Cats ban Nowlan Park birds

The Kilkenny County Board have succeeded in ridding Nowlan Park stadium, the Board's headquarters, of some meddling birds.

The feathered foes, who have been nesting in the stands since last season and have disrupted a number of patrons before matches by soiling the seats, have been banished. How? By the use of a loud hailer and some late night Kestrel sounds.

It was agreed at the latest Kilkenny Board meeting to scare the birds rather than mount a killing spree. An expert was brought in and following a couple of nights of hailer hounding, the winged ones took flight.

However, some of the birds are still in the vicinity, and may return to haunt the Cats' home ground when the National League resumes in February.

Meanwhile, the Galway hurling panel, Kilkenny's conquerors in last August's epic All-Ireland SHC semi-final, are to fly out to China for their annual holiday on December 28.

Conor Hayes' men will spend two weeks in the Far East. The All-Ireland champions Cork are travelling to South Africa as a reward for claiming the Rebel county's second successive Liam McCarthy Cup.