Sport

Celtic’s early exit from European competition last night raises the perennial question of Scottish football and finance. Manager Martin O’Neill spoke about the club’s difficulty in competing against hihgly financed European competition, in a post match interview:”…the truth is that it is the teams with big money who will be contesting the finals for the next few years and that’s something Celtic have to contend with. The fans’ expectations are very high here and it is up to us to …

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Quickly rushing past Ulster’s 6th defeat on French soil, Congratulations to teenager Mark Allen, reigning European Amateur Champion from Antrim, on becoming Northern Ireland’s first World Amateur snooker champion! Ambrose Uprichard

plans in scotland to tackle bigotry on the terraces seem likely to cause interpretation and implementation difficulties Philip Weir

Fascinating piece focused on the public position of the GAA viz a viz the potential dropping of Rule 42 (which forbids the use of GAA premises for anything other than GAA sports). The organisation’s Chair Sean Kelly says that they will approach the Republic’s Government for a further grant of up to €50 million towards the redevelopment of Croke Park, if the ban on is lifted at Congress next April.Though he’s likely to face some resistence in getting the necessary …

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GONZO hears that the Maze Prison site has been selected as the location for the new national sports stadium. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Red Sox Nation is celebrating today, tomorrow and probably for some time to come. After a historic fightback from 3-0 down against the NY Yankees in the American League Championship Series, the Boston Red Sox last night beat St Louis Cardinals, the National League Champions, to win baseball’s World Series for the first time since 1918.. a ‘curse’ had been mentioned. Pete Baker

Declan Lynch reckons there is more chance of cricket being played in Croke Park than soccer. The underlying motive he argues is not nationalist reactionary feeling, but the degree of competitive threat from the sport. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Sounds like both Irish sides are doing well. Austria has only just edged ahead of a fighting NI side 3-2, and the Republic is just barely managing to stay ahead of the Faroes. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

A horse ridden by Cian O’Connor previous to his Gold medal winning exploits at the Greek Olympics has tested positive for a sedative. O’Connor now faces an uphill struggle to retain his status as Olympic champion. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

A 0-0 draw can obviously be both a ‘win’ and a ‘loss’. It’s worth a single point in both cases though. Pete Baker

Interesting analysis from Colm Keys on the €40 million (viewed by some as a parting gesture from Charlie McCreevy) the Republic’s government has finally paid to the GAA for the construction of Croke Park. He sees a PR snag for the GAA, coming with regard to Rule 42. With nearly 40% of the stadium paid for from the public purse, what happens when Irish fans have to watch national teams play their home games in England? Mick FealtyMick is founding …

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Handball, something of Cinderella in the pantheon of Gaelic games is developing an international dimension. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton in the News Letter this morning, after attending yesterday’s Gaelic Athletic Association All-Ireland football final in Croke Park: “My interest in the sport has grown through our own PSNI team and I would like to congratulate both teams on their performance today” Thanks to reader Richard. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and …

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Support from the GAA for a single multi-code stadium in Northern Ireland has apparently boosted the chances of the 30,000 seater actually being built, with the site of the old Maze prison being favorite out of six candidate sites. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty