Staunton Still Respects Slovakia

Advertise • Help • Contact Us • Permissions

Discussions Groups Events Blogs Photos Premium Irish Circle

Edit Profile Friends Requests Messages Updates

Discussions Groups Events Photos Blogs Irish Pubs Local Networks Expat Info GAA Clubs Rugby Clubs Dating Worldwide

Working in Ireland Working Abroad Currency Converter Jobs Ireland Banking Ireland Irish Sites

Info Ireland Vacation Packages Hotels Car Rental Golf Ferries Hostels Day Tours

Irish Name Register Passenger Lists Screensavers Advice & Resources

Irish News Music & Songs Recipes Proverbs e-Postcards History & Archaeology Heritage & Culture Mythology Irish Studies Literature Gaelic

Gifts & Jewellery Books Music Food Heraldry Clothes Other

Irish Voice

Columnists

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Read newsletters

Enter your e-mail address to receive our weekly e-Newsletter:

Irish Voice Sport

Staunton Still Respects Slovakia

June 14, 2007

By Cathal Dervan

STEPHEN Staunton has refused to write off Slovakia as a threat in Group D of the European qualifiers despite their 2-1 defeat in Germany last Wednesday night, a result that leaves them four points behind the third placed Irish in the group table. Staunton told the Irish Daily Star, “It’s still a three-horse race between ourselves, the Czechs and Slovakia for the second qualifying spot in the group. If Slovakia beat us in September they are right back in it, so they can’t be written off just yet. There are a lot of big games to be played between the top four.”

Germany edged ever closer to the Euro 2008 finals with the win as they moved five points clear at the top of the table. Manager Joachim Loew said, “We’re unbeaten in qualifying for Euro 2008 – not many teams have done that after the World Cup.

“It’s a real success for us that we’ve managed to bring on so many young players. Players like Marcell Jansen, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Mario Gomez have taken big steps forward and we can be proud of that. Our goal for the new season will be to make improvements on an individual basis. Of course there is work to do on our tactics as well but improving individually is now the target.”

Naismith for Sale

KILMARNOCK striker Steven Naismith has issued a come and get me plea to Old Firm rivals Rangers and Celtic – despite his boyhood allegiances to the Gers.

Naismith’s representative Andrew McCormick told the Scottish Sun, “There hasn’t been an offer from Celtic so far but there is definite interest. Steven does not want to go down south at this stage because of his family and that only leaves two clubs to choose from.

“So far, only one of them has made an offer. People think he would choose Rangers over Celtic because he supported them as a boy but that’s not the case. Those days have gone and, if both make offers, then he would have a tough decision on his hands.

“If it comes down to Rangers and Celtic and they make matching offers, it will be a footballing decision.”

Soccer Shorts

MIDFIELDER Michael Doyle has signed a new contract with Coventry City. Ipswich Town have told Coventry to forget about a move for their Irish striker Alan Lee . . .

LIVERPOOL and Ireland defender Steve Finnan is poised to sign a new contract with the Reds that will see him end his career with the Anfield club . . .

SUNDERLAND boss Roy Keane has made his major signing of the summer with the arrival of Reading full-back Greg Halford in a $5 million deal . . .

CORK City are keen on Monaghan United winger and Cavan Gaelic footballer Cian Mackey and have taken the 20-year-old on trial . . .

ENGLISH goalkeeper Ben Roberts has left Derry City as the club prepare to unveil Pat Dolan as their new boss . . .

LEEDS United are interested in taking new Irish defender Alan Bennett on a season long loan deal from Reading . . .

CARDIFF City want to tie Irish midfielder Stephen McPhail to a long term contract extension . . .

EVERTON have signed Irish under-16 international striker Karl Sheppard from Shelbourne . . .

BOLTON, West Ham and Portsmouth have all been linked with Irish winger Stephen Hunt . . .

CHARLTON have snapped up Irish defender Paddy McCarthy from Leicester City.

Sports Shorts

GOLF: Darren Clarke, not included in the field for this week’s US Open, has slipped out of the top 100 in the world rankings after missing the cut at the Austrian Open. Padraig Harrington, who competes at Oakmont, is down to 11th . . .

RUGBY: Ireland boss Eddie O’Sullivan is to coach the Barbarians against South Africa at Twickenham in December . . .

RUGBY: Trevor Brennan’s lifetime ban from rugby after he struck an Ulster fan during a Heineken Cup game in Toulouse has been reduced to five years after he appealed the decision . . .

ATHLETICS: David Gillick set a new Irish 400 meter outdoor record of 45.23 seconds on his way to victory at an international meet in Geneva on Saturday . . .

Don’t Knock Dublin

DUBLIN star Bryan Cullen has called on the critics to carry on knocking his team ahead of Sunday’s eagerly anticipated Leinster SFC replay against Meath – and claimed the knockers spur him on.

Paul Caffrey’s side were heavily criticized for a poor performance against the Royals in the drawn game two weekends ago, but Cullen is adamant all the negativity is water off a duck’s back as far as he is concerned.

“It is difficult to avoid it. You go into work and there are newspapers everywhere, so it is difficult to avoid but it doesn’t bother me or the team,” insisted Cullen. “We are a focused bunch and the only opinions that we value are that of our team and our management.

“The lads have been around long enough now not to be distracted by anything else.”

Cullen’s teammate Ciaran Whelan has also stressed that his squad are not interested in the incidents involving Graham Geraghty in the drawn game that attracted so much attention in the media.

Whelan said, “We’re not interested in Graham Geraghty. We’ve our own game plan. It’s not up to us to make comments on what happened. That’s for other people to do.”

Dublin now look likely to include free-taker Mark Vaughan in their team from the start for Sunday’s sell-out replay, with Bernard Brogan, brother of Alan, also pushing for a place in the team.

Meath are likely to leave match saver Cian Ward on the bench despite his late equalizer against the Dubs. Brian Farrell, available again after suspension, is likely to partner Geraghty and Joe Sheridan in an explosive Meath full-forward line.

Dubs duo Kevin Bonner and Jason Sherlock have both recovered from injury but only took a limited part in a training match over the weekend.

Tyrone Injuries

TYRONE boss Mickey Harte has confirmed that attacking duo Tommy McGuigan (wrist) and Niall Gormley (jaw) could miss the entire Ulster Championship campaign through injury.

Both players are definitely out of Sunday’s semifinal clash with Donegal and Harte admitted, “Tommy McGuigan is going to be out for a couple of months and Niall Gormley the same. Stephen O’Neill is also doubtful for the game in Clones.

“On top of other intermittent injuries which have kept people out for various amounts of times, it’s been a bad follow-up to a bad season of injury. But we have to live with that and go on.

“We can’t use it as any excuse. We still have a squad of 38 players here and we want to try and get the best 30 on any given day.”

Gerard Cavlan and Ryan Mellon will both be available to play against Donegal on Sunday despite picking up red cards in recent club games.

GAA Shorts

FORMER Kerry minor Tadhg Kennelly suffered another knee injury as he resumed Aussie Rules action with the Sydney Swans on Saturday but is expected to be out for only two weeks . . .

THE Leinster Council have confirmed that the winners of the Meath-Dublin replay on Sunday will face Offaly in the provincial semifinal at Croke Park just seven days later . . .

CLARE hurling boss Tony Considine has criticized the County Board’s decision to play club championship games next week ahead of the All-Ireland qualifiers . . .

GALWAY forward Matthew Clancy could miss Sunday’s Connacht semifinal against Leitrim after picking up a hamstring injury in a club game at the weekend . . .

WEXFORD expect to have dual star David O’Connor on the bench for Sunday’s Leinster SFC clash with Louth, but P.J. Banville is doubtful with an ankle injury . . .

FORMER Derry, Long-ford and Cavan manager Eamonn Coleman has died after a long illness.

Share this story: digg this | Add to del.icio.us

Print Save Discussions

Discuss

Email a friend