"Money, it's a gas. Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash." The words of Roger Waters, from Pink Floyd were never as fitting. In a week where, to his credit, Kaka turned down the Manchester City oil-money for the love of playing with the Rossoneri; Jermaine Pennant turned down a move to arguably the most prestigious club in the world, Real Madrid, because they wouldn't meet his wage demands.

This is a guy, who has spent the majority of his career warming benches up and down the country; played with an electronic tag around his ankle while on probation for driving offences; but yet has enough delusions of grandeur to turn his nose up at the Bernabeau.

At Liverpool, his weekly wages are €30,000 per week – a decent annual salary that most people would be satisfied with – but the gap to reality is stark. He has now signed for Portsmouth on loan until the end of the season, when he plans to join Kaka at AC Milan. As I said, delusions.

Meanwhile, the Premiership's highest earner, Robinho, felt so let down by Manchester City's Spartan training camp in the sunny climes of Tenerife last week, that he upped sticks and hightailed it back to Brazil via a private jet – without the permission of manager Mark Hughes. Boo hoo. It's a tough life. At least, with the League of Ireland we have a bunch of players and teams in touch with the man on the street; they face the problems of the ordinary Joe Soap. Most clubs will play on a part-time basis for the coming season, juggling a day-job with the training required to compete in the league.

The average gate in Terryland Park last year was in the region of eight or nine hundred, while the armchair audiences for the super-rich super-stars of the Premiership was exponentially greater.

Fair enough, the cream will inevitably rise to the top, but the milk deserves our support too.

Seven Marathons in seven days!

I always dreamed of someday completing a 5km race or maybe even a hundred yard dash, but to attempt seven marathons, on seven continents, in seven days is probably slightly beyond me. Galway man, Richard Donovan, sets of on his challenge this Friday, 30 January, in aid of Goal's charity work in Darfur. His marathon expedition – excuse the pun – begins on Antarctica and finishes up in Sydney, five and a half days later. God speed Mr Donovan!

Ahascragh Utd fundraising
Ahascragh Utd are holding a table quiz in De Courceys Ahascragh on Friday, 30 January, at 9pm. Tables of four are €20 with great prizes guaranteed. Proceeds go towards the continuous development of the underage and senior teams. All support greatly appreciated.

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