Scottish Cup fifth round - they were impressive in winning 2-1 at Motherwell last night.

Craig Brown's team will play Hibs in the next round.

Tonight Arbroath host Celtic at 7.45 



RUGBY UNION

Connacht star Mike McCarthy is expected to sign a three year deal with Leinster

The Irish Times reports that the Irish lock, who played his AIL rugby with Buccaneers, will make the switch this summer despite Connacht's best efforts to keep him

Second row has been a problem area for the European Champions since the departure of Nathan Hines and McCarthy is viewed as the ideal partner, as well as eventual replacement, for captain Leo Cullen

Meanwhile Biarritz have sacked their backs and forwards coaches Jack Issac and Serge Milhas in the wake of Friday's Heineken Cup defeat to Connacht

Club President Serge Blanco has handed the temporary reigns to Laurent Rodriguez and Mathieu Rourre for this week's return fixture



Lions' coach Warren Gatland is set to name his backroom team for the tour to Australia this Summer.

The former Ireland coach is not expected to name any Irish coaches as part of the ticket.


The Cistercian College Roscrea and Marist College Athlone are in Schools League Rugby Finals either side of the Shannon this afternoon

Ballyhaunis hosts the Connacht Senior League Final between defending champions Marist College and Sligo Grammar at 12.30

While at Donnybrook it's Cistercian Roscrea face Dublin's Gonzaga College at 2.30


GOLF

Carton House has confirmed that their 'Montgomerie Course' will host next year's Irish Open.

The county Kildare venue was confirmed as the 2013 host last January, but had delayed a decision on whether or not to stage the tournament on their Montgomerie or O'Meara courses.

In a boost for the tournament it's being reported this morning that world number one Rory McIlroy will waive his $2m dollar appearance fee to play the event


SWIMMING


Barry Murphy will be Ireland's sole competitor at this week's World Short-Course Swimming Championships in Istanbul.

Murphy will compete in the 50 breaststroke on Saturday.



Ryan Lochte has predicted that 18-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps will return to compete at Rio 2016.

Phelps announced his retirement from swimming after London 2012, which saw him end his career with a record 22 Olympic medals.

But, speaking ahead of this week's World Short Course Championships in Istanbul, Lochte says he believes that his friend and former team-mate he could well return in four years time.


MOTORSPORT


Craig Breen has been named Irish Racing Driver of the Year for 2012.

Breen takes the honour for the second year in a row after winning the S2000 category of the World Rally Championship.



RACING

Westmeath's Gigginstown Stud go in search of their first Grade One success this season on Sunday with Don Cossack entered in the Navan Novice Hurdle

The Gordon Elliott trained gelding is already being tipped by the bookmakers to win any three of the Novice Hurdles at Cheltenham

Don Cossack impressed in his debut victory over fences for owner Michael O'Leary at Navan recently and is considered one of Gigginstown's brightest prospects

Nine runners are likely to oppose him at the weekend with Willie Mullins considering up to 5 entries in the race



Dundalk stages the first of their two floodlit meetings this week tonight, the eight-race programme gets going at 5.30pm.

Champion Jump Jockey Davy Russell makes a rare appearance on the Flat which is a tip in itself as he partners the Gordon Elliott-trained Discoteca in the Christmas Parties at Dundalk Stadium Handicap at 8.30pm



Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Kauto Star is set to pursue an unlikely career in dressage.

The 12-year-old has now been retired from racing, but trainer Paul Nicholls has confirmed that he's been taken out of his stables by owner Clive Smith, who has passed him onto European bronze medalist eventing rider Laura Collett.


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