Donegal v Kerry, All-Ireland SFC final: Kingdom off to a flier in Croke Park
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The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
11-year League of Ireland referee is set for history-making career change as he takes advantage of new rules
Michael Connolly will live out the dream of his late-grandfather when he joins the guards 'IN FAMILY DNA' 11-year League of Ireland referee is set for history-making career change as he takes advantage of new rules A LEAGUE of Ireland referee is set to become the oldest ever Garda College graduate at Templemore. Michael Connolly is set to be sworn in as a full member of An Garda Síochána on August 22. 2 Michael claims he can take a lot of skills from refereeing into the police force 2 The Donegal-based referee will make history within the gardai Credit: @gardainsta_college The Tyrone man has been on the League of Ireland panel for 11 years, mainly refereeing in the First Division and Women's Premier Division. The 50-year-old will become the oldest to ever become a member of An garda Síochána with the age limit recently allowing him to do so. In 2023, the garda age limit rose from 35 to 50 years old, having been set at 26 back in 2004. With the gardai now accepting people up to 50 years old to join, it gives an opportunity for people like Michael to join. Michael would encourage anyone in his age bracket to take the plunge and also join the police force. When speaking to the Limerick Leader, the Aghyayn native said: 'I encourage anybody in our age group to go for it. "I would like to think that one thing that I can bring to the guards is the ability to remain calm no matter how much pressure is in the situation. 'Refereeing probably has trained me to a great extent on that level and in the class we have a discussion where we talk about the number one rule of garda school - stay calm. And rule number two, if in doubt, see rule one.' 'I've been a referee for 20 odd years, did a bit of Gaelic but mainly soccer. I've been 11 years on the League of Ireland panel after transferring into Donegal - First Division mainly, and the last couple of seasons have been in the Women's National League.' A lot of Michael's refereeing skills can easily be transferred into the Guards. Fuming former Premier League manager, 42, gives team talk on PITCH after embarrassing loss in first game in charge Michael shared: 'In terms of the guards, I came down here in December and there are just so many things that can naturally transfer in refereeing into the guards. 'Fitness, obviously, as referees, we did tests three or four times a season, so we have to maintain our fitness. It's just habit for us - just the way it is. "That transferred in really well so in terms of fitness tests, those aspects transferred in really well down here and just didn't have to worry about those sorts of things. 'In laws, soccer is governed by the 17 laws - the laws of the game, they're called so again, it's a similar situation for the guards, with your sanctions and your penalties. I would like to think that that's workable.' FAMILY AFFAIR Michael will live out the dream of his grandfather - who he is named after - when he joins the police force. The future garda added: "I've always had a grá to join the guards. It's in the family DNA. We were told as children that my grandfather - he was called Mickey - in the 1960s had applied to join the guards, but unfortunately, at the time his mother took sick. "He had to stay at home and become a farmer for the rest of his days. That's always been niggling me, and the fact that I'm called after him as well. That's why I'm here. 'So in terms of the 35 to 50 year old bracket that have been brought into the guards, Templemore is a fabulous place. Your accommodation is laid on, your foot is laid on. It just sets you up. "You can focus on your classes, look after your studies, tick your boxes and do it needs to be done. 'The one thing I would say is that you do need a supportive environment. If you have my wife and children at home, it's tough some days. "My wife has been absolutely fabulous. She's basically been a single parent of three very busy girls for the past nine months odd. Apart from one day when there was an emotional wee lassie, it's been all good.'
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Four counties considering 'next steps' after controversial Munster seeding call
The footballers of Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford are plotting a response to the Munster Council's decision to seed the provincial championship. Players from each of the four counties have met via video call on the back of the recent vote to place Kerry and Cork on opposite sides of the draw, given that they are the two highest ranked counties in the province as per League standings. In each of the last two seasons, Munster's traditional heavyweights have been drawn on the same side, with Clare coming through to reach the final, thereby taking their place in the All-Ireland series at the expense of a Division Two county. Limerick manager Jimmy Lee has been particularly critical of the seeding decision and the fact that his own county voted in favour of it, saying that 'we feel disrespected'. A statement from the GPA has outlined how players from the four 'weaker' Munster counties have been communicating with each other on the matter in recent days. It reads: 'Representatives of the Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford senior football panels met via video call on Thursday to discuss the recent Munster Council decision to seed Cork and Kerry in next year's Munster Championship. 'The meeting took place following individual conversations between the squad reps and the Gaelic Players Association. 'Players from all four counties are deeply disappointed and concerned by the decision and have agreed to consult with their respective county boards to ascertain the full circumstances around the vote taken. They will also be evaluating potential next steps in response. 'The four squads will continue to keep in contact on this matter and engage with the Gaelic Players Association. 'No further comment will be made at this time.' Back in October 2013, after the Munster Council made a similar decision around seeding, players from Waterford, Limerick, Clare and Tipperary threatened to boycott the competition by 2015 if it wasn't reversed, while they didn't make themselves available to play in the Interprovincial Championships as well as the McGrath Cup. Those two competitions are currently not on the schedule so any protest that the players may be planning would have to come in a different form. Whether they have the conviction to threaten an outright boycott of the Munster SFC remains to be seen.
The 42
7 hours ago
- The 42
Counties examining ‘potential next steps' after Munster SFC seeding decision
FOUR MUNSTER COUNTY panels have expressed their deep disappointment at the Munster Council's change to the province's seeding system. Representatives of the Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford squads have engaged with the GPA over the decision, which sees Cork and Kerry seeded on opposite sides of the semi-final draw. Under the prior rule, Clare and Kerry would've been due to be seeded in 2026 as the previous year's provincial finalists. The sides could also be drawn together at the semi-final stage. However, a Munster Council meeting on July 31 changed the system to seed the highest-ranked counties based on the previous year's Allianz Football League. In addition, those sides will be kept apart until the provincial final. Advertisement Players from the other four teams are now consulting with their county boards to establish the full circumstances surrounding the vote. Treaty manager Jimmy Lee has previously blasted the Limerick board's decision to back the proposal against his panel's wishes, characterising it as like being 'knifed in the back'. A GPA-released statement on the four teams' behalf read: 'Representatives of the Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford senior football panels met via video call on Thursday to discuss the recent Munster Council decision to seed Cork and Kerry in next year's Munster Championship. 'The meeting took place following individual conversations between the squad reps and the Gaelic Players Association. 'Players from all four counties are deeply disappointed and concerned by the decision and have agreed to consult with their respective county boards to ascertain the full circumstances around the vote taken. They will also be evaluating potential next steps in response. 'The four squads will continue to keep in contact on this matter and engage with the Gaelic Players Association. 'No further comment will be made at this time.' This is the third time that Munster GAA top brass have decided to reintroduce seeding two teams on opposite sides of the draw since the practice was abolished in 1990. On both previous occasions, for the 2008 and 2014 championships, it lasted one year before being scrapped again. The last time, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford withdrew from the McGrath and Railway Cup competitions in protest.
