GAELIC FOOTBALL TEAM NEWS:IN A SEASON of high-profile cruciate knee ligament tears, Ambrose Rogers is the latest to be put up in lights as, unfortunately, the Down midfielder was ruled out of the All-Ireland final against Cork on September 19th by his manager James McCartan last night.
Speaking at the Down media gathering in Newry, McCartan explained how Rogers is not in his plans due to the injury sustained playing for his club Longstone in the week after the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat of Kerry on July 31st.
Peter Fitzpatrick came into the midfield alongside Kalum King for the All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Kildare, where both men excelled.
“The situation with Ambrose is exactly the same – we are planning to be without him and then just hope against hope,” said McCartan yesterday.
Rogers, understandably, has not given up hope of emulating his late father, and namesake’s, appearance in the 1991 All-Ireland final. But considering the supposed miracle recovery of Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin and his subsequent collapse after 13 minutes of the All-Ireland hurling final it seems prudent that McCartan only considers Rogers as a last resort.
“We saw the situation with Kilkenny where Henry Shefflin’s knee didn’t hold up and John Tennyson’s did so we just don’t know,” said McCartan.
“Also, the situation with Dermot Early (the Kildare veteran failed to start against Down after struggling with a similar injury all season) shows there are no guarantees.”
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody was adamant Shefflin was fit to start against Tipperary and that the remaining sinews keeping the cruciate ligament attached to the knee went, perhaps aided by the slippery conditions in Croke Park last Sunday, simply of their own accord.
But the value of hindsight shows the decision to start Shefflin backfired badly for Kilkenny and McCartan is not willing to make the same mistake. Also, Rogers previously damaged his cruciate in 2008.
“Kalum King has been outstanding,” added McCartan, “and along with Peter Fitzpatrick they did a great job the last day.”
Fitzpatrick filled the void left by Rogers to win some crucial aerial ball against Kildare, while King was a colossus all over the field and made a dramatic fingertip save to prevent Robert Kelly’s last -second free finding its way into the Down net.
Meanwhile, Mick O’Dwyer appears to be out of the running for the Mayo football manager’s position but county secretary Seán Feeney was able to confirm “expressions of interest” from former Dublin and Offaly manager Tommy Lyons, another former Dublin manager, Tommy Carr, and the possible return of John Maughan for a third stint in the role. O’Dwyer is due to return to Wicklow.
The Mayo clubs have also nominated Anthony McGarry, James Horan and Denis Kearney although no interview process has been set up yet. Feeney expects a recommendation to be put before county delegates in October.
“We believe Mick O’Dwyer is out of the running but his name is still in there,” said Feeney.
“We will be sending out a questionnaire this week for the candidates to fill in and an interview process will be set up from there. Yes, we have been inundated with expressions of interest from some respected names.”
Lyons is a native of Mayo, Carr recently finished up a stint with Cavan, while Maughan’s last inter-county position was with Roscommon.
Meanwhile, Wexford have confirmed the reappointment of Jason Ryan as football manager, with former Tipperary star Colm Bonnar staying in charge of the hurlers for another year.
Neither team made a serious impact in the championship, although Wexford’s footballers almost beat Dublin and did knock out Galway before losing to Cork in a respectable campaign.
The hurlers disappointed with comprehensive defeats against both Galway and Tipperary in the championship but Bonnar’s third season in charge will at least see them return to Division One of the National Hurling League.
