AIDAN O’SHEA WILL spend the winter honing his handling skills on the basketball court after EJ’s Sligo All-Stars announced they’ve signed the 26-year-old Mayo star.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

An avid basketball fan, O’Shea hasn’t played on the hardcourt since he featured for St Declan’s basketball club in Dublin in 2009. He also played schools basketball in Castlebar.

The 6’4″ talent took a full-part in the All-Stars’ practice yesterday and is set to play in their National League Division One trip to the Dublin Lions on Sunday.

“I always played basketball as a young fella and I was mad into it,” he told Ocean FM. “I probably played up until I was 18 when I left school and I played a small bit in Dublin when I went to college.

“I haven’t really played since obviously because football has kind of taken over.

“I met Shane [O’Meara, Sligo coach] last year just by chance and he was obviously telling me about Sligo All-Stars. As the summer wore on this year, I knew there was going to be no International Rules and the club was over as well.”

THE FOOTBALL ALL-STARS were announced this morning, as 15 players were honoured for spectacular seasons in 2016. 

That left 30 footballers who were nominated out in the cold. Of those, these seven players can consider themselves particularly unfortunate to have missed out.

These players were just about pipped at the post, but regardless they deserve recognition for the fantastic seasons they produced in their county colours.

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1. Stephen Cluxton (Dublin)

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Cluxton probably paid the price for his eight-minute meltdown against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. Dublin lost four kick-outs during that spell before half-time and his importance to their cause was highlighted as they struggled to gain possession around the middle as Kerry kicked 2-4 before the interval.

Dublin conceded six goals in the championship this year, two more than in 2015. The absence of Rory O’Carroll in front of Cluxton didn’t help.

2. Cian O’Sullivan (Dublin)

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

O’Sullivan had another fine year and while he’s looked good, he hasn’t made the same sort of impact as he did the season before.

That might be because we became accustomed to his sweeping role in front of the full-back line, although he can have no complaints about the selection of team-mates Jonny Cooper and Philly McMahon ahead of him.

3. Patrick Durcan (Mayo)

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

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No defender scored more times across the two All-Ireland finals. Durcan thrived on the big stage both days and proved he’s here to stay. He kept his man quiet and carried a significant attacking threat from the Mayo half-back line.

Durcan wasn’t quite as consistent as Lee Keegan or Colm Boyle throughout the summer, but if an All-Star was handed out for the final alone, he’d pick one up.

4. Peter Acheson (Tipperary)

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

A year ago it would have seemed implausible to suggest that a Tipperary player was close to winning an All-Star, but tomorrow night Acheson will watch Premier team-mate Michael Quinlivan collect the huge honour.

The Dubai-based midfielder faced some difficult competition for the second midfield slot, with Brian Fenton virtually guaranteed a place. Acheson thrived under Liam Kearns and his team will hope they haven’t seen the last of him in a blue and gold jersey.

5. Kevin McManamon (Dublin)

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

McManamon was probably leading the race to win Footballer of the Year after Dublin’s semi-final win over Kerry, but two relatively quiet final performances dropped him down the pecking order for an All-Star.

Ultimately it was a race between McManamon and Dean Rock. Rock’s nine points in the replay were enough to edge him over the line. That’s dissapointing for the St Jude’s attacker, who enjoyed his most consistent year for Dublin.

6. Gary Brennan (Clare)

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Brennan was unplayable at times on Clare’s epic journey to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. A colossus in midfield, the Ballyea man was the first Clare footballer to be nominated for an All-Star since 1997, following in the footsteps of Frankie Griffin and Martin Daly.

As with Acheson, Brennan deserves enormous credit for winning a nomination coming from a lower division county.

7. Kevin McLoughlin (Mayo)

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

McLoughlin was one of the lynch pins of Mayo’s run to the All-Ireland final. He improved in each game and became more comfortable in the sweeper role as the season went on.

The Knockmore star wasn’t considered one of the front-runners to pick up an award, but deserved his nomination nonetheless for his impressive year.

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Mayo’s Lee Keegan and Dublin’s Diarmuid Connolly are amongst the award winners.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

SIX PLAYERS FROM All-Ireland champions Dublin and four from beaten finalists Mayo have been honoured in the 2016 GAA-GPA All-Star football team.

There are two award winners from Ulster champions Tyrone with one player apiece from Donegal, Tipperary and Kerry.

Champions Dublin have winners in Jonny Cooper, Philly McMahon, Brian Fenton, Diarmuid Connolly, Ciaran Kilkenny and Dean Rock.

Mayo’s players recognised are David Clarke, Brendan Harrison, Lee Keegan and Colm Boyle.

Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte are the Tyrone victors with Donegal’s Ryan McHugh, Tipperary’s Michael Quinlivan and Kerry’s Paul Geaney completing the line-up.

Wexford’s Keith Rossiter and Kilkenny’s PJ Ryan have been recruited

Source: INPHO

NEW WEXFORD SENIOR hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has included forward star Jack Guiney in a winter training squad of over 40 players.

Fitzgerald has also confirmed the make-up of his backroom team – with former county star Keith Rossiter and ex-Kilkenny goalkeeper PJ Ryan set to play key roles.

2015 Leinster club winner Rossiter, who will line out for Oulart-the-Ballagh against Offaly champions St Rynagh’s in next Sunday’s AIB Leinster senior club hurling championship tie, will be involved in a part-time coaching capacity, with 2009 All-Ireland final man-of-the-match Ryan brought in to coach the Wexford goalkeepers.

Former U21 manager JJ Doyle is the local link but Fitzgerald is also bringing two of his own former backroom men with him – Páraic Fanning and Seoirse Bulfin.

Davy Fitzgerald at the recent Wexford county senior hurling final

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Bulfin worked alongside Fitzgerald at third-level with Limerick IT, and also with the Waterford and Clare inter-county teams, while Fanning was a member of Fitzgerald’s backroom team when he was in charge of the Déise.

Fitzgerald has also enlisted the services of three strength and conditioning coaches – Jimmy Payne, Darren Siggins and Ross Dunphy.

Payne moves with Bulfin from the Clare set-up to join Fitzgerald, while Siggins and Dunphy both worked for Seamus Plunkett during his time as Laois manager.

Dunphy has also worked with the Tipperary and Dublin senior hurling teams in recent times.

The return of former U21 star Guiney is a major boost to Fitzgerald as he looks ahead to his first season in charge of the Slaneysiders.

Wexford hurler Jack Guiney

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

The 23-year-old forward opted out of the Wexford for personal reasons last April but he will provide a badly-needed extra attacking option next year, if he remains on board for the long haul.

Two other forwards – Rhys Clarke and Kevin Foley – have also returned, further boosting Fitzgerald’s pick.

Foley opted out last December for the 2016 campaign but did feature for JJ Doyle’s U21s, who were foiled in their bid for a fourth successive Leinster U21 crown by Dublin at the quarter-final stage.

Kevin Foley (right) celebrates Wexford’s Leinster U21 final win in 2015.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Ian Byrne, currently based in Dubai, is unavailable for the foreseeable future and cruciate ligament trio Andrew Shore, Liam Óg McGovern and Shane Tomkins will be sidelined until well into the New Year.

Shore and Tomkins, who both underwent surgery on the same day in June, are targeting returns in March while McGovern is aiming for a summer comeback.

After overseeing pre-season strength and conditioning work, Fitzgerald is planning to whittle down his extended squad in mid-January, ahead of the start of the Allianz Hurling League campaign.

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IT WAS SHORTLY before midday yesterday when Eoghan Donnellan received the news that he’d been waiting for.

He was free to leave the National Spinal injuries unit at Dublin’s Mater Hospital – and thankfully able to walk out of there.

As Ballyea were busy collecting a very first Clare senior hurling title last Sunday, 23-year-old Donnellan was confined to a ward in Limerick’s regional hospital, recovering from the effects of a terrifying training ground injury.

It happened last Friday week during a practice match, as Donnellan recalls: “I remember it. One of the balls went in, fell out of my hand and as I went to pick it up, I turned to my right at the same time.

“It was a split second thing, as I received a shoulder into the head and my head went down, I fell backwards and felt the shock through my left hand side.”

Remarkably, Donnellan picked himself up and continued, thinking that it was merely a muscular problem.

But when the area became swollen, he made a trip to A & E for an x-ray.

He was sent home but called back the next morning, as a specialist had noted something in his scans to concern him.

When Donnellan arrived back to the Regional, he was placed in a protective collar immediately, and underwent further tests, CAT and MRI scans.

“It was scary then,” admits Donnellan, who plays club football with Clondegad.

“They wouldn’t let me get up off the bed, collar on straight away. That was the scariest part of it.

“Two fractured vertebrae on my left hand side.”

On the following Wednesday, Donnellan was informed that he would probably have to undergo surgery at Dublin’s Mater Hospital, but the next few days were spent waiting for an available bed.

On Sunday, he tuned into Clare FM and listened as Ballyea beat Clonlara in a replay to lift the Canon Hamilton Cup.

Grandfather needed a strong brandy after that yesterday, you know how it is #blackandyellow #thetoughest #Ballyea

A photo posted by Paul Flanagan (@flanaganp9) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:40am PDT

On another day, he’d have been lining out at full-forward, as he had in the drawn match.

“Even all last week, I was saying in my own head ‘I have to get out for the match’.

“But I had to stay in, I listened to the radio on Clare FM, shaking with nerves for a finish.

“I was definitely more nervous listening on the radio than had I been there.

“I was delighted and sad at the same time, but it would have been a lot worse if they lost.”

Ballyea captain Stan Lineen celebrating after the game

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

That morning, team-mate and training travelling companion Brian Carrigg texted him.

It would be the only game all year that they hadn’t been together for.

“We’ll do it for you,” Carrigg vowed.

Later that evening, Carrigg arrived to the hospital with Canon Hamilton, along with selector Raymond O’Connor, better known as ‘Reggie.’

A primary school teacher at St Dominic’s in Tallaght, Donnellan spent a day and a half in the Mater, having been transferred from Limerick by ambulance, before being given the all-clear to go home.

And he’s planning to attend next Sunday’s Munster club semi-final against Thurles Sarsfields at Cusack Park.

That feeling when you realise it's a Bank Holiday tomorrow…#GAA #ClareSHC #Ballyea #TonyKelly #greatdayfortheparish #club

A photo posted by The42 (@the42.ie) on Oct 30, 2016 at 3:39pm PDT

Thankfully, he didn’t have to undergo surgery but he will have to wear a body brace, which runs from his forehead down to his belly button, for 12 weeks.

The fact that he was young and fit, Donnellan was informed, probably prevented him from sustaining far more serious, and potentially permanent, damage.

With his neck held firmly in position, the healing process will happen naturally.

“There’s only 9 beds here for the whole of Ireland,” Donnellan explained yesterday, before leaving the Mater.

“I was well-looked after, it’s fantastic. I’ll definitely go next Sunday.

“It was paining me enough that I couldn’t last Sunday. But I’m able to walk around with full movement.

“As for work, I’ll have to find out from the school itself what the story is, if I’m insured to teach.

“But I’d be driven mad for 12 weeks doing nothing. I’m there since last year, it’s a brilliant school and I was so lucky to get into it.

“I happened to hand in a CV, got a few days subbing and a job at the end of the year.

“I’ll be out (of hurling) for a while but I have everything and that’s the most important thing, being able to stand up in the morning and I’m ok.”

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Ireland second row Devin Toner attempts a dunk at the Chicago Bulls’ training facility.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Home

• Martin O’Neill has included Dundalk pair Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle in his 35-man squad for Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Austria.
• Former UFC champion Bas Rutten believes Conor McGregor can score an early win against Eddie Alvarez but he has concerns about the Dubliner’s chances if the fight enters the championship rounds.
• Inter-county hurler Lee Chin will miss Wexford Youths’ play-off second leg against Drogheda United on Friday as he is attending the GAA All-Star awards.
• The international future of Scott Hogan remains uncertain despite the recent advances made by Martin O’Neill towards the Brentford striker.
• Ulster back rower Sean Reidy has signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the province until 2020.

Away

Milwaukee Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova saves the ball from going out of bounds during the second half of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Source: AP/Press Association Images

• Joey Barton is set to resume training with Rangers after the club lifted his suspension but he is still expected to leave Ibrox in January.
• Claudio Ranieri, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique are among the 10 managers nominated for the Best Fifa Men’s Coach award for 2016.
• Liverpool striker Danny Ings is out for the rest of the season after picking up another serious knee injury.
• Out-of-favour attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been included in the Manchester United squad for tomorrow night’s Europa League clash against Fenerbahce.
• New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith looks set to return to the All Blacks’ starting 15 on Saturday following his disciplinary issues.
• The Chicago Cubs forced the World Series to a deciding Game 7 tonight after they beat the Cleveland Indians 9-3 at Progessive Field overnight on Tuesday.

The Best Thing We Shared

You’ve probably already seen Mesut Ozil’s worldy for Arsenal last night but this 90th-minute winner from PSG’s Thomas Meunier definitely also deserves your attention.

On The Record

I just really hope the Irish boys do really well because they have done well against southern hemisphere teams in recent years and it’s a big game in Chicago. There will be a huge amount of Irish support for them going there and then they obviously come back and they’ve a game in Dublin and that’s another massive game.

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland will be keeping a close eye on Ireland’s Test match against New Zealand this weekend.

Where we were today

Paul Fennessy was in Abbotstown this morning as Martin O’Neill named an extended 35-man squad ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Austria.

Martin O’Neill addresses the press.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Ryan Bailey was talking to Ulster’s Kiwi star Charles Piutau and former Ulster and Ireland bruiser Stephen Ferris in DCU this afternoon as the pair launched the ‘Rugby Weekend’ event in Chicago.

Source: Matt Browne/SPORTSFILE

Sean Farrell, Murray Kinsella and Eoin Lúc Ó Ceallaigh are continuing to fly The42 flag in Chicago ahead of this weekend’s Test match against New Zealand. Today, the Ireland squad took a tour of the Chicago Bulls’ training facility.

Jack McGrath, Andrew Trimble, Craig Gilroy and Jared Payne.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

 The Fixture List

• It’s all about the Europa League tomorrow night with Dundalk facing what is probably their biggest challenge yet — Zenit St Petersburg in Russia from 6pm. Elsewhere, Manchester United are away at Fenerbahce (6pm) and Southampton host manager-less Inter Milan (8.05pm).
• Seamus Power and Graeme McDowell are among the field at the PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy mightn’t be playing but there is a strong field at the Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour, including Pádraig Harrington.

Showbiz, Baby!

Meet the mini Rickie Fowler who can probably hit a golf ball further than you

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HURLING STAR LEE Chin has said he will not be involved in Wexford Youths’ promotion/relegation League of Ireland play-off second leg on Friday.

Chin scored as Shane Keegan’s side won 2-0 in the first leg against Drogheda United at Ferrycarrig Park, but the Wexford inter-county hurler is unavailable for the return clash.

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The multi-talented star wrote on Twitter that he would “sign out,” having joined the club on a short-term deal back in September.

And speaking to The Irish Independent, Chin confirmed that he would miss the big game. Instead, he will attend the GAA All-Star Awards in Dublin on Friday evening, with the player shortlisted for a gong.

Chin, however, believes his absence will not be too keenly felt as his side hold a two-goal lead going into the second leg in Drogheda.

They are a great bunch of lads. It was nice to be a part of it, to join and fight for them. I wouldn’t look at myself as a huge value to the club. In my opinion, if I’m not there on Friday night there are three or four other lads who could step in off the bench and do a better job.

“The 2-0 cushion maybe makes it a little easier for me to not be there on Friday night.”

Source: liam ogrady/YouTube

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BALLYEA MANAGER ROBBIE Hogan is hopeful Eoghan Donnellan will be well enough to attend next Sunday’s AIB Munster club hurling semi-final against Thurles Sarsfields after the player was diagnosed with two broken vertebrae following a training ground collision.

Donnellan was injured on the Friday evening after the drawn Clare county final with Clonlara, and ruled out of last Sunday’s subsequent replay victory, when Ballyea were crowned Banner champions for the first time.

Donnellan, who plays club football for Clondegad, spent a week in hospital in Limerick before being transferred to Dublin’s Mater Hospital, where he was due to be fitted with a protective head brace yesterday.

But Hogan revealed that Donnellan did not have to undergo surgery, as was originally feared, and will be sent home to rest and recuperate.

The player is expected to be ruled out of action for up to four months and Hogan remarked that his absence was a huge motivating factor in last Sunday’s historic win.

Hogan said: “I was talking to him this morning. He was brought to the Mater in Dublin where they were to operate but [now] they’re not operating.

“He’ll be out of action for definitely the bones of three or four months and he’s in a specific head brace which restricts all kind of movement.

“We were training, playing a bit of a game and he went down low for a ball.

“His head hit straight into one of the lads’ legs and [he] suffered two fractured vertebrae.

“They were to put in a plate but they have decided against that.

“We’re hoping he will be there on Sunday but we’ll see.

“The brace was being fitted today. In the trauma unit in Dublin, there are only eight beds there so you get in, get the work done and you’re gone.

“He’ll either be back to Limerick or home. We hope he’s home.”

Hogan added: “He’s in good spirits. It was our motivation to get over the line for Eoghan.”

Ballyea’s next assignment is a daunting one, against Tipperary champions Thurles Sarsfields in next Sunday’s provincial semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis.

And Hogan revealed that he has spoken to a number of Clonlara players who regret not pushing on in the Munster championship after winning their one and only county title in 2008.

Hogan said: “At this stage, you have that box (county) ticked. You’re not just representing your parish now, you’re representing your county.

I met with John Conlon and a few of the Clonlara players and when they won it in 2008, the big regret they had was that they had a week between games and fellas just didn’t go at it.

But Hogan acknowledges the scale of the task that lies in store for Ballyea, adding: “They (Sarsfields) are a serious outfit, with All-Ireland winners and All-Stars.

“They have massive momentum and it’s a huge ask but we have to back ourselves now.

“Instead of marking a name, mark a jersey. That’s the way we’ll approach it.”

Bar Donnellan, Hogan has reported an otherwise clean bill of health ahead of Sunday’s tie.

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DUBLIN FORWARD DIARMUID Connolly didn’t lose any sleep over his decision to go for a point from the sideline in the last minute of the drawn All-Ireland final with Mayo.

Connolly overruled his teammate Ciaran Kilkenny, who appeared as though he wanted to play the ball short and retain possession.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

But the St Vincent’s man opted to shoot, sending the sideline wide and allowing Mayo enough time to launch one last attack.

Cillian O’Connor kicked a last-gasp equaliser and Connolly’s decision not to play it short and run the clock down proved a costly one as Mayo forced another day out.

“I don’t read the media too much,” Connolly said at a press event before the Dublin SFC final. “All I wanted to do was put the ball dead. There was what? A minute left in injury time?

“Just put the ball dead. We could set up for the kick-out, which actually didn’t happen. We were too slow for the kick-out. They ended up getting it off short and they went up and scored a point.

“But I mean, yeah, I wouldn’t say it was regrettable. But maybe I should have kept possession of the ball in hindsight.

“But these things happen in the game.

“I didn’t really think about it. I thought we should have won the game in open play, to be honest with you.

“But, sure look, these things happen. We went on and got the job done the second day.”

His penalty was a key signpost on Dublin’s route to victory in the replay. Connolly tucked the spot-kick into the bottom left corner with minimal fuss.

He typically practiced his penalties three to four times after every training session with the county. Once he stepped up against David Clarke, there was no doubt in his mind where it was going.

“I was the designated penalty taker for Dublin this year so I practiced every single time I went out on the training field.

“I knew where I was going to put it, if it was going to happen. I know there was a little bit of a time delay in changing ‘keepers because Hennelly got the black card.

“But I mean…no, I just put the ball down. As I said in the interview [after the game], picked a corner, put it there and the rest is history, really.

“You can’t play the occasion. It’s a spot kick. It’s you against the ‘keeper.”

Despite enjoying another outstanding year in blue, the 29-year-old wasn’t nominated for Footballer of the Year, but he gave his full-backing to Dublin teammate Brian Fenton.

“Who got my vote? Fento. Fento’s the man,” he said.

A talented hurler, Connolly effectively closed the door on ever appearing for Dublin in the small ball code.

“I don’t see myself playing inter-county hurling in the future, no. I played club hurling this year, albeit a 20-minute spell for one game.

“I’ll definitely play club hurling but not the inter-county side of things. That ship has sailed unfortunately.”

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A view from Munster’s training session in UL, Limerick today.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Home

• Ulster pair Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were quizzed by the PSNI over alleged sexual offences
• Pat Lam says Bundee Aki is missing Rob Henshaw as a friend but not a partner, says Lam
• Monaghan’s long-serving midfielder Dick Clerkin has announced his retirement from inter-county football
• Meath prodigy Conor Nash has spoken about his decision to chose Hawthorn over Leinster rugby and Meath football
• It’s 132 years to the day since the GAA was founded
• James Ryan and Paudie O’Brien were dropped from Limerick’s 2017 hurling squad

Away

• The Cleveland Indians could be forced to ditch mascot and logo even if they win the World Series
• Bordeaux Begles star Ian Madigan is facing spell on the sidelines with a groin injury
• Frank De Boer has been sacked by Inter after just 11 Serie A matches
• German striker Miroslav Klose has announced that he’s hanging up his boots at the age of 38.
• Jose Mourinho has been hit with his second FA charge in a week after the Burnley tunnel incident

The Best Thing We Shared

Last Sunday was a particularly special one for Clare and Ballyea hurler Paul Flanagan.

On The Record

I think there’s been a bit said about it already and Ulster have come out and made a statement this morning. We’ll reference you to that and we’ll get on with our own business. We’ve got a big week ahead of us here in Chicago. Little preparation, our focus has to be on the game and we’ll make no further comment.”

In Chicago, Ireland assistant coach Andy Farrell speaking to the media about the news that Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were arrested and questioned by the PSNI over alleged sexual offences.

Where we were today