22 METROSPORT Tuesday, September 22, 2009 D FOOTBALLDigest Bassong: Suffered concussion Tottenham given boost as Bassong gets the all-clear ToTTenham defender Sebastien Bassong has been given the all-clear by a head and neck specialist after suffering concussion during Sundays 3-0 defeat at Chelsea. Bassong left the field after a fall at Stamford Bridge while fellow centre-back Ledley King was also forced out of the game with a hamstring problem. The injuries left boss harry Redknapp facing a defensive crisis with michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate still unfit. But the club said: Sebastien was back at Spurs Lodge for further assessment after being given the all-clear by a head and neck consultant at a hospital on Sunday evening. Ledley will undergo a scan on his right hamstring after also being forced off with injury. Redknapp has confirmed Jamie ohara, on loan at Portsmouth, will return to the club in January. Police look into Diouf jibe BLACKBURN are waiting for Merseyside Police to complete their enquiries before they comment on an alleged incident involving El-Hadji Diouf and an Everton ball boy. Police are due to interview a number of other people, including the ball boy who claimed the Senegal forward made a racist comment to him during Rovers 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park on Sunday. Diouf was interviewed by police after the match. A police spokesman said: Merseyside Police are looking into an allegation that a 28-year-old man used racist language at the Everton match. ONeill will resolve spat STeVe SIDWeLL is confident the training ground bust-up between aston Villa manager martin oneill and midfielder nigel Reo-Coker will soon be resolved. Reo-Coker was dropped for Saturdays 2-0 home win over Portsmouth after the bust-up on Thursday with oneill. But Sidwell insisted the incident did not affect the players as they secured a fourth successive win. These games are too important to let things affect you, the midfielder said. Weve put it aside, got our heads down and worked hard. Whatever happens on that front will be dealt with in house Im sure. at the end of the day were a strong family and thats all that matters. Fifa investigating transfers FIFa president Sepp Blatter has confirmed the world governing body will next week look at 15 suspicious transfers involving english clubs. The Fa have compiled the list of deals where possible financial irregularities have taken place, dating back to the start of last year. Blatter said yesterday: We are not a police force and cases have to be reported to us but our executive committee will be discussing these new cases in Brazil next week. McCann faces long absence BURNLEy midfielder Chris McCann could be sidelined for up to three months after a scan on a knee injury. Former Ireland Under-21 international McCann (pictured) suffered the setback on Saturday, damaging medial ligaments during the 3-1 victory against Sunderland. Manager Owen Coyle said: Chris has suffered a bad injury and I would expect him to be out for a minimum of two to three months. He has damaged his medial ligament. Its very unfortunate and a body blow for him. Thats where my thoughts are because whenever he has been available he has been in my team. The good thing is he is at such a young age he will come back stronger for it. GAA ALL-IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL Smiles for Sam: Chloe McGlue and Darragh OBrien from Clonsilla were joined by Kerry trio Tommy Walsh, Tadhg Kennelly and Kieran Donaghy and the Sam Maguire Cup at Our Ladys Hospital in Crumlin yesterday Picture: Sportsfile Donaghy hails impact of incredible GalvinBy PAUL KEANEKieran Donaghy believes Kerry team-mate Paul galvins rags-to-riches turnaround deserves to be capped with the Footballer of the year award. galvin crowned an amazing U-turn in his football fortunes by helping Kerry win their 36th all-ireland title on Sunday. it came exactly 12 months after he left the Croke Park pitch devastated after Kerrys 2008 decider defeat by Tyrone. he appeared as a substitute that day but missed most of the Championship due to a high-profile suspension for slapping referee Paddy russells notebook. The fact that galvin was team captain in 2008compoundedhisagonybuthebounced back with a sensational 2009 campaign. he was outdone on all-ireland final day by Colm Cooper, the Ss and Tom oSullivan but, overall, he was Kerrys key performer this year. hes been incredible for us all year, the best player in the country, said Donaghy. hes had a tough time and for him to come back and put in the year he has is serious. Pulling on that Kerry jersey means so much to Paul galvin and thats what people dont understand. Some of the madness is just a rush of blood to the head. Deep down in his soul he loves Kerry and the green and gold. another great tale from Kerrys dramatic season was the impact of Tadhg Kennelly. he spent nearly ten years as a highly suc- cessful professional aFL player before re- turning to follow his all-ireland dream. he went out to australia, did it all there and then came home with us, reflected Donaghy, the 2006 Footballer of the year. he was just brilliant, a super leader, even vocally in the dressing-room. he was always talking to us and he said he had no doubt that he was coming back to a great team. he said he had no doubt in us on Sunday. Donaghy, a substitute on Sunday due to a foot injury, admitted Kerry owe this all- ireland title to their defenders. They were all outstanding against Cork, he gushed. Toms S, Killian young. and Mike McCarthy, we should be throttled for letting that man retire in the first place! Dismay: Counihan Counihan and Cork retain title goal Boss Conor Counihan insists Cork will have unfinished business until they win the All-Ireland title they crave. The Rebels suffered their second final loss to Kerry in three seasons on sunday, going down by four points. Counihan said the fact it was a great season in general for Cork was little consolation the Rebels won the Division 2 league title and retained their Munster title on their way to sundays decider. If you want to look back in the broader scale of things you could say getting to Division 1 and contesting an All-Ireland final is progress, said Counihan. But at the end of the day its about winning an All-Ireland final. Thats what every player wants, thats what hell be remembered for. so until you have that its unfinished business. In his playing days, Counihan lost two finals, in 1987 and 1988, before winning two in 89 and 90, but he added: I dont ever believe that attitude that you have to lose one to win one. Maybe the hurt drives you on more, time will tell on that. Counihan has one year left of a three- year term and urged his veteran players like Alan Quirke, Anthony Lynch, Nick Murphy and John Miskella not to make any rash retirement decisions. I dont think anyone should make any announcements at this point in time, he said. Any decisions like that would be rash. Id be surprised if any of them was [thinking about retirement]. Cork chairman Jerry oSullivan says they will not be calling for disciplinary action to be taken against Kerrys Tadhg Kennelly. Former aussie Rules star Kennelly realised his personal dream on Sunday by emulating his father and winning an all-Ireland title. But he came close to being dismissed in the opening seconds of the game for a dangerous, high tackle on Corks nicholas murphy. It looked nasty enough but whether it was deliberate or not I honestly couldnt say, said oSullivan. I dont think Kennelly is that sort of a player. These things happen in the heat of a moment. Man of the moment: Donaghy hailed the contribution of Paul Galvin to Kerrys winning effort index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html