GAELIC GAMES: Dublin will field a blend of the old and the new when they face Louth in this evening's senior football charity challenge under Parnell Park's new floodlights (7.30), writes Ian O'Riordan.
Paddy Christie, Coman Goggins, Peadar Andrews, Shane Ryan, Johnny McNally, Senan Connell, Tomás Quinn and Robbie Boyle will provide the experience, while new manager Paul Caffrey has presented several others, such John Leonard, Aidan Downes, Niall Cooper and John Noonan with an early chance to impress.
Many players were ruled out of contention owing to the Dublin league division one and two semi-finals this weekend, as well as the under-21 football championship replay clash between St Mark's and St Jude's.
An interesting inclusion at centre-back is Dublin senior hurler Ronan Fallon (St Vincent's). Fallon did not play for his club in this year's championship against either Ballymun Kickhams or Ballyboden St Enda's, but has impressed in the last few league outings for the Marino side.
This evening's match should provide an entertaining clash with Parnell's new floodlights being used for their first official occasion. Admission is €5 with all proceeds going to St Vincent de Paul and Raheny Hospice.
Meanwhile, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) is establishing a North American Advisory Board to capitalise on a positive reception for the players' body during a recent visit to the US.
The visit was facilitated by Diarmuid Hogan of Global Excess Partners LLC and Declan Kelly of the New York office of Financial Dynamics, who hosted a corporate event for the GPA delegation in New York.
The enthusiasm of leading corporate and media figures in the US for the issue of player welfare in Gaelic games convinced the GPA to formalise relations accordingly.
The first formal meeting of the North American Advisory Board will take place early in the New Year.
DUBLIN (SF v Louth): J Leonard; A Downes, P Christie, C Goggins; N Cooper, R Fallon, P Andrews; S Ryan, J McNally; D Henry, D Lally, S Connell; T Quinn, R Boyle, J Noonan. Subs: AN Other, S McCann, G O'Connell, M Moffatt, S O'Sullivan, S Smith, C McGuinness, G Young, D Bastic.
LOUTH (SF): S McCoy; B Reilly, C Goff, J Carr; G Long, A Hoey, C Kearney; D Devenney, D Hughes; R Valentine, D Clarke, N Sharkey; R Carroll, P Matthews, M Stanfield. Subs: S Lennon, A McCartney, R Kelly, J Kermath, S Connors, E McCartney, J Neary, R Rooney.
MOTOR SPORT: The British Grand Prix was rescued by a last-ditch agreement yesterday. The British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), which owns Silverstone, had until the close of business to agree a contract with Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone.
If no agreement had come, the British Grand Prix would have been axed for the first time since Silverstone hosted the first world championship race in 1950.
But less than a day before world governing body the FIA is due to announce the definitive version of next season's calendar, the BRDC struck a deal with Ecclestone to host the British Grand Prix for the next five years.
BOXING: Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was arrested yesterday after allegedly jumping on the hood of a car outside a nightclub late last month.
Scottsdale, Arizona, police said Tyson was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanour criminal damage and was given a citation on Tuesday. He will probably have a court appearance within the next fortnight.
CURLING: Peter Wilson's Irish men's side continued their unbeaten run, winning their semi-final at the European B Championship in the Bulgarian capital Sofia yesterday.
Ireland beat the Czech Republic 13-4 to earn a place in the final against the Finns and to earn promotion to the main championship next year.
Standing 5-0 up after the two ends, the Irish sustained over an hour of concerted pressure from the Czechs which saw them pick up single shots at four ends.
But Wilson struck back, taking three at the seventh end and five more at the eighth to force the opposition to throw in the towel.
