By Eamonn O’Hara
ULSTER SHC Final: Unbackable at 3/10 to win, it’s not unexpected that Antrim are saddled with the weight of blazing hot favouritism to steam into next month’s rejigged All-Ireland play-offs.
And while progress is difficult to see in this year’s radically new McCarthy Cup, hopeful signs at the very least will be demanded from the Saffrons. As a yardstick for what might or might not occur in a few weeks time, the provincial decider against Down offers a useful competitive exercise.
Antrim need to convince. It is the minimum requirement before stepping up the gas to challenge either All-Ireland titlists Wexford, Kilkenny or the losers of tomorrow’s 43,000 live TV sell-out final in Munster between Tipperary and Clare.
The fly in the ointment is, of course, the committed local rivalry and determination of this weekend’s Casement Park opponents, Down.
Antrim may be racing certs with the money men, but team manager Dominic McKinley and the players who face the red and black challengers know Down will make life as uncomfortable as possible.
It is a fact Down were very much secondrate a year ago. It is a fact they have had a dismal season, that it’s taken Frank Dawson several months to impose his influence and ideas since being put in charge of affairs, and that last month they were dreadful against Derry.
It’s also clear that they, despite all the signs pointing in the other direction, fancy themselves to ‘get at’ Antrim again.
ASTON Villa have been left seething by Everton’s offer of £250,000 for Republic of Ireland midfielder Gareth Farrelly.
Villa rate the 21-year-old at around the £2million mark, but initial talks with Everton make it clear the Premiership rivals are bound for a bitter tribunal struggle.
Farrelly agreed a move to Goodison last week but Villa secretary Steve Stride said: “It appears we are a long way apart and I cannot see how we can avoid a tribunal.”
Meanwhile, Villa boss Brian Little and Leicester manager Martin O’Neill were having more talks yesterday to try to resolve the fee for Simon Grayson, the utility player signed by Villa from Filbert Street last week.
By Francis Mooney
ON ANOTHER black night for Tyrone football, the senior championship game between Dungannon and Edendork was abandoned following disgraceful scenes. Referee Paddy O’Brien had just sent off Dungannon’s Gerard Cavlan eight minutes into the second half last night when a free-for-all broke out.
The referee dismissed four Edendork players and appeared to be trying to administer similar punishment to four Dungannon men. But following lengthy remonstrations involving at least two Dungannon players, he signalled that the game would not continue.
Edendork were ahead when the game suddenly degenerated into disturbing scenes of mayhem. A number of county board officials, including chairman Paul Doris, attended the game. Mr Doris said he had no comment to make at this stage.
Just a few months ago, the GAA in the county was rocked by a brawl at the Division One League final between Carrickmore and Errigal Ciaran. The ensuing probe resulted in several lengthy suspensions. Carrickmore were suspended from the Division One League but later readmitted on appeal.
Now a similar, possibly lengthy, appeal is set to get under way.
