Rock Celtic appoint Dermot Keely as new director of football

Dermot Keely

Meath and District League side Rock Celtic have appointed Dermot Kelly as their new director of football.

The Blackrock outfit hope that the former Shelbourne and Dundalk manager will oversee the development of the club as they look to build on a strong underage structure at the seaside venue.

Last summer former player Jimmy Dunne signed with Manchester United while there are several more talents believed to be coming through the ranks at the club.

Keely, who has resided in Dundalk for a number of years, was boss of the Lilywhites when they won their last League of Ireland title back in 1995.

The 60-year-old, who also enjoyed a distinguished playing career, has managed 11 different clubs since first starting out in management with UCD 31 years ago. He has won four League of Ireland titles and two FAI Cups over the years but has been out of management for the past four years after departing Shelbourne in 2010.

A two-time winner of the SWAI’s Personality of the Year award, he won six League of Ireland titles as a player, as well as five FAI Cups, a League of Ireland Cup and the Irish Cup with Glentoran.

In a statement on Keely’s appointment, Rock Celtic said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dermot Keely as Director of Football at Rock Celtic.

“Dermot brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience having achieved the highest accolades both as a player and manager in the League of Ireland.

“This is a very exciting time for our club and further endorses the commitment we have to developing the club and players for the future. We hope you all join us in welcoming Dermot to Rock Celtic FC.”

Staunton set for Man Utd coaching role

Steve Staunton

Dundalk’s Steve Staunton could be in line for a return to coaching with Manchester United.

The former Liverpool and Aston Villa star is being lined up for a job on David Moyes’ coaching staff for next season. It is anticipated that the former Ireland manager will take the place of Ryan Giggs on the staff at Old Trafford, with the veteran midfielder set to walk away from the game at the end of the season after an alleged dispute with Moyes.

Staunton has been out of the game since losing his scouting role at Sunderland following the appointment of Paolo Di Canio as manager last year.

While spells with Ireland and Darlington didn’t yield the results he would have wanted, he is still a hugely respected figure in the game having been part of the last Liverpool side to win the league title in 1990 and having captained his country in the 2002 World Cup.

Moyes knows Staunton from his spell at Everton, with the pair having become close having met off the field in Liverpool.

Local comedian puts together comic sketch on Man Utd

Football fans the length and breadth of the country have been enjoying Manchester United’s fall from grace this season and now local comedian Alan Gernon has got in on the act by putting together a short sketch poking fun at the Old Trafford club.

The video starts in late March, with David Moyes being removed as manager and replaced by the unheralded ‘Seamus Cascarino’, who tries to recruit Steve Staunton as his assistant.

What ensues is a mess but some would say it can be no worse than what is really happening at the Premier League champions at the moment.

Alan, from Louth Village, has previously contributed sketches to a range of programmes, including MNS.

Dundalk Mavericks team up with StatSports

The Dundalk Mavericks’ preparations for their debut Irish American Football League season took a massive leap forward recently when the club was approached by StatSports, a local sports science company, about working together.

The club was asked to trial the latest sports equipment due to hit the NFL next season. StatSports, who work with the likes of Barcelona, Manchester United and the Ireland Rugby team on a daily basis, came down to fit the Mavericks players out with the very same equipment that will be monitoring NFL stars next season.

Club Chairman/Coach Robert Shevlin said this was a huge coup for the club and the IAFL as a whole.

“StatSports have given us great insight into our own team game and  each individual player’s performance and we were delighted to be involved with them,” he said.

The StatSports team will be taking the sample data provided by the Mavericks Stateside in the coming weeks as they look to expand their operation to include the NFL.

In a statement last night, the Dundalk Mavericks said they would like to thank the Stat Sports team for the exceptional data they provided the coaches and players with and wish them the best of luck as they venture into the NFL this season.

Meanwhile, back home in Dundalk, the Mavericks are preparing for the season’s opening game in April.

They will compete in the newly formed IAFL-2 Division with the Tyrone Titans, Galway Warriors and South Kildare Soldiers. The first ever IAFL-2 fixture will be played between Dundalk and South Kildare on 6th April at the Rathbride Crossroads Pitches in Kildare. This will be followed by a home game against Tyrone on May 10th in Dundalk IT.

The schedule in full is:

• April 6th – South Kildare (Away)
• May 10th – Tyrone (Home)
• June 15th – Galway (Away)
• July 13th – Tyrone (Away)
• July 20th – South Kildare (Home)
• August 3rd – Galway (Home)

New players are always welcome and training takes place every Sunday in DkIT at 11am. For more information, you can contact the Mavericks at www.facebook.com/DundalkMavericks

Video highlights of Dundalk v Man Utd emerges

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Dundalk’s pre-season friendly with Manchester United in 1994.

Plenty of local football fans will have fond memories of the clash at Oriel Park, which the reigning league champions won 4-2.

The game – a testimonial for Gino Lawless – is best remembered for Eddie Van Boxtel’s penalty save from Eric Cantona.

Have a look for yourself.

Barnsley bringing full strength squad to Dundalk

Former Derry City and Celtic star Paddy McCourt will be amongst the Barnsley players lining out at Oriel Park tonight

Barnsley will be bringing a full strength squad to Oriel Park for tonight’s friendly with Dundalk.

Included in the travelling party are Irish international Liam Lawrence, ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Luke Steele and former Derry City star Paddy McCourt.

As well as getting to see Danny Wilson’s side in action, it will also be a first chance for Dundalk supporters to see some of Stephen Kenny’s new signings, including Daryl Horgan and David McMillan.

The full Barnsley squad travelling to Dundalk tomorrow includes: Luke Steele (GK), Peter Ramage, Tom Kennedy, Lewin Nyatanga, Martin Craine, Jim O’Brien, Stephen Dawson, Chris O’Grady, Liam Lawrence, Dale Jennings, Paul Digby, Tomasz Cywka, Jacob Mellis, Jean-Yves M’voto, Reuben Noble-Lazarus, Ryan McLaughlin, Christian Dibble (GK), Danny Rose, Brek Shea, Nick Proschwitz and Paddy McCourt.

Kick-off on the night is at 7pm, with admission €10 for adults and €5 for juveniles.

This week’s Argus

In this week’s Argus, Anne Campbell reports that fewer mothers-to-be from the area are going to Daisy Hill in Newry to give birth because it is “too pricey”. There’s also news of Jimmy Dunne’s signing with Manchester United, an interview with local car dealers about the benefit of the new 132 registration plates, an update on the Narrow Water Bridge and all the pictures from the St Louis debs night.

All that and more in this week’s Argus… on sale now.

Boy’s Dunne good

It has been a whirlwind 24 hours for local schoolboy footballer Jimmy Dunne, following the announcement that he is set to sign for Manchester United when he turns 16 this October.

Since word of his impending transfer broke yesterday morning, the 15-year-old central defender has been interviewed on LMFM, RTÉ News and TV3’s Ireland AM.

Here’s the snippet from RTÉ News, in what could be the first of many interviews we see of this rising star over the next few years.

Previously: Local youngster Dunne nets move to Manchester United

Local youngster Dunne nets move to Manchester United

Jimmy Dunne

Manchester United have been criticised for their lack of activity in this summer’s transfer window but the Premier League champions have finally added to their squad with the signing of 15-year-old Dundalk defender Jimmy Dunne.

While the signature of Dunne is hardly the calibre of player that fans of the Red Devils wanted to see arriving at Old Trafford this summer, the 6ft 2in centre half is tipped for a bright future having been coveted by a number of cross-channel clubs in recent years.

United were always in pole position to sign him, however, having drafted him into their Belfast-based academy when he was just 10 years old.

Dunne had spells with St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin but has most recently featured for Blackrock outfit Rock Celtic.

The De La Salle schoolboy will sign a four-year contract with the club when he turns 16 on October 19^th but is expected to move to Manchester this week to begin the academic year in his new school.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Dunne said there were other teams interested in him but that he never had any doubt about signing for English football’s most successful side.

“It’s a huge club with great history and they have been very supportive of me right from the start.

“I know it will be a massive challenge but I will be surrounded by good players and excellent coaches and that can only help improve my game. I can’t wait to get started.”

Jimmy’s parents are well known in the area. His mother Sharon Treacy-Dunne is the director of the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland, while his father Eamonn is a former Louth footballer and a teacher at the Patrician High School in Carrickmacross.

Jimmy becomes the first local to sign for United since Conor McCormack in 2006 and Kyle Moran a decade ago. He will now be hoping that in the coming years he becomes the first local player to play in the Premier League since Stephen Staunton.

Source: Talented Dundalk teenager nets dream Manchester United move (Irish Independent)

Liverpool using Dundalk company to prepare for the new season

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard with the StatSports device under his shirt after the victory over Melbourne Victory

If Liverpool are to end their 24 year wait for a league title come next May then they may have a local company to thank for it.

StatSports, which is run by Dundalk men Alan Clarke and Sean O’Connor, are currently working with Brendan Rodgers’ side as they built up to the new season.

While the StatSports system is used by a number of other Premier League clubs, including champions Manchester United, the Daily Mail went behind the scenes at Liverpool’s friendly over Melbourne Victory earlier this week to get the low down on the system, which monitors player performance.

You can read the full article here.