Anton is the ladies new man
One of the finest Meath hurlers I have seen in my lifetime, Kilmessan’s Anton O’Neill has been confirmed as the new manager of the county Intermediate camogie team. Our top adult team in other words. O’Neill takes over from Gary Cole and Tom Moloney after they themselves stepped in when Gary’s brother, Neil had to vacate the role due to ill health just weeks after taking it up.
A winner of multiple Jubilee Cup medals as a player, it could be said that Anton’s finest hour as a player came in 1996 having been voted Man Of The Match as those who were then the charges of John Davis got within six points of an Offaly team that had themselves been defeated in the previous season’s All Ireland final and won the one before that.
Anton was previously part of a Meath camogie management team alongside Brendan Skehan and he will be assisted by Brian O’Reilly, Richie McCabe, Thomas Duignan, Ed Riordan and Georgia O’Halloran.
Comer In The Clear
Dunboyne horse trainer Luke Comer Jnr has, correctly, had his 12 month suspension lifted on appeal, subject to payment of a €15,000 fine. Mr Comer, 33, who trains at the family home, Brookeville House, just outside the village, received the initial sanction after the carcasses of deceased equines were found on lands adjacent to the yard.
However, on appeal it was found that it had no been proven that the trainer had prior knowledge of the presence of the animal remains. Comer’s success in appealing his ban is another smack in the face for the IHRB who last week saw the 10-month ban foisted on John ‘Shark’ Hanlon for, wait for it, removing the remains of dead horses from his base, reduced to six months. So which is it folks, you can’t have your bread buttered on both sides!
PROPHECY EVENTUALLY COMES TRUE
I hate to say I told you so, but in this instance it has transpired to be correct. Right here https://boylantalkssport.com/2023/08/23/he-might-win-matches-but-does-he-have-a-magic-wand/ this writer speculated that the return of Jim McGuinness to the Donegal managerial hotseat could tempt Michael Murphy to dust off his boots and referee trickery manual.
However, it will be admitted that it was felt that when the comeback didn’t materialise in the season just gone with McGuinness in situ (which culminated in the Anglo Celt Cup and NFL Div. 2 title being ‘For The Hills’), it was assumed that ship had sailed. But yet again in the world of modern GAA, nothing as it seems to be.
The interesting thing will be to see how Donegal utilise the great man when he is back. As in, will they put him in from the start or would McGuinness chance him being the most impactful of impact subs? Either way, there will be plenty of defenders suffering from insomnia!
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