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Adam Davy

As it happened: Fenerbahce v Man United, Europa League

Man United played Fenerbahce, as the Red Devils sought to put their disappointing weekend Premier League result behind them.

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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You can also follow our liveblog of tonight’s other big game in the Europa League — Zenit St Petersburg v Dundalk — here.

We’re underway…

FENERBAHCE 1-0 MAN UNITED (SOW 2)

It’s unbelievable goal that’s given Fenerbahce the lead.

A cross is floated into the box and Moussa Sow‘s incredible bicycle kick from the edge of the box finds the back of the net.

Premier League fans will be familiar with 69-year-old Fenerbahce coach Dick Advocaat, who guided Sunderland to safety the season beore last.

Fenerbahce SK v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League - Group A - Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Adam Davy Adam Davy

There’s a nervy moment in the Fenerbahce penalty area, as a ball from a corner in goes loose, but Martin Skrtel is ultimately on hand to clear.

The hosts look well organised and United are finding it difficult to break them down at the moment.

Pogba has gone down in agony following a late challenge on him.

He’s currently limping off for treatment, but it looks like he’ll be okay to continue.

Martial plays an excellent ball through to Rooney.

The England striker is just onside, but his heavy touch allows Skrtel to intercept.

Pogba is still moving quite awkwardly.

As I type, Lens escapes the attentions of Luke Shaw and heads a well-executed cross just wide.

Mata and Mkhitaryan are both warming up.

It looks like Pogba is trying to run off whatever injury he picked up.

With the pacy Sow breathing down his neck, Blind does really well to control the bouncing ball and clear.

Meanwhile, as I type, Pogba starts walking off the pitch. Ibrahimovic will replace the injured Frenchman.

Fenerbahce are looking menacing on the counter-attack — they have plenty of pace in their attack.

United have had 67% possession so far, but have little to show for it.

Meanwhile, Rooney is now playing as a number 10 in Pogba’s absence, while Ibrahimovic is the main striker.

Half chance for United. Rashford’s crosses and Demirel parries the ball away with Ibrahmovic lurking.

United are looking better and more threatening with the Swede up front.

United are playing at a much higher tempo now, with Fenerbahce looking a little tired and vulnerable all of a sudden.

As I type, however, Kaldirim gets in behind the United defence, but he can’t find anyone with his cross.

Meanwhile, Rooney is limping after a late challenge by Alper.

Rooney shows his frustration as he is penalised for a late challenge on Souza.

There is some heated arguing between both sets of players thereafter, and goalkeeper Demirel gets booked as a result.

Moussa Sow heads just over following an excellent ball into the box.

Fenerbahce have looked threatening on the counter-attack, despite their relative lack of possession in the first half.

HALF-TIME: FENERBAHCE 1-0 MAN UNITED

So half-time and Man United’s struggles in front of goal have continued.

The Red Devils dominated possession, but got off to the worst possible start with Sow’s spectacular goal.

Since then, the hosts have been compact at the back, while sporadically threatening on the counter-attack.

Man United have been better since the introduction of Ibrahimovic, but too often, their attacking build-up play has been laboured and they have struggled to break their opponents down.

The second half is underway…

Fenerbahce SK v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League - Group A - Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Phil Jones is back on the bench for United tonight. Adam Davy Adam Davy

The second half has followed a similar pattern to the first so far.

United are patiently probing, with Fenerbahce sitting back and looking relatively comfortable.

Decent ball in from Martial, but Rooney’s glancing header goes well wide.

It continues to be a frustrating evening for Jose Mourinho and his side.

There’s a bit of pinball in the United box, before Mata ultimately fires it wide from the edge of the area.

United have created some half chances, but still lack conviction going forward.

FENERBAHCE 2-0 MAN UNITED (LENS 59)

Fenerbahce double their advantage and it’s another superb strike.

Jeremain Lens, the ex-Sunderland player, curls an unstoppable free-kick past David De Gea.

Mourinho’s response is to bring on Mkhitaryan for Rashford.

Turkey Soccer Europa League Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, left, listens to his captain Wayne Rooney, right. STR STR

So close! Fenerbahce break superbly and open up United with three passes.

The substitute Emenike goes through on goal, but a combination of Blind and De Gea cause him to squander the chance and hit it straight at the goalkeeper.

Man United continue to dominate possession but just can’t create clear-cut chances.

This feels no different to the Louis van Gaal era tonight.

Emenike beats the defender Blind and forces a save from De Gea.

The substitute has looked lively since coming on.

Lens breaks down the right and his cross narrowly eludes the sliding boot of Emenike.

Fenerbahce are cutting United open at will now.

Rooney makes the challenge of a frustrated man and fouls Kaldirim.

The crowd are olé-ing passes now, it’s turned into a comfortable win for the hosts.

Fenerbahce SK v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League - Group A - Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic exhanges words with SK Fenerbahce's Simon Kjaer. Adam Davy Adam Davy

Martial flashes a shot well wide.

United haven’t used wingers like him or Rashford anywhere near enough tonight — there’s been far too much overly intricate eye-of-a-needle passing.

FENERBAHCE 2-1 MAN UNIYED (ROONEY 89)

Rooney’s been quiet tonight, but he’s just scored a stunning goal.

Out of nothing, he scores his 247th goal in a United shirt, blasting the ball into the top corner from distance under little pressure from the defenders.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

Fenerbahce suddenly look very nervy.

As I type, a shot from Herrera is deflected wide, with United players claiming the defender used his hand to block the Spaniard’s shot.

FULL-TIME: FENERBAHCE 2-1 MAN UNITED

Well that’s that. United rallied late on and Rooney showed a glimpse of his old self with that stunning goal, but otherwise there were few positives for United to take from that game.

Fenerbahce were deserving winners — they defended superbly and were clinical in attack when they needed to be.

United, having fielded a relatively strong, were very disappointing ultimately.

Ibrahimovic, Rashford, Martial and — his goal aside — Rooney all underperformed.

The Red Devils look conspicuously short of ideas in attack, and rarely were able to turn their dominance in possession into clear-cut chances.

It’s been a difficult start to the season for Mourinho and to make matters worse, an early Europa League exit now seems like a distinct possibility.

Right, that’s all from me.

Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.

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LIVE: Zenit St Petersburg v Dundalk, Europa League

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20 Comments
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    Mute Rian O'Sullivan
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    Mar 20th 2025, 7:14 PM

    Congratulations Bulgaria on avoiding the drop.

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 20th 2025, 7:53 PM

    @Rian O’Sullivan: game has just started mellonhead

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    Mute Ray Murphy
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:44 PM

    @Rian O’Sullivan: Aged so well

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    Mute anthony davoren
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:59 PM

    @Rian O’Sullivan: your silence is deafening

    29
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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:59 PM

    @Rian O’Sullivan: you bell end

    17
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    Mute Rian O'Sullivan
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:12 PM

    @Joe Beirne: Bulgaria will be through 100%

    461
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    Mute Rian O'Sullivan
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:13 PM

    @anthony davoren: Easy win for Bulgaria 2nd leg

    461
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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:14 PM

    @Rian O’Sullivan: alright Jose, you’re some useless fkr

    11
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    Mute Anthony Curran
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:22 PM

    @Rian O’Sullivan: Ye sad sack o’ shyte

    13
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    Mute David Gaffney
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:38 PM

    @Rian O’Sullivan: Congratulations to you on never being in competition with Nostradamus. Your predictions are, for some reason, designed to get attention. Well you have it now. It ain’t good attention. You look like someone that needs some help to be honest.

    16
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    Mute p gert
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    Mar 21st 2025, 1:26 AM

    @Rian O’Sullivan: Rian ‘Traitor O Sullivan’

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    Mute Gearoid MacEachaidh
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    Mar 20th 2025, 7:30 PM

    I love how Didi Hamman keeps calling Ireland “we” lol

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    Mute RIP
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    Mar 20th 2025, 7:28 PM

    C’MON IRELAND

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    Mute Eoin Jackson
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:34 PM

    @Lance Taylor: stop talking to yourself man, it’s embarrassing.

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:39 PM

    @Eoin Jackson: its ray talking to himself again

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:36 PM

    Well Well Well na sayer’s what a goal by finn now in the lead come on lad’s

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:40 PM

    @SEAN: The misery from them is unbelievable. Sean. It makes you wonder what their story is.

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:49 PM

    @Louis Jacob: And all the likes their getting unreal same with the rugby

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    Mute Pablo
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    Mar 22nd 2025, 12:13 AM

    @SEAN: yep, ten times the likes over any other post … Bots at work

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 20th 2025, 7:52 PM

    All the journal guys showing up

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:28 PM

    @Chutes Idiot: Good one, enjoyed that.

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:37 PM

    @Chutes Idiot: sport fan’s ray not guys who come on once everyweek

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:18 PM

    @Lance Taylor: WGAF

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:48 PM

    @Lance Taylor: who is likeing your comment how weird

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    Mute Jed Ward
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    Mar 21st 2025, 12:24 AM

    @Chutes Idiot: ya know the laws of the mind? What’s unhealed in one’s mind is projected onto another, so I’m guessing you’ve just held up a mirror for yourself with those questions

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 21st 2025, 1:22 AM

    @Chutes Idiot: whos liking all your comments unreal is there bots on here now

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    Mute Sea Spirit
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:10 PM

    Tod Flanders on commentary surely someone else.

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    Mute Michael Carroll
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:37 PM

    @Rian o Sullivan. F*** U.

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    Mute Declan Young
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:15 PM

    Is anyone watching” Resident Alien” on netflix? Have you noticed the remarkable similarity between the alien and Heimer?

    7
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    Mute DonalDollery
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:27 PM

    Is it me or is there a lack in Cullen

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:16 PM

    @DonalDollery: lack of what?

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    Mute DonalDollery
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:25 PM

    @Donal O’Brien an ability to play In midfield

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    Mute John Hally
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:04 PM

    They are a very poor Ireland side. Probably the worst I have seen

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:39 PM

    @John Hally: 2 1 up so nope

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    Mute Tony Metcalfe
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:56 PM

    @John Hally: we are a better team than 2/3 years ago. Admittedly a low bar

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    Mute Cian
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    Mar 20th 2025, 7:57 PM

    Ah well

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    Mute DonalDollery
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:20 PM

    Please take Mike’s Johnson off

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    Mute Tony Metcalfe
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:58 PM

    @DonalDollery: yeah he’s not good enough, can sometimes make an impact from the bench. luckily when ogbene and ebosele are back he will not be near the starting lineup

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    Mute Ken Mccarthy
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    Mar 22nd 2025, 10:06 AM

    @DonalDollery: thought he was doing OK

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    Mute Gerard Lynch
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:02 PM

    No matter how shit your team is we ll make you look good.

    5
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    Mute Eoin Jackson
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:33 PM

    @Gerard Lynch: we are winning 2-1 Gerard…

    17
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    Mute Gerard Lynch
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:45 PM

    @Eoin Jackson: it was 1-0 to Bulgaria when I posted that. And while it’s nice we are winning 2-1 Bulgaria are crap. And we ain’t much better. And I still stand by my comment.

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    Mute anthony davoren
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:01 PM

    @Gerard Lynch: we’re winning away from home. Try and wash the vinegar from your mouth. It isn’t 1990 anymore

    19
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    Mute Gerard Lynch
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:22 PM

    @anthony davoren: why should I. I ve been following Ireland since the 70s. It’s my bleeding opinion and I m entitled to it.

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    Mute Eoin Jackson
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:38 PM

    @Gerard Lynch: while I agree with you this Irish team are no world beaters, far from it. I struggle to agree with the comment that we’ve made this Bulgaria team look good. At no point tonight have I thought Bulgaria have looked good. One lucky goal. Now we have been shocking for large part ourselves. But there is clearly a better side on the pitch tonight. And it’s not Bulgaria.

    17
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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:01 PM

    @Gerard Lynch: calm down jarry

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    Mute Anthony Curran
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:23 PM

    @Gerard Lynch: ok boomer.

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    Mute Gerard Lynch
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:33 PM

    @Eoin Jackson: we were shit. Norn iron bet them 5-0.

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    Mute Gerard Lynch
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:34 PM

    @Joe Beirne: piss off jolene.

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    Mute Gerard Lynch
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    Mar 20th 2025, 10:39 PM

    @Anthony Curran: ok snowflake

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    Mute Seamus Dunne
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    Mar 20th 2025, 11:53 PM

    @Gerard Lynch: ohh what an original retort…. Who do you think we are? We are a small nation doing our best to improve our football team. You’re banging on like we should be competing with frggn Argentina!

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    Mute Rolf Kane
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:44 PM

    One has made their contribution

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    Mute DonalDollery
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:28 PM

    This is the worstirish tea I’ve ever seen n

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    Mute Eoin Jackson
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    Mar 20th 2025, 8:33 PM

    @DonalDollery: what tea you drinking? Can’t be Barrys anyway.

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:14 PM

    @Eoin Jackson: that tetleys is dirt

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    Mute DonalDollery
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:19 PM

    @Eoin Jackson: it’s not green either

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    Mute Tony Metcalfe
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    Mar 20th 2025, 9:59 PM

    @DonalDollery: try drinking it instead of watching it

    4
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