GAA.

Shannonbridge clubmen Jason Kelly and Kieran Flannery are included in the first panel selected by Offaly's new Senior Football manager, Ritchie Connor. Well done lads and here's hoping for a big revival in the county fortunes in 2009.

Unfortunately there was no luck for Pearses and trainer Eamonn Mahon yesterday. They failed by the narrowest margain in the Roscommon Senior Football replay by going under to Castlerea on a scoreline of 0-9 to 0-8.

Bog Rail Tour.

According to a report in the Offaly Independent this week, the Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway has closed permanently, with a Bord na Mona spokesperson citing insurance and health and safety issues. This is a major loss to jobs and tourism in the area, the railway having been a fixture here since 1992. There have been rumours recently that Bord na Mona plan to move the operation to the Lough Boora Parkland site.