McIver to stay in Donegal hot seat

DONEGAL boss Brian McIver is staying on as manager and hoping to strengthen his squad to make an assault on the National League.

That could men a possible return for star Brendan Devenney, who has vowed to return next season after a year playing soccer with Portadown. The Tyrone man was bitterly disappointed with the narrow defeat to Cork at the weekend.

“I am going nowhere and most definitely staying on. The job is for three years and I intend to see the term out,” McIver said.

“I am looking forward to strengthening the squad and building on the progress made this year. We have something to work on for now next season. But we are going to have to find new talent and add to the squad.”

McIver added there was no talk of retirements in the dressing rooms after the game. But it is believed Damien Diver, Brian Roper and Adrian Sweeney will consider their futures.

McIver’s search for new talent begins this weekend at the club championship where the likes of Devenney are likely to come under the microscope. Donegal are back in Division One again and up against the big guns.

Meanwhile Kildare chiefs have confirmed John Crofton will manage the county senior footballers next season. The Sarsfields man was appointed for a two-year term at the beginning of the season but stated after the conclusion of a disappointing campaign, which ended in a second-round qualifier defeat to Derry, that while he would like to stay on, the county board might have different ideas.

He has been given the go-ahead to plan for 2007, however, with county chairman Syl Merrins pledging the support of the board.

Kildare retained their Division One status on scoring differential before crashing out to Offaly in the first round of the Leinster championship.

A morale-boosting victory to Cavan followed in the first round of the qualifiers, but an injury jinx struck again when former All-Star midfielder, Dermot Earley was ruled out in the days leading up to the game with Derry and the Lilywhites bowed out tamely in Casement Park.

Meanwhile, it is also expected Ben Dorney will retain his position as Kildare hurling boss. The Cork native has impressed observers with his approach. Kildare won all four of their group games in the Christy Ring Cup before being blown away by subsequent champions Antrim in the semi-final.

The Dublin team to play Westmeath in the All-Ireland quarter-final on Saturday is unchanged from the team which defeated Offaly in the recent Leinster final.

Westmeath have received a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Dublin as David O’Shaughnessy has recovered from an Achilles tendon injury.

O’Shaughnessy, who captained his county to a Leinster title at the Dubs’ expense in 2004, came on as a sub in the qualifiers against Galway and did well. He has been having intensive treatment for the injury, and team coach Tomas Ó Flatharta is confident he will be able to play.

Should O’Shaughnessy start in his customary midfield position, the likelihood is Paul Bannon will move forward, with either John Connellan or James Durkan losing out. The team will be announced tomorrow night.

Clare coach Anthony Daly and his selectors have given a vote of confidence to the team which trounced Wexford in the quarter-final by naming the same 15 for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny. One positional switch sees Derek Quinn and Tony Griffin swap corners in the full-forward line.

Laois coach Mick O’Dwyer has made one change in personnel from the side which defeated Offaly last time out for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Mayo. Padraig Clancy comes in for Ian Fitzgerald which results in a couple of positional switches.

Clancy will partner Brendan Quigley at midfield with Noel Garvan moving to full forward. Billy Sheehan goes from left-half to left-corner forward, Chris Conway switches to centre forward from right half while Beano McDonald goes from right-half to right-corner forward.

Mayo will also announce their team tomorrow night. County secretary Sean Feeney said team coach Micky Moran is likely to keep faith with the side which defeated Galway in the Connacht final.

However, David Brady is pushing for inclusion after missing the entire Connacht campaign because of a broken metatarsal. He took part in a full training session last week and would give Moran an added option at midfield.

DUBLIN (SFC v Westmeath): S. Cluxton; D. Henry, B. Cahill, P. Griffin; P. Casey, B. Cullen, G. Goggins; C. Whelan, S. Ryan; C. Keaney, A. Brogan, R. Cosgrove; J. Sherlock, K. Bonner, T. Quinn.

LAOIS (SFC v Mayo): F. Byron; A. Fennelly, D. Rooney, J. Higgins; P. McDonald, T. Kelly, P. McMahon; P. Clancy, B. Quigley; R. Munnelly, C. Conway, B. McCormack; B. McDonald, N. Garvan, B. Sheehan.

CLARE (SHC v Kilkenny): D. Fitzgerald; G. O’Grady, B. Lohan, F. Lohan; B. O’Connell, S. McMahon, G. Quinn; J. Clancy, C. Lynch; D. McMahon, T. Carmody, N. Gilligan; T. Griffin, A. Markham, D. Quinn.