News Shorts: Galway GAA has been plunged into a new crisis with senior camogie boss Noel Finn quitting his post after the county board failed to ratify one of his selectors.
Finn, who was starting his second term as senior boss, changed his backroom team for the coming season and presumed the ratification of John Joe Donoghue and Ann Dolan was a formality. However, at the meeting, attended by 62 voting officials and delegates, Ann Dolan's appointment was ratified, but delegates voted by roughly two to one to oppose Donoghue's ratification.
Yesterday, Finn refused to discuss the matter pending a meeting with the Galway Camogie Board, which is due to take place this evening.
O'Connor Cup draw throws up big ties
The draw for this season's women's football colleges competition - the O'Connor Cup - was held yesterday at Croke Park. The most interesting tie in the early stages of the competition is expected to be the clash between the reigning champions, University of Limerick, and the winners of UCD v UCC.
Another big tie sees this year's favourites, Sligo IT, drawn against either Cork IT or, one of the competition's hosts, UUJ. Along with UUJ, Queen's of Belfast are hosting the finals weekend.
The first round matches of the O'Connor Cup and the Lynch Cup (the Division Two championship - will take place February 25th, with the finals on March 19th and 20th.
O'CONNOR CUP - 1 Cork IT/UUJ v Sligo IT; 2 Tralee IT/NUI Galway v Queen's; 3 UCD/UCC v UL; 4 Waterford IT/NUI Maynooth v St Patrick's, Drumcondra. Semi-final : 1 v 2, 3 v 4.
LYNCH CUP - 1 University of Limerick v Garda/Dundalk IT; 2 Sligo IT/NUI Galway v Trinity/DCU; 3 UCD(2)/Athlone IT v Carlow IT/Mary Immaculate College; 4 British Champions. Semi-final : 1 v 2 3 v 4.
Award for O'Neill
For his strong performances during January, 24-year-old Stephen O'Neill has been honoured with the Ulster GAA Writers' Monthly Merit Award at a function in Belfast. Stephen was in magnificent form during the Dr McKenna Cup series last month, starring against Cavan, UUJ and Antrim to help Tyrone into the final.
Today's GAA
Sigerson Cup - DIT v Cork IT, Grangegorman (2 p.m.). Trench Cup - Letterkenny IT v IT Tallaght, Letterkenny (2 p.m.). Fitzgibbon Cup - Waterford IT v UCD, Ballygunner (2 p.m.). Ryan Cup - QUB v NUI Maynooth, The Dub (3 p.m.); Tipperary Institute v UUJ, Fingallians (2 p.m.); Athlone IT v MICL, Athlone (2 p.m.); Cadets v DCU, Curragh (2 p.m.); Sligo IT v IT Tralee, T.B.C. (2 p.m.). All Ireland VS Senor B Hurling Semi-final - Nenagh VS v St Killian's New Inn, Portumna, 1.30. Leinster Colleges Senior Hurling B Quarter-final - Colaiste Eanna v St Mary's Enniscorthy, Ballyboden, 1.00; Leinster Vocational Schools Junior F A Quarter-final - Dunshaughlin CC v St Oliver's CC, Drogheda, Dunshaughlin, 1.0. Senior Hurling A Semi-final - Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown v Scoil Aireagail, Ballyhale, Johnstown, 1.0; St Rynagh's CC, Banagher v St Fergal's Rathdowney, Banagher, 11.45.
