Sportspeak understands Manchester United seem to have their sights set on a Michael Owen-style move in the summer for Chelsea’s Joe Cole.

Red’s boss Sir Alex Ferguson will try to land Cole on a free transfer if the midfielder fails to agree a new contract at Stamford Bridge. Fergie has always wanted Cole, 28, and could now have his best opportunity to clinch a deal. The Scot snapped up Michael Owen on a free transfer from Newcastle last summer and is now eyeing a similar swoop.

Former West Ham starlet Cole, struggling to make England’s World Cup squad after a cruciate knee-ligament injury, is fit again but has failed to re-establish himself at Chelsea under manager Carlo Ancelotti. And contract talks have stalled, with Chelsea said to be unwilling to increase the midfielder’s wages from £80,000-a-week to in excess of £100,000. Cole, hoping to face Stoke today in the FA Cup, appeals to Fergie because of his ability, attitude and versatility, which includes playing on both flanks.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, Cole’s manager at West Ham, would happily be reunited with the England international, but wages would be a problem.  And there could also be interest from Liverpool and Manchester City, but Fergie would be favourite to win the battle if Cole and Chelsea can’t reach an agreement.

Meanwhile, Michael Owen- Cole’s former England team-mate – undergoes surgery on his hamstring tomorrow and will be out for the rest of the season.

 
Tonight Bohemians put in a really hard fought display beating new boys Sporting Fingal by just a single goal to nil, Bohemians were handed a massive lifeline late on when referee Derek Tomney proved the FAI have no good referees and pointed to the spot after it appeared Anto Murphy was taken off the ball in the box, this was not the case. Killian Brennan stood up and put it in the net and gave the champions a nervy 3 points in front of a capacity crowd in Dalymount Park.

After the game Sportspeak’s chief soccer hack Daniel “Pitchside” Pitcher caught up with Sporting Fingal manager Liam Buckley, Goal scorer Killian Brennan and Bohs manager Pat Fenlon.

Champions Bohemians and new Premier side Sporting Fingal provided the main event of tonight’s Airtricity League of Ireland opener at Dalymount Park even though the went out 10 minutes before everyone else. Management at Bohs would have been delighted to see the whole Jodi Stand packed to the brim and half of the Des Kelly stand full too.

Not even a minute into this massive game and there was a moment of madness when the knee of Mark Quigley introducing itself to the head of Fingals Lorcan Fitzgerald, thankfully all was well with him and the game went on. Bohs had the first opportunity and really should have been on the board in the opening 10 minutes when Quigley provided a lovely ball for Killian Brennan who found nothing but air with his boot and there was no doubt that the keeper would have been beaten had Brennan connected with the ball. Fingal later had a moment of their own in front of goal minutes later when a class shot from Fingal’s leading scorer Conan Byrne was fingertiped over the bar by Bohs new net stopper Barry Murphy and out for a corner, but noting came from that, so on opening night in the opening half plenty of entertainment to keep the RTE camera men awake and alive.

As time went on in the first half the new boys on the block were piling the pressure on the champions and a massive mistake from Glenn Cronin with a dangerous foul almost set it up for Fingal, Conan Byrne had a good curl and it was heading goalbound but Conor Powel’s good defensive skills put it away for a corner which was cleared by Bohs captain Owen Heary. Bohs had 1 or 2 more chances as well to their credit, a nicely delivered corner on the 34th minute reached Paddy Madden but his shot denied by Fingal’s Ger O’Brien. As the first half wound up it was just a case of cat and mouse chasing and the half finished scoreless.

The second half started with a little more consistency from Sporting Fingal and only seconds had gone in the half and Fingal should have been ahead when Gary O’Neil not only caught Bohs on the hop but the rest of his team mates too, a shot out of nowhere went centimetres wide but had Barry Murphy well beaten as he dove across the wrong way. That moment of madness was followed my 24 minutes of pure boring football and suddenly didn’t seem like a massive game and those camera men looked out for the night, this surely wasn’t champions football from Bohs which certainly did not make Pat Fenlon look like a happy man, on the other side of the coin Liam Buckley looked really impressed at his sides first performance in the Premier Division.

There were a few stupid tackles from both teams but the most costly came on 75 minutes when Keith Quinn pulled down Anto Murphy in the area and referee Derek Tomney was quick to point to the spot. Killian Brennan stood up and took a cool penalty to give Bohemians the first goal of their season which left the full Jodi Stand buzzing. It just wouldn’t be a League of Ireland match without totally feckless decisions from the FAI’s “bright spark” referees this proved when Kenny Browne brought down Conor Powel with a rather rough challenge. Ref Tomney saw it the other way and not only awarded Fingal a free kick but booked Coner Powel, leaving the Bohs fans rightfully angered and rather confused. After 4 minutes of added time the ref finally blew the final whistle and Bohemians took all three points in their first game of the season leaving fans singing “Are you watching Rovers scum”.

Final Score Bohemians 1 Sporting Fingal 0

Bohemians: B.Murphy(GK), O.Heary(C), C.Powel, G.Cronin, S.Gray, B.Shelly, A.Murphy, P.Keegan, P.Madden, M.Quigley, K.Brennan

SUBS; R.Cretaro, M.Rossiter, R.Higgins, G.McGlynn, C.O’Connor(GK)

Sporting Fingal: B.Clarke(GK), G.OBrien, L.Fitzgerald, S.Williams, S.Mahar(C), K.Browne, C.Byrne, R.Finn,G.O Neil, K.Quinn, S.Mc Faul

SUBS; S.Paisley, C.James, G.Crowe, D.Quigley, A. Kirby

Ronan O’Gara will captain Munster in the Magners League clash with The Dragons in Rodney Parade tomorrow.

O’Gara himself is the one personnel change in the backline from the one that started against Edinburgh two weeks ago, Ian Dowling, who played against the Scots, ruled out with an ankle injury. In the pack, the front row is unchanged while Billy Holland partners Mick O’Driscoll in the second row and Tommy O’Donnell takes over form the injured Niall Ronan in the back row.

O’Donnell is set to win his 10th Munster senior cap while across from him in that back-row will be another Clanwilliam man Alan Quinlan who in winning his 189th cap is closing in on the record held by Anthony Foley (201).

“I’d have to say it’s not something I’ve been giving any thought to really, more concentrating on the job in hand, ” Quinlan said. “This is a big game for us. This is a very tight League, very competitive and our ambition is to be involved in the play offs.

“Our away form hasn’t been good and that’s something we’re very aware of and looking to correct. But saying that Rodney Parade is never an easy place to go to get a result. Dragons have improved immensely from when we played them, they’ve beaten Leinster here and last time out they drew in Ravenhill. That makes them a very good side.

“I’ve no doubt they’ll be up for this one big-time so we can expect nothing less than a game of huge intensity that will go right down to the wire.”

Once again Tony McGahan makes use of his young bloods with highly regarded Academy pair Ian Nagle and Scott Deasy on the bench alongside Duncan Williams and Ciaran O’Boyle who scored a superb try in this fixture last season.

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, L Mafi, J de Villiers, D Hurley; R O’Gara capt, P Stringer; M Horan, D Fogarty, T Buckley; M O’Driscoll, B Holland; A Quinlan, T O’Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Varley, J Brugnaut, I Nagle, N Williams, D Williams, S Deasy, C O’Boyle.

The Leinster team to face the Cardiff Blues in Sunday’s Magners League clash in Cardiff City Stadium (KO: 4pm) has been named.

Shane Jennings and Eoin Reddan return from Ireland duty and are included in the starting line-up for the trip to Cardiff. Jennings forms a back-row unit which includes Kevin McLaughlin and Stephen Keogh, with Malcolm O’Kelly locking down alongside Devin Toner. CJ van der Linde starts at tight-head prop in a front row which includes Bernard Jackman and Stan Wright.

Reddan partners Shaun Berne at half-back, with Isa Nacewa named on the left wing in a back three which includes the experienced Girvan Dempsey and 18-year-old Andrew Conway who comes in for his first senior start for the province on the right wing.  Ireland Under-20 captain Rhys Ruddock is named amongst the replacements alongside the likes of Ireland internationals Trevor Hogan and Mike Ross.

LEINSTER:

15: Girvan Dempsey
14: Andrew Conway
13: Eoin O’Malley
12: Fergus McFadden
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Shaun Berne
9: Eoin Reddan

1: Stan Wright
2: Bernard Jackman
3: CJ van der Linde
4: Devin Toner
5: Malcolm O’Kelly
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Stephen Keogh

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Mike Ross
18: Trevor Hogan
19: Rhys Ruddock
20: Paul O’Donohoe
21: Ian Madigan
22: Simon Keogh

REFEREE: Andy Macpherson (SRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Leighton Hodges (WRU), Phil Connett (WRU), TMO: Hugh Watkins (WRU)

The FAI Board of Management today (March 5) confirmed the prize fund allocation for the 2010 Airtricity League season, with clubs set to compete for a prize fund of €911,000. Despite a 25% reduction  in budgeted wage costs at clubs, this year’s prize fund will maintain much of the increase that was made in 2009, as well as remaining 11% higher than in 2008 and 128% higher than before the FAI took over the management of the Airtricity League.

Prize money in the Airtricity League Premier Division will stand at €700,000 in 2010, while €161,000 will be allocated to Airtricity League First Division clubs. An additional €50,000 in live television money brings the total fund to €911,000.

This total does not include additional monies granted to clubs for marketing and community initiatives.

Michael Owen’s first season at Manchester United has been brought to a halt in a familiar story of injury and disappointment after it emerged that the striker needs an operation and will miss the remainder of the Premier League  campaign.

Owen damaged his hamstring in the Carling Cup final win over Aston Villa at Wembley last week and a scan has shown that the damage is more serious than was believed at the time. What was thought to be a slight pull is actually a full tear and Owen will go into hospital on Monday. Any lingering hope of a call-up into England’s World Cup’s squad has been extinguished and his club manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, will have to complete the season with only two experienced strikers, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

“Unfortunately the specialist says I will miss the end of the season,” Owen said. “I have loved every minute of my first campaign with Manchester United and have already enjoyed some memorable moments. I am determined to come back at the start of next season in peak condition.”

Bookmakers have made Owen 1-8 never to play for England again after the latest setback in a career that has been almost as notable for his susceptibility to injury as his prowess in front of goal. The striker had almost no chance of going to the World Cup anyway, having played only a peripheral role for United this season, 20 of his 31 appearances having come as a substitute.

The 30-year-old, who arrived at Old Trafford on a free transfer from Newcastle United last summer, has scored nine times, including the equalising goal against Villa at Wembley. After that match it was suggested it would be “a few weeks” before he was fit again.

“Unfortunately it’s more serious than we thought,” Ferguson said. “It’s a terrible blow for the lad and disappointing news for us too. He has never missed a training session all season. I think the heavy pitch at Wembley on Sunday made some contribution to it but really it is just bad luck.”

Rooney’s fantastic scoring form will compensate to a degree but United’s other attacking options are limited, with Federico Macheda having regressed since his introduction last season and Daniel Welbeck, tipped by Ferguson last summer to be a World Cup player, on loan at Preston North End.

Berbatov’s form has been erratic – the Bulgarian has a similar record to Owen with nine goals in 31 games, 21 of them starts – and the Senagalese striker Mame Biram Diouf is new to English football after signing from the Norwegian club Molde in January.

Newly-promoted Sporting Fingal face the ultimate test on Friday night when they open their Airtricity League top-flight campaign at title holders Bohemians.

The meeting of the reigning Premier Division and FAI Ford Cup champions presents a number of intriguing sub-plots, not least the return of Fingal’s close-signing Glen Crowe to the club he helped win back-to-back titles. It’s also the first-ever meeting of the clubs in any competition and will be broadcast live by RTE Two. Fingal manager Liam Buckley is understandably excited about making the short trip to Dalymount, abeit conscious of the quality possessed by the Gypsies. He said: “This is the stage where we want to be and our lads are geared up for this test. We’ve prepared well in pre-season by playing five friendly matches and all eight new signings have featured at some point in those. We’ve kept the bulk of last season’s squad together which was fairly young as the average age of our FAI Ford Cup final side was 24. “Therefore, it was vital we added some top-flight experience to the group and, in the regard, I’ve been delighted with the acquisitions of Glen Crowe, Shane Barrett and Ger O’Brien. “Our aim during this first foray into the Premier Division is to consolidate. Friday night’s game must be kept in context as we finished third in the First Division last season whereas Bohs have been the top side in the Premier for the last two years.

Equally, Fingal winger Conan Byrne is looking forward to the game. He said: “Dalymount Park is the home of football in Ireland with probably the best surface across the country and any player would relish the opportunity of lining out against the Champions. “We have to play Bohs four times in the league anyway, so the timing of the fixture is irrelevant for us in my opinion. “We just want to go there and give a good account of ourselves. Last year, we overcome top-flight sides Drogheda United, Bray Wanderers, Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers in Cup matches but this is a much bigger proposition.”

In team news, John Frost is the only absentee due to a calf strain. The defender resumed full training ten days ago but is still short of match-fitness.

This week Sportspeak’s Daniel “Pitchside” Pitcher spoke exclusively to Sporting Fingal manager Liam Buckley.
 

Bohemians begin the defence of their Premier Division title with a tricky Dublin derby against FAI Cup-holders Sporting Fingal. Bohs have played all of their eight new signings in the pre-season games, which included competitive matches in the Leinster Senior Cup (v Bluebell United) and Setanta Sports Cup (v Coleraine). “We’re looking forward to the start of the season,” Bohs manager Pat Fenlon said. “It’s been a long pre-season but the Coleraine game helped us. We have brought in a few players, but they are all experienced players at this level and shouldn’t take long to gel together. “We’re really looking forward to the game. Fingal have a good squad and in fairness to them they always have a go at teams.”

Bohemians will be without defender Ken Oman who is definitely out with a knee injury, while Jason Byrne is doubtful for the opening match. He came off before half-time in last Saturday’s match against Coleraine. Paddy Madden, who has been impressive in pre-season matches, scoring regularly, looks a likely starter on the day after his 20th birthday (4th March 2010).

Sporting Fingal won promotion last season after defeating Bray Wanderers in a play-off. In Liam Buckley, they have an experienced manager, who has managed to strengthen an already impressive team. Shane Barrett, Ger O’Brien, Kenny Browne and ex-Bohs star Glen Crowe are among those who have joined for this season.

Bohemians’ line-ups in their last three matches have been:

v Shelbourne (friendly, 19th February, 2-0): Chris O’Connor, Owen Heary (Jason McGuinness, 60), Brian Shelley, Steven Gray, Mark Rossiter, Mark Quigley, Glenn Cronin, Paul Keegan (Ryan McEvoy, 70), Killian Brennan (Anto Murphy, 60), Raffaele Cretaro (Jason Byrne, half-time), Paddy Madden

v Bluebell United (Leinster Senior Cup, 23rd February, 1-0): Barry Murphy, Owen Heary, Conor Powell, Jason McGuinness, Steven Gray, Mark Quigley (Anto Murphy, 75), Glenn Cronin, Paul Keegan (Ruaidhri Higgins), Killian Brennan, Jason Byrne, Paddy Madden (Aaron Greene, 65)

v Coleraine (Setanta Sports Cup, 27th February, 3-1) : Barry Murphy, Owen Heary, Conor Powell, Brian Shelley, Jason McGuinness, Anto Murphy, Glenn Cronin, Mark Rossiter, Killian Brennan (Aaron Greene 74), Mark Quigley (Gary Burke 84), Jason Byrne (Paddy Madden 34)

This Week Sportspeak’s Chief Soccer writer Daniel “Pitchside” Pitcher exclusively spoke to Bohemians manager Pat Fenlon.
 

AFL agent Ricky Nixon hosted the latest AFL recruitment camp at Gormanston College today with players from across the country in attendance.

Derry’s James Kielt, Roscommon’s Donal Shine, Brian Sheridan of Meath, Donegal’s Michael Murphy and Kieran Hughes of Monaghan were among those present for the trials.

Kielt made his Championship debut for Derry last year and is currently studying dentistry in Queens University Belfast.

He spent a fortnight in Australia in November 2008 on trial at two AFL clubs in Melbourne.

Nixon has previously stated that the Kilrea clubman is high on his list.

“James Kielt is in the top three players I would love to get to Australia, James is the most knowledgeable kid in Ireland in AFL football.”

Donal Shine was part of the Roscommon All-Ireland Minor winning team of 2006 and claimed Sigerson Cup honours with DCU last weekend – a game which Nixon attended in Leixlip.

Brian Sheridan took the Man of the Match accolade in that final, impressing with 1-5 including the only goal of the game as DCU claimed a four-point win over UCC.

Donegal’s Michael Murphy didn’t feature in DCU’s Sigerson assault due to the ineligibility of freshers, but Murphy is high on Nixon’s wishlist and the ‘Young footballer of the Year’ was in attendance at today’s trial.

Monaghan’s Kieran Hughes also has Sigerson experience with UUJ under his belt, and has featured for the Monaghan Seniors during their National League campaign this year.

Other counties which had players represented included Dublin, Tyrone, Cavan and Galway.

It’s the third time Nixon has held an organised camp in Ireland, and the first at Gormanston College.

Last year AFL triallists took part in a camp in Blanchardstown, while in 2008 the Breffy House Hotel in Mayo was the venue for trials.