Ireland's biggest sporting embarrassment?

HIB

NoMore MrNiceGuy wrote: »

You shouldn't feed the anti-rugby trolls. The irish rugby team is not an embarrassment.

Current team are not an embarrassment. They won last year. The general record I do find somewhat embarrassing. Shows a bit of a penchant for under achievement.

Cork footballers and Liverpool are other teams that spring to mind when I think 'under achievers'.

So, no I'm not 'anti rugby'. But sport is about winning, and I admire teams who win their fair share or more.

ardle1

http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/ourview/cricket-win--irish-team-take-a-bow-146958.html

Henlars67

wadacrack wrote: »

tony cascarino..no irish heritage at all..just used the country for his football career

Cascarino was entitled to an Irish passport, and therefore to play for Ireland.

In his book he wrote that he wasn't, presumably to sell copies of it.

Billy86

HIB wrote: »

5/6 nations rugby.

A tournament with only 5/6 teams and we've only won it 3 times in the last 30 years.

Maybe not THE most embarrassing, but embarrassing none the less.

We were deadful in the late 80s and 90s as has been mentioned, but to be fair meanwhile in football we have competed in 34 WC/EC qualifying campaigns over the span of 55 years and finished have top... never.

Henlars67

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I think the railway line behind the Nally/Hill 16 end is why they can't finish it off. With the Aviva the residents at that end protested about blocked sun light so they had to revise their plans.

I regularly have the argument with a friend of mine that the gaa isn't a top class stadium because of the Hill 16 end.

He argues that it is because of the 'very good reason' that it can't be finished.

The reason is pretty irrelevant though. It looks absolutely awful because of that end.

Same goes for the Aviva, though in fairness, at least it looks class from the outside.

BigBrownBear

Grandeeod wrote: »

Here's a really embarrassing one that had nothing to do with results and made world news. In 1985 the Republic of Ireland played Italy in a friendly soccer match in Dalymount Park, Dublin. It became a free for all as it became evident the FAI had over sold it. I had reserved terrace tickets which was in front of the original stand. When I arrived at the ground with my father all the gates were open and people with no tickets were being allowed in. Ended up in the school end. People were even sitting around the side lines. A ****ing shambles that only the FAI could orchestrate.

That could have been a disaster of Hillsborough proportions. I didn't have a ticket cos they were taking cash at the stiles. The crush at the shopping centre end was so bad they had to open the gates. I was swept into the ground without my feet touching the ground I should have been walking on.
If somebody had've stumbled an fell....................

Breffnigolfer

Billy86 wrote: »

Those matches are taken considerably more competitively than football friendlies. You must have missed New Zealand celebrating when they beat us with the last kick of the game last year?

And? What relevance is that?

(They were celebrating for a quite different reason, by the way.)

Facts are, the matches are non competitive.

Breffnigolfer

The Bould Rabbit wrote: »

Impressive list of boxing achievements there right enough and yes our golfers are on a roll.

But no, I would argue that horseracing has been our most successful sport on a consistent level for over 50 years and especially the last 20 years in both National Hunt and on the Flat. Our breeders, trainers, jockeys and of course our horses are proven world beaters.

But its a debate for another thread because there is nothing embarrassing about out boxers or our horseracing people.

Horse racing is not a sport, it's purely a means to facilitate gambling. The amount of money wasted on that is embarrassing.

grazeaway

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Over 200 posts and not mention of

New Zealand 60 - 0 Ireland in 2012.

So good nobody remembers.

Had to google that one,

Just goes to show that these rugby end of season "tests" really don't mean much. It's probably the way the Aussies, kiwis and South Africans view the authunm internationals.

Breffnigolfer

JC01 wrote: »

Roy Keane. He was a hero of mine growing up but the way he acted in Saipan was a disgrace. It's a further disgrace that the FAI took him back afterwards.

And some of the crap he's come out with over the years since just shows how arrogant the man is

I would contend the likes of you are an embarrassment. The way you cannot see what actually happened in Eaipan, or do not want to see what happened, is a joke. Facts were Keane was fighting for a more professional approach from the FAI and was let down. The management and other players were on a jolly, just happy to be there.

grazeaway

Muahahaha wrote: »

As Australian mate of mine has been to both Croker and Lansdowne since they were renovated. He later remarked "You guys seem like world leaders when it comes to building three quarters of a stadium". He's right too. The funny thing is that when Croke Park was built the Irish media and GAA were falling over themselves to tell us how it is "one of the finest stadiums in the world". Maybe it would have been if they'd finished it :rolleyes:

Unless you are going to demolish the street of houses behind it and reroute the Sligo train route the stadium isnts going to look finished. And even it if it was could we justify have a hundred thousand seater stadium?

coopdog85

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

I would contend the likes of you are an embarrassment. The way you cannot see what actually happened in Eaipan, or do not want to see what happened, is a joke. Facts were Keane was fighting for a more professional approach from the FAI and was let down. The management and other players were on a jolly, just happy to be there.

What a ridiculous statement. I'm taking particular issue with the last line.

McCarthy & the players have always said they should have done better in that World Cup. The team was properly prepared, the conditioning of that team was second to none. The team finished all 4 games stronger than their opponents. A lack of quality up front (something that has always dogged irish teams) was the reason we didn't beat Cameroon & Spain.

Keane spat the dummy out when he didn't get his own way. When 90% of the squad backed McCarthy & turned their back on Keane it tells you everything you need to know about that deadbeat. Keane is a quitter, always was & always will be.

grazeaway

Suprised no one has mentioned it yet but February 95, Ireland England soccer match abandoned.

I was at the game and while the English were the main trouble we weren't exactly angels either. Granted we didn't rip up the seats but there was plenty of vile being shouted over and back.

martyos121

Cormac Reilly, GAA ref.

Billy86

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

And? What relevance is that?

(They were celebrating for a quite different reason, by the way.)

Facts are, the matches are non competitive.

The relevance is that they are not treated as a walkabout in the same way football friendlies are. If they were, you wouldn't have Australian coaches and players punching a hole in the wall (or door?) of the changing rooms out of frustration from losing a few weeks ago. They're obviously not the be all and end all, but compared to football friendlies where a b team play against a c team, they do mean more.

And at 5:35 does this look like a team that just won the World Cup?

NoMore MrNiceGuy

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

And? What relevance is that?

(They were celebrating for a quite different reason, by the way.)

Facts are, the matches are non competitive.

Test matches in rugby are not taken as lightly as soccerball friendlies. Before the rugby WC was created they were the only way the southern and northern hemisphere woukd meet and still are the main way to meet. They are tests not friendlies.

Grayson

only read the first couple of pages. Has anyone mentioned drawing with Lichtenstein?

Grandeeod

BigBrownBear wrote: »

That could have been a disaster of Hillsborough proportions. I didn't have a ticket cos they were taking cash at the stiles. The crush at the shopping centre end was so bad they had to open the gates. I was swept into the ground without my feet touching the ground I should have been walking on.
If somebody had've stumbled an fell....................

Crazy night. Found this article about it. Good read.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/seconds-from-disaster-26571556.html

HIB

BigBrownBear wrote: »

That could have been a disaster of Hillsborough proportions. I didn't have a ticket cos they were taking cash at the stiles. The crush at the shopping centre end was so bad they had to open the gates. I was swept into the ground without my feet touching the ground I should have been walking on.
If somebody had've stumbled an fell....................

Been at a few gaa matches that were downright dangerous as well. Blatant overcrowding in the terraces, and then being forced to open the gates and let crowd onto the sideline during the match. Also saw guards lifting kids out of the terraces on one occasion. Wouldn't bring kids into the terraces now tbh. Not for big games anyway.

Speaking of which, will the terraces be useable for the rugby WC, if we win the bid? All the capacity estimates for the grounds seem to take terrace space into account. But surely that's flawed....it'll be seated space only?

Breffnigolfer

coopdog85 wrote: »

What a ridiculous statement. I'm taking particular issue with the last line.

McCarthy & the players have always said they should have done better in that World Cup. The team was properly prepared, the conditioning of that team was second to none. The team finished all 4 games stronger than their opponents. A lack of quality up front (something that has always dogged irish teams) was the reason we didn't beat Cameroon & Spain.

Keane spat the dummy out when he didn't get his own way. When 90% of the squad backed McCarthy & turned their back on Keane it tells you everything you need to know about that deadbeat. Keane is a quitter, always was & always will be.

The team was so properly prepared they decided to fly one hour time zone past Japan so they would be better acclimatised when they got there.(Ray Treacy's exact words to justify picking Saipan)

McCarthy failed to spot Spain were down to 10 men, continuing to play with 4 defenders against one attacker for half an hour.
McCarthy said it was "pointless" practising penalties so they didn't practise.
McCarthy picked Ian Harte in every match and took him off in every match, despite it being obvious to the World and his mother that he was in the depths of a slump.
McCarthy was a joke. He ordered Keane to leave.

Keane is the best player to have played for Ireland in the past 20 years. Our great shame, as a nation, was there weren't enough like minded players and staff to get the best results possible, instead, like McCarthy, Quinn, Staunton, happy to be there for the party.
Keane was a winner, the rest pathetic losers. Tell me what Mattie Holland ever did for Ireland?
McCarthy was the manager who told Denis Irwin, with countless medals, premiership appearances and international caps, to go out "and prove yourself "
I was at every home qualifying match for the campaign and we qualified despite McCarthy, not because of him. He's found his level at Ipswich, a mid table championship team. Remember the match v Holland? Roy Keane drove the team that day like never before. He set the tone and the others followed. Ireland was greatly helped by tactical naivety from Louis Van Gaal who ended up with four centre forwards on the pitch having replaced two wingers.

A blind man could see how Ireland, 2002, were so desperately let down by management. A golden opportunity lost forever.

Mongfinder General

Henlars67 wrote: »

I regularly have the argument with a friend of mine that the gaa isn't a top class stadium because of the Hill 16 end.

He argues that it is because of the 'very good reason' that it can't be finished.

The reason is pretty irrelevant though. It looks absolutely awful because of that end.

Same goes for the Aviva, though in fairness, at least it looks class from the outside.

Hill 16 looks abysmal, especially with that poxy looking security concrete bunker built into it. They could go at it again, it would mean shortening the pitch if possible, and using the space behind each goal to move the pitch towards the canal end. The top tier of the stadium could be brought right around over the hill and a redesigned terrace developed underneath. Planning permission would be a ****er though.

Breffnigolfer

Grandeeod wrote: »

Crazy night. Found this article about it. Good read.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/seconds-from-disaster-26571556.html

I was at the game, and missed all the crush.
Paul McGrath's debut for Ireland, too! A fabulous player.

Breffnigolfer

NoMore MrNiceGuy wrote: »

Test matches in rugby are not taken as lightly as soccerball friendlies. .....

Well, give there are only 10 teams able to play competitively it's hardly surprising they have to do something to try to make it interesting.

Mongfinder General

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

I would contend the likes of you are an embarrassment. The way you cannot see what actually happened in Eaipan, or do not want to see what happened, is a joke. Facts were Keane was fighting for a more professional approach from the FAI and was let down. The management and other players were on a jolly, just happy to be there.

Keane is an utter ballbag. He'd known for years that the FAI didn't give a toss about the players. He picked his moment to kick off because he wanted to cause maximum disruption and be the centre of attention. It's great to see what he's become. A sh1t coach who nobody wants to play for. He'll disappear into a hole in the ground when he finally loses it with the Irish media as ass coach of Ireland. Probably take a deal with the the Wankouver Wankcaps and flute about over there just to get some attention.

Schwiiing

The ridiculous clamour for tickets for an All Ireland Final in both codes. The biggest yearly bandwagon event in the world.

tastyt

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

The team was so properly prepared they decided to fly one hour time zone past Japan so they would be better acclimatised when they got there.(Ray Treacy's exact words to justify picking Saipan)

McCarthy failed to spot Spain were down to 10 men, continuing to play with 4 defenders against one attacker for half an hour.
McCarthy said it was "pointless" practising penalties so they didn't practise.
McCarthy picked Ian Harte in every match and took him off in every match, despite it being obvious to the World and his mother that he was in the depths of a slump.
McCarthy was a joke. He ordered Keane to leave.

Keane is the best player to have played for Ireland in the past 20 years. Our great shame, as a nation, was there weren't enough like minded players and staff to get the best results possible, instead, like McCarthy, Quinn, Staunton, happy to be there for the party.
Keane was a winner, the rest pathetic losers. Tell me what Mattie Holland ever did for Ireland?
McCarthy was the manager who told Denis Irwin, with countless medals, premiership appearances and international caps, to go out "and prove yourself "
I was at every home qualifying match for the campaign and we qualified despite McCarthy, not because of him. He's found his level at Ipswich, a mid table championship team. Remember the match v Holland? Roy Keane drove the team that day like never before. He set the tone and the others followed. Ireland was greatly helped by tactical naivety from Louis Van Gaal who ended up with four centre forwards on the pitch having replaced two wingers.

A blind man could see how Ireland, 2002, were so desperately let down by management. A golden opportunity lost forever.

McCarthy has found his level at mid table club Ipswich?? Well that's what they would be if it wasn't for McCarthy. In two years McCarthy has spent 10,000 Euro and now has Ipswich in second place in the championship. Amazing stuff and is doing as good a job as any manager in England at the moment.

This is of course the same Ipswich that that the ever professional and golden boy roy couldnt get into the top half never mind threaten a promotion push.

To say that a squad with players like Robbie Keane, Damien duff, given, Staunton, Quinn, Cunningham, kinsella, Steve finnan and Richard Dunne were only there for a jolly up and basically couldn't give a **** about the Irish jersey is both ridiculously stupid and offensive to those players. You think because they weren't as good as Keane that they cared less?? I think Keane has shown himself to be a very bad manager of situations and relationships in the past few years and that has to be taken into account

CrabRevolution

Schwiiing wrote: »

The ridiculous clamour for tickets for an All Ireland Final in both codes. The biggest yearly bandwagon event in the world.

Yes, Ireland is the only country on earth where people want tickets to the biggest sporting event of the year.

Hull's 5th round match in the FA cup this year had about 10'000 people at it including away fans. 3 rounds later they sold out their allocation of 25'000 in Wembley for the final, and presumably picked up thousands more of the "neutral" tickets. Is that a bandwagon or does it only apply when Irish people do it?

Schwiiing

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Yes, Ireland is the only country on earth where people want tickets to the biggest sporting event of the year.

Hull's 5th round match in the FA cup this year had about 10'000 people at it including away fans. 3 rounds later they sold out their allocation of 25'000 in Wembley for the final, and presumably picked up thousands more of the "neutral" tickets. Is that a bandwagon or does it only apply when Irish people do it?

That 5th round match was against Brighton, low attendance is to be expected.

How many people will come to see Kilkenny in January? It wont be 80,000 that's for sure.

Grandeeod

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

Tell me what Mattie Holland ever did for Ireland?

Well he did score an important equaliser against Portugal in 2000 and then another against Cameroon in the 2002 world cup itself. But I fear you are a Roy Keane man and will not accept any evidence that contradicts your viewpoint.

Grandeeod

Since Saipan, Roy Keane has proven he is an utter attention seeking, disturbed, bell end. No question about it. He is about to find out that his "Irish issues" about winning with the national team are as overstated as his ability.

CrabRevolution

Schwiiing wrote: »

That 5th round match was against Brighton, low attendance is to be expected.

How many people will come to see Kilkenny in January? It wont be 80,000 that's for sure.

You've just summed up why those Hull fans were bandwagon jumpers though. They didnt go to the Brighton match because the opposition was unappealling and the match seemed unimportant.

That's nearly the definition of a bandwagon supporter, one who doesn't go to matches vs. Brighton, but goes to matches vs. Arsenal. Also Walsh Cup matches in January are like pre season friendlies on soccer, only less important.

Schwiiing

CrabRevolution wrote: »

You've just summed up why those Hull fans were bandwagon jumpers though. They didnt go to the Brighton match because the opposition was unappealling and the match seemed unimportant.

That's nearly the definition of a bandwagon supporter, one who doesn't go to matches vs. Brighton, but goes to matches vs. Arsenal. Also Walsh Cup matches in January are like pre season friendlies on soccer, only less important.

Kilkenny will play Tipp in the League in March. Same teams that played the AIF. If the match was moved to Croke Park from Thurles would it sell out? No.

mikeym

John Delaney is Irelands biggest sporting embarrassment.

Tv3 could make a programme on this.

DeanAustin

Billy86 wrote: »

We were deadful in the late 80s and 90s as has been mentioned, but to be fair meanwhile in football we have competed in 34 WC/EC qualifying campaigns over the span of 55 years and finished have top... never.

You may need to check your facts.

Ireland topped their qualification group once more than you were right in this post.

Bridge93

The national rugby team at the 2007 World Cup. Nearly losing to countries in Namibia and Georgia that were nearly entirely amateur and 95% of their populations didn't even know they were participating in a World Cup. About 8 good rugby nations on earth and we didn't even make the quarter finals.
One off embarrassing results can happen like the footballers v San Marino, Cyprus etc at any time now and again. But for the rugby boys to do it twice in about a week...

Tugboats

mikeym wrote: »

John Delaney is Irelands biggest sporting embarrassment.

Tv3 could make a programme on this.

As are the thousands of Irish fans who worship him

Breffnigolfer

Grandeeod wrote: »

Since Saipan, Roy Keane has proven he is an utter attention seeking, disturbed, bell end. No question about it. He is about to find out that his "Irish issues" about winning with the national team are as overstated as his ability.

Go on, admit it, you're one of those who belt out Olé, olé, olé at all the matches, thinking it's an Irish chant?

You don't know much about soccer, BTW,

Billy86

DeanAustin wrote: »

You may need to check your facts.

Ireland topped their qualification group once more than you were right in this post.

Apologies, I missed 1998... so that is once in 34 attempts in football WC/EC qualifying compared to 3 times in 30 attempts (or 5 in 34, one tied with France) for rugby and the five/six nations.

Choochtown

I'll have to throw in another vote for Roy "I don't do friendlies unless it's my own in which case RTE can televise it live" Keane.

The man who walked out on his country on the eve of the World Cup finals complaining of poor preparation actually chose to be a pundit for an English TV channel covering the Champions League final the night before Ireland played Turkey in a Senior International match in Dublin and he was assistant manager of the team!!!!

You couldn't make it up.

And by the way what was it Roy said about pundits?

DeanAustin

Billy86 wrote: »

Apologies, I missed 1998... so that is once in 34 attempts in football WC/EC qualifying compared to 3 times in 30 attempts (or 5 in 34, one tied with France) for rugby and the five/six nations.

Oops

Billy86

DeanAustin wrote: »

Oops

Ah for the f***ing love of typo! :pac:


Just throwing out I'm probably a bigger football fan than rugby by the way (though I was all of one year old during the '88 Euros so it's before me) since I might be coming over as a loves-rugby-hates-football type the last few posts.

Grandeeod

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

Go on, admit it, you're one of those who belt out Olé, olé, olé at all the matches, thinking it's an Irish chant?

You don't know much about soccer, BTW,

And how did you come to that conclusion?

DeanAustin

Grandeeod wrote: »

And how did you come to that conclusion?

Usually happens when someone loses an argument. With nothing of substance left to add to the conversation, they throw out some nonsense about how you're part of the "ole ole" brigade. Usually it's based on some flimsy evidence but this fella's done it based on nothing at all.

Breffnigolfer

DeanAustin wrote: »

Usually happens when someone loses an argument. ........

Not necessarily.

One only has to read his posts to see how closed his mind is.

I've outlined my arguments, those choosing a viewpoint which ignores the truth are trying to oppose me.

Breffnigolfer

Choochtown wrote: »

I'll have to throw in another vote for Roy "I don't do friendlies unless it's my own in which case RTE can televise it live" Keane.

The man who walked out on his country on the eve of the World Cup finals complaining of poor preparation actually chose to be a pundit for an English TV channel covering the Champions League final the night before Ireland played Turkey in a Senior International match in Dublin and he was assistant manager of the team!!!!

You couldn't make it up.

And by the way what was it Roy said about pundits?

Is that the best you can do to denigrate a great man?

Billy86

To be fair, Roy Keane was our best player of the last 20 years and arguably Ireland's greatest ever player (not including George Best since he was from the north) and I do agree that in Saipan he was more in the right than the FAI who were the very definition of amateur and unprepared (as bad as not training kits was, even amateur organisations would scoff at the thought of no footballs), though he has indeed become pretty much a parody of himself at this stage. It says a lot that when his latest debacle at Villa occurred and so soon after being appointed, many didn't even really raise an eyebrow in surprise.

Choochtown

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

Is that the best you can do to denigrate a great man?

Can you defend an assistant manager that goes abroad to sit in a TV studio the night before his team has a match?

Seriously?

Grandeeod

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

Not necessarily.

One only has to read his posts to see how closed his mind is.

I've outlined my arguments, those choosing a viewpoint which ignores the truth are trying to oppose me.

Could you please refer to the posts demonstrating that my mind is closed or are you really just full of **** and trolling?

Breffnigolfer

Choochtown wrote: »

Can you defend an assistant manager that goes abroad to sit in a TV studio the night before his team has a match?

Seriously?

1. If it was ok with Martin O'Neill, it's ok with me.
2. So what? It was a nothing, meaningless, "friendly, a full 24 hours later.

You'll obviously pick whatever suits to knock the man but you must admit that O'Neill, FAI, the players, Delaney, to a man, have done nothing but lavish praise on Keane and the contribution he has made to the job so far? Or, do you have a different view? Just to knock him?

A bigger crime for management would be to bring the squad to a chipper and fill them with fried food the night before an important qualifying match. Imagine if that happened? And imagine if it happened and the team lost heavily?

DeanAustin

Breffnigolfer wrote: »

1. If it was ok with Martin O'Neill, it's ok with me.
2. So what? It was a nothing, meaningless, "friendly, a full 24 hours later.

You'll obviously pick whatever suits to knock the man but you must admit that O'Neill, FAI, the players, Delaney, to a man, have done nothing but lavish praise on Keane and the contribution he has made to the job so far? Or, do you have a different view? Just to knock him?

A bigger crime for management would be to bring the squad to a chipper and fill them with fried food the night before an important qualifying match. Imagine if that happened? And imagine if it happened and the team lost heavily?

Suppose you think Big Jack should have done much better with Ireland than he did...