Fixtures have been confirmed for the NSW GAA Championship playoffs following a weekend of cancellations.

Due to heavy rain in the lead up to the weekend, the pitches at Mona Park were waterlogged and games that had been scheduled for Sunday, August 1 were called off. The NSW GAA were forced to award draws for all games.

There will be a break from GAA action this weekend as many of the teams will be participating in the City 2 Surf event.

Action will resume on Sunday, August 15.

Fixtures for Sunday, August 15

Mens football
10am Cormac McAnallens v Young Irelands

Ladies football
12pm Cormac McAnallens v Clan NaGael
2pm Central Coast v Michael Cusacks 2pm

Mens Hurling
11am Central Coast v Craobh Padraig
1pm Michael Cusacks v Sydney Shamrocks

Camogie
10am Clan NaGael v Craobh Padraig
11am Central Coast v Cormac McAnallens

Mens B Football
12pm Cormac McAnallens v Clan NaGael
1pm Penrith Gaels v Michael Cusacks

As Sydney FC plan the defence of their A-League title, an Irishman has claimed the captain’s armband. Catherine Murphy talks to hard-working midfielder Terry McFlynn about all things Sydney.

Things could have turned out very differently for Sydney FC captain Terry McFlynn if it wasn’t for a teenage decision which has shaped the course of his sporting career.

At the tender age of 14, he decided to give up Gaelic football in favour of soccer. His decision to turn his back on the sport played religiously in his home of Swatragh, to take up a sport that was directly connected, at least back then, to a religion that was not his, caused a bit of a stir.

“The Gaelic club is the focal point of the village and I suppose I went against the normal thing to do, leaving Gaelic football to play football,” the Derry man says.

“It definitely took a bit of courage to do it and thankfully I did… I suppose surprise is the best way to describe the reaction. But everyone accepted it.

“I made the Northern Ireland school team pretty quickly after that. Then I moved to England to play with QPR (Queens Park Rangers) so it was a quick transition… but that was a long time ago and things have really changed since then. With the peace process everything is different now.”

Things have certainly changed for the 29-year-old. Since he signed for the Harbour City club five years ago he’s gotten married, become an Australian citizen and started a family. But then it was love that took him Down Under in the first place. And not love of football.

“My wife (Emma) is from Perth. We met in London. She was homesick and wanted to come back so I just wrote a letter to the football club and they invited me down for a trial. Thankfully it’s all worked out great.”

However an unusual bi-product of his relationship and subsequent decision to move to the southern hemisphere with his then girlfriend was to re-discover his first love – football. With his career dwindling in the UK, his move to Australia proved to be the change he needed.

“It really re-kindled my passion and love for football. It’s put a smile on my face. I’ve loved every minute of my time here.”

Ten months ago, McFlynn had another new love enter his life – his daughter Olivia. Despite the fact the toddler has an Australian mum and a dad who has just been awarded his Aussie citizenship, she’s already been back to Ireland to meet the Derry clan.

“We took her home at the end of the season so she could meet all of her cousins and her granny and grand da over there. She had a great time with the family.”

As for what sort of accent Olivia will develop (a mixture of Derry and Aussie is difficult to imagine), the proud dad says it’s too early to tell.

“She’s very young and just saying the odd word like Mammy and Daddy,” he laughs.

Ironically it was a family tragedy which happened just months after McFlynn had arrived in Sydney that made the Derry man realise that he had chosen the right club to pen a contract with.

When his uncle and aunt were killed in a car accident back home and he stayed to play a game against the Central Coast Mariners the club’s supporters group The Cove made a special banner for the expat. It read “In times of need the Cove is with you”.

“It was very touching and a real emotional moment for me,” McFlynn remembers.

“That was back in 2005 and I had just started. The league was new, the team was new but when the supporters did that for me, I knew straight away that this was where I belonged and where I wanted to play my football. These people showed emotion towards me and I just wanted to get out and give 100 per cent every game and give them something back.”

Such is the level of what McFlynn has “given back” to the club, they in turn have rewarded his effort with not just the captaincy but a contract that sees him at the club until the end of 2013.

“It’s fantastic. Sydney FC rekindled my passion and love of football so I just want to repay the faith they’ve shown in me. When my contract came up negotiations were done in an hour or two.

“As long as they wanted me to sign, I was happy to sign. The supporters are fantastic. They’re the best I’ve ever played in front of so the decision to stay was easy. I’ve always said that I would only ever leave if they didn’t want me.”

However there is still one unfulfilled ambition in the Derry man’s career. Despite having played for Northern Ireland up to the Under-23 age group, he’s never won a senior cap. It’s a dream he still harbours hope of achieving and far from being concerned that his geographical location on the other side of the world could hinder his chances, he thinks instead they are bolstered.

“If the opportunity arises, would I be interested? Of course I would… any time a squad selection comes up I’ve always put my hand up and I’ll continue to do that until the day I retire. I love playing for Northern Ireland.

“If anything it’s enhanced them (chances of being selected). It’s a better league than the one I was playing in back home… They’re aware of the Australian league and they’re aware that I’m playing here and that it’s a good league and a good standard.”

As for whether he would recommend other Irish soccer players to make the move Down Under, he has no hesitation.

“I would definitely recommend any player to come over here. I can’t speak highly enough of the place as a place to live. It’s a fantastic country, probably one of the best countries in the world. But also the standard of football is fantastic.”

However McFlynn already has some close Irish friends who’ve also made the move for sporting reasons.

He’s a good friend of Sydney Swans’ Tadhg Kennelly and went to the same school as Derry rookie Chris McKaigue. He especially admires what Kennelly has achieved during his time Down Under.

“It’s a tough sport. All credit to Tadhg for coming over here at such a young age and achieving what he has. I’ve just finished reading his book, and it really makes you realise the type of character he is and how mentally tough he’s been to come over here and do what he’s done.”

Believe it or not, McFlynn has even had a crack at playing AFL, even if it was just for charity.

“I played in a charity game before the Swans v Fremantle game. I trained a bit with Tadhg the day before and wasn’t great… Tadhg tried to convince me it was just like playing Gaelic but it wasn’t. But in the game I kicked the first goal so I was pretty happy with that.”

You get the sense that this sportsman, who excelled at Gaelic football while growing up, and his now living his professional football dream in Sydney, could turn his hand to anything.

But for now, his focus is squarely on lifting the A-League trophy as Sydney FC captain next March.

A leading member of Queensland’s Irish business community is taking a stand against alleged unscrupulous practices by construction companies that have begun to operate in the State.

Smaller companies are struggling with a lack of work and they are not being paid for work that they have already done, according to Gerard Keogh, managing director of DIY Rentals, a business that rents large equipment to the mining and civil sector.

“These larger companies are not employing any locals. They have brought some elements of corruption with them from interstate,” claims Keogh.

A lot of the local contractors don’t have the work any more because they are not getting the bigger contracts.”

The decrease in private sector building caused by the GFC has meant that large government-funded projects are often the only option for contractors.

“It’s been a double, even triple hit for us,” says Keogh.

DIY Rentals was left out of pocket after the collapse last year of the TF Group, a subcontractor working on the $5.5bn Brisbane AirportLink. The TF Group went into receivership owing more than $14m.

But Keogh says the TF Group is just one of a number of companies that owe DIY Rentals money — he has a “list as long as his arm”.

Keogh told the Irish Echo that many of these large contractors were also cutting corners on safety, adding that it is a ‘free for all’ on some projects.

He said he has lost two of his machines due to unsafe work practices. For example, an excavator hired for the upgrade of Brisbane’s Centenary Highway was badly damaged at a cost of $250,000.

This job is now the subject of court proceedings, with DIY Rentals taking a case against subcontractor North Coast Recyclers and Demolition for unpaid bills.

Keogh said that many companies are ignoring safe work procedures, a concern echoed by Peter Close, the Assistant Secretary of CFMEU in Queensland.

“They’re telling us stories of their being out-tendered by other companies that have come on the scene that we’ve never known before, 30 and 40 per cent cheaper than their quotes.

“Now, you tell me how they’re going to pay the proper wages and conditions and keep the health and safety standards up when you’re 30 to 40 per cent cheaper than where you should be,” Close told ABC’s 7:30 Report, who ran a report on Brisbane building (including Keogh) on July 20.

The 7:30 Report programme heard from a number of contractors and subcontractors who highlighted concerns about corners being cut.

The switch from State safety regimes to Comcare, the Federal Government agency responsible for workplace safety, has also made it harder to monitor standards.

“The unions can’t get on a site because of Comcare, they need to give 24 hours notice. Sure you can move half of Brisbane in 24 hours,” he said.

Keogh wants to take a stand against what is happening in the construction industry in Queensland. He and his wife have not earned a wage for the last two years and he is not sure for how much longer DIY Rentals can continue operating. They have six children.

“The reason that it has become such a spaghetti of a mess is because nobody would open their mouth,” said Keogh.

“What we need is work and to be paid for the work that we have done, it’s as simple as that,” Mr Keogh said.

by Luke O’Neill

Richmond hopes the luck of the Irish can replace its horror run of luck at the tribunal, calling up Irish rookie Jamie O’Reilly to the senior list, the Daily Telegraph reports.

O’Reilly was invited to train with the Tigers last year after being spotted by recruiting manager Francis Jackson playing Gaelic football for County Down.

He has been groomed as a rebounding half-back/midfielder, and has played 11 games for the Coburg seniors this season.

O’Reilly, Richmond’s first Irish recruit, will be joined by Robbie Hicks, the Tigers’ first pick in last December’s rookie draft.

The pair replace midfielders Nathan Foley and Adam Thomson, who have both been placed on the long-term injury list and won’t play again this season.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick has said his focus is on development for the future and he is keen to give game time to as many of the players on the Tigers’ list as he can before the season ends.

Brisbane Lions Pearce Hanley has said his football is benefiting from his time on the senior side and that he is growing in confidence all the time. Hanley has now played three consecutive senior games with the Lions, the most in his career so far.

“I feel a lot more confident out on the field and more used to the pace of the game,” Hanley said. “Your confidence grows when you play a few games in a row.”

The Mayo man made his 2010 debut in round 7 but then didn’t return to the senior side until round 15 and has held his spot since.

Unfortunately for the 21-year-old, despite racking up four senior games this year, he is yet to experience a win. The club’s 63-point belting at the hands of Geelong at Skilled Stadium was the club’s seventh in a row. The Queensland side has only secured one win in their last 13 outings. Their bad run has seen them slump to a lowly 14th on the AFL ladder.

“Things are going well at training this week so it would just be great to have a win. The four games I have been involved in have been losses so hopefully we can turn that around by the end of the year.

It’s always difficult going into the club after a loss but we all make a conscious effort to try and be upbeat and positive and approach the week as if we had a win and try and pull things together for next week.”

For Hanley, regardless of the result, the following week is spent reviewing the previous game and looking at ways to improve for the following match.
“I go over my game with a coach and they give you feedback on how you did and what you can improve on for the next week. My focus going into the Geelong game was my offensive game and getting my kicking right coming out of defence.”

Despite the losses, the defender has made a solid contribution to the side. In round 15 against St Kilda, he equalled his career high disposal count of 17, matching his round 22 efforts against Carlton in his debut season 2008.

His 2009 season was interrupted by injury and he played only one game. Judging on his current form and the fact that he is now the only Irish player playing top flight AFL football other than Tadhg Kennelly, he could be part of International Rules coach Anthony Tohill’s plans. If he is he’d happily take the opportunity to represent his country.

“I definitely would love to play International Rules. It didn’t work out last year so hopefully this year, depending on when I go home and how long I’m home for, I’d love to be involved.”

However his ability to participate, if he does get the call up, depends on how his body is at the end of a long Aussie Rules season.

“It all depends how my body is though. I’m pretty sore at the moment and just trying to get through to the end of the year.”

If Hanley does hold his spot on the Lions side he could face up against his compatriot Sydney Swans Tadhg Kennelly in round 22. It could be a pivotal game for the Swans, who now in eighth position on the ladder may be fighting for their place in the finals series in September.

by Catherine Murphy

1874 – 1953

Trade Unionist

Born at Wentworth, NSW, the seventh of nine children of Irish-born parents, O’Neill was educated at the local Catholic school.

The family moved to Broken Hill and Paddy and his brothers became mineworkers. In 1899 he married Mary Anne Gearon, from South Australia. They had six children.

In 1908 he became secretary of the South Broken Hill branch of the Amalgamated Miners’ Association. His outlook was informed by social conservatism and his resulting preference for direct bargaining with employers, rather than arbitration, transformed him into an astute union leader and formidable negotiator.

In April 1913 he became a sanitary-cart driver with the Broken Hill Municipal Council. In 1922 he helped to form a local branch of the Municipal Employees’ Union and was its president, then secretary from 1924. But O’Neill’s greatest contribution to Australian unionism was his involvement in forming the Barrier Industrial Council (BIC) – a new, all-inclusive and powerful local peak union body in Broken Hill.

With O’Neill as its leader, BIC oversaw Broken Hill’s near-complete withdrawal from the State and Federal arbitration systems and the signing in 1925 of the first of what would become a stable regime of triennial collective agreements for local mine workers. He remained BIC president until 1949.

1866 – 1933

Priest

Born in Co Cork, the eldest of five children, O’Reilly was educated at St Colman’s College, Fermoy, before studying philosophy and theology at Maynooth. He was ordained a Vincentian priest in January 1890 and emigrated to Melbourne in 1892.

In 1899 he became information editor of the Catholic monthly, Austral Light, and was to contribute prose and verse to it for over 20 years. He published a volume, Poems (1919), which revealed the depth, seriousness and whimsicality of his rich personality.

O’Reilly was president of St Stanislaus’ College, Bathurst, NSW from 1903-14, and from 1910 was prominent in the education debate. He vigorously fought against the continued exclusion of Catholic schools from government funding.

O’Reilly entered into bitter controversy in 1911 over the celebration of Empire rather than Australia Day.

He was firmly of the view that “everything that was best and noblest in Australia was Irish”.

A powerful orator, he was greatly concerned for the poor and for the victims of sectarian bigotry, and once declared that the “Sydney ‘pommy’ Press is the vilest on earth”.

His funeral mass at St Mary’s in Sydney was so packed that 3,000 people, unable to find room in the cathedral, stood in Hyde Park during the service.

1818 – 1883

Politician, Businessman

Born near Thurles, Co Tipperary, Ireland, O’Shanassy and his wife Margaret arrived in Australia in November 1839. After initially buying a farm, they opened a drapery shop in Collins St, Melbourne in 1845.

O’Shanassy’s political career began the following year when he won a by-election to become a member of the Melbourne Council. In November he lost his seat thanks, at least in part, to lingering anti-Catholic sentiment after the ‘Orange’ riots in July of that year.

After becoming identified with popular causes such as opposition to any revival of transportation he won a seat in the first Legislative Council elections in September 1851. On March 11, 1857 he became premier, but this ministry collapsed after only seven weeks. He again became premier on March 10, 1858, leading a conservative government for the next 19 months.

O’Shanassy formed his third, strongest and most successful ministry in November 1861. This government was responsible for important reforms such as the Civil Service Act, which classified salaries and set out principles for promotion.

Though remembered as a great supporter of Catholic education, O’Shanassy warned against bringing old-world loyalties into a new land and said people should act as Australians in their adopted country.

1897 – 1956

Winemaker

Maurice O’Shea was born in 1897 in North Sydney, to John Augustus O’Shea, an Irish-born wine-and-spirit merchant, and Leontine Frances, who came from France.

The young O’Shea trained as a viticulturist and analytical chemist at the University of Montpellier before returning to NSW in 1920.

He began to make wine on the family property at Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley and in 1925 he named the vineyard Mount Pleasant – a brand still well known and respected to this day.

He died of cancer in May, 1956 in his flat at Newcastle.

1962 –

BUSINESSMAN

Born in Dublin, O’Sullivan learned the value of good business from an early age. His father, a senior public servant, had his children take up odd jobs to supplement their household income.

“I’ve sold everything from newspapers to French wine and Irish peat fuel,” said O’Sullivan.

Having completed a degree in economics at Trinity College and post-graduate studies in Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, he held various international management roles with the Royal Dutch Shell Group in Canada, the Middle East, Australia and the UK.

O’Sullivan moved permanently to Australia 22 years ago and is an Australian citizen. He was appointed chief executive of telecommunications giant Optus in 2004.  Though he is somewhat reclusive in his private life, he is a supporter of the Australian Ireland fund and recently addressed the Lansdowne Club in Sydney.

When former Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo described Australia as like “stepping back in time”, and having “restrictive” immigration policies, O’Sullivan strongly disagreed.

“This is the most egalitarian, inclusive and dynamic society I have lived in, an experience I have to say is reinforced in my frequent travel to the United States on business,” said O’Sullivan.

His pay package in the year to March 31, 2009 was $2.1m.