Kidney Favored to Replace O’Sullivan

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Kidney Favored to Replace O’Sullivan

March 26, 2008

By Cathal Dervan

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney is the bookies’ favorite to replace Eddie O’Sullivan after the Ireland coach resigned last week in the wake of his team’s dismal Six Nations season.

World Cup winner Jake White, John Mitchell and former Leicester coach Pat Howard have ruled themselves out of the running to replace O’Sullivan, with Kidney the fans choice for the job ahead of this summer’s tour to New Zealand and Australia.

O’Sullivan announced his decision in a press statement released late last Wednesday night. “At the conclusion of the Six Nations championship and having given my role as national team head coach much consideration, I have come to the decision to step down,” he said.

“In doing so I would like to thank my management team and all the players that I have worked with during my tenure as Irish coach. Their commitment and professionalism in representing their country has been consummate throughout.

“I would also like to thank the IRFU for their unwavering support of me as coach to the team. In addition, I would like to thank the Irish rugby supporters who have played a huge role in driving the team on to some outstanding performances in recent years.

“Finally, I would like to wish the Irish rugby team and the IRFU every success in the future, in a professional sport that is becoming more demanding and competitive by the day. I will not be making any further comments on this issue for the foreseeable future, and I would ask that the privacy of both myself and my family at this time be respected.”

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), who had tied O’Sullivan to a four-year contract before the World Cup last autumn, also released a statement thanking the Corkman for his efforts over the past seven years.

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne said, “We respect the decision by Eddie O’Sullivan to resign as head coach to the senior Ireland rugby team. In accepting his wish to step down, I want to emphasize the high regard the union has for him and the achievements he attained during his reign in office.

“His record as Ireland’s most successful coach is his proud legacy and all of us in Irish rugby are grateful to him for the many memorable moments and achievements our senior Irish players and squads attained to during his coaching tenure.”

Ireland scrum-half Eoin Reddan believes a change in coach can revive the team’s ailing fortunes.

“All the time in soccer you can see what a change of coach can achieve and Wales are proof of that — just look how much they’ve improved under Warren Gatland,” said Reddan.

“The double boost for Wales was that they brought in new faces who are also brilliant coaches, and that inspired them during this Six Nations. Firstly we need the change that will freshen things up, secondly is we need someone who will take Ireland forward long-term.

“The important thing is to get on with it. It would be great to get someone who is successful and who can take us forward. That’s what happened seven years ago with Eddie — he took us forward and now we need the same again.”

The IRFU have claimed that money will be no object for the new coach. Management may look to the Southern Hemisphere for the new man if they don’t go for Kidney.

Former All-Blacks coaches Wayne Smith and John Mitchell are also in the frame, while Australian Alan Gaffney, contracted to work with Leinster next season, has said he would love to be considered for a role in the Ireland set-up.

Kerry Apology

KERRY full-forward Kieran Donaghy has apologized for making a two fingered gesture to Mayo fans at the end of their recent NFL clash in Castlebar, and revealed that a piece of wood was thrown in his direction by a supporter minutes after he had been struck by a coin.

Donaghy told the Irish Independent. “During the latter stages of the game and in the heat of the moment, I used an inappropriate gesture towards the crowd. I apologize unreservedly to spectators and all sports fans alike for any offense that I may have caused by this action.

“A coin was also thrown at me. This can be verified by one of the umpires because I was hit by a coin in the calf and when I picked it up, it was a 50 cent coin. I jokingly handed it to one of the umpires and told him to buy a packet of crisps with it.

“I’ve a good relationship with Mayo. I’ve been up there for years with basketball and I know how good the Mayo fans are. We all know how good fans are in general. But it was just a mistake. It was a mistake on my part too.

“I should have had a bit more cop on about the whole thing. But hindsight is a great thing. I had a lot of time to reflect on the whole thing on Monday. The main thing is that I should have had enough cop on in the position I know I am in with kids down in Kerry and indeed around the country who look up to me.”

Dublin Wins

DUBLIN’S Mark Vaughan was sent off for lashing out at Damien Freeman and teammate Bryan Cullen also saw red as Monaghan struck with a late Paul Finlay point to earn a draw and stay top of the NFL Division Two table at Parnell Park on Sunday. The score was Dublin 1-10, Monaghan 0-13.

“The last Dublin player was sent off for a second yellow with a minute to go, so you couldn’t count that. It was a tough, hard, physical game and a draw was a fair result,” said Monaghan boss Seamus McEnaney afterwards. “We’re delighted to come here and grind out a result.”

Dublin boss Paul Caffrey was happy just to get a point in a game that flowed from one side to the other with a championship like intensity. “It’s hard to get your breath back!” Caffrey told reporters. “It was a fantastic game of football and great endeavor by both teams. At stages you’d have taken a draw and we were looking for victory towards the end, but we just couldn’t hold on.”

NHL Results

THE Easter series of games in the NHL has sorted out many of the promotion and relegation issues, with Galway and Kilkenny through to the Division 1 semifinals while Antrim, Laois and Offaly are relegated. Tipperary, Limerick, Cork and Waterford have booked quarterfinal places, while Dublin and Wexford will almost certainly face a playoff to decide who drops down to Division 2. Scores are as follows, Division 1A, Kilkenny 3-22, Antrim 1-8; Waterford 3-18, Dublin 1-17; Cork 0-22, Wexford 1-17. Division 1B, Tipperary 4-17, Laois 1-12; Limerick 1-16, Galway 2-24; Offaly 2-13, Clare 1-18. Division 2A, Kerry 4-9, Mayo 1-16; Wicklow 3-12, Roscommon 3-9; Westmeath 0-11, Kildare 0-9. Division 2B, Armagh 1-7, Meath 1-16; Carlow 1-14, Derry 1-7. Division 3, Sligo 0-13, Donegal 2-14; Longford 1-10, Louth 4-8. Division 4, Cavan 3-4, Monaghan 4-15; Leitrim 2-12, Down South 3-11.

Geraghty’s Anger

OUTSPOKEN Meath star Graham Geraghty has accused the Cork players of holding the GAA to ransom during their recent strike.

“Cork were almost holding the GAA to ransom,” claimed the All-Ireland winner. “The players wanted to make their point but I don’t think that they should have got involved at all. If the board appoint someone it should stand, but instead Teddy Holland was made a scapegoat. He did nothing wrong.” . . .

AUSSIE Rules star Tadhg Kennelly is to quit Australia and the Sydney Swans at the end of 2009 and return home to Ireland in a bid to win a Sam Maguire title with his native Kerry. “I’m definitely going home next year to try to win an All-Ireland medal,” admitted Kennelly. “I will always miss Aussie Rules and I won’t cut my ties to Australia, but I want to win an All-Ireland with Kerry.” . . .

CROKE Park officials have confirmed their new deals for the All-Ireland hurling and football championships. The SFC will be sponsored by Toyota, Ulster Bank and Vodafone with the SHC sponsored by Etihad Airways, Guinness and RTÉ. Vodafone are now expected to end their sponsorship of the all-stars in the wake of this new deal . . .

GALWAY could play in a round robin Leinster championship under new proposals from the GAA which will be discussed at Congress next month . . .

EUGENE McGee, Nicky English and Liam Griffin are to work as analysts when TV3 launch their live GAA championship coverage this summer . . .

TYRONE’S star forward Eoin Mulligan is to miss the remainder of the National Football League campaign with a hamstring injury . . .

SELECTOR Johnny Kelly is the new manager of All-Ireland club hurling champions Portumna.

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