1. #GOOD NEWS The Irish Open will remain on the 2011 European Tour schedule – despite fears for its future since title sponsors 3 opted out of the final year of a three-year contract.
Fáilte Ireland yesterday that despite the blow, the Irish Open will appear on the 2011 Race to Dubai schedule when it is released in the Far East later today and will be played on July 28-31, according to the Irish Examiner.
RTÉ’s Darren Frehill, speaking on Morning Ireland earlier, said several contacts informed him that 3′s withdrawal was such a shock that organisers did not have a contingency plan and effectively have to go ahead with the tournament next year. It’s a gamble.
2. #STRIKE Irish soccer referees will not pass the picket line in Scotland next week, according to Philip Quinn in the Irish Daily Mail. The SFA may ask foreign whistlers to stand in after the SPL refs balloted to strike because of the perceived excessive level of criticism they receive.
3. #LIMERICK New Treaty hurling manager Donal O’Grady had some good news this week – the rebel players who refused to play under Justin McCarthy will make themselves available next season, says the Star.
4. #RULES Croke Park chiefs will reconsider the regulations regarding changes to playing rules at next year’s Congress, Colm O’Connor reports in the Irish Examiner, despite the fact that laws can only be amended every five years, with the next opportunity in 2015. Many counties, though, think that timeframe is too strict.
5. #GALWAY New football manager Tomás Ó Flatharta will have to plan without star forward Michael Meehan until after the league campaign as he recovers from injury.
6. #CHELSEA Carlo Ancelotti insisted he’s no quitter last night after days of speculation about his future. The Irish Daily Star reports that the Italian was ready to walk away from Stamford Bridge after the stunning sacking of Ray Wilkins. But he will now continue to try to arrest the Blues’ alarming slide as he feels he ‘has the backing of the players’.
7. #NOVEMBER TESTS Despite insisting yesterday that the performance against the All Blacks showed that Ireland are improving, Gordon D’Arcy has warned that Argentina will pose a serious threat to Ireland this weekend.
8. #DOWN UNDER The Sydney Swans’ pre-season camp began without Tadhg Kennelly yesterday but the club’s new head coach John Longmire insisted the Kerryman will not be turning his back on the AFL for another stint with the Kingdom.
9. #AMERICAN DREAM Kenny Egan has his first bout with the Miami Gallos in their opening group match against Los Angeles Matadors in the World Series of Boxing tonight. The Olympic silver medalist will meet Anthony Dorian of the USA.
South Beach is a far trip from Neilstown.
