SPIRIT OF UNITY
Casement role in Euros ‘enriches’ lives of both communities in North
ULSTER GAA chief Brian McAvoy has hailed the possibility of Euro 2028 games taking place at Casement Park as evidence of sport’s unifying power.
Confirmation yesterday by UEFA that Ireland and the United Kingdom would host the finals in five years is set to get the ball rolling on the development of Casement Park, dormant for over a decade as a result of a protracted planning process and rising costs.
However, after the stadium was listed as one of 10 venues for Euro 2008, the expectation is that funding from both the Irish and British governments will expedite its development, ahead of the 2028 deadline.
‘The GAA prides itself in delivering for society and the inclusion of Casement Park in this successful UEFA Euro 2028 bid is recognition of the major role we play in enriching the lives of our communities,’ said McAvoy.
‘It is also testament to the partnership that has developed with the Irish Football Association.
‘Casement Park hosting top level international soccer matches as part of UEFA Euro 2028 will be a compelling symbol of the power that sport has to unite people from every generation and background.’
And the news was also welcomed by Antrim GAA, who have effectively been left without a fitfor-purpose county ground for over a decade.
‘Today is a positive news story not just for the Gaels of Antrim and beyond, but for the whole community. We look forward to the building of a state of the art modern facility at Páirc Mhic Asmaint,’ said county chairperson Ciarán McCavana.
Meanwhile, the GAA’s pre-season inter-county competitions could be set for the chop — if a motion to ditch them gets firm support at the Gaelic Players Association’s (GPA) AGM in Portlaoise on Saturday.
The compressed window for inter-county competition means that the GPA has consistently backed the removal of the likes of the O’Byrne Cup and McKenna Cup competitions which are used by managers as preparation for the National Leagues. But those same competitions have been downgraded amidst the changing inter-county calendar and the GPA have once again pointed out the logic of removing them altogether.
The passing of this motion would cast doubt ]on the viability of any such competitions in 2024.
Elsewhere, A bid to appoint Liam McHale as the new Mayo ladies football manager has been rejected by county board officials.
Mayo LGFA board delegates convened in Castlebar last night, after it emerged their county board executive voted by secret ballot last Saturday to reject the recommendation from an interview panel, headed by Mayo LGFA chairperson Des Philips, to appoint McHale as the new boss.
On hearing the result of the executive vote, McHale withdrew his name from the appointment process.
The Mayo board was due to issue a statement last night but had not done so at the time of going to press.
Last month, McHale stepped away from his role as coach and selector with the Mayo senior men’s team, after revealing that he had a difference of opinion with his colleagues, including team manager Kevin McStay, on how the team should play.
‘There were five of us there, and the four lads had a totally different philosophy on how this team should play than what I had,’ McHale claimed.
The only other candidate interviewed
“It’s a positive
story for Antrim and beyond”
for the post was former Mayo minor football manager Vinny Gavin, who has included former Mayo star John Casey on his proposed management team.
Meanwhile, as anticipated John Kiely was reappointed as Limerick hurling boss last night but on a one-year basis. That will conclude after next summer’s Championship, when he will attempt to lead the county to a historic fifth All-Ireland title in a row.
His latest extension means that Kiely remains the longest serving manager in the inter-county game across both codes, having been first appointed in 2016.
However, as was reported last week, sports psychologist Caroline Currid has left the management team.