By Cathal Dervan

Gordon Strachan tasted his first Old Firm win over Rangers with a 2-0 victory in the quarterfinal of the CIS Insurance Cup last week, then set his sights on winning the first trophy of his Parkhead reign.

“Success is determined by who wins trophies,” said Strachan after the result heaped more pressure on Rangers boss Alex McLeish.

“You remember managers who have won championships but they’ll forget who won 2-1 here in 1962. People remember managers who win things rather than people who win Old Firm games. I’m pleased for the team and from a personal level I am pleased to get my first Old Firm win as manager.

“I am also pleased for the likes of Mo Camara and Paul Telfer to get their first Old Firm wins. That’s being a bit selfish but I was delighted to win the game. It just helps the confidence with everybody.

“It adds a wee bit every time we win and at this minute we are feeling reasonably happy. It’s absolutely fantastic and is one of the reasons I took the job.

“There were plenty of reasons on the list to say take the job and plenty not to take it. That was one of the reasons to take it. I never got the opportunity to play in that atmosphere but I got the opportunity as a manager.”

Goal scorer Shaun Maloney added, “It’s a good opportunity now we have won this game. We now go into the next game full of confidence and if we don’t win that, then that will be an opportunity lost.

Celtic are to receive compensation from the Scottish FA for the injury suffered by John Kenny on international duty that has kept the young defender out of action for over a year.

Aberdeen defender Kevin McNaughton could sign a pre-contract agreement with Celtic when the transfer window opens in January. Ajax midfielder Steven Pienaar is also a target for the Bhoys.

Strachan has dismissed reports linking Newcastle and Blackburn with Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov. “It is all speculation,” insisted Strachan during the international break.

SHC Draws

Cork will meet Clare in a mouth watering Munster SHC semifinal next summer when new Tipp boss Babs Keating will take on Limerick in the quarterfinals.

Kilkenny look to have a clear run to the Leinster final after the draw for the 2006 championship pitted them with Dublin or Westmeath in the semis.

The full draw for the 2005 Guinness senior hurling championship is:

Munster

Quarterfinals: Tipp vs. Limerick. Semifinals: Clare vs. Cork and Waterford vs. winners of Tipp vs. Limerick.

Leinster Quarterfinals: Offaly vs. Laois, Westmeath vs. Dublin. Semifinals: Wexford vs. winners of Offaly and Laois, Kilkenny vs. winners of Westmeath vs. Dublin.

Ulster Quarterfinals: Antrim vs. London. Semifinals: Antrim or London vs. Down, Derry vs. New York.

Connacht Galway to qualify for the qualifiers.

SFC Draws

The draw for the 2006 Bank of Ireland football championship has paired local rivals Meath with Louth in an enticing north east derby next June.

Dublin will travel to play Longford at the new look Pearse Stadium, while down in Munster Cork and Kerry have been kept on separate sides of the draw.

The draw for the 2006 Bank of Ireland SFC is:

Munster Quarterfinals: Kerry vs. Waterford, Limerick vs. Clare. Semifinals: Tipperary vs. winners of Kerry and Waterford, Cork vs. winners of Limerick vs. Clare.

Leinster: Round one: Westmeath vs. Offaly, Meath vs. Louth, Wicklow vs. Carlow. Quarterfinal: Longford vs. Dublin, Westmeath or Offaly vs. Kildare, Meath or Louth vs. Wexford, Wicklow or Carlow vs. Laois.

Connacht: Preliminary: New York vs. Roscommon, London vs. Mayo. Round 1: Sligo vs. Galway. Semifinals: London/

Mayo vs. Leitrim, New York/Roscommon vs. Sligo/Galway.

Job Turn Down

Former Down boss and Ireland manager Pete McGrath has turned down the chance to manage Louth. “I was approached about the job some time ago before I went to Australia for the International Rules series and I seriously gave it a lot of consideration,” said McGrath.

“I met with Louth GAA people last Monday night and they gave me an honest appraisal of the job and what needed to be done. I agreed with what they said.

“I did a lot of soul searching and at the end of the day I had to ask myself did I have the enthusiasm and the will and the appetite to do in and do the job because lets be honest it’s a massive undertaking.

“I had four or five offers from county teams since leaving Down in 2002 but when I managed Down it was about a sense of place, a sense of identity and it would be hard to take up another county post which is meant as no disrespect to the people of county Louth who are hugely enthusiastic and proud of their county.”

Cork vs. Derry

Turners Cross is sold out for Friday night’s winner take all showdown between Cork City and Derry City for the eircom League title.

Derry goes into the game ahead of the Leesiders at the top of the table, with a draw enough to seal the championship for Stephen Kenny’s side.

But the Brandywell boss insists his team will attack their hosts even with the size of the prize at stake.

Kenny told the Irish Daily Star, “You’ve got to win your games and we have to approach next week that we have to win the game. That has always been our philosophy.”

Cork should have star striker John O’Flynn back for the big game. “I would think that John would be ready for Friday’s game and if that happens then

it’s a huge boost for us,” said City boss Damien Richardson.

“Last Thursday I knew John was not going to play against Shelbourne but he’s very hopeful for the Derry game.”

Fergie’s Advice

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has warned Roy Keane that a move straight into management may not be a cakewalk when he quits playing.

Fergie said, “Young managers come along and people say this one is going to be England manager and that one is going to be manager of this club, but two or three years later they’re not there.

“It’s very difficult to manage nowadays. It’s not an easy environment to come into, so I wouldn’t forecast anything.”

Boston Success

Next year’s Railway Cup football final could be played in Boston after the success of the hurling decider there recently. An impressed GAA president Sean Kelly said, “We may bring the football back there next year although there is interest from Chicago as well.

“America is the right place to host it. Boston was the right city, and it is mainly a football city, while the McAnespies was certainly the right club.”

GAA Shorts

Cork hurling captain Sean Og O hAilpin has made a big impression on Carlton Blues boss Denis Pagan during a training stint with the Aussie Rules club while he holidays with brothers Setanta and Aisake down under. “I wish he was five or six years younger and you certainly would draft him,” said Pagan . . .

Paul Bealin has set his sights on a Leinster title within three years after taking up his new post as manager of the Wexford footballers. The former Dublin midfielder claimed, “If I don’t win a Leinster with Wexford, then we’ve failed. I didn’t come to Wexford to be second best, I came to be a winner.” . . .

New Meath boss Eamonn Barry wants former county star Jodi Devine, one time minor boss Benny Reddy and Andy McEntee, younger brother of the famous Gerry, as his selectors . . .

Australia captain Chris Johnson has been suspended for five games by the GAA and their Aussie Rules counterpart as a result of his disgraceful behavior in the second test against Ireland . . .

Tyrone star Stephen O’Neill and Cork’s John Gardiner were named footballer and hurler of the year respectively at the annual Gaelic Players Association banquet on Friday night . . .

New Roscommon manager John Maughan has dropped star players Shane Curran, Frankie Dolan, Michael Ryan, Francie Grehan and Nigel Dineen from his first panel . . .

Defenders Andrew McCann and Justin McNulty have both retired from the Armagh squad . . .

Wicklows boss Hugh Kenny has welcomed the return of star forward Tommy Gill to the inter-county scene after a year long sabbatical . . .

Young Kilkenny hurling prospect Conor Phelan has been advised to quit hurling on medical grounds . . .

David Barden has returned to the Longford squad for the NFL campaign after a year out.

NewLaois hurling boss Dinny Cahill has appointed Joe Dollard and John Taylor as his selectors.

Soccer Shorts

Derry City’s Peter Hutton and Mark Farren have been shortlisted for the PFAI player of the year award along with Cork’s Joe Gamble and George O’Callaghan, Shelbourne striker Jason Byrne

and UCD captain Tony McDonnell . . .

Cork City are to appeal against the yellow card picked up by defender Alan Bennett against Waterford recently that has ruled him out of their FAI Cup final date with Drogheda United next month. Danny Murphy and Roy O’Donovan are already suspended for the big game. Ian Stokes will referee the cup final.

Striker Kevin McHugh looks certain to leave Finn Harps after their relegation from the Premier Division of the eircom League. Harps chairman Peter Toner meanwhile has quit his position . . .

Shels striker Jason Byrne has been named eircom League player of the month for October

by the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland . . .

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has pledged to return to the international fold next year after making his Premiership breakthrough in recent weeks . . .

Irish winger Martin Rowlands is back in training with QPR after two months out with a knee injury . . .

Linfield have failed with a bid to sign Shelbourne striker Glen Fitzpatrick . . .

Shelbourne have been linked with a move for Longford defender Sean Dillon . . .

Dundalk fans have been stunned by the resignation of manager Jim Gannon.