Messages

Eurovision came under a lot of pressure to boycott, and did, but as I suspected the soccer lads won't come under the same pressure.

Those are our principles, and if you don't like them... well, we have others.
The FAI

Harsh. They are the only European association to directly take on Israel. The consequences for Irish soccer to refuse to play are deliberately extreme. How many jobs go and what happens to youth development if Irish football is cut adrift for 8 years?

Word on the street is the FAI will concede home advantage and play it in Paris or whatnot. So a statement will be made and they avoid an Amsterdam scenario.

Let them kick us out. Call their bluff. FiFA and UEFA have been going down a road of cozying up to tyrants. Infantino and his peace award. We look like we folded like a cheap suit if we don't boycott this fixture.

And you can go into Abbotstown and let most of the staff go. Tell every promising player tough, there are no acadameys anymore. Or tell Shamrock Rovers 80% of their turnover is gone for 8 years.

This isn't the Eurovision. UEFA are draconian on swerving fixtures for political reasons. The consequences are brutal and massively over the top. We are definitely out of competitive fixtures and possibly friendlies for 8 years.

Refuse to host it in Dublin. Make the point that way.

What were the consequences when the Uk associations wore Poppies, against FIFA rules having political symbols on shirts. Nothing. FIFA went and lifted the ban on poppies on shirts. The amount of players, young and old, who have been slaughtered in Palestine, is a justification to boycott the fixture. I'm willing to bet that Ireland has enough friends in the world that UEFA will back down. We'll lose points that is all in a shite tournament. But we will have our self-respect.

Eurovision came under a lot of pressure to boycott, and did, but as I suspected the soccer lads won't come under the same pressure.

Those are our principles, and if you don't like them... well, we have others.
The FAI

Harsh. They are the only European association to directly take on Israel. The consequences for Irish soccer to refuse to play are deliberately extreme. How many jobs go and what happens to youth development if Irish football is cut adrift for 8 years?

Word on the street is the FAI will concede home advantage and play it in Paris or whatnot. So a statement will be made and they avoid an Amsterdam scenario.

Let them kick us out. Call their bluff. FiFA and UEFA have been going down a road of cozying up to tyrants. Infantino and his peace award. We look like we folded like a cheap suit if we don't boycott this fixture.

Eurovision came under a lot of pressure to boycott, and did, but as I suspected the soccer lads won't come under the same pressure.

Those are our principles, and if you don't like them... well, we have others.
The FAI

Doesn't bother to put clock back or forward. Knows it will eventually correct itself if he waits half a year.

Usually LucidTalk have a poll in mid-Feb. will be interesting to see if gap reduces. Think it was 48-41 last year. Imagine will be down to just 5 percentage points 47-42.

Catherine O'Hara. Was excellent in Schitts Creek

One of my favourite comedys.

Ah too young. She was so good in Schitts Creek but forever etched in my brain crying: Kevin! Rest in peace.

Unfortunately we got rode the whole game by Cawley. When Kerry players caught in possession it was a free out; if the opposite happened it was a free to Kerry. He gave Kerry a penalty for a dive. There was a clear push on Senan Lambe in first half that was a more obvious penalty but play waved on. The Kerry player was in the square for their first goal. He gave Paul Carey a yellow card for the temerity of shouldering a Kerry player over the sideline. Then a phantom free to Kerry at end where Kerry player catches as the buzzer sounds, then is given another second to fist it over the bar for an undeserved win. Great performance all the same by a very under strength Ros team and great leadership up front by Daire and Diarmuid.

Coiscéim Coiligh - Irish for the auld stretch in the evenings but literally means c**k's footstep to capture those slight increases in daylight every evening, a hen's stride as some of the older generation would say.

And it was the board that added the two asterisks for that lad that runs around the farmyards of Ireland ever mornings waking everyone up to do a day's work.

Speaking of French, it's old (2012-2015) but the supernatural undead series Les Revenants (the Returned) was excellent. Worth seeking out.

The big question is if the annexing of Greenland happens before or after the World Cup. If the latter (to avoid a boycott), then it will coincide with Ireland's presidency of the EU, and Trump also set to arrive in Doonbeg for the Irish Open in September. If before then will UEFA and European teams have the balls to boycott; if after, what's Ireland reaction. A bit of soft chat from Micheál most likely.

Was almost lost to rugby, had a promising career ahead and played for Bucs and Connacht underage, but chose GAA in the end.

What kind of Connacht GAA nonsense had Sligo playing Mayo yesterday and London today? Time of year on heavy ground ripe for injuring players.

Well done to Naomh Bríd and hard luck to An Bhoth. It was a nervy finish alright but overall the Kiltoom men had more scoring options even with Ben O'Carroll well marked all day. It was also some discipline not to give Beggan a 2-point free all day. Overall second half was erratic and early injury to Mark Daly didn't help Carroll's kick out options, but it's an ongoing weakness. Some save by Trundle and the Monaghan men will regret missed goal chances in particular. Brigids will meet a more clinical forward line in Dingle. Should make for a great final. Won't help our chances of surviving Div 1 but has given new manager chance to try our new lads in FBD league.

Well what a game. Stated off like we'd be watching Ballyboden kicking points all day and the SuperValue seats. But Dingle had leaders like Tom O'Sullivan and BB had no one to match that when the chips were down. But hard luck BB, a devastating loss for them. They still kicked phenomenal scores and in full flight looked unbeatable.

That was a brilliant second half by Dingle. Deserved to win in end.