McGuigan and Jordan retire

NEWS ROUND-UP:FORMER TYRONE All-Ireland winners Philip Jordan and Brian McGuigan have both called time on their intercounty careers.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte was among the first to pay them tribute: “I have found both players to be great gentlemen as well as magnificent sportsmen. The Tyrone team will miss their energy and class on the field. They have contributed so much to Tyrone’s most successful decade ever”.

McGuigan and Jordan were part of the Tyrone minor team that won the All-Ireland in 1998. Back-to-back All-Ireland under-21 titles followed in 2000 and 2001. The duo also collected their first Ulster senior medals in 2001.

Two years later, they were on the Tyrone senior side that claimed the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time – the first of three wins in the following six seasons.

Meanwhile, only a freakishly irresolute final will now deny the Dublin club football champions a place in the Leinster provincial quarter-finals on Sunday week.

After what appeared to be an impossibly long backlog of fixtures the final will be played in Parnell Park this Sunday, with St Brigid’s, last year’s beaten finalists and who last won in 2003, taking on St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh, who surprisingly are still seeking a first Dublin senior football crown.

The Dublin County Board have already agreed that extra-time will be played in the event of a draw, and that a replay, if necessary, will be played in the middle of next week – thus ensuring that, unless the two clubs prove stubbornly inseparable, the champions should be known in time for the November 13th meeting with Meath champions Summerhill.

If, for whatever reason, the Dublin champions still aren’t known by then, the Leinster Council won’t be facilitating any further postponements.

They’ve already shown some considerable leeway in helping to accommodate Dublin, as their quarter-final was originally scheduled for October 23rd – or three weeks earlier than it will eventually be played.

Summerhill, in the meantime, have been waiting quietly by, as their Meath final against Dunshaughlin was played on October 3rd, although it did necessitate a replay, two weeks later.

Dublin, however, aren’t the last county yet to crown their club football champions. The Tipperary final between Moyle Rovers and Thomas MacDonaghs also takes place this Sunday, although because Thomas MacDonaghs are a divisional team, it’s already known that Moyle Rovers will progress to the Munster club championship, where they’ll play either UCC or Monaleen, on November 20th.

The Wicklow football championship is yet to be decided and that final – between Rathnew against St Mary’s – won’t be played until Sunday week. The reason for the delay there is that Rathnew were successful in their request for a postponement as they await the return of Leighton Glynn from International Rules duty.

There is some pressure there, however, should a replay be necessary, as the winners are due out the following Sunday, against either St Patrick’s of Louth, or Portlaoise.

Dr Crokes don’t have much time to dwell on their back-to-back Kerry football titles after last Sunday’s win over Mid Kerry, as they’re straight into provincial action this Sunday, when they face Waterford champions Ballinacourty, in Dungarvan.

Colm “The Gooch” Cooper has put himself in line to retain the Kerry captaincy for 2012, although he insists that’s a decision for another day, and in the meantime he’s willing to play through an injury to his left ankle – which will necessitate an operation in the New Year – for as long as Dr Crokes stay in the provincial championship.

What also seems certain is that Dr Crokes manager Harry O’Neill will step down at the end of the current campaign, after three years, as he turns his attention to his new role as Kerry under-21 selector, alongside manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice, and fellow selector Darragh Ó Sé.

The last of the county senior hurling finals will be played this Sunday, when All-Ireland champions Clarinbridge take on Gort at Pearse Stadium in the Galway decider – where the winners are afforded the luxury of progressing straight into the All-Ireland series.