Donnellan does a Beckham

Michael Donnellan is following in the footsteps of David Beckham and is finishing out his career in America.

The former Galway star, who retired from the inter-county scene two years ago and quit club football before Christmas, is thrilling GAA fans in New York.

The 32-year old is playing for reigning champions Four Provinces in the New York championship and at a time when his former colleagues are preparing for a Connacht championship clash with Dessie Dolan's men, it was appropriate that Donnellan was man-of-the-match on Sunday as his new side put Leitrim to the sword in the Bronx.

Donnellan, Footballer of the Year when he inspired Galway to the 1998 All-Ireland, is in America just for a couple of months.

But it is obvious he is making a better fist of it than the other dashing midfielder.

Milking cows

Many's the cow that has been milked in Clare since John Maughan led them to their shock Munster final win over Kerry in 1992.

It was, alas, to prove to be a one-off for the Bannermen but on Sunday Galway city native Frank Doherty will bring a young team to Killarney hoping to live the dream.

Doherty shot to pominence here when he took Caltra to their first and only county title and then drove them all the way to win the All-Ireland.

He has considerably less talent to work with in Clare but decided from the outset to give youth a fling and three Leaving Cert students will be in his squad, two of them holding key positions on the field, as they take on the All-Ireland champions.

With eleven U-21s in the squad of 28 they are given no hope against the champions but this will still rank as a good year for Clare with Doherty steering them to victory in nine of their thirteen competitive games to date, including victory in the McGrath Cup final.