BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)

Subject: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 07:12 PM

I wonder what the Football Fans of this fair isle think of Minister Ahearn's suggestion at a recent football gathering in Dublin.
The Minister thinks that it would be advantageous to both Associations to amalgamate. This, he suggests, would entail forming an All-Ireland League and, of course , just one team to represent Ireland in World and European Championships.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 07:14 PM

It seems to work all right in Rugby.

It would have meant that George Best could have had a hope of playing in the World Cup.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 12:20 PM

At the moment the best of both teams combined wouldn`t be good enough for the Scottish 3rd division, I can remember when they played as one unit, this was in the late 1940s, they were less than ordinary then, after all, 4 1/2 million of a population dosen`t give you too many options.

The both associations have too much to lose, the officials in north would not want to be out of pocket minus their jobs.
I would like to see it happen, but it is highly unlikely.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 06:55 PM

Ard Mhacha, even my local village team would be good enough for the Scottish 3rd division. I reckon that if we could amalgamate our lads (local village) with your local side we might give 'em all something to think about ?
BTW in the late 1940s The Republic of Ireland team , on it's own, beat England 2-1 at Goodison Park, thereby becoming the first foreign side (not Puskas and his Hungarian teammates) to beat England at home.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 07:13 PM

And remember the night that Northern Ireland beat England in 2005?

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,CrazyEddie
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 04:52 AM

If you want to get this thread above the line, try: Joxer Goes to Stutgart

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 07:18 AM

Beachcomber, That win over England at Goodison Park on the 21st September 1949, was Englands first defeat on home ground by a foreign side, the Repuplic won 2-0, scorers, Co Martin[pen] and Peter Farrell. The team, Godwin, Carey, Aherne, W Walsh, Martin, Moroney, Corr, Farrell, D Walsh Desmond and O`Connor.

I remember rushing home from school that Wedensday afternoon to hear the second half on our old Ferguson Wireless, when my two elder brother returned from work that evening they took some convincing that this gather-up Irish side had beaten an England team which included the great Tom Finney and Wilf Mannion, that was a a one off, we had to wait until 1988 before we repeated that win when Ray Houghton`s goal did the trick in Stuttgart in the European Championship.

We certainly need to amalgamate, like all of our other sorts team, but Soccer will prove too difficult for the reasons stated earlier.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: Den
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 08:25 AM

Which N. Ireland players would make it onto a Irish starting eleven?

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 12:13 PM

Den, Their is little difference between two poor sides, the Republic have the greater potential to build a team, they have more players in the Premier League than the north, so the future is much brighter for the Republic,.
Both the Scottish and Welsh sides are in similar positions as the Irish, as for England they talk a good game, the English media have them winning World Cups and European championships before a ball is kicked,and after they fail to produce they are hammered by the same media.
Just look at the line-ups in the Premier League in England and you can see the top teams are dominated by foreign players.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 12:34 PM

Mind some of the best English players would have been eligible to play for Ireland - eg Rooney or Lennon.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: Shaneo
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 12:39 PM

You be better off like me and just support the G.A.A
At least when Dublin play the players are from Dublin
And when Kerry play the players are from Kerry , and so on.
these players play with pride for their Counties with no financial reward.
Just take next Saturday's match between Dublin and Tyrone , it's a sell out with eighty thousand expected and not one of the players will be paid.
I believe that this was the case many years ago with the English clubs , you had to be from ie. Liverpool to play for that club and London to play for Chelsea.
Something changed over the years and the clubs became a business and so greed set in.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: Den
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 12:55 PM

I do think though that an all-Ireland league would be a good breading ground for young talent. Having said that the lure of big money and fame would still take the best of it to the premiership and elsewhere.

Yes that's interesting Ard. Of the top four teams in the premiership Man Utd have five English players in their first choice 11, Chelsea have 3, Liverpool have 4 and Arsenal have 0. Infact Arsenal have only 6 English players on their 32 man roster.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 05:54 AM

Shaneo I have been attending GAA games for over half a century, the game is my pride and joy, didn`t our attendance money build super stadiums throughout the country, now we have the Rugby and Soccer brigade coming cap in hand to use OUR property, the GAA authorities should be giving lessons to the pros in Ireland, on how to organise their games.

The Soccer clubs never played primarily local players from the foundation of the FA, players were used on the basis of their ability, the locality didn`t matter.

Den, It seems like that will be the trend for years to come.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 06:20 AM

If you've been getting crowds that size and the players aren't getting any money for entertaining all those people, I would have thought there should have been more than the money for a few stands.

Are you sure theres no money gone missing - resting in Father Ted's bank account, maybe?

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 01:00 PM

WLD, Seeing you have brought up the money angle, you should direct that question to the Republic soccer authorities, over one million went missing after Irelands last world cup bid, as for the GAA, squeaky clean, no one has EVER been accused over money matters.
That is more than can be said for the English club managers throughout the years, between brown envelopes [Brian Clough] and all of the recent scandal regarding transfer bungs you should be careful about mentioning money matters.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: Declan
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 01:28 PM

An All-Ireland soccer team (Playing as a Shamrock Rovers XI) played Brazil in a friendly in Dublin in the 70s. It featured (at least) Derek Doogan and Pat Jenings from NI. I don't remember if George Best played in that game, but he was still playing at that time.

I don't think there are any players even close to that calibre in the current NI line-up. Agreed the Republic aren't any great shakes just at the moment, but there seem to be a number of very promising players coming through. I'd be hopeful at the moment that the current ROI squad stand a chance of qualification in 2010.

I'd like to see a united team, but it will take a while. I think there may be a power-sharing executive sooner!

As for next Saturday - Up the Dubs!

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: Brakn
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 05:33 PM

ard mhacha wrote
"That win over England at Goodison Park on the 21st September 1949, was Englands first defeat on home ground by a foreign side, the Repuplic won 2-0, scorers, Co Martin[pen] and Peter Farrell. The team, Godwin, Carey, Aherne, W Walsh, Martin, Moroney, Corr, Farrell, D Walsh Desmond and O`Connor."

Just a bit of trivia......Peter Corr was the uncle of "The Corrs" from Dundalk. He died in Preston aged 77 in 2001.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 05:02 AM

Brakn, There was an article in one of the County Louth papers on the death of Peter Corr, they did mention that fact, also John Carey of Manchester United captain of that side, also Captained a Rest of Europe team in 1946.and any Newcastke United fans will recognise Con Martin father of Con JR, who played for the Magpies in the 1970s.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 05:35 AM

Sorry that should be Mick Martin, Declan , that Ireland team which played Brazil was, Jennings[ni], Craig [NI], Mulligan [R] Hunter [R], Carroll [R],Giles [R], Mick Martin [R], Martin O`Neill [NI], Conroy [R], Dougan [NI], Givens [R]., Brazil won 4-3.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 07:58 PM

You're correct to say that , at present, Association Football has fallen on hard times as far as Irish domestic interest goes. However , this is mainly, I think, down to very poor management and marketing. The FAI (and old League of Ireland) had an excellent product but, they didn't foster it properly from the days of Pat Grace and his Kentucky Fried Chicken onwards. People like Eamon Dunphy and Paul Rowan have rubbished it unmercifully for years until it has become fashionable to knock the sport here.
Mind you , it was never "fashionable" in most of Ireland as those who came to the use of reason before 1971 are aware. I can remember carrying out door to door canvasses for money to fund a "Soccer" club and being told to "F...Off, with your English games" .
It was, ironically, England's World Cup victory of 1966 that helped finally to establish the game in the minds of greater Ireland. Up to that point many had a very unrealistic idea of what the game was all about.
I know that this didn't apply to Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick cities or Dundalk but , just about everywhere else it diod.
As far as "bungs" and miscellaneous "under the counter" payments are concerned, the GAA could give lessons to other sports. For many years they have infiltrated and virtually run many Semi-State bodies in Ireland using their power of placement and patronisation as a means of convincing players to turn out for various Gaelic clubs and/or counties. The GAA abroad have operated on a surreptiously semi-professional basis for decades in order to lure and keep players for various lengths of time. Many county team managers have been in receipt of generous "expenses" for some years now and very many players themselves are clamouring for a share of the excessively hyped,media driven pie. The difference , in the Irish Media, between the hype surrounding GAA and that , in the British Red Tops, concerning the Premiership, is negligible now. Transfers between clubs and counties too are not at all infrequent but, of course, these factors, like the money appropriations , are not hyped at all. There have been several dodgy mis appropriations of funds of county organisations also, again not too highly profiled by the well embedded GAA journalists.
Money is money and Greed is greed and the two will never be fully seperated , not in any game or in any code. It depends on who is reporting on the misdeed and why.
Rant over,

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 07:29 AM

Beachcomber, Apart from the Roscommon County Board who messed up with their figures, no one was accused of pilfering the takings, as a long time member of the GAA I cannot recall any other County being in the same trouble.
County transfers of players are very few, down the years my County Armagh have had the odd player leave due to work commitments, but I cannot recall any player being transferred to Armagh.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 05:58 PM

Sorry Ard Mhacha, I was , unavoidably, seperated from this old machine for a few days and didn't read you.
There have been localised scandal over funds throughout the GAA over the years , gate receipts misrepresented being one of the more frequent, and other misdemeanours that I know of in my own area but, I do not wish to drag them up again. The point I really want to make is that money corrupts, everywhere, eventually. The publicity and reportage given to any given incident is , very often, politically driven and not at all balanced over the various sporting bodies. I read in the national Press today, about how GAA people should be congratulated for their generosity in allowing the use of Croke Park (Their HQ ground in Dublin)by other codes. This appears to suggest that the GAA, FAI and IRFU "people" are all seperate and exclusively loyal followers of one or other sport. This is manifestly untrue and , again speaking locally, in just my own area I know of only two or three such people.
Declan (Patron Saint of my locality btw) I wonder how much credit is due to the many migrants from the provinces whose descendants make up your "Dubs" footballers ?
The GAA have got wonderful facilities , unquestionably, all over this country but, they have had a free run at fund raising in nearly all of rural Ireland for many years , until long after the "ban on foreign games" was lifted. However it is also a fact that many junior Association Football clubs now have facilities, often including floodlights, that even surpass those of their local counterparts. All these developments have been possible because of the more widespread interest in codes other than GAA hurling and football. This is a fact that I have never seen reported, shows you the kind of lacklustre management and publicity organisation the FAI have.
I weep for the past glories of Northern Ireland and the Republic in Association Football. I can well remember the old masters , such as Con Martin, Jackie Carey, Danny Blanchflower, Bertie Peacock, Wilbur Cush, Pat Jennings, George Best, Charlie Hurley, Noel Cantwell, Paddy Coad,Johnny Giles, and Eamon Dunphy and so many others. But the good days will return and I'll bet that many of the "fanatical" followers of Rugby and Hurling and Football will be clamouring, once again, for tickets to the International Soccer matches in Dublin.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 06:08 PM

But Hurling is a much more exciting game, for all that...

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 06:49 PM

Hi McG of H.
Yes hurling is very exciting ,( and can appear quite dangerous to one who is unfamiliar with the game) But one of the most exciting factors (and this applies equally to Gaelic Football) is the frequency of the scores. This keeps the spectators at a fever pitch , even in games when the relative skill levels are not up to good Inter - county standard.
It is a fact that scores are made more easily and regularly in almost any game rather than Association Football and I firmly believe that FIFA should apply themselves to facilitating scoring in some way . The Rugby lads have made several well thought out changes to their game over the past few years and, as a result, that game has improved it's spectator satisfaction a lot. There are more scores and rugby football has gathered more of a following and been made a more free flowing game.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 07:54 PM

I'm not convinced about that. The excitement of hurling is to do with the skills and the series of personal duels involved and the speed around the ground. If they changed the scoring system so that it was harder to score single points and the total scores went right
down, I don't think that need make it any less exciting.

And the excitement in Soccer is very much tied in with the fact that most of the attacks don't end in scores. Nil nil games can be as exciting as any, and games where poor defence results in high scores can be boring.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 04:55 PM

I am sorry I have to make an apology to the Scottish Third Division,they don`t deserve the pick of any of the two excuses for footballers from either side of the Irish border. I have just seen the Republic team defeating San Marino 2-1 in last few seconds, in the European Championship, with a team which includes the local Butcher, Baker and Candlestick maker,this San Marino side are 159 in the World football rankings.
This display by an Irish team which includes professionals from the English Premier League was a disgrace, Beachcomber you will have a long wait on this team coming good,also the sick counties sides drawn game with Wales was another dismal flop.
Dublin v Tyrone had more excitement and entertainment in the first two minutes than the two Soccer games had in 180 minutes, and GAA politically driven?, what here in the north? get a grip, our Gaelic games are snow white compared to the two pathetic soccer associations, ask Arnold Byrne were the million and a half World Cup money vanished to, we have the greatest amateur sports set-up in the world and begrudgers will never change that.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 05:05 PM

"There must be 50 ways to beat San Marino" (YouTube)

Well, in the end they did...

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 08:19 PM

No Ard Mhacha, what will never change is the attitude of people who , while appearing to hold an open mind politically, never lose an opportunity to boast about the "greatest amateur set-up in the world" which has had an obvious political conotation almost since it's inauguration, I have quite a good grasp of that fact. I'm not denying of course that the FAI had it's origins also in politics .
The world to which you refer is a rather small island off the coast of Europe and the greatest amateur sporting organisation in the World must be one that is organised on a worldwide basis. Yes, the GAA is a wealthy sport , compared to any other amateur one in this country but I've already mentioned some of the reasons for that.As far as amalgamating the two "Irelands" for International Association Football is concerned , it cannot come quickly enough.
Yes, at present we are both lacking in quality but, we've both had it before and will again. Good luck to San Marino, I half hoped they might get that draw as it would have forced the FAI to confront the players properly . But don't despair yet, after all Australia beat All-Ireland in compromise International Football last year after being well beaten in the previous series, right ?

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 05:32 AM

Beachcomber every post confirms you as a begrudger, as for the Australian professionals beating our GAA team that should always be the case, they are full time professionals and Rules players are physically bigger than our GAA players, that advantage was plain to see in the games, the surprising thing was that in the previous series the GAA men came out on top so often.
I am sure you are aware that Conor Cruise O`Brien would be a long way from being a true gael yet read what he has to say about the GAA in his book, "The shaping of the new Ireland", O`Brien says when referring to the GAA, "One of the most successful and original mass movements of the day, its importance has not even yet been recognised", this is a small extract from his glowing tribute to the GAA.
What greatness did either of the Soccer bodies achieve? reaching the quarter finals of the World Cup and European Championship?, certainly for such a small island we have had a few good soccer players, but the masses in Ireland have always preferred to watch much more entertaing fare.
I was at Croke Park in 1953 when the Kerry v Armagh game attracted   close on 90,000, large crowds even at Club Finals are the rule, people don`t go if they are not being entertained and our two great games provide that.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 07:19 AM

Any sporting organisation that is "organised on a worldwide basis" can hardly be anything other than a commercial enterprise, however it may dress itself up like something else (eg the Olympic movement).

"Greatest" isn't just about size in this context. Would the "greatest musician" be the buiggest one? Or the "greatest book" the longest one? Or even the one that sold most copies, for that matter?

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,Noel Kelly
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 02:04 PM

To whoever mentioned 'Jackie Carey', that should be Johnny Carey.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: Declan
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 03:16 PM

I posted quite a bad tempered reply to Beachcomber last night, which seems to have gone missing - no harm there.

I fully acknowledge that migrants to Dublin have contributed to the success of Dublin football over the years - I'm not sure what point you were trying to make there.

To my knowledge nobody prevented the FAI from raising funds at any stage. I contributed a reasonable amount myself to local clubs and in buying International tickets.

The Republic reached an all time low last night. I'm almost tempted to revise my earlier opinion about qualification for World Cup 2010, but there are still some promising players about. There is a need to sort out the back room problems which have lead to the recent abysmal performances in Cyprus and in Sam Marino last night.

Both John Delaney and Steve Staunton seem under pressure to resign at present. I'm not sur if that is required, but there are certainly problems that need to be addressed.

As for Croke Park (which admittededly got a reasonable input from the taxpayer into its reconstruction) it is a credit to the GAA. I think those who attend the upcoming International Rugby and Soccer matches will not fail to be impressed by the stadium. I imagine that the reconstruction of Landsdown Road will also receive a considerable state subsidy and will also result in a fine stadium.

'Croker' looked really well under lights last Saturday (on the telly at least). My only problem with what was quite a good match was the result!

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 03:27 PM

Being given a shock by San Marino, with its population of 27 thousand, is perhaps what Ireland needs.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:24 PM

Ard Mhacha, I am sorry to read that you interpret my posts as a begrudging of prosperity, popularity or any other successes to the GAA. I was attempting to bring a little balance to the sweeping statements of yours about political and financial correctness in that organisation. You appear to be a "Fior Gael" who will hear no arguement against that which you love so deeply , there are some others just like you.There was one on Telly this evening out of several people from GAA backgrounds who were interviewed about using Croke Park for Rugby and Soccer this year (and next ?). All entitled to there various opinions. However please do allow that no organisation,( the larger it grows the less so), can be as "white" as you claim the GAA to be.
C.C.O'Brien was right to state the obvious importance of the GAA in shaping Ireland , who can argue with that ? What has that got to do with our argument ? I'm not denying it's importance either.
I believe that the two Irish Soccer teams did achieve some greatness in their International sports that can be measured favourably against anything the GAA have achieved in theirs, why not?
I do understand the principle that you explain to me McG of H. However , you will never convince me that the GAA does not have a commercial interest also, the day of the true "corinthian sportsman" in all sport,is long gone. I do not believe that it's famous rule 21 (?) was maintained so long into the 1970s just because Englishmen once ruled us.
Yes, of course there have been exciting Gaelic games, and some not so exciting as in all sporting contests but it is also true that back in the 1950s there was no other sport available to those "masses".
Anyway, to get back to my original question, perhaps you are prophetic and these latest results for our two teams may be a catalyst for both to help them see reason.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 06:10 AM

Beachcomber I am not going to ask you your age, nor anything about your inability to remember as far back as the mid 1940s, in 1946 England played Ireland at Dalymount Park the attendance was an estimated
50,000, large crowds of supporters were not uncommon at Soccer matches    throughout the foundation of the FAI, a Shamrock Rovers v Drumcondra cup final in the 1940s or 50s would have had an attendance of well over 30,000, check it out.
As for being a Fior Gael I am far from that I am broad-minded enough about sport to give credit were it is due, unlike yourself who blasts the Dublin county GAA team for including players from outside the county, name me all of the outsiders on the present Dublin team? if a boy`s parents comes from another county and takes up residence in Dublin there is no big deal that he plays for the county he is longer resident in,the Dubs v Tyrone game attracted 80,000 plus, so much for the Dubs support watching mercenaries, this is a petty argument.
As for being a Fior Gael I am in constant touch with an old friend who played against France in the quarter final of the World Cup in 1958, Norman Uprichard is the man, now a hale and hearty 78, Norman is now living in Hastings Sussex, there are other
ex-players I could name but I won`t bore you with an name dropping exercise,
Have a look through your notes in this Thread and your unfounded allegations against nameless GAA officials certainly gives me the belief that your sweeping statements are very weak, and when the young boys turn up at my door seeking funds for their local youth Soccer team they are never turned away, I don`t know where you live, but to my knowledge no one has been insulted in my area for collecting for any Soccer team.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 07:27 PM

Great to hear that Northern Ireland's old goalie is still hale and hearty at 78. I remember well listening to and reading of his exploits in Sweden '58. It was unfortunate for him that Harry Gregg was also so great a goalkeeper. Will you not allow that both these men achieved a greatness , at least as honourable as any the GAA could have given them in other circumstances? I would bet that not too many of those 1940s - 50s "masses" ever even heard of them much less saw them play.
Well perhaps my hearing was defective, back in 1965, and I only imagined that I (and many others) was told where to go with my "English game" at doorsteps where we sought to collect funds. In any case I never quit attending or playing gaelic or any other games over that. One should continue to do the things one enjoys in spite of other people's attitudes, just so long as no-one suffers any damage, psychological or otherwise
Some of you posters, seem to take umbrage at the slightest suggestion that all may not always have been correct with your favourite sports body. Get a little balance fellows, the world will keep turning for a while longer.
Ah! Things could be worse , look at how poor old 'Stan and Bobby are being treated.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 01:49 PM

Beachcomber, Some clown made a remark to you many years ago regarding you support for some soccer team and you condemn every fol;lower of the GAA,grow up, for heavens sake you should have told him where to go.
You are miles out in your assessment of me as is your silly opinion of GAA followers.
What I was pointing out to you regarding the large attendances at Soccer fixtures throughout the years, was the fact that the players in the FAI were being paid a pittance and all of that attendance money could have been spent on the stadiums, unlike the GAA the Soccer authorities were very poor organisers,as was mentioned on more than one occasion in the Irish media, the Soccer and Rugby people could have taken advice from the GAA on how to organise their games.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,Ard Mhacha
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 01:50 PM

Sorry I was the Guest, Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 05:08 PM

Very odd, Guest, should have told who where to go? the people who refused my begging bowl ?
I follow GAA games myself also of course and played them for several years both in Ireland and abroad, how could I condemn all followers ? players either? When have I done so ? I was making the point that no one would have made such a response to a GAA flag day in 1965 in rural Ireland.
Of course many of the FAI officials over the years were not of the quality that one would prefer ,just as were those in GAA, or IRFU. However, I believe that I have not, in this thread,wrongly represented matters as they were and are.
Do I need to remind you old chap that personal insults (especially from one with an agenda ) have no adverse effect whatsoever. Only good sound argument will have that result.
You seem to forget that football , back in the 30s - 60s was a relatively successful busines with various shareholders and employees who took the profits, such as they were. Yes things deteriorated with the advent of live TV matches which left our organisation behind. GAA, of course, did not have this competition in those less affluent times. Now that Setanta TV have taken a stake in Gaelic Games, lookout for future conflict.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 02:40 PM

They took the profits those FAI boys, do you remember Mr Cunningham owner of Shamrock Rovers a rich bookie who dictated matters in the FAI.
We can be comforted by the fact that the English rugger chaps wont start a riot if the find themselves an early try in arrears, unlike their Soccer countrymen who after an early goal for the Republic started to wreck Lansdowne Road and succeeded in having the game stopped,and another thing to be thankful for, this time there will be no armoured cars.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: GUEST,Monsieur Laporte
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 04:50 AM

Oh ho ho, Mes amis. I would like to see zee united Ireland in football also. Zen we can show you how to play zat game as well. 'ave fun my leetle Irlandais.

Bernard.

Subject: RE: BS: United Ireland (In Association Football)
From: ard mhacha
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 06:29 AM

Too true, your record in both games is excellent.