PALERMO will host the meeting of the prince and the pauper tonight with 90 minutes of soccer which, on paper, should prove that there can be 20,000 leagues between certain international teams.
Northern Ireland have several players plying their trade in the English Premiership, currently rated as the top league in Europe, but manager Bryan Hamilton can choose from only three of those for the meeting with an Italian side which boasts staff members who have set the English game alight.
It would seem to be a case of Serie A meets the Nationwide League. Of the Irish Premiership stars, Steve Morrow is a non-starter in Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side, while Keith Rowland and Michael Hughes cannot be expected to be on fire after losing to Leeds on Monday evening, before catching a late flight to Italy yesterday.
In Nuremburg, Bryan Hamilton had a near full strength squad and had to come away with some sort of result against European champions Germany in their World Cup qualifying game recently.
All that can be lost in Palermo tonight is Northern Irish pride.
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OUTGOING Antrim chairman Oliver Kelly left office telling his successor Joe O’Boyle that he hoped he wasn’t being passed a “poison chalice”, writes Irish News sports editor Stephen O’Reilly.
It’s a sentiment shared by all Saffron Gaels who wish to see the undoubted potential within the county fulfilled both on and off the pitch.
However a stormy convention is not the best way to begin. Signs of discontent have been evident within the county for some time.
Whether it was the lack of real progress on the football field for Antrim – especially in the Ulster championship – or the planned but as yet unrealised refurbishment of Casement Park that led to the desire for change is to a large extent now a side issue. The most pressing matter facing the new Antrim board is the need to unify every club, county committee and subcommittee towards one common goal – the betterment of Gaelic Games in their county
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STEVE Collins denied last night that he had pulled the plug on his defence of the WBO Super-middleweight belt next month against Frederic Seillier.
Speaking from his Dublin home Collins said the fight was on and that “only when the horse’s mouth speaks will anyone know different.”
It was reported that Collins, who was to defend his title on the Frank Warren promoted ‘Up Close and Personal’ night of champions at the London Arena on February 8, wanted an immediate meeting with IBF champion Roy Jones.
An announcement regarding his sixth defence is expected this morning.
“The fight with Seillier is on and until you here it from the horse’s mouth, that’s me or Frank Warren, then there has been no change to my plans for next month.”
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FORMER Allstar Kevin McCabe has taken on what is arguably the toughest job in Tyrone football.
McCabe has been confirmed as the new manager of Dungannon Clarkes, one of the county’s most famous clubs.
His mission is to end a 41-year famine at O’Neill Park, where success has eluded a succession of high-profile coaches.
McCabe succeeds former Tyrone manager John Donnelly, whose predecessors include another excounty boss Art McRory and St Patrick’s Maghera supremo Adrian McGuckin.
With Dungannon clubman Tommy McGrath as his assistant, the new Messiah faces a huge task as he bids to guide the Clarkes to a first county championship title since 1956.
But he inherits a side that for all its under-achievement is brimming with talent. “It’s a big challenge and one I’m looking forward to. It’s also a big commitment, and there are always great expectations at this club,” he said.
