Airtricity League: Will we ever learn the lessons of Gdansk and Gortakeegan?
“If we ever want to win more than the party, we have to truly value what’s on our doorstep,” writes Niall Kelly in this week’s Airtricity League column.
AS IRELAND’S EURO 2012 adventure limped to an end against Italy on Monday night, the 30,000-strong green legion — “the best fans in the world” — knocked back the last of the Poznan beer and readied themselves for the journey home.
Where to now, lads?
For most, the answer is unlikely to be one of the country’s Airtricity League grounds. When the 2012 season kicked off back in March, the combined attendance for all Premier Division and First Division games stood at just over 12,500. Something doesn’t quite add up.
Domestic football’s many trials and tribulations are no secret but the bleak reality was hammered home again on Monday when, as Europe fawned over Trap’s Army, Monaghan United announced their decision to withdraw from the league for financial reasons.
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The timing was not lost on those who love the League of Ireland and once more unto the breach, they dusted off and took up their cross to begin another stirring, passionate defense.
On Tuesday, an open letter written by Catherine O’Mahony landed in TheScore’s inbox. After thanking the Irish fans “for doing the country proud off the pitch in Poland in the absence of pride on it,” it continued:
Sadly, Ireland are out and I’m sure you’ll all be returning home tired and hungover. But you’ll still have that buzz, that feeling of belonging. That sense of collective identity and excitement that only live football can bring. There is live football happening every week in your national league and it desperately needs your support.
Shelbourne winger Paddy Kavanagh didn’t mince his words when asked if crowd numbers at last night’s Dublin derby might suffer because of a clash with Portugal and the Czech Republic’s Euro 2012 quarter-final.
Anyone who starts choosing European games over their own homegrown teams would want to have a look at themselves. It’s our league and it’s our country.
The quality of games in the league is always improving and this year it’s better again. Why not come out and watch and support them and have a great night instead of sitting in front of a TV listening to some clown talking crap about foreign players?
It should be possible, though, to have a constructive discussion about the League of Ireland without it descending into some pseudo-nationalist debate between Irish patriots and West Brit barstoolers. Trying to ram the league down reluctant throats will never work. It’s human nature to rebel against a sense of obligation, not least when that obligation is going to lead you to a wet and windy terrace for a game that you’re not that interested in.
For fans, the frustration mounts when the domestic game is dismissed as “shite” out of hand, often by people who would close the curtains if there was Airtricity League match on in their front garden: “Why would I watch that muck when I can sit in on a Saturday night and watch Xavi and Iniesta?”
For all of the league’s faults — and God knows that’s no short list — nothing will ever get better without support. Not the standard, not the grounds, not the facilities, nothing. And in this day and age, the most basic and direct means of support is with bums on seats.
It shouldn’t be a chore. Why would it be? After all, 30,000 spared no expense to trek to Poland and cheer on a rather average group of players who were prepared to live and die by the honesty and intensity of their effort.
The dual blows of Gdansk and Gortakeegan are more closely linked than many care to admit. It’s only one small part of a big picture but if we ever want to make something of ourselves on the international stage — if we ever want to win more than the party — we have to truly value what’s on our doorstep.
Once again the journal has not allowed it’s readers to comment on the Law abiding citizens on the Malahide road ,who just had a difference of opinion and bartered the crap out of each other in front of the general public. But we can’t comment in case we offend the group of people to which the individuals belong . I’m one of this group and so are you . We are Irish citizens. So a bit of Journalistic integrity and stand up for free speech ,as thugs like this should be held accountable regardless of what their background is . The press statement from pavee point condemning this has not been released yet but perhaps they had no one in their office today because of the bus dispute.
Seems a bit harsh, there was an article from USA Today, a while back that showed that they did not trash any bathroom, in fact all they did was rip a post of the wall of the garage.
If you were drunk and some men who said they were police officers put you at gun point and demanded ($100+?) for a ripped poster not worth a fraction of that, I think you would believe you were robbed too because I mean essentially that was what happened. They demanded way over what the poster was worth and wouldn’t let them leave without it.
“An extensive review of surveillance footage by a USA TODAY Sports videographer who also visited the gas station supports swimmer Gunnar Bentz’s claim that he did not see anyone vandalize the restroom”
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Lochte America’s idiot sea cow.
The purest form of the chemical element Bro
Brilliant. .John Oliver’s take on Lochte is a comedy must see
Pay ? I thought they were amateur…. Silly me……
Once again the journal has not allowed it’s readers to comment on the Law abiding citizens on the Malahide road ,who just had a difference of opinion and bartered the crap out of each other in front of the general public. But we can’t comment in case we offend the group of people to which the individuals belong . I’m one of this group and so are you . We are Irish citizens. So a bit of Journalistic integrity and stand up for free speech ,as thugs like this should be held accountable regardless of what their background is . The press statement from pavee point condemning this has not been released yet but perhaps they had no one in their office today because of the bus dispute.
Wonder if we’ll be allowed comment if/when that crook Hickey is charged? Seriously, is there any decent journalist out there?
Seems a bit rough.. Nobody died for goodness sake..!!!
Police time was wasted investigating this. That may have meant someone died in Brazil.
Or just as likely a life saved in the local favella by not having cops show up and shooting someone. I think Lochte deserves what he got though.
Cheats never prosper….
Sounds like a job for diarmuid connolly’s legal team again!!
Seems a bit harsh, there was an article from USA Today, a while back that showed that they did not trash any bathroom, in fact all they did was rip a post of the wall of the garage.
If you were drunk and some men who said they were police officers put you at gun point and demanded ($100+?) for a ripped poster not worth a fraction of that, I think you would believe you were robbed too because I mean essentially that was what happened. They demanded way over what the poster was worth and wouldn’t let them leave without it.
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/21/investigation-ryan-lochte-rio-olympics-authorities/89082232/
“An extensive review of surveillance footage by a USA TODAY Sports videographer who also visited the gas station supports swimmer Gunnar Bentz’s claim that he did not see anyone vandalize the restroom”
How much does he get paid?
I’m sure he will compensate with I’m A Celebrity or Dancing on Ice performances. It’s he not 37?
Oh, he’s sure to do well on scripted shows. I feel for his teammates, they certainly paid highly for babysitting him on a night out.