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OCTOBER 2002
Keane Book Tops Irish Best-Seller List
UBLIN - The autobiography of the former captain of the Irish World Cup team Roy Keane has been hailed as the biggest-selling book in Irish literary history. Keane -The Autobiography has already sold 110,000 copies to break all publication records, and Penguin Ireland hopes that the book will reach the 150,000 mark by Christmas. ==^==^==
Ghosted by Eamoii Dunphy, the book hit the headlines due to several chronicled incidents. Shortly after publication, soccer chiefs were reeling from claims made in the book.
Linfield Football Club is seeking legal advice following comments about the signing of its first Catholic player and the alleged subsequent dismissal of the manager.
A contentious tackle on Manchester City player and Norwegian international Alfie Inge Haaland also put the spotlight on the former skipper of the Irish World Cup team.
The book gives the Manchester United captain's version of events leading to his dismissal from the World Cup and has sold 200,000 copies in Britain.
Publishers Penguin Ireland said that, within a week of release, the book has sold more than 50,000 copies in Ireland. A spokesman said that although the initial sales have eased off, it is still selling better than any other title and has already reached the 110,000 mark.
Earlier this month Keane pulled out of signing books in Dublin and Belfast due to a hip operation. Now, the turbulent scenes which led to the Irish skipper leaving the World Cup squad in Japan will be played out all over again on the shop floor of Easons bookstores.
Along with Roy Keane, team stal-
"The demand is still there - he's as popular as ever."
wart Niall Quinn and manager Mick McCarthy have each published their own version of the World Cup meltdown which led to Keane's sensational departure. Each one is now due in the Dublin booksellers to sign copies of their books - although, fortunately, not on the same day.
Publishers and retailers agree that the signings will lead to even more copies of the controversial book flying out of shops.
Niall Quinn will be in stores signing copies of his book The Mighty Quinn on October 12, Mick McCarthy will be signing his World Cup Diaries on November 2; Keane is due to reschedule signings in Easons Bookstores in Dublin and Cork within the next few weeks.
Martin Black of Easons said the signings would be sure to fan the flames of controversy once again, all of which would lead to more books being sold.
Black said that ever since Roy Keane was forced to cancel his initial signings, members of the public have been calling on a daily basis. "The demand is still there - he's as popular as ever," he said.
Notre Dame High at Top of the BC High School Varsity League
Connor Flynn, age 15, defensive tackle with Notre Dame Jugglers is shown here after the pre-season game against Surrey's Holy Cross High School.
The Story of the Year Armagh: All Ireland Champions
DUBLIN - History was made in dramatic style at Croke Park in Dublin on September 22, with a tense 1-12 to 0-14 Armagh victory over 32-time champions Kerry. There was no stopping ecstatic and fanatical Armagh fans as they flooded the pitch at the final whistle, when the Armagh Gaelic Senior Football team became the 2002 All-Ireland Football Champions for the first time-ever.
Hunger, appetite, guts and the will to win won the coveted Sam McGuire Cup for Armagh. Grown men cried, couples kissed, children were hoisted onto parents' shoulders and Guinness flew through the air. A sea of orange and white faces, shirts, hats, scarfs, flags, banners and foam hands finally welcomed the triumphant team back to the north.
Ulster fans revelled in a double delight with Derry winning the Minor Football title on the same day; setting up a sensational day for Ulster football. It is estimated the party in Derry and Armagh and indeed further afield will continue for weeks, months but certainly up to Christmas.
With millions around the world watching, 80,000 fans held their breath and sat on the edge of their seats as Armagh, the underdogs, fought back in the second half of a very close game with Kerry; who were the favoured to win team.
Tickets were next to impossible to come by and it was estimated that Croke Park could have been filled twice over. In Edmonton, Vancouver and Seattle, the match was seen live via-satellite telecast.
One of the greatest half-time speeches from a coach, that is sure to go down in folklore history; was delivered by Armagh coach, Joe Kernan, to his dishevelled and disgruntled, poor first-half performance team. Kernan produced the wooden plaque he received for playing in the 1977 final. He asked his players to meditate and take a long hard look at it.
Actually, they were taking a long hard look at themselves. It will go down as being one of the great half-time speeches and Joe didn't have to say a word. There can be no doubt that coaches will be rethinking their half-time speeches to the players and taking a tip from coach Kernan the master psychologist with a genius for motivation.
THREE triumphant Armagh supporters revel in the glory of victory at the live satellite telecast of the All-Ireland Final shown at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver. (L-R) F. Stewart, Seamus Leonard and Krista Leonard.
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JOHN SHEEHAN, Jim O'Brien and Liam Carroll were visiting Vancouver from Waterford, Ireland. They watched the All-Ireland at the Croatian Cultural Centre.
JOHN O'FLYNN, a Kerry sup- TWO ARMAGH SUPPORTER, Paddy Downey of Killeavy, Ar-porter was dressed in his magh and Paddy Magnar, visiting from Johannesburg, South team's colours. Africa.
Notre Dame ran out convincing winners 14-7 thanks to a fine team display and a determined coaching staff under George Oswald, Vice-Principal at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame now stand top of the British Columbia High School Football Association 2002 AAA Varsity League.
The climax of the season will see the successful playoff teams meeting at BC Place in Vancouver during November. Notre Dame's final home league game of the season is at the Burnaby Lake complex on November 1.