GAA roundup from Ireland

Cummins to Stay

Veteram Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins has vowed to fight on for another year as the Premier County look to dethrone All-Ireland champions Kilkenny.

“There hasn’t been any talk of retiring from anyone in the squad,” said Cummins. “I think the average age of the team is 22 if you take me out of it, but I bring it up to 25 or 26. These are young fellas.

“We have the culture that it is very competitive. I’m sure Liam Sheedy and the backroom team is going to have to freshen it up so, unfortunately, people will lose out.

“That’s the way it has to be because everybody has to be looking over their shoulder. If that culture is to grow he has got hard decisions to make in 2010.

“But everything Liam has done has been perfect so far so I don’t see any reason why he won’t do this right.”

 

Devenney Retires

A FORTHCOMING hip operation has forced Donegal star Brendan Devenney to call time on his inter-county career. Devenney said, “I didn’t want to play last year, but John Joe Doherty and them were stuck during the National League and I said I’d go down.

“I stayed then. All those boys I would consider friends, so it was more for them. I’ve fallen out of love with the county. It’s not something that’s in my heart any more.

“I believe in the club. If you’re going to get so involved in something you have to really believe in it. I did really believe in county football in the early years, but later on I found it is not really that enjoyable to play.”

 

GAA Shorts

WEXFORD boss Colm Bonnar has urged veteran goalie Damien Fitzhenry to play on for another year. “I hope to speak with all of the players who I would like to be part of our squad for next year and Damien is one of those,” said Bonnar . . .

ARMAGH have finally appointed the former Down captain Paddy O’Rourke as their new manager in succession to Peter McDonnell. The 1991 All-Ireland winner takes over on a three year deal and previously managed his native county . . .

TYRONE boss Mickey Harte is to hold a series of trial games in the coming weeks in a bid to freshen up his squad for next season. “We would plan to hold trials. We have a fair idea of players we would be looking at. Definitely, there would be a number of the minors from last year among the ones we would be looking at,” said Harte . . .

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Nster.com