D Tuesday, November 24, 2009 METROSPORT 21 GAA: Wexford have openly conceded probable defeat in their bid to host next summers Leinster SFC clash with Dublin. The Leinster Council met last night to consider dates and venues for next summers football and hurling championships. Wexfords delegates at the meeting lobbied fixture-makers to pencil in their football tie against Dublin for refurbished 25,000-capacity Wexford Park. But the cash generated by at least 50,000 punters at Croke Park is likely to see the tie played in Dublin. Being realistic, clubs in Wexford and everywhere else will be looking for grants this time next year and where is the money going to come from? admitted Wexford chairman Ger Doyle. FORMULA ONE: Nico Rosberg has become the first driver to sign for Mercedes Grand Prix for the 2010 season. The 24-year-old German ended a four-year association with Williams to team up with the newly branded outfit, which took over Brawn GP. Mercedes have yet to name their second driver but team chief Ross Brawn dismissed speculation Michael Schumacher was set to make a dramatic comeback. Its quite a special thing, Rosberg told reporters. Its about time that a German was in a Silver Arrow again. Brawn, described Rosberg as a great talent who will be able to make a valuable contribution to our team right from the outset. RUGBY: Martyn Williams expects another massive pressure game when Wales kick off their 2010 RBS 6 Nations campaign against struggling England at Twickenham. Williams, who is set to win his 91st cap in Wales Millennium Stadium appointment with Australia next Saturday, accepts the visitors might even be installed as favourites on February 6. But the 34-year-old has been around far too long to be influenced by outside forces. Maybe people will, at this moment in time, be expectant of us to win, but there is so much rugby to be played between now and then, he said. England at Twickenham is never easy and, with the quality of players theyve got, it is only a matter of time before they click. RUGBY: Leinsters Nathan Hines could not care less if he has to put up with a bit of stick after helping Scotland beat his native Australia for the first time in 27 years. Hines played his part in one of the greatest rearguard victories in recent Test history on Saturday night and admitted the result was one of the most pleasing of his career. Yet, he insisted it was not about getting one over on the country of his birth, but helping Scotland record one of their most famous wins. He said: It meant a lot to me because of the performance that the guys put in. They really put their heart and soul into it and it was one of the gutsiest performances Ive ever seen. SPORTDigest New start: Nico Rosberg Picture:Reuters GAA rebuffs criticism over link-up with GPABY PAUL KEANE The GAA has rejected claims that it has sold its soul by teaming up with the Gaelic Players Association. After ten years of isolation the GPA has finally been brought under the wing of the GAA. The GPA will formally represent in- ter-county players from now on and will receive 1.6million in funding from the GAA in 2010. But anti-GPA campaigner Mark Conway has lashed the deal on several fronts. Conway rose to prominence two years ago as leader of the Of One Belief group, who opposed the pay- ment of government grants to players. he revived his battle with the GPA yesterday when he released a strongly worded document criticising their GAA link-up. Conway said the GAA are essen- tially using the 1.6m to bail out a private limited company called the Gaelic Players Management Compa- ny Limited. More worryingly, he predicted a split in the GAA because the GPA represents inter-county play- ers only, just 0.5 per cent of the playing population. he says the deal goes against the GAAs history of treating all units and players equally. The GAA would not be drawn on Conways specific claims but Opera- tions Director Fergal McGill yester- day insisted they are delighted with the overall deal. McGill was part of the four-man GAA delegation that thrashed out the formal recognition deal with the GPA. People are entitled to their opin- ions, said McGill of Conways state- ment. But were happy to stand by what weve said, that this is in the best interests of the GAA long-term. In yesterdays statement Conway also questioned the role of GAA pres- ident Christy Cooney. It really is time the GAA went back to having volunteer presidents, he said. GAA Former AllStar goalkeeper Brian murray is the latest Limerick hurler to quit in defiance of manager Justin mcCarthy. murray has joined seven other regulars, including former captain Damien reale and 2007 Young Hurler of the Year Seamus Hickey in walking away. They are furious that mcCarthy axed a dozen leading players from his panel amid claims of indiscipline. metro understands the players are not planning any further revolts or a Cork-style strike. Instead, they are prepared to simply retire and leave the issue up to the county board to sort out. As things stand, just four players who started this years All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Tipperary are still on the Limerick panel. Goalkeeper Murray joins growing Limerick hurling exodus Montys zoomers hijack top ten new world rankings (Previous position in brackets) 1 (1) Tiger Woods (USA) 15.94 ave pts 2 (2) Phil Mickelson (USA) 8.95 3 (3) Steve Stricker (USA) 7.21 4 (5) Lee Westwood (Gbr) 6.82 5 (4) Paul Casey (Gbr) 5.83 6 (6) Padraig Harrington (Ire) 5.83 7 (7) Henrik Stenson (Swe) 5.48 8 (9) Sergio Garcia (Spa) 5.19 9 (8) Kenny Perry (USA) 5.17 10 (13) Rory McIlroy (NI) 5.12 Other Irish: 51 Graeme McDowell, 106 Darren Clarke, 124 Gareth Maybin, 135 Shane Lowry, 157 Peter Lawrie, 180 Damien McGrane rYDer CUP captain Colin montgomerie was handed a major boost yesterday after europe had six players in the worlds top ten for the first time. They include rory mcIlroy (pictured), who at 20, is the second youngest ever to be part of the elite group. The Irishmans third-place finish at the Dubai World Championship not enough to make him europes No.1 with Lee Westwood taking the title enabled him to join Westwood, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia. And waiting in the wings are martin Kaymer at 12th, Ian Poulter 13th and ross Fisher 20th. Americans still occupy the top three positions in Tiger Woods, Phil mickelson and Steve Stricker, however mcIlroy is in China this week for the World Cup where he partners Graeme mcDowell. mcIlroy earned over 1.1million in the United Arab emirates from his third place but a small fraction of it may have to be paid back. He smashed an advertising hoarding in frustration during his final round and european Tour director of operations David Garland said the incident will be looked into. Golf RAFAEL NADAL admits he does not deserve to be world No.1 after losing to Robin Soderling in his first group match at the ATP World Tour Finals. The Spaniard went into the London event knowing he had an outside chance of overhauling Swiss star Roger Federer for the year-end top spot. But that looks to have disappeared after his 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Swedish eighth seed Soderling, who stunned Nadal by ending his unbeaten record at the French Open earlier this season, at the O2 Arena. I think the chances I have are not here, not to be number one, Nadal said. It is not the right moment. My level right now is not to be number one. Sport is like this. Sometimes you have best moments, sometimes you have worse moments. This probably is one of these moments for me right now. Rafa counts himself out of No.1 race tennis No green party: Nadal had a frustrating day at the World Tour Finals in London index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html