Monday's GAA In The Papers

Catch up on all the latest news, views and GAA-related rumours in www.gaa.ie's latest daily feature, GAA In the Papers. 

The Irish Examiner reports that Cork manager Denis Walsh is planning to supplement his squad with “two or three” new faces ahead of the Allianz Hurling League.

"We’ll be trying to decide the panel at the end of January, which is what we did last year — we think we have two or three fellas from this squad today who will make that panel," Walsh said. 

"Yes (two or three), unless you have a better calculator than us! We can only have a panel of 26; we had 34 last year, so we’ve had to cut eight already, and if we want to bring in another three now that means we have to cut three more."

Meanwhile, Billy Joe Padden has been speaking to the Belfast Telegraph about his decision to switch allegiances from his native Mayo to Armagh.

“I enjoyed my time with Mayo and was fortunate to win some honours but now I’m very much an Armagh player. I know that competition for starting places is keen but I’m prepared to make my pitch,” he said.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner after the McKenna Cup win over Donegal at Edendork, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte sent out a message of thanks to those who had provided support since the tragic death of his daughter, Michaela.

"I want to say a big thank you to all the people of our local community, our local GAA club Errigal Ciarán, the Tyrone county board, the GAA at Ulster Council level, the GAA at All-Ireland level, the diplomatic people in the southern government, the people in the Assembly here," Harte said.

"People from every sport in this province and in this country have been so gracious in their support of us, and we really appreciate it. Maybe we’ll never get the chance to say it to them all collectively again, but it is very, very well received by us all. The prayers and good wishes have really brought us through, because I can’t imagine how we would have got through without it."

The Irish Examiner also reports that Clare are one of the first teams to benefit under the GAA’s parentage rule when David O’Connor scored the Banner’s all-important goal in their McGrath Cup win over Waterford on Sunday.

O’Connor, who plays for St Brigid’s in Dublin, qualifies to play for Clare as his parents hail from the county.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Rhode manager Tom Coffey’s overriding feel was one of pride in his players after Sunday’s defeat to Kimacud Crokes, although he did express some regret at his side’s bad luck in a thrilling second half.

"We were okay at half-time (Rhode led by 1-5 to 0-7), but Kilmacud hit us with four points early in the second half,” he said.

“We hit the bar and missed a penalty later on and a few other things also went against us. It's disappointing to lose another final, but I'm still very proud of our team and what they have achieved for Rhode.”

In the Irish Times, Kilmacud Crokes manager Paddy Carr was effusive in his praise for his side for overcoming a poor start to book their place in the All-Ireland semi-final.

“There are a lot of things that are said about Kilmacud Crokes which I know aren’t true because you don’t achieve what those lads have achieved without a massive sense of humility and a massive sense of togetherness. I’m very, very proud of those lads,” Carr said.