Steeds meer Amerikaanse vaders nemen hun jonge dochters, sommigen nog kleuters, mee naar een 'Purity Ball' om ze daar een gelofte te laten afleggen dat ze maagd zullen blijven tot het huwelijk. Een op zes Amerikaanse meisjes zou al zo'n gelofte gemaakt hebben.
Reportage
Een Britse reportage van Jane Treays over het Purity Ball veroorzaakte heel wat discussie. De beelden laten jonge meisjes vanaf 5 jaar zien die een kuisheidsgelofte aan hun vader afleggen. Het bal begint met de gelofte van de meisjes rond een zelfgemaakt kruis. Ook de vaders moeten op hun beurt een gelofte van integriteit afleggen. Zij beloven een goede man voor hun dochter te vinden en iemand te zijn waaraan deze toekomstige man zich kan spiegelen. De rest van de avond brengen de dochters al dansend met hun vader voor. De meisjes die je in de reportage ziet, zijn zeker geen uitzondering in Amerika. Ongeveer een op zes van de Amerikaanse meisjes zou zo'n kuisheidsgelofte hebben afgelegd.
Onreine gedachten
Sommige deelneemsters dragen een zilveren ring om duidelijk te maken dat ze tot deze 'Purity' beweging behoren. De inhoud van de gelofte kan verschillen, waarbij de ene al extremer is dan de andere. Zo mogen sommigen de hand van een jongen niet vasthouden tot ze getrouwd zijn. Het zou namelijk hun aandacht kunnen afleiden. Anderen beloven zelfs geen 'onreine' gedachten te hebben. De 21-jarige Khrystian legt uit: "Kuis zijn is voor mij kuis van gedachte en taal te zijn. Bij alles wat ik doe, blijf ik rein in mijn hart."
Eigen idolen
Eens weer in het dagelijkse leven, moeten de meisjes volgens hun gelofte leven. Voor ze een afspraakje met een jongen mogen maken, moet die mee naar huis om goedgekeurd te worden door de vader. De beweging raadt ook aan alleen met mensen om te gaan die dezelfde gelofte hebben afgelegd. Dat zou het makkelijker maken om aan verleidingen te weerstaan. De beweging heeft zelfs zijn eigen idolen. De meisjes zijn fan van het Amerikaanse popgroepje The Jonas Brothers, waarvan alle leden ook deze gelofte afgelegd hebben. Daarnaast mogen ze vaak alleen boeken van romantische schrijfsters als Jane Austen lezen en naar films als 'Sense and Sensibility' kijken.
Met zijn tweetjes
De dochters hebben een heel goede band met hun vader. Ze vinden het niet meer dan normaal dat hun vader hun toekomstige man moet goedkeuren. Eens hij goedgekeurd is, mogen de meeste meisjes tijd met deze jongen in groep doorbrengen. Een afspraakje met zijn tweetjes is heel zeldzaam, weer om niet in de verleiding te komen.
De meisjes vinden het prima. Ze geloven ook zelf in het nut van deze gelofte. Een meisje zegt zelfs: "Als meisjes geen relatie hebben met hun vader, zullen ze hun toevlucht zoeken tot andere mannen. Dat lijdt vaak tot veel verdriet en gebroken harten."
Monday, September 29, 2008
Eindhovenaren zijn zot
De Nederlandse stad Eindhoven wil straatprostituees bij goed gedrag belonen. Een beetje volgens het principe van 'air miles', sprokkelen de dames punten met 'street miles'. Daarmee kunnen ze via de gemeente spullen kopen.
De stad heeft een waaier aan plannen opgesteld om de hoertjes uiteindelijk uit de prostitutie te halen en de 'tippelzone' in de lampenstad te doen verdwijnen. Opvallend is dat de plannen niet van ambtenaren, maar van designers afkomstig zijn, zo schrijft Trouw.
Kredietsysteem
Het stadsbestuur riep de hulp in van de Eindhovense Design Academy en de Keulse International School of Design. Die laatste bedacht een plan om prostituees te helpen structuur in hun leven te brengen met behulp van coaches. Via het kredietsysteem worden ze beloond voor deelname aan activiteiten.
Zo komen er workshops waarbij vrouwen allerlei vaardigheden opdoen. De gemeente zorgt ook voor een huiskamer waar ze elkaar kunnen ontmoeten. Het onderhouden van de kamer levert eveneens punten op. Wie wil, krijgt hulp bij het vinden van ander werk.
De stad heeft een waaier aan plannen opgesteld om de hoertjes uiteindelijk uit de prostitutie te halen en de 'tippelzone' in de lampenstad te doen verdwijnen. Opvallend is dat de plannen niet van ambtenaren, maar van designers afkomstig zijn, zo schrijft Trouw.
Kredietsysteem
Het stadsbestuur riep de hulp in van de Eindhovense Design Academy en de Keulse International School of Design. Die laatste bedacht een plan om prostituees te helpen structuur in hun leven te brengen met behulp van coaches. Via het kredietsysteem worden ze beloond voor deelname aan activiteiten.
Zo komen er workshops waarbij vrouwen allerlei vaardigheden opdoen. De gemeente zorgt ook voor een huiskamer waar ze elkaar kunnen ontmoeten. Het onderhouden van de kamer levert eveneens punten op. Wie wil, krijgt hulp bij het vinden van ander werk.
No regrets as voice of Croke Park bids farewell
No regrets as voice of Croke Park bids farewell
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/no--regrets--as-voice--of-croke-park-bids-farewell-1484899.html
Monday September 29 2008
Danny Lynch will spend tomorrow clearing out his office in Croke Park,
ending more than his tenure as the GAA's public relations manager,
before heading into another phase of his life which, as of now, is
joyously uncluttered.
He will continue in his role dealing with cases of alleged sexual abuse
in the GAA and has a few other projects in mind too, but it will be all
at his own pace.
He won't miss the daily commute across Dublin's gridlocked streets, the
late night meetings with residents around Croke Park (a TD once
described him as an urban terrorist) or the letters of complaint, some
of which ranged from the trivial to the bizarre.
"And I definitely won't miss late night phone calls from journalists
asking me to confirm or deny something they knew anyway.
"I look forward to buying my newspapers as an ordinary reader rather
than from a premise of apprehension over some criticism or other of the
GAA," he said.
But as Lynch prepares to leave the GAA's frontline, he isn't afraid to
offer some candid views on various issues, past, present and future,
which affect the Association he served for so long.
Hard bargain
For instance, he doesn't believe the GAA struck a sufficiently hard
bargain with the FAI and IRFU for the use of Croke Park; he has grave
suspicions that the Australians will only behave themselves for a
limited period in the International Rules series and questions the merit
of the link-up; he believes that there should be a moratorium where
former GAA presidents aren't allowed to take State jobs or sit on boards
for a set period; he insists that any form of pay-for-play would destroy
the GAA in a relatively short space of time.
With the exception of International Rules, those are issues which didn't
figure anywhere on the GAA's horizons when he took over as PRO as
successor to the late Pat Quigley in 1988.
A native of Dingle, Lynch, who had been a career civil servant, reaching
private secretary level, joined the GAA from the Office of Public Works
in 1988.
His inside knowledge of how local and national government worked would
later turn out to be a major plus in the complex relationships between
the GAA and various agencies, especially when it came to the
redevelopment of Croke Park.
He regards the Croke Park project as one of the single greatest triumphs
ever experienced by the GAA. Back in the late 1980s, Croke Park was a
decaying stadium and presented a major dilemma.
Should it be patched up on a piecemeal basis or torn down and totally
redeveloped, an undertaking which carried high risk and even higher
costs?
"You must remember the context of the time. The country was on its
knees, economically and socially, the Troubles in the North were ongoing
and national morale was low."
The mood in the GAA reflected that. The dominance in football exerted by
Kerry and Dublin throughout so much of the '70s and '80s had left a
sense of staleness, so crowds weren't nearly as high as they are today.
"On top of that, you had the emergence of the Irish soccer team at
European Championship and World Cup level," he said.
"That changed the dynamic to such a degree that those who had an
anti-GAA agenda were predicting that it was the beginning of the end for
us. The GAA was being depicted as rural, unfashionable and on the way
out."
However, as the '90s dawned, the GAA got ready for a fight- back. They
decided to move ahead with the redevelopment of Croke Park, even if many
had doubts whether it would be financially viable. Other subtle changes
were also made. Live TV coverage of games increased which, in turn,
widened the supporter base.
"The gender and age balance began to change. Up to then, the crowds were
made up mostly of males. In fact, it was as if the female population
weren't encouraged to go to games.
Problem
"We had a particular problem in Croke Park where there weren't enough
ladies' toilets. I'd spend a day or two after All-Ireland finals
replying to complaints about the facilities which, in fairness, were
justified," said Lynch.
"The GAA had the courage and the vision to take a huge leap of faith in
their organisation and their members.
There was no promise of Government grants at the time, so the easy thing
would have been to patch up Croke Park. If we missed the boat back then,
the stadium would never have been properly redeveloped," said Lynch.
He also regards the emergence of Donegal and Derry as first-time
All-Ireland football winners in the early 1990s as significant
milestones, which were replicated by Armagh and Tyrone who joined the
elite club a decade later.
"Who would have thought 20 years ago that we would have so many first
time All-Ireland winners in football in a relatively short space of
time?" said Lynch.
"And in hurling we had plenty variety too. I have no doubt that the
changed championship formats have been very important in making our
games more appealing than ever before."
If the GAA is well positioned now to take on the challenges ahead, it
wasn't without its controversies during his spell as PRO. Rule 21, the
occupation of Crossmaglen and opening Croke Park to soccer and rugby
were all highly emotive issues which had to be handled with utmost
sensitivity.
The then president Joe McDonagh took steps towards removing Rule 21
(which prevented members of the British army and other security forces
joining the GAA) in the aftermath of the signing of the Good Friday
agreement, but ran into opposition.
Successor
His successor Sean McCague eventually managed to steer it through, but
Lynch recalls it as a fraught process.
"In effect, the rule had little practical relevance other than being
used as a stick to beat the GAA with," he said.
"We came under ferocious pressure from various sources, including Sinn
Fein, not to remove it, but, as ever, the ordinary GAA members made up
their own minds and recognised that the time was right to move on."
The occupation of Crossmaglen by the British Army was another hugely
emotive issue.
"It was seen as a symbol of oppression, not just in Crossmaglen but
right across the GAA community.
"In these different times, it's easy to forget how emotive that was.
"It was one of the great days for the GAA when it was finally sorted
out."
If Lynch played a key role in the various behind-the-scenes political
machinations which faced the GAA over the years, there was one occasion
when he was thrust out front and left swinging in a very cold wind.
Controversy
It occurred in December 1991 after the GAA's Management Committee
overturned a decision granting permission to Dublin and Down to play a
challenge game as a joint promotion with a Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers
soccer game at the RDS
A storm of controversy blew across the sporting landscape and, as the
GAA's official spokesman, Lynch felt the brunt of the anger and
confusion.
"Efforts were made to hang me out to dry. Decisions were taken by very
eminent people to allow the game go ahead only to later decide against
it without offering a coherent reason why," he said.
"I was told on one occasion to claim it was called off because the
players would need injections as the RDS had been used for show
jumping."
"Imagine the impact that would have had on the GAA around the country.
We'd be telling young lads they couldn't go down to the local field
because horses or sheep had been in there.
"It was a very difficult time for me because I was left to explain
something for which no reason had been given."
Considered
He considered resigning and returning to the Civil Service, but his wife
Carmel advised him against quitting on a single issue.
"She was right. Others were to blame for the mess, so why should I leave
a job I was otherwise enjoying?" he said.
The GAA is a much-changed place since then, but there's one
administrative area which he believes needs to be addressed.
It concerns the role of the president which, according to Lynch, has
never been properly defined. It was expected that the Strategic Review
Committee report of 2002 would deal with this area but it didn't,
certainly not in a coherent way.
Lynch believes that ex-presidents should not be allowed to take State
jobs or sit on boards for a certain period of time after leaving office.
"I'm saying quite clearly that I think it has the potential to
compromise individuals in terms of taking hard decisions when it comes
to Government or State agencies," he said.
As the man in the firing line any time a problem arose, Lynch recalls
dozens of times when the GAA came in for truly bizarre attacks.
"We got dog's abuse from some people for not postponing games when
Princess Diana was killed," he said.
"It was unbelievable but there were people who accused us of being a
disgrace for not calling off games.
"We still get some strange complaints. In fact, it's worse in some ways
now because people can send an email and know that it reaches us in a
matter of seconds.
"We'd often find that they are sent at night.
"It's as if people come home from the pub and decide to vent their
feelings.
"At least under the old system, they had to buy a stamp and an envelope
and write a letter."
His decision to leave Croke Park was taken a year ago and it is one he
doesn't regret in the slightest.
"I had great times there but by early next year, I would have been
working full-time for 39 years," he said.
"It's time to ease down and enjoy things I haven't had time for up to
now."
New charter for managers
New charter for managers
By Eugene McGee
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/new-charter-for-managers
-1484901.html
Monday September 29 2008
For the first time since the team manager concept was developed by Kevin
Heffernan and Mick O'Dwyer in the 1970s there are moves afoot to bring
this species into the rest of the GAA fold. Up to now the term team
manager was never mentioned in GAA rulebooks. As the power of the
manager grew and grew over the last 30 years many of them developed into
the most important men in county GAA structures, better known and more
powerful than even county board chairmen or secretaries.
Amazingly, for all that time there was no attempt to have managers as a
category covered by basic GAA rules in the same way as players and
elected officers are in clubs and county boards.
This has led to massive changes in the way things are done in the GAA,
mainly regarding the control which some managers exerted over club
fixtures between May and September. While many county boards drew up
elaborate annual fixture calendars at the start of the season, these
were often blown to smithereens when the county manager started getting
club championship games called off to facilitate the county team.
As a result, we have a common situation every year where the first round
of club county championships may be played in April or May but then, as
the county team wins a few matches, everything is shelved at the request
of the manager, often until as late as September or October.
This means club players who are not on the county panel but have a
county panel member in their ranks can be left without a championship
match for three or four months.
In all my time getting messages from readers this has been the single
greatest complaint from players in all parts of Ireland and it has
reached a critical level in some counties.
For this and many other reasons GAA president Nickey Brennan set up a
task force to bring county managers into the GAA administration as a
category in their own right. Presidential candidate Liam O'Neill is
chairman and the members are: Michael Burns (Monaghan), Simon Moroney
(Munster Council sec), Pat Toner (Louth), Dermot O'Malley (Dublin), Des
Cullinane (Third Level), John Murphy (Sligo), Aidan Brennan (Mayo) and
Dara McGarty (GPA Officer). Their remit is to examine club/county and
county/player relationships and their proposals, due to be presented at
the Special Congress on Saturday, are certainly interesting.
Under the title 'Team managers' Charter', several controls are proposed
to ensure that club players get a fair crack of the whip. County panels
will be limited to 30 at all times. Panels for league games will be 24.
Managers will commit to agreeing a schedule for the release of all
county players and panelists for training with their clubs. County
training will not be allowed interfere with this arrangement.
County chairmen and secretaries will meet with the manager and work out
the club training programme for the year allowing for county team
training, matches etc. Postponements of club matches will not be allowed
except for exceptional cases, such as the county team being in a replay.
There are also published rules for the needs of the county manager to
ensure "fair and reasonable" access to county panel players. This is
meant to ensure that county boards provide all the facilities needed for
modern county teams.
The charter also re-emphasises the authority of county boards to manage
the affairs of the county and the county teams. For example, team
managers must get the approval of the board for any extra financial
expenditure for the county team. All fundraising for county teams,
including supporters' clubs, will be referred by team management to the
county treasurer and board for approval.
The team manager will have to notify the county secretary five days in
advance of a game of the team selection. County chairmen will have to
agree, in consultation with new team managers, to have all the required
backroom staff available to the county teams.
The charter makes it clear that this reflects the importance of
inter-county players to their clubs, their fellow club players and their
status as role models in their local communities.
Team managers agree to comply with the requirement to actively promote
observance by inter-county panel members of their club obligations. Team
mentors with underage teams shall be aware of their responsibilities
with regard to alcohol. This charter is to be signed by the team manager
and the county board chairman and secretary.
This is a significant proposal for the GAA as it wrestles with the power
of managers and the decimation of club games in summertime, among other
things. It could be a lot stronger and the abuse of money in relation to
managers' illegal payments will not be stopped by this.
The restoration of parity between clubs and county teams is the most
important thing in this charter and for that alone it is worth having.
Cavanagh named Ireland Captain
Press Release
29 September 2008
Cavanagh named Ireland Captain
Coca Cola Ireland International Rules team manager Sean Boylan has named Tyrone All Ireland winner Seán Cavanagh as captain of the Ireland team which will play Australia in a two test series Down Under this October. Cork's Graham Canty has been confirmed as vice captain of the squad. Both men are vastly experienced in the International game. Cavanagh, a member of the Moy club in Co Tyrone will now represent his country in his fourth Test Series, having been part of the Ireland Team's that hosted Australia in 2006 and 2004 as well as being a key part of Pete Mc Grath's side that played in Perth and Melbourne in 2005. Bantry Blues' Graham Canty toured Australia in 2005, 2003 and 2001 and has already played on 10 occasions for his country.
Ireland manager Seán Boylan said he was delighted to be able to confirm the players' in their respective roles. "Seán Cavanagh has been in the form of his life this year" said Boylan. "He was Man of the Match in the All Ireland final and was one of the key players in Tyrone's march to glory this year. He is an excellent communicator and leads by example on the field. He is also ideally suited to the International game and it is a tremendous boost to have him on board for the trip Down Under".
Of Canty, Boylan said "Graham is a natural leader. You only have to think of the way he came up the field to score the winning goal for Cork in the closing moments of their Munster Championship game with Limerick this year when they looked down and out. He has starred for Ireland in the past and is one of the best defenders in Gaelic football at the moment"
The full Ireland squad to tour Australia will be announced at a Press Briefing in Croke Park on Tuesday next,, 7th October at 10.30am on Level 6, Croke Park in Box 688.
Tyrone leave Kingdom desolate again
Tyrone leave Kingdom desolate again
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2008/0922/1221998222407.html
SEÁN MORAN at Croke Park
ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL Tyrone 1-15 Kerry 0-14 : ONE OF THE few things accurately foreseen by the prevailing consensus was yesterday's GAA All-Ireland football final would be a tight affair, in all likelihood still open up to the 70th minute.
That's how it turned out, but in an emphatic conclusion to a fascinating contest it was champions Kerry, who once more in the face of Ulster opposition, faltered in a delirious finish. Afloat on their trademark swirling energies, Tyrone brought home the Sam Maguire for the third time in a memorable decade that began with the county still to make its mark on the roll of honour.
Maybe the match swung on a sequence in the 66th minute when in a trademark move, Declan O'Sullivan surged on to the ball and created the space for a shot at goal. Trailing 0-14 to 1-12, Kerry would have moved two clear if he had scored. Instead Pascal McConnell, a late call-up to the Tyrone goal after John Devine's bereavement on Saturday, managed to block the ball away for a 45.
In the process of being replaced, Bryan Sheehan stayed on long enough to send the kick wide and puncture Kerry's confidence in a likely recovery. The reason the match only "maybe" swung on this is that Tyrone could hardly be written off on the basis of a two-point deficit with five minutes left but Kerry's opportunity to govern the momentum for the remainder of the match was lost.
The consequences of this were brought home in the space of a brutal minute when Tyrone stunningly found that extra gear and rattled off three points, from Enda McGinley, Kevin Hughes (finally, after three howling wides) and Colm Cavanagh, to kill Kerry's ambitions of three-in-a-row in the dying moments of the 2008 championship.
That's an indication of how close Kerry came but there was no doubting the merits of Tyrone's victory. Once again they imposed their game on Kerry and countered the champions' strongest points to the extent that the game was played on their terms.
Aside from the enforced switch in goal, manager Mickey Harte made two changes before the throw-in, replacing Ciarán Gourley with Ryan Mellon and sending Joe McMahon back to mark Tommy Walsh. Martin Penrose came in for Brian McGuigan.
For most people, Kerry were an improved team compared to 2005 because Kieran Donaghy had transformed their ball-winning capacity in the full-forward line. This season that improvement had been accelerated by the arrival of Walsh but Tyrone coped in textbook fashion by making a serviceable supply as difficult as possible.
Kerry didn't help themselves in this process by displaying so little variety in the building of attacks but McMahon, especially, his brother Justin and Conor Gormley did everything to disrupt possession of what did come through.
Ironically if the full forwards disappointed the high expectations, the Kerry full backs improved considerably on recent matches.
On a downbeat note it's worth remarking the final marked a fitting end to what has been a disciplinary shambles of a season. Repeated fouling by Tyrone went inadequately punished yesterday, as referee Maurice Deegan opted to save his cards for more vivid transgressions of which Kerry provided plenty.
But that's the way the game has developed and until indiscipline becomes a impediment to winning, things will hardly change.
Yet this was an undeniably enthralling match - during which the sides were level on 10 occasions - with a number of wonderful individual performances.
Leading the way for Tyrone was Seán Cavanagh with five points from play capping a masterful display. He started at full forward but, as has been the team's constant conundrum, when the supply dried up had to move out the field. He remained centrally involved in the team's effort and kicked a critical point to equalise just after Kerry had regained the lead in the 57th minute.
At centrefield, McGinley maintained his consistent excellence, moving tirelessly around the middle and kicking the point that pushed his team two ahead after Kerry had pressed hard for an equaliser for five minutes.
It was the ultimate superiority of Tyrone around the middle that decided the match. Darragh Ó Sé played exceptionally well in the first half, mocking apprehensions that he might struggle to win high ball against opposition spoiling.
In the 55th minute he kicked Kerry level for the first time since conceding a goal just after half-time - a fine finish after some virtuoso probing by Colm Cooper.
In the first half Declan O'Sullivan put in a terrific performance, thrusting forward and kicking two points and also covering back to assist the defence, at one stage bringing off a fabulous block on Cavanagh and recovering in time to win possession and launch a solo run back up the field.
But Kerry couldn't get sustained traction around the middle and appeared to lose significantly the breaking ball count. Davy Harte, Philip Jordan and Ryan McMenamin got forward as expected and if they didn't get on the scoreboard as much as previously, the ball carrying kept Kerry under pressure.
Captain Brian Dooher also maintained his driven form of this season, covering oceans of ground and kicking one of the great points of the afternoon in the 24th minute, bouncing off three intended tackles before kicking over from the right wing to tie up the match at 0-6 each, seconds after McConnell had saved smartly from a great goal opportunity from Walsh.
This maintained the incremental scoring pattern of the first half, which saw Kerry pull ahead, 0-8 to 0-7, through a Cooper free before going in at half-time. Tyrone must nonetheless have been happy with the way in which their opponents were struggling to mobilise the threat of Donaghy and Walsh.
The second half had only started when Tommy McGuigan followed the ball into the net after replacement Kevin Hughes had been sent in by Stephen O'Neill - introduced to great excitement in the 25th minute but unsurprisingly after a year out of the inter-county game, he struggled to make an impact - but seen his shot blocked.
Kerry spent most of the second half chasing down the deficit of that goal but three times Tyrone replied with points of their own within a minute of conceding a score. Darren O'Sullivan came on and made an impact for Kerry, his pace opening up avenues to goal, but team captain Paul Galvin, back after suspension to a hair-raisingly thunderous reception, was unable to impact on the match.
As the deposed champions ponder this latest crushing disappointment at the hands of Tyrone they can at least reflect on still having won more All-Irelands this decade than anyone else.
Dejection after stacking up four All-Irelands in eight years is a crisis of self-esteem 31 other counties can only dream of addressing.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2008/0922/1221998222407.html
SEÁN MORAN at Croke Park
ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL Tyrone 1-15 Kerry 0-14 : ONE OF THE few things accurately foreseen by the prevailing consensus was yesterday's GAA All-Ireland football final would be a tight affair, in all likelihood still open up to the 70th minute.
That's how it turned out, but in an emphatic conclusion to a fascinating contest it was champions Kerry, who once more in the face of Ulster opposition, faltered in a delirious finish. Afloat on their trademark swirling energies, Tyrone brought home the Sam Maguire for the third time in a memorable decade that began with the county still to make its mark on the roll of honour.
Maybe the match swung on a sequence in the 66th minute when in a trademark move, Declan O'Sullivan surged on to the ball and created the space for a shot at goal. Trailing 0-14 to 1-12, Kerry would have moved two clear if he had scored. Instead Pascal McConnell, a late call-up to the Tyrone goal after John Devine's bereavement on Saturday, managed to block the ball away for a 45.
In the process of being replaced, Bryan Sheehan stayed on long enough to send the kick wide and puncture Kerry's confidence in a likely recovery. The reason the match only "maybe" swung on this is that Tyrone could hardly be written off on the basis of a two-point deficit with five minutes left but Kerry's opportunity to govern the momentum for the remainder of the match was lost.
The consequences of this were brought home in the space of a brutal minute when Tyrone stunningly found that extra gear and rattled off three points, from Enda McGinley, Kevin Hughes (finally, after three howling wides) and Colm Cavanagh, to kill Kerry's ambitions of three-in-a-row in the dying moments of the 2008 championship.
That's an indication of how close Kerry came but there was no doubting the merits of Tyrone's victory. Once again they imposed their game on Kerry and countered the champions' strongest points to the extent that the game was played on their terms.
Aside from the enforced switch in goal, manager Mickey Harte made two changes before the throw-in, replacing Ciarán Gourley with Ryan Mellon and sending Joe McMahon back to mark Tommy Walsh. Martin Penrose came in for Brian McGuigan.
For most people, Kerry were an improved team compared to 2005 because Kieran Donaghy had transformed their ball-winning capacity in the full-forward line. This season that improvement had been accelerated by the arrival of Walsh but Tyrone coped in textbook fashion by making a serviceable supply as difficult as possible.
Kerry didn't help themselves in this process by displaying so little variety in the building of attacks but McMahon, especially, his brother Justin and Conor Gormley did everything to disrupt possession of what did come through.
Ironically if the full forwards disappointed the high expectations, the Kerry full backs improved considerably on recent matches.
On a downbeat note it's worth remarking the final marked a fitting end to what has been a disciplinary shambles of a season. Repeated fouling by Tyrone went inadequately punished yesterday, as referee Maurice Deegan opted to save his cards for more vivid transgressions of which Kerry provided plenty.
But that's the way the game has developed and until indiscipline becomes a impediment to winning, things will hardly change.
Yet this was an undeniably enthralling match - during which the sides were level on 10 occasions - with a number of wonderful individual performances.
Leading the way for Tyrone was Seán Cavanagh with five points from play capping a masterful display. He started at full forward but, as has been the team's constant conundrum, when the supply dried up had to move out the field. He remained centrally involved in the team's effort and kicked a critical point to equalise just after Kerry had regained the lead in the 57th minute.
At centrefield, McGinley maintained his consistent excellence, moving tirelessly around the middle and kicking the point that pushed his team two ahead after Kerry had pressed hard for an equaliser for five minutes.
It was the ultimate superiority of Tyrone around the middle that decided the match. Darragh Ó Sé played exceptionally well in the first half, mocking apprehensions that he might struggle to win high ball against opposition spoiling.
In the 55th minute he kicked Kerry level for the first time since conceding a goal just after half-time - a fine finish after some virtuoso probing by Colm Cooper.
In the first half Declan O'Sullivan put in a terrific performance, thrusting forward and kicking two points and also covering back to assist the defence, at one stage bringing off a fabulous block on Cavanagh and recovering in time to win possession and launch a solo run back up the field.
But Kerry couldn't get sustained traction around the middle and appeared to lose significantly the breaking ball count. Davy Harte, Philip Jordan and Ryan McMenamin got forward as expected and if they didn't get on the scoreboard as much as previously, the ball carrying kept Kerry under pressure.
Captain Brian Dooher also maintained his driven form of this season, covering oceans of ground and kicking one of the great points of the afternoon in the 24th minute, bouncing off three intended tackles before kicking over from the right wing to tie up the match at 0-6 each, seconds after McConnell had saved smartly from a great goal opportunity from Walsh.
This maintained the incremental scoring pattern of the first half, which saw Kerry pull ahead, 0-8 to 0-7, through a Cooper free before going in at half-time. Tyrone must nonetheless have been happy with the way in which their opponents were struggling to mobilise the threat of Donaghy and Walsh.
The second half had only started when Tommy McGuigan followed the ball into the net after replacement Kevin Hughes had been sent in by Stephen O'Neill - introduced to great excitement in the 25th minute but unsurprisingly after a year out of the inter-county game, he struggled to make an impact - but seen his shot blocked.
Kerry spent most of the second half chasing down the deficit of that goal but three times Tyrone replied with points of their own within a minute of conceding a score. Darren O'Sullivan came on and made an impact for Kerry, his pace opening up avenues to goal, but team captain Paul Galvin, back after suspension to a hair-raisingly thunderous reception, was unable to impact on the match.
As the deposed champions ponder this latest crushing disappointment at the hands of Tyrone they can at least reflect on still having won more All-Irelands this decade than anyone else.
Dejection after stacking up four All-Irelands in eight years is a crisis of self-esteem 31 other counties can only dream of addressing.
Ten of the Best - Football
Ten of the Best - Football
by JP Lonergan, 22 September 2008
http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/09/22/GAA-F
ootball-Season-Review/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/
Another exhilarating year of the Senior Football Championship has come
to an end and with it we have new champions after Tyrone dashed Kerry's
bid for three-in-a-row, winning their own third All-Ireland of the
decade in the process.
That was the story of Sunday's hard-fought final but for the previous
four and a half months, there were plenty of other talking points and we
have decided to recall the best of them in our review of the year.
What was your favourite footballing memory? Did Cork's repeated
comebacks against Kerry have you on the edge of your seat? Was Wexford's
downing of Armagh the result of the year or was the Model County's
demolition at the hands of a ruthless Dublin on Leinster final day the
result of a perfect performance?
What about Micko falling over in excitement after Wicklow's win over
Kildare or Fermanagh's brilliant Ulster run? Or was the massive Croke
Park clash between Tyrone and Dublin, the meeting of Kerry and Galway or
indeed the final itself the highlight for you?
Let us know what your favourite moments were using the feedback form at
the foot of the page, but for now here's our top ten in no particular
order.
Micko's men make Croke Park history
When you think of football in Croke Park, thoughts of Tyrone, Kerry and
Dublin celebrating great wins come to mind and Wicklow are not even an
afterthought. However, they did their bit to change that in the first
round of this year's Leinster Championship as led by the legendary Mick
O'Dwyer, an ever-improving Garden County team proved too strong for a
Kildare side who would go on to reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Tony Hannon, Seanie Furlong and Leighton Glynn were among the star
performers as Wicklow finally won a Championship match at Croke Park,
leaving an over-excited Micko jumping for joy - and falling over - on
the final whistle. Wicklow went out to Laois in the next round, however,
and - to Micko's chagrin - had no back door to enter due to their
Division Four status.
Erne men awesome in Ulster
While Wicklow were busy celebrating their first Croke Park success,
Fermanagh were chasing a first ever Ulster title and they certainly
showed their credentials when ousting much-fancied Monaghan and then NFL
champions Derry.
Their four-point quarter-final win over the Farney county was special
enough, but the semi-final success over Derry was a fairytale as Ronan
Gallagher saved a Conleth Gilligan penalty and Barry Owens emerged from
the bench after heart surgery to punch the winning goal. Sadly for
Malachy O'Rourke's men they failed to go all the way as - after a fine
comeback in the original game - they lost the final replay to Armagh.
They were then beaten by Kildare in the final round of qualifiers.
Sharpshooting Down down the eventual champions
Down came in for severe criticism in 2007, but came roaring back in the
Ulster Championship this year as their well-balanced midfield and
free-scoring forward lines reinvigorated what had been a fast-fading
force. After overcoming an abysmal start in their original Ulster semi
with Tyrone, the Mourne men again could not be beaten after 70 minutes
of the replay and they pounced for the killer goal from Benny Coulter
late in extra-time, quite a win when you look how the season turned out.
A hiding of Offaly and another win over Laois followed for Down in the
qualifiers before they - somewhat surprisingly - went out tamely to
Wexford.
Cussen and co punish sleeping giants
Cork and Kerry - minus the banned Paul Galvin, lest we forget to give
him at least one mention - met in what was the eighth of ten
Championship meetings in four years in the Munster final. And at
half-time it was fair to say that with defending provincial and
All-Ireland champions eight points clear, and with Cork lucky to have
scored three points, the game was over.
But as we would find out all summer, Cork no longer know when they are
beaten by Kerry and giant full forward Michael Cussen was fired on to
cause some trouble. Nobody could cope with him on the day as he fisted a
quick goal to the net. Kerry were limp in the second period and the
Rebels, led by Cussen and Daniel Goulding, had no sympathy as they
struck 1-13 after the break to regain the Munster trophy by an
impressive five points. More on these two later!
Royals' season in ruins after Ryan show
The qualifiers have their fair share of criticism, but not as much as
was levelled at 2007 All-Ireland semi-finalists Meath after they exited
the championship in embarrassing fashion, defeated 4-12 to 4-3 by
Limerick [with all four Meath goals scored in the final 12 minutes].
Ian Ryan, who had already been attracting the hovering AFL scouts, gave
the best performance of his fledgling Championship career as he netted a
fine hat-trick and 3-7 in all in the shock of the first round. Ryan
certainly drew his admirers over the season, though his missing of a
great chance in the subsequent game in which Limerick were surprisingly
pipped by Kildare is equally memorable.
A Model performance from Ryan's Wexford
Ex-Waterford player Jason Ryan's appointment as Wexford football boss
went under the radar early in the calendar year as Kerry, Derry and Cork
made most of the headlines for various reasons. His name quickly became
familiar as he led the Models to the Division Three title and into the
Leinster final. That proved to be a black day for Ryan and Wexford as
Dublin tore them apart but they bounced back in the qualifiers to beat
Down and set up a daunting semi-final with the Ulster champions.
Not many gave Wexford a hope, recalling their previous trip to Croke
Park some three weeks previously, while the Orchard were seen as genuine
All-Ireland contenders. Not so! Wexford stayed with the 2002 All-Ireland
winners for most of the game and talisman Mattie Forde then popped up
with a late low finish to the net, his 1-5 and Ciaran Lyng's 0-5 doing
the business in the shock of the summer. They were beaten by Tyrone in
the semis but were not shamed and can look back on a good year overall,
regardless of the Dublin annihilation.
Stylish Kingdom overcome Galway, rain
There was little time for Croke Park fans to run to the brolly shop
after that Wexford-Armagh game as the day's second quarter-final between
Galway and Kerry, as well as a bout of torrential rain that left half of
Dublin flooded, was next on the bill. It proved to be a classic and
Galway can count themselves unfortunate after putting in a performance
which would probably have seen them beat any other team.
Michael Meehan was brilliant for the Tribesmen as he shot a blistering
0-10, far from a mean feat against the men whose win over Monaghan in
the qualifiers had re-ignited the drive for three-in-a-row. And that
drive was all too evident as they overpowered the Connacht champions in
a second half where conditions were particularly atrocious. Colm Cooper
and Bryan Sheehan were at their brilliant best and Donncha Walsh
finished off a superb move with a goal that must be up there in the
nominations for goal of the season. On this performance, nobody was
going to beat Pat O'Shea's men.
Return of the Red Hand, Pillar's last stand
Dublin's afore-mentioned 23-point pummelling of Wexford had Boys in Blue
fans dreaming of Sam once again after 13 years of hurt and a Tyrone side
that seemed to be past its best were not expected by too many to stop
that march. However, not only did they stop it, they sent it back from
whence it came in devastating fashion.
12 points was the eventual margin between the teams and while any Dublin
fan will quite rightly tell you that there are not 12 points between the
teams there could easily have been more on another wet day at Croke
Park. Sean Cavanagh, Joe McMahon and Davy Harte all netted goals in the
3-14 to 1-8 romp, the performance of the season by absolutely no doubt.
Along with that trio, every Tyrone player to a man shone, Justin McMahon
and Ciaran Gourley looked particularly dominant at the back as Enda
McGinley worked his socks off in midfield and Brian Dooher led his
charges with the heart of a lion.
It was all too much for Paul 'Pillar' Caffrey who brought his four-year
stint as Dubs boss to an end with business, in truth, unfinished. Tyrone
were only getting started.
Cork come back and back and back and.....
Cork may have beaten Kerry in Munster but meetings with their old rivals
at Croke Park tend to have just one result, one that leaves the Rebels a
long way adrift of the men in green and gold come the 70-minute mark.
And for a while this semi-final looked no different.
In the end, it was the game that had everything, a typically devastating
Kieran Donaghy goal, a disallowed goal, two red cards, some ridiculous
diving that we can all do without, two late goals including a
brilliantly dispatched pressure penalty from John Hayes and - as is fast
becoming the norm - Cork proving that an eight -point deficit to Kerry
is not what it was.
In the end it was a 1-13 to 3-7 draw and we had a third meeting of the
sides a week later as more than just a support act to the Tyrone-Wexford
semi. And this one had it all too, another five goals, another
eight-point lead for Kerry and a Cork comeback sealed with a brilliant
Pearse O'Neill goal and a marvellous Donncha O'Connor point. But
fittingly, it was Cork's chief tormentor this decade, 'Gooch' Cooper
whose goal finally saw them off and put Kerry within 70 minutes of
three-in-a-row.
Team of the decade?
And that coupled with Tyrone's win over Wexford brought us back to Croke
Park on September 21 as Kerry and the Red Hand clashed for the
unofficial title of the 'team of the decade.' A third successive
All-Ireland for Cooper, Donaghy, Sheehan and the O Se clan would surely
give them that mantel, but a third Sam Maguire for a Tyrone team that
had aged since its initial success in 2003 would mark a fantastic result
through adversity and would all but give them such a title.
That's the way it went after what was not the greatest game of the
season, but was a true contest of the best in the game. Heroes like
Dooher, McGinley and the brilliant Sean Cavanagh rose to the occasion
against a Kerry side who were always dangerous. Tommy McGuigan's goal
put Tyrone in the ascendancy but they were pegged back, before going the
extra mile to ensure legendary status for them and their great, great
manager Mickey Harte.
Both these teams could easily be deemed the team of the decade, but then
again the decade is not over yet.
by JP Lonergan, 22 September 2008
http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/09/22/GAA-F
ootball-Season-Review/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/
Another exhilarating year of the Senior Football Championship has come
to an end and with it we have new champions after Tyrone dashed Kerry's
bid for three-in-a-row, winning their own third All-Ireland of the
decade in the process.
That was the story of Sunday's hard-fought final but for the previous
four and a half months, there were plenty of other talking points and we
have decided to recall the best of them in our review of the year.
What was your favourite footballing memory? Did Cork's repeated
comebacks against Kerry have you on the edge of your seat? Was Wexford's
downing of Armagh the result of the year or was the Model County's
demolition at the hands of a ruthless Dublin on Leinster final day the
result of a perfect performance?
What about Micko falling over in excitement after Wicklow's win over
Kildare or Fermanagh's brilliant Ulster run? Or was the massive Croke
Park clash between Tyrone and Dublin, the meeting of Kerry and Galway or
indeed the final itself the highlight for you?
Let us know what your favourite moments were using the feedback form at
the foot of the page, but for now here's our top ten in no particular
order.
Micko's men make Croke Park history
When you think of football in Croke Park, thoughts of Tyrone, Kerry and
Dublin celebrating great wins come to mind and Wicklow are not even an
afterthought. However, they did their bit to change that in the first
round of this year's Leinster Championship as led by the legendary Mick
O'Dwyer, an ever-improving Garden County team proved too strong for a
Kildare side who would go on to reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Tony Hannon, Seanie Furlong and Leighton Glynn were among the star
performers as Wicklow finally won a Championship match at Croke Park,
leaving an over-excited Micko jumping for joy - and falling over - on
the final whistle. Wicklow went out to Laois in the next round, however,
and - to Micko's chagrin - had no back door to enter due to their
Division Four status.
Erne men awesome in Ulster
While Wicklow were busy celebrating their first Croke Park success,
Fermanagh were chasing a first ever Ulster title and they certainly
showed their credentials when ousting much-fancied Monaghan and then NFL
champions Derry.
Their four-point quarter-final win over the Farney county was special
enough, but the semi-final success over Derry was a fairytale as Ronan
Gallagher saved a Conleth Gilligan penalty and Barry Owens emerged from
the bench after heart surgery to punch the winning goal. Sadly for
Malachy O'Rourke's men they failed to go all the way as - after a fine
comeback in the original game - they lost the final replay to Armagh.
They were then beaten by Kildare in the final round of qualifiers.
Sharpshooting Down down the eventual champions
Down came in for severe criticism in 2007, but came roaring back in the
Ulster Championship this year as their well-balanced midfield and
free-scoring forward lines reinvigorated what had been a fast-fading
force. After overcoming an abysmal start in their original Ulster semi
with Tyrone, the Mourne men again could not be beaten after 70 minutes
of the replay and they pounced for the killer goal from Benny Coulter
late in extra-time, quite a win when you look how the season turned out.
A hiding of Offaly and another win over Laois followed for Down in the
qualifiers before they - somewhat surprisingly - went out tamely to
Wexford.
Cussen and co punish sleeping giants
Cork and Kerry - minus the banned Paul Galvin, lest we forget to give
him at least one mention - met in what was the eighth of ten
Championship meetings in four years in the Munster final. And at
half-time it was fair to say that with defending provincial and
All-Ireland champions eight points clear, and with Cork lucky to have
scored three points, the game was over.
But as we would find out all summer, Cork no longer know when they are
beaten by Kerry and giant full forward Michael Cussen was fired on to
cause some trouble. Nobody could cope with him on the day as he fisted a
quick goal to the net. Kerry were limp in the second period and the
Rebels, led by Cussen and Daniel Goulding, had no sympathy as they
struck 1-13 after the break to regain the Munster trophy by an
impressive five points. More on these two later!
Royals' season in ruins after Ryan show
The qualifiers have their fair share of criticism, but not as much as
was levelled at 2007 All-Ireland semi-finalists Meath after they exited
the championship in embarrassing fashion, defeated 4-12 to 4-3 by
Limerick [with all four Meath goals scored in the final 12 minutes].
Ian Ryan, who had already been attracting the hovering AFL scouts, gave
the best performance of his fledgling Championship career as he netted a
fine hat-trick and 3-7 in all in the shock of the first round. Ryan
certainly drew his admirers over the season, though his missing of a
great chance in the subsequent game in which Limerick were surprisingly
pipped by Kildare is equally memorable.
A Model performance from Ryan's Wexford
Ex-Waterford player Jason Ryan's appointment as Wexford football boss
went under the radar early in the calendar year as Kerry, Derry and Cork
made most of the headlines for various reasons. His name quickly became
familiar as he led the Models to the Division Three title and into the
Leinster final. That proved to be a black day for Ryan and Wexford as
Dublin tore them apart but they bounced back in the qualifiers to beat
Down and set up a daunting semi-final with the Ulster champions.
Not many gave Wexford a hope, recalling their previous trip to Croke
Park some three weeks previously, while the Orchard were seen as genuine
All-Ireland contenders. Not so! Wexford stayed with the 2002 All-Ireland
winners for most of the game and talisman Mattie Forde then popped up
with a late low finish to the net, his 1-5 and Ciaran Lyng's 0-5 doing
the business in the shock of the summer. They were beaten by Tyrone in
the semis but were not shamed and can look back on a good year overall,
regardless of the Dublin annihilation.
Stylish Kingdom overcome Galway, rain
There was little time for Croke Park fans to run to the brolly shop
after that Wexford-Armagh game as the day's second quarter-final between
Galway and Kerry, as well as a bout of torrential rain that left half of
Dublin flooded, was next on the bill. It proved to be a classic and
Galway can count themselves unfortunate after putting in a performance
which would probably have seen them beat any other team.
Michael Meehan was brilliant for the Tribesmen as he shot a blistering
0-10, far from a mean feat against the men whose win over Monaghan in
the qualifiers had re-ignited the drive for three-in-a-row. And that
drive was all too evident as they overpowered the Connacht champions in
a second half where conditions were particularly atrocious. Colm Cooper
and Bryan Sheehan were at their brilliant best and Donncha Walsh
finished off a superb move with a goal that must be up there in the
nominations for goal of the season. On this performance, nobody was
going to beat Pat O'Shea's men.
Return of the Red Hand, Pillar's last stand
Dublin's afore-mentioned 23-point pummelling of Wexford had Boys in Blue
fans dreaming of Sam once again after 13 years of hurt and a Tyrone side
that seemed to be past its best were not expected by too many to stop
that march. However, not only did they stop it, they sent it back from
whence it came in devastating fashion.
12 points was the eventual margin between the teams and while any Dublin
fan will quite rightly tell you that there are not 12 points between the
teams there could easily have been more on another wet day at Croke
Park. Sean Cavanagh, Joe McMahon and Davy Harte all netted goals in the
3-14 to 1-8 romp, the performance of the season by absolutely no doubt.
Along with that trio, every Tyrone player to a man shone, Justin McMahon
and Ciaran Gourley looked particularly dominant at the back as Enda
McGinley worked his socks off in midfield and Brian Dooher led his
charges with the heart of a lion.
It was all too much for Paul 'Pillar' Caffrey who brought his four-year
stint as Dubs boss to an end with business, in truth, unfinished. Tyrone
were only getting started.
Cork come back and back and back and.....
Cork may have beaten Kerry in Munster but meetings with their old rivals
at Croke Park tend to have just one result, one that leaves the Rebels a
long way adrift of the men in green and gold come the 70-minute mark.
And for a while this semi-final looked no different.
In the end, it was the game that had everything, a typically devastating
Kieran Donaghy goal, a disallowed goal, two red cards, some ridiculous
diving that we can all do without, two late goals including a
brilliantly dispatched pressure penalty from John Hayes and - as is fast
becoming the norm - Cork proving that an eight -point deficit to Kerry
is not what it was.
In the end it was a 1-13 to 3-7 draw and we had a third meeting of the
sides a week later as more than just a support act to the Tyrone-Wexford
semi. And this one had it all too, another five goals, another
eight-point lead for Kerry and a Cork comeback sealed with a brilliant
Pearse O'Neill goal and a marvellous Donncha O'Connor point. But
fittingly, it was Cork's chief tormentor this decade, 'Gooch' Cooper
whose goal finally saw them off and put Kerry within 70 minutes of
three-in-a-row.
Team of the decade?
And that coupled with Tyrone's win over Wexford brought us back to Croke
Park on September 21 as Kerry and the Red Hand clashed for the
unofficial title of the 'team of the decade.' A third successive
All-Ireland for Cooper, Donaghy, Sheehan and the O Se clan would surely
give them that mantel, but a third Sam Maguire for a Tyrone team that
had aged since its initial success in 2003 would mark a fantastic result
through adversity and would all but give them such a title.
That's the way it went after what was not the greatest game of the
season, but was a true contest of the best in the game. Heroes like
Dooher, McGinley and the brilliant Sean Cavanagh rose to the occasion
against a Kerry side who were always dangerous. Tommy McGuigan's goal
put Tyrone in the ascendancy but they were pegged back, before going the
extra mile to ensure legendary status for them and their great, great
manager Mickey Harte.
Both these teams could easily be deemed the team of the decade, but then
again the decade is not over yet.
2008 International Rules Series
GAA Press Release
23rd September 2008
2008 International Rules Series
Mr Seán Boylan, Team Manager of the 2008 Coca Cola Ireland International Rules team, today (23rd of September 2008) announced his back-room team for the 2008 International Rules Test series at a media briefing in Croke Park.
They are:
Tour Manager: Seán Walsh
Assistant Tour Manager: Tommy Kilcoyne
Selectors: Anthony Tohill
Eoin Liston
Hugh Kenny
Runner: Seán Marty Lockhart
Doctor: Dr Owen Clarke
Physiotherapist: Frank Foley
Masseur: Martin Regan
Kit Manager: Owen Lynch
The referee's for the Test games will be Pat Mc Eneaney (Monaghan) and Australia's Steve Mc Burney. Both men are among the most experienced officials in their respective codes and also have considerable experience of handling the International game. Ireland's standby by referee and linesman will be David Coldrick while Brett Rosebury will perform these roles on behalf of the Australians. Ireland's umpires on the tour will be Gearóid Ó Conámha and John Bannon.
The video match referee for the Series has been confirmed as Ian Curlewis of South Africa. Mr Curlewis has vast experience in officiating and chairing disciplinary committees in Rugby, Cricket, hockey and tennis and has a Law degree from Natal University in South Africa.
Mr. Boylan confirmed that training for the Irish team is progressing well and with the conclusion of the GAA Football All Ireland Championship on Sunday last that he would now expect a number of additional players to be available for the panel.
"We are very pleased with the progress and hard work undertaken by the squad in training to date. There has been a huge response from the lads who are enthusiastic about playing the game and representing their Country.
Now that the championship has concluded we will have a clearer picture of the travelling squad over the next few weeks." stated Mr. Boylan.
Confirming their continued team sponsorship for the series Mr. Gokhan Bilgic, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland said: "Coca-Cola is delighted to be continuing our sponsorship of this year's Irish International Rules Team. This support builds on the company's long-standing association with the GAA and compliments our sponsorship of the Féile Peil na nÓg and Féile na nGael competitions, with which we have been proudly associated since 1971.
I would like to wish Seán and the Ireland International Rules Team sponsored by Coca-Cola the very best of luck as they continue their preparations to play the Australians next month." concluded Mr Bilgic.
GAA President Nickey Brennan added: "I am delighted that Coca-Cola have continued their sponsorship of the International Rules team and I thank Mr. Bilgic and Coca-Cola for their support and commitment. I look forward to working with them over the coming weeks."
Commenting on the back-room team he said: "Seán has put in place a very strong team to ensure that everyone will be in good shape when the squad departs for Australia. In Eoin Liston, Anthony Tohill and Hugh Kenny he has three exceptionally committed and talented football men. I wish them all the best of luck with their endeavours. I am also very pleased with the new rules outlined here today by GAA Director of Games Pat Daly. These new rules will go a long way towards ensuring a competitive game and successful sporting series.
1) The 2008 International Rules Series will take place on the 24th of October 2008 in the Subiaco Stadium in Perth and on the 31st of October 2008 in the MCG Melbourne.
23rd September 2008
2008 International Rules Series
Mr Seán Boylan, Team Manager of the 2008 Coca Cola Ireland International Rules team, today (23rd of September 2008) announced his back-room team for the 2008 International Rules Test series at a media briefing in Croke Park.
They are:
Tour Manager: Seán Walsh
Assistant Tour Manager: Tommy Kilcoyne
Selectors: Anthony Tohill
Eoin Liston
Hugh Kenny
Runner: Seán Marty Lockhart
Doctor: Dr Owen Clarke
Physiotherapist: Frank Foley
Masseur: Martin Regan
Kit Manager: Owen Lynch
The referee's for the Test games will be Pat Mc Eneaney (Monaghan) and Australia's Steve Mc Burney. Both men are among the most experienced officials in their respective codes and also have considerable experience of handling the International game. Ireland's standby by referee and linesman will be David Coldrick while Brett Rosebury will perform these roles on behalf of the Australians. Ireland's umpires on the tour will be Gearóid Ó Conámha and John Bannon.
The video match referee for the Series has been confirmed as Ian Curlewis of South Africa. Mr Curlewis has vast experience in officiating and chairing disciplinary committees in Rugby, Cricket, hockey and tennis and has a Law degree from Natal University in South Africa.
Mr. Boylan confirmed that training for the Irish team is progressing well and with the conclusion of the GAA Football All Ireland Championship on Sunday last that he would now expect a number of additional players to be available for the panel.
"We are very pleased with the progress and hard work undertaken by the squad in training to date. There has been a huge response from the lads who are enthusiastic about playing the game and representing their Country.
Now that the championship has concluded we will have a clearer picture of the travelling squad over the next few weeks." stated Mr. Boylan.
Confirming their continued team sponsorship for the series Mr. Gokhan Bilgic, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland said: "Coca-Cola is delighted to be continuing our sponsorship of this year's Irish International Rules Team. This support builds on the company's long-standing association with the GAA and compliments our sponsorship of the Féile Peil na nÓg and Féile na nGael competitions, with which we have been proudly associated since 1971.
I would like to wish Seán and the Ireland International Rules Team sponsored by Coca-Cola the very best of luck as they continue their preparations to play the Australians next month." concluded Mr Bilgic.
GAA President Nickey Brennan added: "I am delighted that Coca-Cola have continued their sponsorship of the International Rules team and I thank Mr. Bilgic and Coca-Cola for their support and commitment. I look forward to working with them over the coming weeks."
Commenting on the back-room team he said: "Seán has put in place a very strong team to ensure that everyone will be in good shape when the squad departs for Australia. In Eoin Liston, Anthony Tohill and Hugh Kenny he has three exceptionally committed and talented football men. I wish them all the best of luck with their endeavours. I am also very pleased with the new rules outlined here today by GAA Director of Games Pat Daly. These new rules will go a long way towards ensuring a competitive game and successful sporting series.
1) The 2008 International Rules Series will take place on the 24th of October 2008 in the Subiaco Stadium in Perth and on the 31st of October 2008 in the MCG Melbourne.
ESB GAA Football All Ireland Minor Final Replay
ESB GAA Football All Ireland Minor Final Replay
The GAA has confirmed that the replay of the ESB All Ireland Minor Football Final will take place in Pearse Park, Longford on Saturday next, 27th September 2008 at 2.30pm.
This game will be an all ticket event. Tickets will be available from the participating County Boards, GAA.ie and Ticketmaster from tomorrow morning. Ticket prices are as follows;
Stand €20
Terrace €15
Senior Citizens €10 (concession refunds from designated stile on match day prior to entry to stadium, this concession is available for Stand or Terrace).
Juveniles €5 (concession available for Terrace only)
Students €10 (concession available for Terrace only)
The GAA has confirmed that the replay of the ESB All Ireland Minor Football Final will take place in Pearse Park, Longford on Saturday next, 27th September 2008 at 2.30pm.
This game will be an all ticket event. Tickets will be available from the participating County Boards, GAA.ie and Ticketmaster from tomorrow morning. Ticket prices are as follows;
Stand €20
Terrace €15
Senior Citizens €10 (concession refunds from designated stile on match day prior to entry to stadium, this concession is available for Stand or Terrace).
Juveniles €5 (concession available for Terrace only)
Students €10 (concession available for Terrace only)
Friday, April 18, 2008
Wouldn't we all want the same?
Friday April 18 2008
A Russian tabloid has set the country abuzz with a report that Vladimir Putin is secretly preparing to marry a leggy 24-year-old gymnast, voted the most beautiful woman in Russia.
The little known paper Moskovsky Korrespondent reported a week ago that a reliable source had revealed that plans were underway for a wedding between Mr Putin and Alina Kabayeva, an Olympic gold medallist, which would take place on 15 June, a month after Mr Putin hands the Presidency to his successor, Dmitry Medvedev. As more and more people heard the rumour as the week went on, internet forums were full of discussion of the possible presidential marriage.
But yesterday, Alexander Lebedev, the billionaire and parliamentarian who owns the paper, published a statement on the paper's website that said he personally thought the article was: "Nonsense, based on a 'very reliable' source in the Agency of Old Wives Tales".
Mr Lebedev wrote that he never interfered in editorial policy but said that the editorial staff now had two options: "Either prove that it's true or, at a minimum, apologise."
The article, subtitled "The Sarkozy Syndrome", stated that Mr Putin had divorced his wife, Ludmilla, two months ago and was preparing for a wedding in St Petersburg's Constantine Palace on 15 June.
Ms Kabayeva, who was recently voted the most beautiful woman in the country by the readers of a Russian magazine, became a parliamentary deputy late last year after the pro-Putin United Russia party moved to include more young, attractive women in the Duma.
With his strongman image and bulging biceps, the 56-year-old President is regarded as quite a catch among Russian women. He even featured in a 2002 hit song called "A man like Putin", where his qualities were listed as a man who would not drink, insult his wife or walk out.
Mr Putin himself has been out of the country this week, first visiting Libya for talks with Colonel Gaddafi, and then travelling to Silvio Berlusconi's Italian villa on Saturday, where his host has built an artificial volcano to entertain his guests.
But the rumour has still not received an official denial from either the Kremlin or the gymnast herself, a week after it first appeared.
When the newspaper's journalists contacted Ms Kabayeva's spokeswoman this week, she told them she had to think before replying. Several hours later, she responded that Ms Kabayeva had no comment.
"We are not going to comment on this nonsense," the spokeswoman said when contacted by The Independent yesterday. When asked whether or not Mr Putin and Ms Kabayeva were friends, she paused before saying that any questions should be addressed to the presidential press service. Only Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin's spokesman, was authorised to comment, said the press service. Mr Peskov has been uncontactable in Libya all week.
It is an open secret that not all is well in Mr Putin's marriage, and his wife has been appearingby his side less and less as his Presidency went on.
A fiercely private person, Mr Putin has always shied away from answering questions about his wife and daughters, and however implausible the current rumour may be, the chances are that if Mr Putin was arranging a new marriage it would remain secret until the last minute.
A Russian tabloid has set the country abuzz with a report that Vladimir Putin is secretly preparing to marry a leggy 24-year-old gymnast, voted the most beautiful woman in Russia.
The little known paper Moskovsky Korrespondent reported a week ago that a reliable source had revealed that plans were underway for a wedding between Mr Putin and Alina Kabayeva, an Olympic gold medallist, which would take place on 15 June, a month after Mr Putin hands the Presidency to his successor, Dmitry Medvedev. As more and more people heard the rumour as the week went on, internet forums were full of discussion of the possible presidential marriage.
But yesterday, Alexander Lebedev, the billionaire and parliamentarian who owns the paper, published a statement on the paper's website that said he personally thought the article was: "Nonsense, based on a 'very reliable' source in the Agency of Old Wives Tales".
Mr Lebedev wrote that he never interfered in editorial policy but said that the editorial staff now had two options: "Either prove that it's true or, at a minimum, apologise."
The article, subtitled "The Sarkozy Syndrome", stated that Mr Putin had divorced his wife, Ludmilla, two months ago and was preparing for a wedding in St Petersburg's Constantine Palace on 15 June.
Ms Kabayeva, who was recently voted the most beautiful woman in the country by the readers of a Russian magazine, became a parliamentary deputy late last year after the pro-Putin United Russia party moved to include more young, attractive women in the Duma.
With his strongman image and bulging biceps, the 56-year-old President is regarded as quite a catch among Russian women. He even featured in a 2002 hit song called "A man like Putin", where his qualities were listed as a man who would not drink, insult his wife or walk out.
Mr Putin himself has been out of the country this week, first visiting Libya for talks with Colonel Gaddafi, and then travelling to Silvio Berlusconi's Italian villa on Saturday, where his host has built an artificial volcano to entertain his guests.
But the rumour has still not received an official denial from either the Kremlin or the gymnast herself, a week after it first appeared.
When the newspaper's journalists contacted Ms Kabayeva's spokeswoman this week, she told them she had to think before replying. Several hours later, she responded that Ms Kabayeva had no comment.
"We are not going to comment on this nonsense," the spokeswoman said when contacted by The Independent yesterday. When asked whether or not Mr Putin and Ms Kabayeva were friends, she paused before saying that any questions should be addressed to the presidential press service. Only Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin's spokesman, was authorised to comment, said the press service. Mr Peskov has been uncontactable in Libya all week.
It is an open secret that not all is well in Mr Putin's marriage, and his wife has been appearingby his side less and less as his Presidency went on.
A fiercely private person, Mr Putin has always shied away from answering questions about his wife and daughters, and however implausible the current rumour may be, the chances are that if Mr Putin was arranging a new marriage it would remain secret until the last minute.
Dubs ring changes for Royal date
Friday April 18 2008
Dublin have made widescale changes, especially upfront, for Sunday's big Division 2 decider against Meath.
Paddy Andrews replaces Derek Murray at corner-back, Collie Moran switches to the half-backs where he replaces Paul Casey, Ciaran Whelan starts in midfield beside Eamonn Fennell and, in the forwards, where Alan Brogan is out suspended, there's a completely new half-forward line, featuring Brendan McManamon, Mossy Quinn and Kevin Flynn.
Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy has made just one change in his team for Sunday's Allianz National Hurling League final against Galway. Willie Ryan (Toomevara) replaces Tommy Fitzgerald in the forwards, coming in at top of the left with Lar Corbett moving to the full-forward position.
Kerry U-21 football boss Sean Geaney has made one change also for their All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo tomorrow, with John Buckley replacing Brian Looney in the forwards, as he did at half-time in the Munster final.
Down footballers will be without half-forward John Fegan for their must-win Division 3 clash with Fermanagh as he will be in Australia for three weeks. Manager Ross Carr will wait until after tomorrow's U-21 semi-final against Kildare before he names his side.
Meanwhile, Wexford's bid to challenge the way the National Leagues were administered in the wake of the Cork players strike has been postponed until next week. The case was due to be heard by the DRA last night.
Dublin have made widescale changes, especially upfront, for Sunday's big Division 2 decider against Meath.
Paddy Andrews replaces Derek Murray at corner-back, Collie Moran switches to the half-backs where he replaces Paul Casey, Ciaran Whelan starts in midfield beside Eamonn Fennell and, in the forwards, where Alan Brogan is out suspended, there's a completely new half-forward line, featuring Brendan McManamon, Mossy Quinn and Kevin Flynn.
Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy has made just one change in his team for Sunday's Allianz National Hurling League final against Galway. Willie Ryan (Toomevara) replaces Tommy Fitzgerald in the forwards, coming in at top of the left with Lar Corbett moving to the full-forward position.
Kerry U-21 football boss Sean Geaney has made one change also for their All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo tomorrow, with John Buckley replacing Brian Looney in the forwards, as he did at half-time in the Munster final.
Down footballers will be without half-forward John Fegan for their must-win Division 3 clash with Fermanagh as he will be in Australia for three weeks. Manager Ross Carr will wait until after tomorrow's U-21 semi-final against Kildare before he names his side.
Meanwhile, Wexford's bid to challenge the way the National Leagues were administered in the wake of the Cork players strike has been postponed until next week. The case was due to be heard by the DRA last night.
Coyle gets set for Dublin
Friday April 18 2008
They have been the best of rivals in modern times, regularly attracting and thrilling 70,000-plus crowds at their championship encounters over the last two decades.
But Dublin and Meath are strange bedfellows when it comes to league football in that same time and when they meet on Sunday in Parnell Park it will be their first game at this level in 14 seasons.
Dublin were still punch drunk from another All-Ireland final flooring from an Ulster team a few weeks earlier, this time Down, when they gathered for their first match of the new season in Croke Park in October, 1994.
Meath, the reigning league champions at the time, prevailed and avenged their Leinster final defeat of just over two months earlier.
But since then one of Gaelic football's most compelling rivalries has, for the most part, been limited to championship encounters, with nine meetings between that 1994 afternoon and the quarter-final replay last June.
Sporadic
There have also been sporadic O'Byrne Cup meetings, most recently two years ago when Meath triumphed at Parnell Park.
Meath have had quite a nomadic relationship with the league since 1994 and have made regular forays into Division Two. In that time they have crossed swords with every other county in league football with the exception of Leitrim, Offaly and, of course, Dublin. Keeping them apart in Division One has been an opportunity lost for promoters of the league.
Not surprisingly, Sunday's tie at Parnell Park is expected to be a sell-out. For Meath and their manager Colm Coyle, it has presented an unexpected "gap in the door" that has provided a fleeting glance of Division One football again.
Because of the anomaly of the unplayed games with Cork, Meath can now force a play-off with Dublin if they can claim the points on Sunday. If Westmeath draw or win in Clones a three-way play-off could yet develop.
Coyle accepts that Monaghan and Westmeath, who have both lost to Cork in the division, will have cause to cry foul if they lose out on promotion to Dublin or Meath.
"They'd have a grievance, no doubt, no more than we had last February," he said.
It's not a scenario that Meath were expecting. Two weeks ago they were worried about the teams behind them, now they have their sights set on those ahead. Coyle will reserve judgment on how the league has been for his team until after Sunday.
"If we can beat Dublin we can consider it a good league, if we don't we can't say it has been. Nine points would be a good target," was his candid assessment.
Meath have only shown snatches of the form that helped them to wade their way through the qualifiers and into an All-Ireland semi-final last year, which has disappointed Coyle.
"I thought we played well against Armagh and in the second half against Cavan," he said. "But this is an opportunity, a good opportunity at that and a real test at the perfect time of year.
"We were talking about avoiding relegation a couple of weeks ago," he said.
Meath have conducted their league campaign against a backdrop of injuries to some key players and the withdrawal from the squad of others.
Last week Cormac McGuinness, who started last year's All-Ireland quarter-final and semi- final, withdrew while Niall McLoughlin and Charles McCarthy pulled out earlier in the season. But it is injuries to Brian Farrell, Anthony Moyles and Shane O'Rourke that Coyle has found most debilitating.
Farrell has returned to training after groin and hamstring injuries that have kept kept him out of action for the last six months. Young O'Rourke is plagued by the same ailment and is now likely to miss the opening round of the championship against Carlow, while Moyles has struggled to shake off a stomach muscle problem.
Sore
He hasn't been helped by a recent cycling accident when he was knocked from his bike by a car. "He was sore after that and it set him back somewhat," said Coyle.
Meath had lined up this week for some intense championship training on a running track in Navan, but those plans have had to be tailored a little to allow for Dublin's defeat at Crossmaglen last Sunday.
Coyle acknowledges that bringing Dublin to a second game in the league would trigger even more problems for championship preparations -- Meath are due to go to Portugal in early May for a training week. But the benefits will far outweigh any negatives.
"I don't think there could ever be a negative side to beating Dublin. They have everything to play for and now we have too. I'd take two games against Dublin any time if it comes to that," he said.
They have been the best of rivals in modern times, regularly attracting and thrilling 70,000-plus crowds at their championship encounters over the last two decades.
But Dublin and Meath are strange bedfellows when it comes to league football in that same time and when they meet on Sunday in Parnell Park it will be their first game at this level in 14 seasons.
Dublin were still punch drunk from another All-Ireland final flooring from an Ulster team a few weeks earlier, this time Down, when they gathered for their first match of the new season in Croke Park in October, 1994.
Meath, the reigning league champions at the time, prevailed and avenged their Leinster final defeat of just over two months earlier.
But since then one of Gaelic football's most compelling rivalries has, for the most part, been limited to championship encounters, with nine meetings between that 1994 afternoon and the quarter-final replay last June.
Sporadic
There have also been sporadic O'Byrne Cup meetings, most recently two years ago when Meath triumphed at Parnell Park.
Meath have had quite a nomadic relationship with the league since 1994 and have made regular forays into Division Two. In that time they have crossed swords with every other county in league football with the exception of Leitrim, Offaly and, of course, Dublin. Keeping them apart in Division One has been an opportunity lost for promoters of the league.
Not surprisingly, Sunday's tie at Parnell Park is expected to be a sell-out. For Meath and their manager Colm Coyle, it has presented an unexpected "gap in the door" that has provided a fleeting glance of Division One football again.
Because of the anomaly of the unplayed games with Cork, Meath can now force a play-off with Dublin if they can claim the points on Sunday. If Westmeath draw or win in Clones a three-way play-off could yet develop.
Coyle accepts that Monaghan and Westmeath, who have both lost to Cork in the division, will have cause to cry foul if they lose out on promotion to Dublin or Meath.
"They'd have a grievance, no doubt, no more than we had last February," he said.
It's not a scenario that Meath were expecting. Two weeks ago they were worried about the teams behind them, now they have their sights set on those ahead. Coyle will reserve judgment on how the league has been for his team until after Sunday.
"If we can beat Dublin we can consider it a good league, if we don't we can't say it has been. Nine points would be a good target," was his candid assessment.
Meath have only shown snatches of the form that helped them to wade their way through the qualifiers and into an All-Ireland semi-final last year, which has disappointed Coyle.
"I thought we played well against Armagh and in the second half against Cavan," he said. "But this is an opportunity, a good opportunity at that and a real test at the perfect time of year.
"We were talking about avoiding relegation a couple of weeks ago," he said.
Meath have conducted their league campaign against a backdrop of injuries to some key players and the withdrawal from the squad of others.
Last week Cormac McGuinness, who started last year's All-Ireland quarter-final and semi- final, withdrew while Niall McLoughlin and Charles McCarthy pulled out earlier in the season. But it is injuries to Brian Farrell, Anthony Moyles and Shane O'Rourke that Coyle has found most debilitating.
Farrell has returned to training after groin and hamstring injuries that have kept kept him out of action for the last six months. Young O'Rourke is plagued by the same ailment and is now likely to miss the opening round of the championship against Carlow, while Moyles has struggled to shake off a stomach muscle problem.
Sore
He hasn't been helped by a recent cycling accident when he was knocked from his bike by a car. "He was sore after that and it set him back somewhat," said Coyle.
Meath had lined up this week for some intense championship training on a running track in Navan, but those plans have had to be tailored a little to allow for Dublin's defeat at Crossmaglen last Sunday.
Coyle acknowledges that bringing Dublin to a second game in the league would trigger even more problems for championship preparations -- Meath are due to go to Portugal in early May for a training week. But the benefits will far outweigh any negatives.
"I don't think there could ever be a negative side to beating Dublin. They have everything to play for and now we have too. I'd take two games against Dublin any time if it comes to that," he said.
Mean Keane the Westmeath lynchpin
Friday April 18 2008
Westmeath have turned defence into a fine art.
They have been the defensive rock that several of Gaelic football's top forwards have perished on.
Steven McDonnell, Ronan Clarke, Seanie Johnston, Conal Keaney and Stephen Bray -- among Division 2's top marksmen -- have scored just one point from play between them as they pushed for promotion to the top tier.
Westmeath have the best defensive statistics going into the last round this weekend, with only 2-44 conceded.
Only Cork, with two games less played because of the 'strike,' have conceded less -- 0-47 in four games. Antrim, punching below their weight in Division Four, have coughed up 2-49, but with an extra game played.
Westmeath would have to leak 15 points or more against Monaghan in Clones on Sunday to end with an inferior 'scores against' tally to Kerry, who wrapped up Division 1 giving
1-62 away in seven games.
They leaked their biggest score away to Cork (0-11) and Dublin (1-7) but all other games -- Cavan (0-6), Roscommon
(0-6), Meath (0-8) and Armagh (1-6) -- have produced single-digit totals against them.
Consistency in selection from goalkeeper to midfield has been one of the features of Westmeath's campaign. Only once in six games since the first week in February has Tomas O Flaharta been forced to make a change from one to nine, giving him a foundation most managers would crave.
Doran Harte replaced 'flu victim Francis Boyle at right corner-back against Roscommon, but otherwise defence and midfield has been the same. Boyle and full-back Kieran Gavin, a former West Ham goalkeeping triallist, are the only newcomers to this tightly knit defensive unit.
John Keane, an All Star in 2004, has been the defensive lynchpin, using his man-marking ability to great effect.
Michael Ennis has been a revelation this season. Twice he raided opposition lines from half-back to score 0-2, while Damien Healy has also ventured forward from the other wing with success, notably against Meath, when he bagged 1-1. Derek Heavin has been a nomad for most of his Westmeath career between half-back and half-forward, but now looks settled at centre-back.
The six backs have been helped by the defensive orientation of former full-back Donal O'Donoghue, who has been regularly deployed in a sweeping role behind an ever-improving midfield.
Martin Flanagan has been rejuvenated, while Darragh Duffy, long viewed as Rory O'Connell's natural replacement, is only now coming through.
Westmeath's fate is in their own hands ahead of Sunday's game with Monaghan. A campaign that began as an exercise in survival has been pared down to an afternoon in Clones that could propel them into the top flight.
Westmeath have turned defence into a fine art.
They have been the defensive rock that several of Gaelic football's top forwards have perished on.
Steven McDonnell, Ronan Clarke, Seanie Johnston, Conal Keaney and Stephen Bray -- among Division 2's top marksmen -- have scored just one point from play between them as they pushed for promotion to the top tier.
Westmeath have the best defensive statistics going into the last round this weekend, with only 2-44 conceded.
Only Cork, with two games less played because of the 'strike,' have conceded less -- 0-47 in four games. Antrim, punching below their weight in Division Four, have coughed up 2-49, but with an extra game played.
Westmeath would have to leak 15 points or more against Monaghan in Clones on Sunday to end with an inferior 'scores against' tally to Kerry, who wrapped up Division 1 giving
1-62 away in seven games.
They leaked their biggest score away to Cork (0-11) and Dublin (1-7) but all other games -- Cavan (0-6), Roscommon
(0-6), Meath (0-8) and Armagh (1-6) -- have produced single-digit totals against them.
Consistency in selection from goalkeeper to midfield has been one of the features of Westmeath's campaign. Only once in six games since the first week in February has Tomas O Flaharta been forced to make a change from one to nine, giving him a foundation most managers would crave.
Doran Harte replaced 'flu victim Francis Boyle at right corner-back against Roscommon, but otherwise defence and midfield has been the same. Boyle and full-back Kieran Gavin, a former West Ham goalkeeping triallist, are the only newcomers to this tightly knit defensive unit.
John Keane, an All Star in 2004, has been the defensive lynchpin, using his man-marking ability to great effect.
Michael Ennis has been a revelation this season. Twice he raided opposition lines from half-back to score 0-2, while Damien Healy has also ventured forward from the other wing with success, notably against Meath, when he bagged 1-1. Derek Heavin has been a nomad for most of his Westmeath career between half-back and half-forward, but now looks settled at centre-back.
The six backs have been helped by the defensive orientation of former full-back Donal O'Donoghue, who has been regularly deployed in a sweeping role behind an ever-improving midfield.
Martin Flanagan has been rejuvenated, while Darragh Duffy, long viewed as Rory O'Connell's natural replacement, is only now coming through.
Westmeath's fate is in their own hands ahead of Sunday's game with Monaghan. A campaign that began as an exercise in survival has been pared down to an afternoon in Clones that could propel them into the top flight.
Exclusion zone to leave fans with 2km match hike
PENAL parking restrictions are to come into force around Croke Park
Patrons at the GAA's Headquarters are facing the added headache of 2km-plus walks after Dublin City Council's decision to enforce a parking exclusion zone around the ground.
New bye-laws are expected to restrict parking for non-residents within a 2km zone from all the city's major stadia and entertainment venues, including the new Lansdowne Road, the RDS and the Point.
But Croke Park has become the first target, with only residential permit holders allowed to park in the vicinity of the stadium Croke Park during specific hours around match or event times.
Unfair
The new bye-laws will be enforced later this summer for international matches, concerts and later All-Ireland quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
The parameters of the exclusion zone include Griffith Avenue to the north, St Mobhi and Botanic Roads to the west, North Strand Road and Fairview to the east and Parnell Street to the south.
Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna said yesterday that it will be unfair on patrons travelling long distances to inconvenience them in such a way.
"The economy of Dublin benefits enormously from events and matches in Croke Park and other venues.
"It seems a very harsh way to penalise the people who are actually fuelling this economy."
The restriction of parking will only move any perceived problem with congestion and road safety to another part of the city and McKenna suggested "some joined up thinking" before the new bye-laws are enforced. "We have been in consultation with the city authorities on this and a smaller exclusion zone closer to Croke Park has worked well. But this leaves things more difficult," he admitted.
"The area isn't that well served by public transport and even bus lanes don't operate on match days which could help," McKenna said.
It has been suggested that a plebiscite of residents in the relevant areas will be required before the new laws come into effect.
"A system like this operates at Arsenal, but you have to factor in that there's a home team involved, a smaller ground capacity and a better level of public transport," argued McKenna.
Good luck to the residents just outside the 2km exclusion zone.....Just moving the problem to other city centre residents!!!!
Posted by Dallas 18.04.08, 13:28 GMT
as stated there are many bus routes serving north strand /fairview and on the drumcondra side. there is a raillink to drumcondra but ideally thee existing rail track from connolly could be rehabilitated and a stop put in beside jury's on the jones road. I am a resident of the area and enjoy the colour and sense of exitment that matchdays and events bring to the area but believe that this is detracted from by the antics of a very small minority on more than one occasion i have had to ask fans to pick their litter up. I would hasten to add that many residents of the area do a great job all on their own of double parking ant-social behaviour etc
Posted by gabriel 18.04.08, 13:27 GMT
go ahead Joe - you tell us your own thoughts on why there was very little disruption from the Rugby matches. I also live in the area also and witnessed many cars parked on pavements during the Rugby with v. little clamping taking place. I think residents have been treated much better recently with free match/concert tickets and funding provided to local groups by the GAA. Get a life Joe
Posted by Phib_Philly 18.04.08, 13:18 GMT
I agree that parking is a headache for residents. It has too be with such an influx of people for all over Ireland arriving each weekend. I would wondder if perhaps it wasn't as bad for the Rugby matches because a lot of the spectators are from Dublin. Is traffic an issue when Dublin are playing? But bear in mind lots of people, like myself, only go to Dublin for matches. I don't know anywhere else in Dublin (bar the train station). And the LUAS is always too full on match day so I can't get in. Anyway it only brings you part of the way. Personally I park at Aarons Quay and walk in but I am 27. What about older people. I took my Father there in a wheelchair one year and getting to the Stadium was a nightmare. We took the train up and it was no fun making our way to the Stadium. Anyway I laugh a Dublin City Council. This is the same company who not only didn't allow the GAA to move and improve the DART line during construction, (improvements which could have included a stop), but actually continue to charge the GAA AIRSPACE CHARGES for the part of the stadium that overhangs the stadium.
Posted by John ORiordan 18.04.08, 13:08 GMT
The Dublin economy benefits so much from Croke Park that its time that Dublin gave something back in return. For starters, where's the dedicated match day Park n Ride schemes? Where are the prioritised buses that will take fans to the stadium on match days? Its all very well waving the stick, but where's the carrot? You can't blame finance - there's no shortage of money to give away free stadia to Sham Rovers, or to fund Sporting Fingal Football Academy. If they'd imposed these restrictions before the GAA paid for the rebuilding of Croker, we would probably have sold the site and fecked off to somewhere more accessible and more grateful for our investment.
Posted by Paul Sloan 18.04.08, 11:10 GMT
Typical Irish solution to an Irish problem. Anyone with half a brain would have insisted that a full size train/dart station as well as a high capacity bus terminal be built as part of the overall Croke Park project. Instead what was once just painful is now going to become a deterrant to attending matches. Dublin City Council should be prevented from bringing in these bye-laws until they make alternative effective arrangements to accommodate matchgoers. It is their fault that these problems arose and it should be their responsibility to sort them.
Posted by Ger 18.04.08, 09:54 GMT
Really! So Croke Park and the GAA don't like the new exclusion zones! Well, maybe they should have engaged more with the residents of the area who have to put up with too many ill-manned boorish 'fans' who think it is their right to block driveways, park on corners, on footpaths, and who would park on the pitch if they could. Croke Park chose to ignore the concerns of the residents and thought they would simply bully them as they had for years. Well, as a resident, all I can say to the City Council is 'Yay! Best decision in years - well done!!' And as for McKenna's suggestion that the area is not well served by public transport. What nonsense! There is a railway station not more than 200m from the stadium and more bus routes than in almost any other part of the city. It is no more than a 20 minute walk from the city centre!!! A little joined up thinking from Croke Park please! Get out there and actually look at the possibilities for public transport. Funnily enough, there was relatively little disruption for residents from the rugby matches. I wonder why.
Posted by Joe 18.04.08, 08:08 GMT
Hey no worries really, wont it be such a pleasure to catch the light rail connection from suburbia into Croker, or indeed, you could jump on Dublin's wonderful underground rail network bustling with Celtic Tiger energy.
Posted by Sarc Asm 18.04.08, 07:33 GMT
Patrons at the GAA's Headquarters are facing the added headache of 2km-plus walks after Dublin City Council's decision to enforce a parking exclusion zone around the ground.
New bye-laws are expected to restrict parking for non-residents within a 2km zone from all the city's major stadia and entertainment venues, including the new Lansdowne Road, the RDS and the Point.
But Croke Park has become the first target, with only residential permit holders allowed to park in the vicinity of the stadium Croke Park during specific hours around match or event times.
Unfair
The new bye-laws will be enforced later this summer for international matches, concerts and later All-Ireland quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
The parameters of the exclusion zone include Griffith Avenue to the north, St Mobhi and Botanic Roads to the west, North Strand Road and Fairview to the east and Parnell Street to the south.
Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna said yesterday that it will be unfair on patrons travelling long distances to inconvenience them in such a way.
"The economy of Dublin benefits enormously from events and matches in Croke Park and other venues.
"It seems a very harsh way to penalise the people who are actually fuelling this economy."
The restriction of parking will only move any perceived problem with congestion and road safety to another part of the city and McKenna suggested "some joined up thinking" before the new bye-laws are enforced. "We have been in consultation with the city authorities on this and a smaller exclusion zone closer to Croke Park has worked well. But this leaves things more difficult," he admitted.
"The area isn't that well served by public transport and even bus lanes don't operate on match days which could help," McKenna said.
It has been suggested that a plebiscite of residents in the relevant areas will be required before the new laws come into effect.
"A system like this operates at Arsenal, but you have to factor in that there's a home team involved, a smaller ground capacity and a better level of public transport," argued McKenna.
Good luck to the residents just outside the 2km exclusion zone.....Just moving the problem to other city centre residents!!!!
Posted by Dallas 18.04.08, 13:28 GMT
as stated there are many bus routes serving north strand /fairview and on the drumcondra side. there is a raillink to drumcondra but ideally thee existing rail track from connolly could be rehabilitated and a stop put in beside jury's on the jones road. I am a resident of the area and enjoy the colour and sense of exitment that matchdays and events bring to the area but believe that this is detracted from by the antics of a very small minority on more than one occasion i have had to ask fans to pick their litter up. I would hasten to add that many residents of the area do a great job all on their own of double parking ant-social behaviour etc
Posted by gabriel 18.04.08, 13:27 GMT
go ahead Joe - you tell us your own thoughts on why there was very little disruption from the Rugby matches. I also live in the area also and witnessed many cars parked on pavements during the Rugby with v. little clamping taking place. I think residents have been treated much better recently with free match/concert tickets and funding provided to local groups by the GAA. Get a life Joe
Posted by Phib_Philly 18.04.08, 13:18 GMT
I agree that parking is a headache for residents. It has too be with such an influx of people for all over Ireland arriving each weekend. I would wondder if perhaps it wasn't as bad for the Rugby matches because a lot of the spectators are from Dublin. Is traffic an issue when Dublin are playing? But bear in mind lots of people, like myself, only go to Dublin for matches. I don't know anywhere else in Dublin (bar the train station). And the LUAS is always too full on match day so I can't get in. Anyway it only brings you part of the way. Personally I park at Aarons Quay and walk in but I am 27. What about older people. I took my Father there in a wheelchair one year and getting to the Stadium was a nightmare. We took the train up and it was no fun making our way to the Stadium. Anyway I laugh a Dublin City Council. This is the same company who not only didn't allow the GAA to move and improve the DART line during construction, (improvements which could have included a stop), but actually continue to charge the GAA AIRSPACE CHARGES for the part of the stadium that overhangs the stadium.
Posted by John ORiordan 18.04.08, 13:08 GMT
The Dublin economy benefits so much from Croke Park that its time that Dublin gave something back in return. For starters, where's the dedicated match day Park n Ride schemes? Where are the prioritised buses that will take fans to the stadium on match days? Its all very well waving the stick, but where's the carrot? You can't blame finance - there's no shortage of money to give away free stadia to Sham Rovers, or to fund Sporting Fingal Football Academy. If they'd imposed these restrictions before the GAA paid for the rebuilding of Croker, we would probably have sold the site and fecked off to somewhere more accessible and more grateful for our investment.
Posted by Paul Sloan 18.04.08, 11:10 GMT
Typical Irish solution to an Irish problem. Anyone with half a brain would have insisted that a full size train/dart station as well as a high capacity bus terminal be built as part of the overall Croke Park project. Instead what was once just painful is now going to become a deterrant to attending matches. Dublin City Council should be prevented from bringing in these bye-laws until they make alternative effective arrangements to accommodate matchgoers. It is their fault that these problems arose and it should be their responsibility to sort them.
Posted by Ger 18.04.08, 09:54 GMT
Really! So Croke Park and the GAA don't like the new exclusion zones! Well, maybe they should have engaged more with the residents of the area who have to put up with too many ill-manned boorish 'fans' who think it is their right to block driveways, park on corners, on footpaths, and who would park on the pitch if they could. Croke Park chose to ignore the concerns of the residents and thought they would simply bully them as they had for years. Well, as a resident, all I can say to the City Council is 'Yay! Best decision in years - well done!!' And as for McKenna's suggestion that the area is not well served by public transport. What nonsense! There is a railway station not more than 200m from the stadium and more bus routes than in almost any other part of the city. It is no more than a 20 minute walk from the city centre!!! A little joined up thinking from Croke Park please! Get out there and actually look at the possibilities for public transport. Funnily enough, there was relatively little disruption for residents from the rugby matches. I wonder why.
Posted by Joe 18.04.08, 08:08 GMT
Hey no worries really, wont it be such a pleasure to catch the light rail connection from suburbia into Croker, or indeed, you could jump on Dublin's wonderful underground rail network bustling with Celtic Tiger energy.
Posted by Sarc Asm 18.04.08, 07:33 GMT
Players for slice of TV Cash
Friday April 18 2008
DUBLIN footballer Colin Moran doesn't believe inter-county players will be looking for a slice of the TV revenue pie despite the fact that the GAA is taking in more than ever from that source, WRITES DONNCHADH BOYLE.
The Association issued tenders for a number of packages this year with TV3 being awarded one of those for the first time ever.
That package includes Dublin's Leinster championship quarter-final clash with Louth on June 8 which will be the first live football game shown on the channel.
"I've been at a lot of the GPA AGMs over the years and players have never really been looking for professionalism and have openly spoken about it," Moran said yesterday.
"I think the grants issue was about legitimate expenses and it's great to have that put to bed. I don't see that there is a visible push from players after a slice of the pie of TV monies.
"In fairness to the GAA they have used the money that has come in to invest heavily in pitches all over the country and there are huge developments being made in clubs."
The Dublin star, who attended yesterday's launch of the 2008 Opel GPA awards, added: "While floodlighting and all-weather surfaces are major issues [also], the money that has come in is trickling down to the clubs."
DUBLIN footballer Colin Moran doesn't believe inter-county players will be looking for a slice of the TV revenue pie despite the fact that the GAA is taking in more than ever from that source, WRITES DONNCHADH BOYLE.
The Association issued tenders for a number of packages this year with TV3 being awarded one of those for the first time ever.
That package includes Dublin's Leinster championship quarter-final clash with Louth on June 8 which will be the first live football game shown on the channel.
"I've been at a lot of the GPA AGMs over the years and players have never really been looking for professionalism and have openly spoken about it," Moran said yesterday.
"I think the grants issue was about legitimate expenses and it's great to have that put to bed. I don't see that there is a visible push from players after a slice of the pie of TV monies.
"In fairness to the GAA they have used the money that has come in to invest heavily in pitches all over the country and there are huge developments being made in clubs."
The Dublin star, who attended yesterday's launch of the 2008 Opel GPA awards, added: "While floodlighting and all-weather surfaces are major issues [also], the money that has come in is trickling down to the clubs."
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Next year's Six Nations Championship will feature a Friday night fixture for the first time.
Next year's Six Nations Championship will feature a Friday night fixture for the first time.
Organisers claim the change is being made following the success of Friday evening games in the Rugby World Cup
The Championship will kick-off at Twickenham on Saturday February 7th with England playing Italy, and conclude in Cardiff with Ireland facing current champions Wales on Saturday 21st March.
The sole Friday game will see France play Wales on the evening of February 28th at the Stade de France.
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de Britse kannibaal
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Now playing: Korn & Rammstein - Freak On A Leash
via FoxyTunes Een Brit heeft volledige bekentenissen afgelegd in de moordzaak van de 41-jarige Spaanse vrouw Karen Durrel. Nadat de dader opbiechtte dat hij delen van haar lichaam opgegeten had, werd hij veroordeeld tot twaalf jaar cel.
Durrel werd in 2004 in haar eigen huis in Benidorm de kop ingeslagen met een hamer. Haar lichaam werd nooit teruggevonden. Paul Leonard Durant bleef ontkennen dat hij wat te maken had met de zaak, tot zijn advocaat hem er op attent maakte dat hij er met een bekentenis goedkoper kon van afkomen. Drie minuten later kreeg de rechter te horen wat hij wilde.
Durrel sneed met een mes en een zaag haar lichaam in de badkamer in stukken. Daarna dumpte hij de ledematen in een plastic zak. In een brief beweerde hij later alle 'eetbare' stukken opgegeten te hebben.
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Now playing: Korn & Rammstein - Freak On A Leash
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Now playing: Korn & Rammstein - Freak On A Leash
via FoxyTunes Een Brit heeft volledige bekentenissen afgelegd in de moordzaak van de 41-jarige Spaanse vrouw Karen Durrel. Nadat de dader opbiechtte dat hij delen van haar lichaam opgegeten had, werd hij veroordeeld tot twaalf jaar cel.
Durrel werd in 2004 in haar eigen huis in Benidorm de kop ingeslagen met een hamer. Haar lichaam werd nooit teruggevonden. Paul Leonard Durant bleef ontkennen dat hij wat te maken had met de zaak, tot zijn advocaat hem er op attent maakte dat hij er met een bekentenis goedkoper kon van afkomen. Drie minuten later kreeg de rechter te horen wat hij wilde.
Durrel sneed met een mes en een zaag haar lichaam in de badkamer in stukken. Daarna dumpte hij de ledematen in een plastic zak. In een brief beweerde hij later alle 'eetbare' stukken opgegeten te hebben.
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de vegetarische kannibaal
Beruchte Duitse kannibaal zweert vlees af
Armin Meiwes, de beruchte 'kannibaal van Rotenburg', eet geen vlees meer. Dat heeft een medegevangene gezegd.De 45-jarige Meiwes kreeg levenslang omdat hij een man die hij op het internet had ontmoet, vermoordde en opat. Hij vindt nu het kweken van dieren voor consumptie even wansmakelijk als zijn eigen misdaad, luidt het in de Daily Mail.
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de dode kannibaal
De van kannibalisme verdachte Mexicaanse schrijver José Luis Calva Zepeda is dood gevonden in zijn cel. Hij heeft zichzelf van het leven beroofd, meldden Mexicaanse media dinsdag.
Calva werd in oktober opgepakt op verdenking van kannibalisme. In zijn appartement troffen agenten het aan stukken gesneden lijk van zijn tien jaar jongere vriendin in een koelkast aan. Op het fornuis stond een pan met menselijk vlees te sudderen.
Ook werd een onvoltooid manuscript met de titel 'Kannibaal Instincten' gevonden. Een grote poster van de Britse acteur Anthony Hopkins, die de kannibaal Hannibal Lecter speelde in de film The Silence of the Lambs, hing in de keuken. (
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Calva werd in oktober opgepakt op verdenking van kannibalisme. In zijn appartement troffen agenten het aan stukken gesneden lijk van zijn tien jaar jongere vriendin in een koelkast aan. Op het fornuis stond een pan met menselijk vlees te sudderen.
Ook werd een onvoltooid manuscript met de titel 'Kannibaal Instincten' gevonden. Een grote poster van de Britse acteur Anthony Hopkins, die de kannibaal Hannibal Lecter speelde in de film The Silence of the Lambs, hing in de keuken. (
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Blood and Honour plant zaterdag twee Hitlerherdenkingen
Blood and Honour plant zaterdag twee Hitlerherdenkingen
Blood and Honour is terug. De Vlaamse tak van de extreemrechtse organisatie plant dit weekend twee Hitlerherdenkingen. Vrijdagavond vindt ergens ten lande een Memorial for Fallen Heroes plaats. Zaterdag volgt een groot Return to Glory-concert met een optreden van Die Liebenfels Kapelle, notoire jodenhaters uit Duitsland, schrijft De Morgen.Maanden van stilte
Na enkele maanden stilte laat Blood and Honour Vlaanderen opnieuw van zich horen. De extreem rechtse vereniging wil dit weekend plechtigheden inrichten ter herdenking van de Duitse nazileider Adolf Hitler, die geboren werd op 20 april 1889. Zoals altijd wordt de plaats van het gebeuren pas kort tevoren bekendgemaakt: vanaf vrijdag 20 uur kunnen geïnteresseerden bellen naar een van de gsm-nummers van een B&H-kopstuk uit Arendonk.
Miniconcert
Vrijdagavond zal een miniconcert plaatsvinden voor de buitenlandse neonazi's die al neergestreken zijn in onze contreien, zaterdag komen groepen uit Duitsland, Vlaanderen, Estland, Engeland en Tsjechië.
"Bijeenkomsten verhinderen"
Het Anti-Fascistisch Front (AFF) vraagt justitieminister Jo Vandeurzen (CD&V) en zijn collega van Binnenlandse Zaken Patrick Dewael (Open Vld) met aandrang de bijeenkomsten te verhinderen. Een "njet" is het antwoord: "We hebben daar simpelweg geen juridisch instrument voor", aldus Dewaels woordvoerder.
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"Deense neonazi's leren moorden in leger"
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via FoxyTunes "Deense neonazi's leren moorden in leger"
Minstens vijftig leden van de Deense neonazipartij (Danmarks Nationalsocialistiske Bevægelse) hebben een verleden of zijn nog actief in het leger en de elitetroepen en dat met een duidelijk doel, zegt partijleider Jonni Hansen. "Ze moesten er leren of ze leren er nog steeds omgaan met wapens. Ze moeten klaar zijn voor de strijd tegen de rasvreemden", zegt hij in een ophefmakend interview met de Deense krant Ekstra Bladet.Koninklijke wacht
De nazileider deed ook een oproep aan alle ex-leden van de koninklijke wacht en het leger om aan te sluiten bij zijn partij. "Vijftig van onze leden hebben een verleden in die diensten of maken er nog deel van uit", beweert Hansen, die zelf uit het elitekorps gezet werd. De partijleden die nu nog deel uitmaken van het leger of de koninklijke wacht houden zich gedeisd. "Hun doel is om hun opleiding af te maken. Ze moeten klaar zijn voor een strijd tegen de rasvreemden." De partijleider beweert ook dat hij leden heeft tot op de hoogste niveaus. "Sommigen leden behoren tot het topkader van het leger." Een van hen Christian, was lid van de koninklijke wacht, schrijft Ekstra Bladet.
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Duits euthanasieapparaat
De zelfmoordmachine voor terminale patiënten die een Duitse politicus heeft uitgevonden, krijgt zware kritiek. "Het is de meest dragelijke methode voor mensen die willen sterven", vertelde Roger Kusch aan CNN op de voorstelling van zijn uitvinding. Maar heel wat politici, artsen, en vooral religieuze figuren zijn het niet met Kusch eens. Ze zien het als een "ziekelijke publiciteitsstunt".
Hulp voor dokters
Kusch zegt dat de machine interessant is voor dokters, omdat de patiënt technisch gezien zichzelf doodt. Artsen moeten het toestel enkel klaarmaken. De patiënt kan met één druk op de knop het toestel in werking zetten waardoor er een dodelijke vloeistof wordt geïnjecteerd. Het zou gaan om een mengsel van een verdovend middel en een dodelijke dosis kaliumchloride. Op enkele minuten tijd is de patiënt overleden.
"Pijn helpen dragen"
Vooral uit religieuze hoek is er veel kritiek op de uitvinding. "Dit is ethisch onverantwoord", zegt Wolfgang Huber, hoofd van de Duitse Lutheraanse kerk. "Het is tegen het christelijke beeld van een menselijk wezen en tegen de geest van onze wet." Huber raadt de maatschappij aan om terminaal zieke patiënten te helpen om hun pijn te dragen in plaats van zelfmoord als alternatief te overwegen.
Kusch is niet te spreken over de kritiek. Hij vindt dat iedereen zich met zijn eigen zaken moeten bemoeien. Volgens hem zijn het allemaal valse argumenten, want een groot deel van de Duitse bevolking heeft geassisteerde zelfmoord al lang als een mogelijkheid aanvaard.
Discussie
Euthanasie is de voorbije weken weer een belangrijk discussiepunt geworden. In Frankrijk mocht Chantal Sebire, die een zeer zeldzame tumor in het gezicht had, geen euthanasie plegen. Uiteindelijk werd ze een paar weken geleden dood teruggevonden. Veel inwoners van landen waar euthanasie verboden is, trekken naar het buitenland. Duitsers gaan daarvoor vaak naar Zwitserland. Kusch hoopt met zijn uitvinding te vermijden dat mensen het land moeten verlaten om te sterven.
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Hulp voor dokters
Kusch zegt dat de machine interessant is voor dokters, omdat de patiënt technisch gezien zichzelf doodt. Artsen moeten het toestel enkel klaarmaken. De patiënt kan met één druk op de knop het toestel in werking zetten waardoor er een dodelijke vloeistof wordt geïnjecteerd. Het zou gaan om een mengsel van een verdovend middel en een dodelijke dosis kaliumchloride. Op enkele minuten tijd is de patiënt overleden.
"Pijn helpen dragen"
Vooral uit religieuze hoek is er veel kritiek op de uitvinding. "Dit is ethisch onverantwoord", zegt Wolfgang Huber, hoofd van de Duitse Lutheraanse kerk. "Het is tegen het christelijke beeld van een menselijk wezen en tegen de geest van onze wet." Huber raadt de maatschappij aan om terminaal zieke patiënten te helpen om hun pijn te dragen in plaats van zelfmoord als alternatief te overwegen.
Kusch is niet te spreken over de kritiek. Hij vindt dat iedereen zich met zijn eigen zaken moeten bemoeien. Volgens hem zijn het allemaal valse argumenten, want een groot deel van de Duitse bevolking heeft geassisteerde zelfmoord al lang als een mogelijkheid aanvaard.
Discussie
Euthanasie is de voorbije weken weer een belangrijk discussiepunt geworden. In Frankrijk mocht Chantal Sebire, die een zeer zeldzame tumor in het gezicht had, geen euthanasie plegen. Uiteindelijk werd ze een paar weken geleden dood teruggevonden. Veel inwoners van landen waar euthanasie verboden is, trekken naar het buitenland. Duitsers gaan daarvoor vaak naar Zwitserland. Kusch hoopt met zijn uitvinding te vermijden dat mensen het land moeten verlaten om te sterven.
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Nederlandse SS'er na 63 jaar toch vervolgd voor oorlogsmisdaden
Nederlandse SS'er na 63 jaar toch vervolgd voor oorlogsmisdaden
Een Nederlandse SS'er, Heinrich Boere, die in de Tweede Wereldoorlog meerdere mensen vermoordde en naar Duitsland vluchtte, zal na 63 jaar toch nog vervolgd worden. Hij is 86 jaar en het leek erop dat hij ongestraft zou blijven, omdat Duitsland weinig zin had in de ingewikkelde vervolging. Dat melden Bild en De Telegraaf.Boere zat in het commando 'Zilbertanne' dat Nederland terroriseerde. In 1944 schoot hij onder meer drie ongewapende mannen dood. Voor die zaak werd hij berecht, maar hij kon ontkomen. Boere werd bij verstek ter dood veroordeeld en ging in Duitsland verder leven onder de naam Bergmann.
Boere reageerde in Bild alvast verontwaardigd. "Het is zestig jaar geleden. Ik weet er niks meer van."
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Duitse kannibaal (19) moet naar psychiatrische inrichting
Duitse kannibaal (19) moet naar psychiatrische inrichting
De veroordeelde heeft vorige zomer een 26-jarige vrouw in de hals gebeten. Hij lokte ook een man in zijn kamer met de bedoeling hem te doden en zich te voeden met diens vlees. Hij stak de man zevenmaal met een nagelschaartje. Een man die het slachtoffer te hulp wilde snellen, werd ook gewond bij dit incident.
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Het aantal neonazi's in Duitsland is vorig jaar met 5 procent gestegen
Het aantal neonazi's in Duitsland is vorig jaar met 5 procent gestegen tot 44.000. Dat heeft de krant Bild bericht op grond van een nog niet gepubliceerd jaarverslag van het Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, de Duitse binnenlandse veiligheidsdienst. Een woordvoerder van minister van binnenlandse zaken Wolfgang Schäuble wilde geen commentaar geven voordat het jaarverslag is gepresenteerd, wat op 15 mei zal gebeuren.
Volgens het artikel van Bild nam het extreemrechtse potentieel waaruit de neonazi's putten in 2007 met 20 procent af - van 38.600 tot 31.000. Maar dat is volgens de krant vooral het gevolg van het feit dat de 'Republikaner' (REP) van de in 2005 overleden Franz Schönhuber door de veiligheidsdienst niet meer als extreem rechts worden aangemerkt.
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Volgens het artikel van Bild nam het extreemrechtse potentieel waaruit de neonazi's putten in 2007 met 20 procent af - van 38.600 tot 31.000. Maar dat is volgens de krant vooral het gevolg van het feit dat de 'Republikaner' (REP) van de in 2005 overleden Franz Schönhuber door de veiligheidsdienst niet meer als extreem rechts worden aangemerkt.
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Hoezo Duitsers weten het altijd beter?
Duitse scholier corrigeert NASA
Een dertienjarige Duitse scholier heeft berekeningen van de NASA over de waarschijnlijkheid van een botsing met een asteroïde verbeterd en het Amerikaanse ruimtevaartbureau heeft de fout erkend, zo heeft het regionale dagblad Potsdamer Neuerster Nachrichten gemeld.Op basis van waarnemingen van het Astrofysisch Instituut in Potsdam nabij Berlijn berekende Nico Marquardt dat de kans dat asteroïde Apophis met onze planeet botst, 1 op 450 is. De NASA had de kans 1 op 45.000 berekend en heeft de fout via het Europese Ruimtevaartbureau ESA toegegeven, aldus de krant.
De NASA had nagelaten in rekening te nemen dat Apophis zou botsen met een of meerdere van de 40.000 satellieten rond planeet Aarde bij de scheervlucht op 13 april 2029. Die kunstmanen draaien aan 3,07 km per seconde rondom onze planeet op een afstand tot 35.880 km terwijl het hemellichaam ons op 32.500 km zou passeren.
De dertienjarige Duitse scholier die zei dat hij berekeningen van de NASA over de waarschijnlijkheid van een botsing met een asteroïde had verbeterd, had het mis. Dat meldt het Amerikaanse ruimtevaartbureau.
1 op 45.000
De berekeningen van de NASA kloppen, aldus woordvoerder Dwayn Brown. "Wij blijven bij onze huidige inschatting dat er een zeer lage kans is (1 op 45.000) dat de asteroïde in 2036 met de aarde botst".
Geen contact
"Anders dan wat in de pers wordt gemeld, is geen contact opgenomen met de betrokken diensten bij de NASA. Zij hebben niet met de Duitse scholier gecorrespondeerd".
Nico
Op basis van waarnemingen van het Astrofysisch Instituut in Potsdam nabij Berlijn had Nico Marquardt berekend dat de kans dat asteroïde Apophis met onze planeet botst, 1 op 450 is. Volgens het regionale dagblad Potsdamer Neuerster Nachrichten had de NASA de fout via het Europese Ruimtevaartbureau ESA toegegeven.
Satellieten
Volgens de scholier had de NASA had nagelaten rekening te houden met de kans dat Apophis zou botsen met een of meerdere van de 40.000 satellieten rond planeet Aarde bij de scheervlucht op 13 april 2029. Die kunstmanen draaien aan 3,07 km per seconde rondom onze planeet op een afstand tot 35.880 km, terwijl het hemellichaam ons op 32.500 km zou passeren.
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Bush Neandertaler?
De Duitse milieuminister Sigmar Gabriel heeft de jongste rede van de Amerikaanse president George Bush omtrent het milieu- en energiebeleid scherp bekritiseerd als een achterop hinkende 'Neandertal-rede'.
Stap achteruit
"De president heeft een ontgoochelende toespraak gehouden die de wereldwijde uitdaging geen eer aandoet", zei Gabriel. De uitlatingen van Bush zijn een stap achteruit van de internationale klimaatonderhandelingen van Bali eind 2007 en zelfs achter de top van Industrie- en Ontwikkelingslanden van Heiligendamm.
Losership
"Zonder verplichte bovengrenzen en reductiedoelstellingen voor de industriestaten zal de klimaatsverandering niet te stopppen zijn", zei de sociaaldemocratische minister. "Europa en de VS moeten het voortouw nemen, anderen moeten volgen". Maar daartegen hinkt Bush hopeloos achterop. Zijn rede volgt het motto "verliezen in plaats van leiden - losership in plaats van leadership. We zijn blij dat er in de VS ook andere stemmen zijn", aldus Gabriel.
Kerncentrales
Bush sprak zich weliswaar uit voor bescherming van het klimaat en de afbouw van broeikasgassen in de VS, maar waarschuwde ook voor "valse wegen" in de strijd tegen de opwarming van de Aarde. Belangrijk is zich meer te richten op kerncentrales. De Amerikaanse president bevestigde ook dat de VS geen internationaal bindende regels voor de uitstoot van koolstofdioxide willen aangaan. In het bijzonder wanneer economisch sterke en snel rijzende concurrenten als China en India niet in gelijke mate meedoen.
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Stap achteruit
"De president heeft een ontgoochelende toespraak gehouden die de wereldwijde uitdaging geen eer aandoet", zei Gabriel. De uitlatingen van Bush zijn een stap achteruit van de internationale klimaatonderhandelingen van Bali eind 2007 en zelfs achter de top van Industrie- en Ontwikkelingslanden van Heiligendamm.
Losership
"Zonder verplichte bovengrenzen en reductiedoelstellingen voor de industriestaten zal de klimaatsverandering niet te stopppen zijn", zei de sociaaldemocratische minister. "Europa en de VS moeten het voortouw nemen, anderen moeten volgen". Maar daartegen hinkt Bush hopeloos achterop. Zijn rede volgt het motto "verliezen in plaats van leiden - losership in plaats van leadership. We zijn blij dat er in de VS ook andere stemmen zijn", aldus Gabriel.
Kerncentrales
Bush sprak zich weliswaar uit voor bescherming van het klimaat en de afbouw van broeikasgassen in de VS, maar waarschuwde ook voor "valse wegen" in de strijd tegen de opwarming van de Aarde. Belangrijk is zich meer te richten op kerncentrales. De Amerikaanse president bevestigde ook dat de VS geen internationaal bindende regels voor de uitstoot van koolstofdioxide willen aangaan. In het bijzonder wanneer economisch sterke en snel rijzende concurrenten als China en India niet in gelijke mate meedoen.
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Zestien jonge neo-nazi's gearresteerd in Italië
Zestien jonge neo-nazi's gearresteerd in Italië
De Italiaanse politie heeft vandaag zestien jonge neo-nazi's beschuldigd van racistische agressie. Er loopt een onderzoek tegen 31 mensen na een razzia in het noorden van het land, in de regio Trentino-Alto Adige (Zuid-Tirol), aldus een functionaris van de lokale politie. "In het kader van een zes maanden durend onderzoek hebben we zestien personen gearresteerd in de omgeving van de stad Bolzano", zegt Giorgio Porroni.Raciaal geweld
De jongeren, allen tussen de 17 en 27 jaar, worden beschuldigd van aanzetten tot discriminatie, haat en raciaal geweld. "Ze worden eveneens beschuldigd van deelname aan gewelddadige acties. Wij hebben getuigenissen verzameld waaruit blijkt dat ze buitenlanders hebben geslagen, maar ook Italianen die niet dezelfde politieke ideeën delen", preciseert Porroni. "Ze hebben daarbij ook beledigingen naar het hoofd van hun slachtoffers gesmeten."
Huiszoekingen
De Italiaanse politie heeft daarnaast een onderzoek gestart naar 31 personen. Er werden eveneens huiszoekingen uitgevoerd. "We zijn ook naar de andere kant van de grens teruggekeerd, in Oostenrijk, waar een Oostenrijker en een Duitser wonen die ervan verdacht worden banden te hebben met deze groep." Volgens dezelfde bron heeft de politie in de woning waar de jonge neo-nazi's vergaderden, symbolen van de Hitler-cultus teruggevonden zoals hakenkruizen en vaandels van het Derde Rijk.
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