O’Rourke apologises to Dooher for remarks

RTÉ analyst and former Meath footballer Colm O’Rourke has apologised to Tyrone’s Allstar attacker Brian Dooher for remarks he made four months ago.

O'Rourke, who described Dooher as a "bad footballer," finally retracted the comment on a visit to Tyrone.

Speaking at the launch of Peter Canavan's book 'Every Step We Took' and Mickey Harte's 'Kicking Down Heaven's Door,' the former All-Ireland winner said: "I should have been bigger than that, but I wasn't, and I'm sorry for it."

O'Rourke, who made the remark on live television, added: "I should have apologised earlier."

Meanwhile, viewership figures for the next episode of TG4's reality programme 'The Underdogs' are set to soar after the team assembled by Brian Mullins, Jarlath Burns and Mickey Ned O'Sullivan was involved in a brawl with the Meath senior side.

The Underdogs defeated an experimental Meath team by 0-9 to 0-4 in a challenge match at Parnell Park on Sunday last, November 30, but the victory was overshadowed by a melee which broke out early in the second half.

The incident was allegedly sparked after Underdogs full back Fergus McAuliffe clashed with a Meath opponent.

"It was brawl involving about 15 players, but selectors from both teams and the referee settled it down," said Evan Chamberlain of Adare Productions the company behind the TV programme.

"There was blood and all flying and it was a real introduction for the players to tough inter-county football."

The Underdogs are currently preparing for a one-off game against Tommy Lyons' Dublin at Parnell Park on December 14.

Meanwhile Fr Michael McNamara steps down as chairman of the Clare County Board this week and there are three contestants for the position.

The St. Joseph's/Doorabarefield curate has served his statutory five-year term and hoping to replace him are Robert Frost (O'Callaghan Mills), Michael McDonagh (Milltown) and Michael Lee (Tubber).

Mr Frost is a former chairman of the board and twice unsuccessfully challenged Fr McNamara while Mr Lee served as vice-chairman under Fr McNamara for the past five years.

With Mr Lee's seat also becoming vacant there is a four-man contest for the vice-chairmanship. Seeking the position are Michael O'Neill (Ballyea), PJ McGuane (Coolaclare), Brian O'Connor (Eire Óg) and Martin Reynolds (Clarecastle).

Fr McNamara will run for youth officer and he will be opposed by Sylvester O'Connor (Sixmilebridge), the PRO of the Underage Board.

Three candidates challenge the board's central council representative Tom Downes. He has served on the governing body of the association for the past 27 years and is Clare's longest serving officer.

Mr Downes is being opposed by two former chairmen of the Munster Council, Brendan Vaughan and Noel Walsh, and Paul Jones from Scarriff.