DONEGAL Celtic have pulled out of tomorrow’s Steel & Sons Cup semi-final against the RUC.
A decision was taken last night after the club’s playing staff met with its management team and members of the West Belfast club’s senior committee.
It is believed that several players expressed a concern about the game going ahead and felt that they had no other option but to withdraw.
Celtic manager Paddy Kelly said: “The decision has been made to pull out of the game because some players felt that they couldn’t play,” said Kelly. “Each and every one is heartbroken.”
Donegal Celtic, also had in mind Tuesday night’s Intermediate Challenge Cup final against Park at Institute.
Now Kelly feels he may not be able to field a full strength squad in that game.
“I don’t know where we go from here,” he added.
“So far all I know is that the players are gutted but there is an indication that they will all group together and stay with Donegal Celtic at least until the end of the season.
“For me all along this was only about football, that’s all I ever wanted to talk about when we were drawn against the RUC.
“I really don’t know where this will take us but hopefully it won’t mean the end of Donegal Celtic.
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Peter Canavan back for Tyrone
TYRONE have an all-new new half-forward line for Sunday’s National League Division 1A match against Offaly in Pomeroy. Peter Canavan and Brian Dooher both return after late cry-offs before the opening round defeat against Dublin while Gerard Cavlan moves from midfield to left half-forward.
Seamus McCallan returns from suspension to beef up the midfield and partners his Carrickmore team-mate Davitt McIlroy in place of Fergal Logan.
Pascal Canavan is ruled out with a calf injury and his place at left half-back goes to Ciaran Gourley.
Tyrone (v Offaly): F McConnell, P McGurk, C Lawn, F Devlin, P Devlin, C Holmes, C Gourley, S McCallan, D McIlroy, B Dooher, P Canavan, G Cavlan, C McBride, E Gormley, R Thornton Antrim (v Kilkenny): D Shannon, E McLarnon, M Mulholland, A Donnelly, T Convery, T McCrudden, A Finnegan, D Niblock, C Murphy, J Kennedy, J Barr, J McManus, K Brady, J Quinn, K Madden
Subs: AN Other, G Flynn, P Mulholland, G Aadams, K Killyleagh, P McCann, C McCabe, C McKearney, J Darley, L McCurdy
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Oak Leaf hero Oliver Collins earns Allstar nomination
DERRY’S Oliver Collins is back in the running to become the county’s first-ever Allstar in hurling after being shortlisted for the 1998 Eircell Awards.
Collins, who was nominated two years ago, will hope now this second bite at the Allstars cherry creates history on December 4. After a superb season for Derry, who qualified for the Ulster Championship final, Collins will push hard for one of the forward places, most likely that of centre-half.
Collins, a top candidate for this month’s annual presentation banquet organised by the Ulster GAA Writers Association also, is one of two northern hurlers nominated.
Gregory O’Kane, the Antrim and Dunloy full-forward, who was one of this year’s top marksmen in all competitions, is selected as one of the 18 forwards challenging for honours.
O’Kane steered Antrim through to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, and spearheaded Dunloy’s charge in the club series, where they took Sarsfields of Galway to a semi-final replay in the All-Ireland Championship.
Eircell Hurling Allstar nominations (45):
Goalkeepers (3): Stephen Byrne (Offaly), Brendan Landers (Waterford), David Fitzgerald (Clare).
Defenders (18): Simon Whelahan, Kevin Kinahan, Martin Hanamy, Hubert Rigney, Kevin Martin (all Offaly), Pat O’Neill, Willie O’Connor, Canice Brennan (all Kilkenny), Sean Cullinane, Stephen Frampton, Tom Feeney, Fergal Hartley (all Waterford), Brian Corcoran, Sean Og O hAilpin (both Cork), Sean McMahon, Anthony Daly, Frank Lohan and Brian Quinn (all Clare).
Midfielders (6): Tony Browne (Waterford), Ollie Baker (Clare), Johnny Dooley, Johnny Pilkington (both Offaly), Phil Larkin (Kilkenny), Tomas Dunne (Tipperary).
Forwards (18): Brian Whelahan, Joe Dooley, Michael Duignan, John Troy, Joe Errity (all Offaly), Charlie Carter (Kilkenny), Martin Storey, Paul Codd (both Wexford), Paul Flynn, Dan Shanahan, Anthony Kirwan, Ken McGrath (all Waterford), Oliver Collins (Derry), Joe Deane (Cork), Gregory O’Kane (Antrim), Jamesie O’Connor, Alan Markham and Niall Gilligan (all Clare)
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