Derry City manager Stephen Kenny has been praising his players after Saturday’s cup win in Cork. The club are still the kings of the EA Sports Cup as they won their 10^th title thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Cork City in a cracking contest at Turner’s Cross. In a game where there was very little to choose between the sides, Eamon Zayed scored the decisive goal midway through the second period from the penalty spot as the Candystripes completed part one of what they hope is an historic double. There’s still a long way to go in the league of course, but getting their hands on the league cup will be a major boost for them. Denise O Flaherty got reaction after the win for Highland Radio sport. She spoke to Stephen Kenny and Eamon Zayed.

Stephen Kenny
 

Eamon Zayed
 

An extra €120,000 has been allocated to Donegal County Enterprise Board.

The additional money is intended to help start up and expanding businesses.

Junior Minister Dinny Mc Ginley says it should contribute towards the creation of 25 additional jobs within the County.

Donegal Senator Brian O’Domhnaill is accusing Fine Gael and Labour of stifling debate on the proposed Septic Tank  charges.

Senator O’Domhnaill says this is an issue which could cost some families thousands of euro, but the government parties are not facilitating a proper debate.

Senator O’Domhnaill says there will be a debate when the legislation goes through the Seanad, but he argues a discussion now could inform how that legislation is framed.

He says he’s very disappointed at the way his motion was voted down last night….

Charges have been dropped against a Derry man accused of raping a tourist in New York City.

22-year-old Damien McGuinness was arrested on August 11 for the alleged rape of a female he had met earlier that night.

McGuinness from Derry, had been working as a bartender in New York City.

He has maintained his innocence from the outset.

Prosecutors said the female, who had accused the Derry man of sexual assault after she had consensual sex with his friend, had refused to testify in front of a grand jury.

As a result the case was dismissed at a Manhattan Criminal Court this week.

McGuinness is now waiting to be deported and is expected to return home to Ireland in the next two weeks.

His father Damien senior said his son is “over the moon”.

Donegal County Council is to establish a working group ahead of the 2012 budget to discuss ways of making it easier to do business in the county.

The move is off the back of a motion from Councillor Barry O’Neill who wants more done to assist smaller business survive in these more challenging times.

Councillor O’Neill says the amount of vacant business premises in towns and villages is a cause of concern…

The National Council for the Blind in Ireland is warning that sight loss will become a growing problem in Donegal in the coming years.

At present, the NCBI provides support to 834 people in the county, and as the population ages, Regional Manager Danny Cahill says the numbers needing help will grow.

Following the publication of the first comprehensive report on slight loss in the country, Mr Cahill is calling on the government to implement a Vision Strategy.

He says it’s vital that eye conditions that cause vision impairment are detected and treated as quickly as possible.

Mr Cahill says in many cases, people may be registered with NCBI without others realising they have sight loss issues…

North West MEP Jim Higgins has welcomed the adoption of a new road safety report in the European Parliament.

Part of the report focusses on the safety of road works and temporary surfaces.

In 2009, three families, including the family of Sinead Farren Mc Daid from Inishowen, told an EU committee that their daughters had been killed on stretches of road which were unfit for purpose due to lack of proper signage.

At present he says, an engineer comes out, inspects his own work, and approves a road as safe for use. Today the European Parliament has said that this is wrong, and audits will be initiated.

He says that’s an important step………

IMPACT has predicted that news of a significant budget overrun on the HSE west area will lead to a reduction in services.

It has emerged that there has been a 50 million euro overspend in HSE West over the first half of this year, 7.7 million euro of that is in Donegal.

IMPACT’s Richie Carruthers says with the best will in the world, unless the government redirects funding to the HSE, health services will be cut:

It has emerged that some people awarded social housing are being refused a grant to furnish the property.

The council now supplies housing through a long term leasing scheme but before the house is taken over by the local authority it must be free of all furniture and electrical items.

People given these houses do not receive a furnishing grant while people who move in to council owned property do.

Councillor Dessie Larkin says this is unfair and there are cases where the offer of social housing has been declined:

Dana Rosemary Scallon is officially a candidate in the race for the Aras.

Offaly County Council became the 4th local authority to nominate her this afternoon.

Senator David Norris is now pinning his hopes on Dublin City Council later this evening.

He just needs the backing of 1 more council to follow in the footsteps of Dana and formally enter the Presidential race.

Speaking after receiving the backing of Donegal County Council this morning, Ms Scallon said she wasn’t put off by her recent poor showings in the polls: