Did you ever! The Galway United FAI Cup game with Derry City on Sunday two weeks the 26th October is set to clash with the County Senior Hurling final. Many sports followers would love to attend both. However if the county semi-finals next Sunday are not resolved, well then you never know.

The Galway County Board don't appear to be over the moon about going into Leinster to play hurling. At the meeting on Monday week with most of the officers opposing the move they voted 66/54 in favour. The enthusiasm is breathtaking! Young David Collins (Ger Loughnane's choice for Galway captain before injury ruled him out) and Hurling Secretary John Fahey were brave to speak as they did, a minority of two! They represented the silent majority!

The Special Congress on Saturday last was much more definite in its voting. The survival of the game of hurling must be uppermost.

The Galway Hurling Board meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow night from last night as a mark of respect to the late Paul Flynn. The meeting will decide the fate of Ger Loughnane's tenure as Galway manager.

The Galway Kickboxing Club (formerly Westside Kicking Club) has an interesting make-up. It is a bit more than just a sports club. It is in fact a community and voluntary group that works with young people from marginalised backgrounds and with young people who do not engage with 'established clubs and groups'. The club is run by Denis Brosnan who has given many years in supporting these young people through the clubs at Fána Búrca in Knocknacarra, St.Mary's Hall in Ballinfoile and at the Community Centre in Westside. Marty Clare and Denis Brosnan can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Well worth supporting.

And another thing, the Galway Kickboxing Club commenced self defence classes for women at the Westside Community Centre last evening. The course will last for ten weeks so if you missed out last night there is still time to join up next Tuesday. Call Denis for information on 086 3033030 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The young hurlers of Liam Mellows are going indoors for the winter season. The Under 6s will be in the Renmore Community Centre at 7.00pm on Fridays and the Under 8s will be in the Renmore Community Centre at 8.00pm on Fridays. New players are always welcome and helmets and hurls are provided. Not bad service.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has told soccer writers 'you will never get any help out of me again'. Any and all expletives were deleted in the piece we read. That sounds pretty straightforward to us. The big man was addressing a grudge he holds since he was misquoted about some Chelsea players on a preseason trip to South Africa. Our mammy always said 'never say never'. Steady Alex. Cup and lip. Long road with no turning, you know yourself.

How in the name of goodness does the English rugby world cup hero Johnny Wilkinson live with all the injuries he has to endure? He has hardly had a day's luck since he dropped the winner over the bar in the world cup final. The latest tragedy to befall the man is a dislocated knee! Is there any end. Happily for England Danny Cipriani is due to return from injury.

The Under10 teams from Ballina, Buccaneers, Carrick on Shannon and Corinthians (nice geographical spread) provided the half-time entertainment at the Connacht Leinster game on Sunday evening at the Sportsground. They were very good too with all the gear, gum shields, shin-guards, spanking new boots, jerseys full of advertisements, heavily sponsored, you name it, they had it. The Celtic Tiger, probably not gone away a'tall.