Laois turnout riles O'Dwyer

LAOIS: Despite rumours yesterday that Mick O'Dwyer had resigned as manager of the county footballers, a source in the county …

LAOIS: Despite rumours yesterday that Mick O'Dwyer had resigned as manager of the county footballers, a source in the county said that O'Dwyer had indicated that he would be taking training tomorrow as originally planned, reports Seán Moran.

The Kerryman was unhappy with the turnout at a team meeting on Saturday at which he had expected a full showing.

O'Dwyer had been due to release the Portlaoise players for Leinster club championship duty but had expected them to be present on Saturday. Instead a number of the club's panellists, including next year's captain Colm Parkinson, were missing.

There was confusion as to whether adequate notification had been given and O'Dwyer is believed to have been angry with county officials.

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He was in Dublin yesterday for the International Rules match, fuelling speculation that he would be discussing the vacant managerial position with Dublin county officials. But O'Dwyer is believed to be willing to continue in Laois provided he gets a satisfactory turnout tomorrow.

CAMOGIE: Ireland have won the Eileen Ó Dubhthaigh Uí Mhathúna Cup after defeating Britain by 10-18 to 1-3 in the final of the first international competition which was competed for over the past week by Ireland, Britain and the United States.

The Irish side was composed of third-level students and were too strong for their opposition from across the Irish Sea in the match which was played as a curtain-raiser to the International Rule match at Croke park yesterday.

Meanwhile, the All-Ireland junior club championship final on November 7th will feature Four Roads of Roscommon, who defeated St Laurences by 1-6 to 0-2, and the Down and Ulster champions Liatroim Fontenoys who defeated Co Clare champions Kilnamona in the other semi-final.

COMPROMISE RULES: The shinty/camogie compromise tournament which was played in Ratoath on Saturday saw Ireland defeat Scotland by 6-13 to 0-0

Ursula Jacob scored a total of 2-3 and won the player of the match award.

LIMERICK: The Limerick senior football final replay between Newcastle West and Drom-Broadford, fixed for the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday, was postponed due to the the unexpected death of John Fitzgerald, father of Newcastle players, Conor and Paddy Fitzgerald, the former an under-20 rugby World Cup winner with Ireland.

South Liberties, who were a dominant force in the Limerick club hurling scene back in the 1970 and '80s, will have to wait another week to see of they can emerge from the county's intermediate level.

They appeared in their fourth final in recent years at Bruff on Sunday and drew with Dromin Athlacca on a scoreline of 1-09 to 0-12. The sides meet for a second time next Sunday.

KILDARE: Coill Dubh surrendered their Kildare senior hurling title to Ardclough by a score of 2-12 to 0-11 in a repeat of last year's final at Newbridge.

Ardclough didn't lose the lead after corner forward Andy Whelan found the net for their first goal midway through the opening half.

The Coill Dubh forwards struggled to come to terms with their opposition's backs but they rallied towards the end of the half to cut Ardclough's interval advantage to 1-5 to 0-5.

The defending champions put in a much more impressive performance in the second half and a long-range free from Colm Byrne brought them to within two points of the eventual winners but Ardclough pulled clear with two unanswered points.

They again came to within a couple of points but the final goal fell to Ardclough when Padraig O'Malley tapped the ball home shortly before the end.

MONAGHAN: Castleblayney clinched the senior hurling double when they beat Clontibret by 4-10 to 0-8 in thc county's senior league final in Carrickmacross yesterday.

Castleblayney effectively had the title wrapped up by the half-time interval when they led by a 14-point margin, 3-8 to 0-3.