Fergie respect for GAA stars

If Alex Ferguson ever tires of the hairdryer treatment to motivate his players, then he may turn to a gift received from a Cork businessman.

Last week Dave, O’Connor of Suits Distributors Ireland, presented the United boss with a camán made by Cork’s Teddy McCarthy, the only man to win senior hurling and football titles in the same year.

O’Connor, who was measuring Ferguson for a new suit, revealed the Scot was well up on his GAA knowledge.

He said: “Alex knew all about hurling and football and the efforts that the GAA players put in for no pay. He reckons that inter-county stars put in as much work and preparation as any top flight professionals in the Premier League.”