JACK GREALISH SAYS that he opted to switch from the Republic of Ireland to England because he “felt more English than Irish”.
The Aston Villa midfielder caused quite a stir in September 2015 when he pledged his international future to the Three Lions after representing the Boys in Green at all youth levels, which included six Under-21 appearances.
The 20-year-old, whose grandparents hail from Kerry, Dublin and Galway, said at the time that it was a difficult decision for him “as Ireland has a special place with me through my family”.
And he has since revealed that he was not expecting “so much abuse from Ireland fans” about his decision, claiming that he was still on the receiving end during Euro 2016.
“It was a big decision and wasn’t easy for me,” Grealish said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. “I thought about it for a long time, spoke with my family and my agent, but in the end it came from me.
“I didn’t think it was going to be so big, I didn’t expect so much abuse from Ireland fans. I was still getting it during the Euros.
“But for my career I think if I fulfil my ability I feel I can play for England in years to come. I was born here, as were my parents, so I felt more English than Irish.”
Despite announcing his declsion in September, Grealish did not make his first appearance for England until May 2016, when he played for the U-21 team at the Toulon Tournament in France, scoring two goals.
And he is now targeting more international recognition with the country of his birth.
“I played for England at the Toulon Tournament and that was a great experience,” added the 2015 FAI Under-21 Player of the Year.
“I didn’t really have a winning feeling last season so to play four of the five games, and score twice, ended it on a good note.
“A cap for the under-21s is the next target. There’s a qualifier in September and I want to try and be involved in that.”
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Dublin won’t stand a chance against the might of wicklow next year
@jackamy: Wicklow will get hammered by Offaly, so maybe in the qualifiers
The word on the street here from Wicklow is that if we beat Offaly we are going to offer Dean Rock a couple of quid to keep the score at less than 20 points. We’ve also set up 53 new parishes and churches and hired actors to fill thess makeshift parishes for a couple of months and get more funding from HQ. We plan on building a roundabout in Aughrim and make the players go around it 50 times to get more travelling expenses. We’ve also told our players there is an airline strike next summer to America to stop thd lads getting paid 20k for a few games in order to stay and train for 8 months while not drinking to get one game in the championship. I think it could be our year !
@Donnacha Bhoicaire: Offaly will hammer ye. Hahahahaha
@Jack Ryan: We’ve put alot of planning into this Jack- please dont ruin the dream
Kildare V Dublin Leinster Final anyway
Another mayo dublin final is a real possibility, don’t see any other teams getting to their level in the next 10 months.
@Kj bar: Could be although if both win their respective provincial championships then it can’t happen.
@Dave Murray: Connacht and Leinster are in different super 8s groups no?
Mayo to win Connacht
Dublin to win Leinester
Kerry to win Munster
Monaghan to win Ulster
@Oisin Walsh: Winner of Tyrone and Monaghan to win Ulster. Monaghan have a god awful championship record v Tyrone
@Oisin Walsh: Don’t be so sure about Kerry winning Munster, as a Cork-Kerry final will be in Páirc Uí Chaoimh next year. Cork have a new manager too, and should have momentum from the relatively easy Division 2 of the football league in the spring.
@Conor Sheehan: We did nothing in division 2 this year.. no evidence yet that next year will be any better.
@diao: 2017 was poor in munster championship but the mayo game was much better (ref robbed us near end of normal time). I’m expecting big improvement from cork next year, fingers crossed.
@Conor Sheehan: I think that game will again be in Killarney?? Cork conceded home advantage this year but the regular 2018 calendar would put the game in Killarney.
Super 8 me backside super 3 at best
Poll: Should other counties be given a handicap if drawn against Dublin?
@Pat Mangan: Yeah. It’s such hardship being All Ireland Champions 3 years in a row.
@Pat Mangan: says the bloke from the irrelevant county in the middle of nowhere that is offaly. More sheep there than people.
Tipp for Sam.
@Leadóg: sam allardyce maybe.
Hon Westmeath!
@Kevin Geraghty: have you ever seen Sam in Mullingar? I think not. HAHAHAHAHA
@Jack Ryan: Ha ha ha Jack. Hilarious stuff!! I’d say you’re great craic.
Early exit for Dublin , thank god
Galway to beat Mayo again and Mayo to lose the Ai final again. What odds would that get
@Finnster: That’s the only three in a row that Mayo are capable of, it seems.
There’s only three counties capable of winning Sam Maguire; Kerry, Mayo and Dublin. The rest are shite.
Dublin will win Sam Maguire again they might even win the final by a bit to spare for the first time in 40 years. Mayo are capable of reaching All Ireland finals while Kerry won’t be capable of winning Sam Maguire until their current transition period is over
The rest aren’t shite just because they aren’t capable of winning the All Ireland, each county has different goals some might focus on the league others might aim to win a provincial title or reach the super 8. For a start a lot of the rest don’t have the resources of Kerry,Mayo or Dublin
@John: Mayo?
Tough draw for the Rossies, sums up the ridiculous archaic system.
Pretty much the same matches again in Munster and Connacht as this year, unfortunately.
As Leinster champs where will Dublin round robin games be played given thats its 1 home,1 away,1 in Croker,anyone?
@Nat Turner: Dublin will play two round robin games at home the rest just one home game.
nice handy one for galway to start off with
Time enough watching the All-Ireland semi-finals the rest is rubbish .
The game of the championship has to be New York versus Leitrim. Could be an historic win for NY.
@Michael Nyland: gonna be a battle for TV rights there
If they win their provisional finals then more than likely same final again