CORK FOOTBALL BOSS Ronan McCarthy’s 12-week ban for a training guideline breach has been upheld by the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee [CHC]. A hearing last night found that McCarthy’s charge of discrediting the Association was proven and the proposed suspension — in relation to a team gathering in January that was in contravention of the GAA’s ban on collective activity — was confirmed. The three-month ban commenced yesterday, and will expire on 14 May. It is likely that McCarthy will miss little of the inter-county season as a result, with uncertainty reigning over the return to GAA activity, and the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in general. McCarthy’s Cork footballers were…

THE GAA HAVE confirmed that no on-field activity will be permitted, including at inter-county level, until Easter after the publishing of yesterday’s latest Government Covid-19 plan. The association have stated that it ‘remains impossible to plan a revised Master Fixtures calendar for 2021′ and insist no decision has been made on what competitions will or will not take place this year despite recent speculation that the league may be scrapped. In a letter released today by GAA President John Horan and Director-General Tom Ryan, the latest state of play for the organisation has been outlined.  They state that will ‘be seeking clarity on certain aspects’ related to sport in the…

THE MUNSTER COUNCIL have tonight confirmed the fixture details for their 2021 senior championships. The action will begin in the province on Saturday 26 June with two football quarter-finals in Limerick and Killarney while the hurling will begin the following day in Thurles on Sunday 27 June. Reigning hurling champions Limerick will meet Cork in Semple Stadium on Saturday 3 July while the football kingpins Tipperary will take on Kerry or Clare in Saturday 10 July. Here are the fixtures in full: Munster senior football championship Saturday 26 June Limerick v Waterford, Gaelic Grounds, 3pm Kerry v Clare, Fitzgerald Stadium, 7pm Saturday 10 July  Cork v Limerick/Waterford, 3pm Tipperary v…

CORK CAMOGIE STAR Gemma O’Connor has announced her retirement from the inter-county game. Gemma O’Connor in action in the 2018 All-Ireland senior final. Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO O’Connor is one of the most successful players in the sport having collected nine All-Ireland senior medals and has a record 11 All-Star awards. The St Finbarr’s player confirmed her decision to the Evening Echo tonight that she was bringing a glittering playing career with Cork to a close. Her last appearance was in November’s All-Ireland semi-final loss against Kilkenny in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. O’Connor made her county senior debut in 2002 and celebrated the first of her All-Ireland triumphs that year before the…

WEXFORD HURLING CAPTAIN Matthew O’Hanlon would have preferred more debate on hurling’s new cynical play rule before it was rubber-stamped at last weekend’s GAA Congress. And O’Hanlon is worried over how the rule will be implemented at club level. Last Saturday saw the motion passed which will see a penalty awarded and defending player sin-binned in hurling if they cynically foul to prevent a goalscoring opportunity. The foul must have taken place inside the 20m line or within the D. 2019 Leinster senior winner O’Hanlon, speaking yesterday at the launch of the new Wexford GAA Strategic Plan, is also keen to point out the reasoning behind the large-scale player opposition…

DONEGAL 2012 ALL-Ireland senior winners Eamonn McGee and Leo McLoone have both been named as part of the county’s new U20 football management team. Buncrana’s Gary Duffy has been appointed the new Donegal U20 boss after being in charge of the county minor team in 2019. McGee and McLoone have both been announced as part of the management where they will draw on their vast playing experience for these coaching roles. The interview process to appoint Duffy was conducted by a panel that included 2012 Footballer of the Year Karl Lacey, who is now the Head of Academy Development in Donegal. Click Here: Olympique de Marseille soccer tracksuit Gary Duffy…

Click:Beauty Device Brand TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid tonight to Fergal McCann, the Tyrone All-Ireland winning football trainer, who has passed away. Fergal McCann pictured at the 2012 football league final between Tyrone and Kildare. Source: James Crombie/INPHO McCann was a coach and trainer of the Tyrone senior football side, helping them to All-Ireland glory in 2005 and 2008 along with playing a role in three Ulster championship wins. He worked alongside manager Mickey Harte and his fellow Augher team-mate Tony Donnelly from 2005 until 2014. McCann played in goal for his Augher club while also managing and training their teams. He worked as a Games Promotion Officer in Tyrone GAA…

MANCHESTER UNITED BOSS Ole Gunnar Solskjaer joined Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola in condemning the supporters who misbehaved during Wednesday’s derby. Nemanja Matic’s strike earned United a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium, but it was not enough to prevent City advancing to the Carabao Cup final with a 3-2 aggregate victory. The game was somewhat marred by events in the stands as videos circulated on social media of City fans appearing to make aeroplane gestures in reference to the Munich air disaster. Tempers frayed at full-time and a number of seats were allegedly ripped out and thrown from the away end. Guardiola criticised the actions of those involved, a day…

Colm Cooper lining out for Crokes in 2018. Source: James Crombie/INPHO KERRY GAA LEGEND Colm Cooper will be part of the Dr Crokes senior football management team for 2021, the club has confirmed. “Dr Crokes are pleased to announce that Colm Cooper will be joining our senior management team for 2021,” the Killarney outfit wrote on social media this evening. “Wishing manager Edmund, Eoin, Jamie and Colm every success.” Dr. Crokes are pleased to announce that Colm Cooper will be joining our senior management team for 2021. Wishing manager Edmund Eoin Jamie and Colm every success. — Dr. Crokes GAA (@DrCrokesGAA) March 10, 2021 Gooch will work under the watchful eye of…

AFTER ANOTHER STELLAR season, Paddy Durcan’s 2020 concluded in less than ideal circumstances. The Mayo wing-back’s All-Ireland final lasted just 35 minutes. When his team-mates jogged out onto the Croke Park turf from the dressing rooms for the start of the second-half, Durcan wasn’t among them. A quad injury sustained in the early stages of the game forced him off in one of the biggest games of his career. So Durcan watched from the stands as Dublin turned the screw on Mayo in the final quarter and sealed their sixth Sam Maguire in succession. “About three and a half minutes in I had a bit of a pull on my…