It’s all over for Stephen Kenny’s men. One more goal would have done it but it simply wasn’t to be. They are out of Europe for another year having been the League of Ireland’s trailblazers on the continent last season.
FULL TIME: ROSENBORG 2-1 DUNDALK (3-2 AGG) – THE LILYWHITES ARE OUT OF EUROPE
Two minutes remaining as Dundalk cannot seem to get the ball into Rosenborg’s half. The hosts are proving impossible to break down as the seconds tick on.
Jamie McGrath with a chance as Robbie Benson hoofs the ball into the box via a free-kick from the halfway line. The former St Pat’s forward can’t keep the ball down and it flies harmlessly over the crossbar.
SAVE! Gary Rodgers with another fine save. Rosenborg captain Mike Jensen aims for the top corner with a strike from distance but Rodgers is equal to the effort. He rises high and mighty and tips the ball away to safety.
Five minutes to go as Dundalk continue to plug away. A goal would see them through, but it may be too late.
David McMillan with a header…
Some more good play from Dundalk as the ball is switched from side to side. The ball falls to Chris Shields on the edge of the area but he is reluctant to pull the trigger.
Rosenborg are sitting back and inviting pressure at the moment. They are hanging onto their lead as Dundalk begin to ask questions and create chances.
The corner is swung in and a header from Ciaran Kilduff is directed straight into the arms of Hansen. That’s more promising from the visitors as they remain a goal down.
Robbie Benson is fouled near the halfway and Dundalk charge the ball into the box. It lingers towards the back post and is cleared for a corner for Dundalk.
That was close… Rosenborg break from the tip-off and once again Vemmelund is on hand to provide the crucial interception inside the penalty area.
And we’re back underway… 2-1 on the night, 3-2 to Rosenborg on aggregate and we’ve 15 minutes to go.
CHANCE! Ciaran Kilduff crashes an effort off the crossbar at the end of the first half of extra time. What a moment that could have been… Rosenborg remain ahead as we reach the break. 15 minutes to go.
Dundalk are pushing forward but Rosenborg continue to maintain control. The Lilywhites are committing men forward and applying pressure in the final third but there are a lot of tired legs on the pitch at the moment.
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A massive disappointment for Stephen Kenny’s men after just a brilliant start to this game. They are behind but remember – if Dundalk were to score and keep it at 2-2 on the night they would passage through on away goals. There is still football to be played.
Vilhjálmsson rises high and beats Gartland to the cross. He plants the ball into Gary Rodgers’ corner and Dundalk are behind in the tie.
SHOT! Jørgen Skjelvik sees space open up in front of him. He doesn’t need to be asked twice and unleashes a fine effort from distance. It catches Dundalk unawares but bounces just wide of the post and off the advertising hoarding.
A big let off there for Dundalk as Fredrik Midtsjø dribbles elegantly around John Mountney. Dundalk’s energy levels are beginning to dip but the ball is eventually booted into touch.
Substitution for Dundalk: Ciaran Kilduff comes on for David McMillan after 94 minutes.
A massive 30 minutes to come for Dundalk. They look composed thus far but will need to create more chances than they did in the second half gone if they stand any chance of getting through.
EXTRA TIME TO COME: ROSENBORG 1-1 DUNDALK
A clash of heads sees Robbie Benson and Brian Gartland go down to receive treatment. That could be it as stoppage time runs on and extra time looms.
Three minutes of stoppage time to come as Dundalk remain pinned into their own half.
Rosenborg are huffing and puffing but Dundalk remain strong and willing to go at their opponents on the break.
… a fine cross from McGrath at the back post but McMillan heads wide. Stephen O’Donnell was unmarked at the back post ready to tap it home, but his striker simply didn’t see him and went for it himself as all good strikers should.
Seven minutes to go now. It looks like extra time, but a late goal could win it for Dundalk. They are pushing forward with McGrath looking lively.
He has already scored a hat trick this season, remember – could he inspire Dundalk towards a late, great winner? Only time will tell…
Substitution for Dundalk: Jamie McGrath comes on in place of Patrick McEleney after 83 minutes
SAVED! Straight off the training ground that, as Stephen O’Donnell tees the ball to McEleney who holds the ball for Robbie Benson to strike. It’s a fine effort but it just stings the palms of goalkeeper Hansen.
This could be interesting. Patrick McEleney is seeing a lot of the ball and is brought down just outside the box for a free-kick from 20 yards out. Here we go…
An important interception there from McEleney as that man again Jevtovic continues to pull the strings behind Rosenborg’s strikers. Dundalk still holding on, as both side’s begin to fatigue slightly in the summer sunshine.
Patrick McEleney is lucky to get away without a second booking there. Already on a yellow card June’s Player of the Month fouls Jevtovic but it’s just a free-kick.
This game has extra-time looming ahead of us. There is still 15 minutes to go but the partnership of Gartland and Vemmelund alongside the protection of Stephen O’Donnell looks very composed as Rosenborg continue to push forward in search of another.
Not quite backs against the wall stuff, but Dundalk have not had a significant chance in this second half. We may see Dylan Connolly or Ciaran Kilduff be introduced.
A break in play as Dane Massey receives treatment from the Dundalk medical team. He looks in pain but looks set to continue.
Chris Shields heads the ball away from Fredrik Midtsjo…
Rosenborg break with some excellent link-up play from Jevtovic. Stephen O’Donnell is the man who gets the final, crucial tackle.
Ch-ch-chance for Rosenborg! Another left-off for Dundalk as Fredrik Midtsjø goes completely unmarked in the box. The cross is sweet but he can’t make a firm connection and the ball lands fortunately into Gary Rodgers’ arms. They really should have taken the lead.
Dundalk are really struggling to get the ball out of their own half at the minute. Rosenborg have everyone bar their centre backs in the Dundalk half and are really upping the ante.
John Mountney sprints down the touchline with frantic pace. He gets a ball across goal in what has proved to be a first break for Dundalk in quite a while. McMillan can’t get to it though, and it is easily gathered by goalkeeper Hansen.
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Jensen lays the ball off to Fredrik Midtsjø. He takes a touch to his left and aims a low effort towards the bottom corner. Rodgers is a match, however, and gets down low to palm the effort to safety.
Anders Konradsen takes on Robbie Benson in midfield…
Vegar Hedenstad with a dangerous free kick towards the back post for Rosenborg. Gartland is on hand to head clear but the ball falls to Konradsen. He strikes from distance but the effort, while powerful, is right at Gary Rodgers.
Substitution for Dundalk: Stephen O’Donnell is on for Michael Duffy after 59 minutes
Tore Reginiussen breaks and plays a beautiful through ball to Nicklas Bendtner. The Danish striker takes the ball beyond Gary Rodgers and slips the ball towards the back post. It bobbles *just* wide it what is a massive let-off for Dundalk.
Chris Shields breaks quickly but slips and loses possession. Rosenborg break on the counter and Robbie Benson is called out by the referee for a supposed foul when he seemed to get the ball.
The game has proved very open and expansive in this second half. While Rosenborg’s equalizer was a heavy hit, it’s still all level. Both sides have broken at both ends as the pitch begins to open up, but Rosenborg appear to have that killer final touch.
McEleney has been Dundalk’s biggest threat going forward but he can’t seem to find Benson or McMillan with a final ball. It’s all a bit quiet at the moment though. Calm before the storm.
Brian Gartland celebrating his goal from the first half. Just look at his face…
Patrick McEleney breaks down the left for Dundalk The Derryman lays the ball off to Robbie Benson but Reginiussen is there to intercept.
Rosenborg have been threatening from very early on in this second half but the game is very open at the moment – end-to-end.
Michael Duffy battles Tore Reginiussen down the wing…
Gary Rodgers is wearing a cap in goal due to the strong sunlight in the Dundalk half.
Chris Shields is caught in possession and Fredrik Midtsjø cuts inside. He has a free shot on goal at his mercy but once again Niclas Vemmelund is on hand to put his body on the line and put the ball out for a corner kick. Rosenborg going for it straight from kick-off.
Here we go then. Remember – if Dundalk score again Rosenborg need two more to go through. A massive 45 minutes ahead for the Lilywhites.
HALF TIME: ROSENBORG 1-1 DUNDALK
Deep into stoppage time at the end of the first half Duffy swings in a free-kick from a dangerous position along the half-way line but is is cleared easily.
SAVE! Midtsjø hits a tame effort which is deflected into the opposite direction but Gary Rodgers keeps his composure to remain on his feet before diving brilliantly at the right moment and put the ball out for a corner.
That’s a hammerblow for Dundalk. All is not lost but Stephen Kenny will be so disappointed his side could not make it to the break ahead. If Dundalk were to score Rosenborg would need two more, so it’s still all to play for.
Captain Jensen does brilliantly to ghost through. He flicks the ball onto Yann-Erik de Lanlay who takes it in his stride and slots it underneath Gary Rodgers. We’re level again.
GOAL! ROSENBORG 1-1 DUNDALK
Not for the first time a Dundalk player stalls in possession. This time it’s Patrick McEleney who loses the ball as a break threatens on the counter. Dundalk have enough bodies to overcrowd Rosenborg and suppress an attack.
Birger Meling swings in a free-kick but the pressure does not give up. The ball is pinged back into the box where defender Tore Reginiussen rises, but Niclas Vemmelund is on hand to clear. Dundalk will be hoping to make it to the break with their lead in-tact as pressure continues to mount from the Norwegians…
Both men are back on their feet. Massey remained on the pitch while Gannon received treatment on the sideline. The defender is back, however, and play continues.
A chance. The ball falls to Yann-Erik de Lanlay on the right who swings a tame curling effort wide of the post. Worryingly though Sean Gannon is down following a clash of heads inside the box…
Nervvvy. Robbie Benson is disposed and Bendtner breaks. The ball is put out for a corner but Dundalk are looking a bit rattled at the moment. More pressure from Rosenborg is beginning to ask questions of Dundalk’s composure to hang onto this lead.
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Nicklas Bendtner gets a nice touch on the edge of the box but his own pass is sloppy. Rosenborg earn a corner and Anders Konradsen rises highest, but his header is well and truly over the crossbar.
Sean Gannon finds John Mountney in a neat one-two. Gannon tries to meet his team-mate’s run behind the lines, but it’s very sloppy and peters harmlessly out of play for a Rosenborg goal kick. A first attack for Dundalk for quite a while as Rosenborg enjoy possession and try to get their heads back in place.
Hold on. Those aren’t cheers. Those are boos. Rosenborg were you saying boo, or Boo-urns?
Another cross for Dundalk. This time it’s Patrick McEleney but again it is cleared with ease. Dundalk failing to commit bodies into the box as they remain tight in defence and midfield. The Rosenborg fans have found their voice again following a deathly quiet 15 minutes…
Michael Duffy has been immense tonight. He piles down the left wing and crosses but no-one is there. Goalkeeper Hansen collects graciously as the game takes a breather following a high-tempo start.
Jevtovic swings it in and Gary Rodgers comes. The Meathman gets a hand to it but it has to be booted away again. Rosenborg enjoying a spell of pressure now as Dundalk sit back and soak it up. A few nervy moments but Dundalk are getting breaks time after time on the counter.
Another good ball from Milan Jevtovic is headed away by captain Gartland. The ball is delivered back into the box but again is cleared – this time out for a Rosenborg corner.
McEleney cuts inside and lays the ball off to Robbie Benson. Michael Duffy peels away from his marker but the ball is slightly overhit. That could have been a chance and Benson is not happy with his team-mate’s slow movement.
Oriel Park erupts following Brian Gartland’s opening goal…
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Ooooh that was close. Rosenborg break and they hit Dundalk on the break. Jevtovic runs with pace and crosses but yet again Sean Gannon has positioned himself well and boots the ball into touch. A nervy moment.
As in the first leg, Rosenborg look rattled. They seem to have underestimated Dundalk not once, but twice! They have failed to get a single change in this game, and it’s all Lilywhite pressure all over the park.
CHANCE! David McMillan rises like a salmon from Duffy’s corner and goalkeeper Hansen plucks it from settling into the top corner. It’s all Dundalk at the moment, who are looking a constant threat from corners on both sides.
Me, oh my. What a start, what a start. Dundalk are in control and in the lead. There is still 75 minutes to go but they have looked very dangerous. Another chance comes their way via that man again Michael Duffy. His cross is poor but Dundalk have a corner.
Dundalk are in front! Michael Duffy gets yet another assist and Gartland leaps over his marker to tower the ball bobbling into the corner. What a start for the Lilywhites!
GOAL: DUNDALK 1-0 ROSENBORG
A good interception from Sean Gannon who has to work hard a second time as Rosenborg pile down the left wing. Yann-Erik de Lanlay is proving lively on the wing early on but Gannon is holding his own.
Fredrik Midtsjø breaks through and Gartland has to come early to slide the ball from danger. There is a lot of space forming in front of the Dundalk defence, the absence of captain Stephen O’Donnell apparent in these early stages.
It is quite warm as the Dundalk players take a quick moment to get water on board. The sun is beaming down in Norway. A stunning evening for a Champions League kick about.
Jørgen Skjelvik with a decent cross at the front post but Brian Gartland is on hand to head away easily. Not a full attendance at the Lerkendal Stadion but the Rosenborg fans are making themselves heard.
Foul on Vegar Hedenstad as Duffy clashes knees with the defender near half-way. Positive early start from Dundalk, but this is going to be a long night ahead.
An early long ball from Gary Rodgers sees David McMillan fouled. The Lilywhites get the ball on the deck and are taking control in the early stages. The Rosenborg fans are in full voice in the summer sunshine.
The teams are out on the pitch in a stunning Lerkendal Stadion. Kick-off is just moments away. A potential third round clash with Celtic lies in wait, but if Dundalk lose tonight they are out completely. No pressure…
Stephen Kenny surveys the pitch in Norway ahead of kick-off. Just five minutes to go…
It wouldn’t be the same without George now would it. Hopefully there won’t be too much danger now for Dundalk tonight…
And Chris Shields warms up before tonight’s game…
Michael Duffy pictured leaving the team hotel earlier. His assist was superb for David McMillan’s goal last week.
Dylan Connolly remains benched, but as in the opening leg his pace could prove a massive asset in the latter stages of this game.
Likewise despite some questioning his performance in Oriel Park, Niclas Vemmelund starts alongside Brian Gartland with Sean Hoare on the bench.
Just fifteen minutes to go until kick-off. Lilywhites boss Stephen Kenny said Dundalk would need to play “the game of their lives” tonight.
He said: “From our point of view, our incentive is huge to qualify for the next stage,” he said. We had such a journey last year with all the games that it has given everyone a real taste for that.
“In order for us to progress we are going to have to put in one of the greatest performances in Irish football history. They have such a great pedigree. Everyone is really looking forward to it, spirits are good and we will have to play the game of our lives.”
Dundalk remain unchanged but Rosenborg have made three changes to the team that drew 1-1 in Oriel Park seven days ago…
Here are tonight’s teams…
ROSENBORG: André Hansen, Vegar Hedenstad, Birger Meling, Tore Reginiussen, Mike Jensen, Anders Konradsen, Yann-Erik de Lanlay, Jørgen Skjelvik, Fredrik Midtsjø, Milan Jevtovic, Nicklas Bendtner
DUNDALK: Gary Rogers, Seán Gannon, Niclas Vemmelund, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey, Chris Shields, John Mountney, Michael Duffy, Robbie Benson, Patrick McEleney, David McMillan
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Times like these make you proud too be Irish
@ColmD: Great win yet they still have never won a world cup and out of only ten decent rugby teams in the world, only Ireland and Italy have never got to the semi finals of a world cup…
….and this is why you have no friends Troll mcTroll. Get a life.
@Peter Cavey: I have a life. Troll…why? Because you don’t agree with me or something I have said is not true?
Why so negative paul? Let us have our moment of history & enjoy it to the full… We waited 111 years for this moment so let us have it please..
If we’d won the World Cup yesterday, he’d have said it’s meaningless because we’ve never beaten the All Black’s. Some people just wasn’t to be miserable.
*want*
When you consider the size of Ireland compared to other countries and then to top it of it it has to compete with so many other sports we do amazing job in every sport very proud of our Irish athletes. They always manage to lift our little country into the stratosphere against the odds
Just watch …it will happen ….. Believe.
It’s rugby for Gods sake. A minority sport with no more than 4 realistic contenders for World Cup
Irish ‘knobs’ from ‘knob’schools. Athletes ur ah!!
New Zealand is population wise around the same size as Ireland, so what’s the big deal?
Because it is their national sport. Rugby comes way behind GAA and soccer in Ireland. So their rugby playing population is far bigger.
If you have to ask there’s no point.
@Paraic McDonagh: Ha, I’m not at all miserable and I really enjoyed the game. The fact remains that Ireland and Italy are the only two countries out of the top ten rugby nations that have never reached the last four of a world cup. They reached the quarter-finals in 1987.
@Celtic_Horizon: What other sports are we amazing in? Serious question.
They teach English grammar and punctuation in those schools as well.
@Veroníca: I always get the sense that the Irish rugby team are over hyped by both the media and advertisers.
@Paul Kealy: They have only reached the quarter finals since 1987*
Punch way above our weight in lightweight rowing!
Most stories of success and achievement have guys like Paul who seem to go against the status quo and do down that success usually using the “what about ” argument .It a reflection of Paul’s inadequacy and immaturity ,”look at me I’m different so I’m cool”.It’s especially crass on this story which was about the tribute the team made to the recently deceased Axel Foley.
@Paul You seem to be a very negative person and most likely very high maintenance. But as I said in my post we do have amazing athletes. The biggest sport in our country is GAA amazing doesn’t even come close to describing these guys and ladies. But to give up so much of their free time to play for free in club and inter county every year no other sport can claim to have the same passion. Then our soccer team they get lot of stick but if all the miserable haters out there stopped dishing them and look at what they are achieving at the moment is pretty special how many players do we have in top flight soccer? Fifa has more members than the UN and to be even in that top 100 is an achievement and to top it of our highest ever ranking in was 5th at one point think about 5th best in the world. Then it’s probably the rugby realistically they probably have the smallest pool of players in rugby world but yet they are always up there with the best who can forget england in Croke Park legends. Now how about minority sports how many boxing champions has Ireland had since the 80′s seriously competing with the likes of the US and latin American countries where boxing is in there blood we have managed some pretty amazing moments in professional and amateur boxing. Who can remember Olympics in Barcelona 92 or London 2012? Or how about our athletes in athletics. At European, world or Olympics we always manage to get few medals. That’s not even looking at our sailors, rowers, ufc fighters (in case u didn’t know we have pretty big call there), our cricket team with some big upset results in recent years and just about every other sport I’m sure we would have someone in there so ya I believe we have some really AMAZING athletes.
Sorry edit it wasn’t 5th it was 6th
Don’t forget the golfers…….
Same as hurling then !!!! :-)
OMG forgot them Padraig Harrington and his AMAZING achievement in 2008 and we just seem to be getting better and better at the moment
@Bob Woodward: BOOM thats a smack down of a comment Bob Woodward. I love it sums up exactly what i was thinking , there is always a miserable git who wants to put a damper on things.
So Paul Wales have reached the WC semi finals twice ,1987 and 2011, they got beaten out the gate by Australia yesterday who in turn were well beaten by NZ twice in the last few months.So are Wales a better team than Ireland NOW because they reached a world cup semi in the Past ,
Don’t feed the troll!! It just keeps coming back like a stray cat….
@Celtic_Horizon: Negative, not at all, high maintenance…lol if only. The thing is I don’t buy into media and advertising hype or that we are so amazing. There are millions of sports people in amateur sports throughout the world who give their free time week in and week out to play at amateur level. Passion in sport is universal, it is certainly not unique to Irish participants. As for rugby and the small country argument etc if you take the amount of people playing rugby as a proportion of the general population as well, we emerge as a very keen rugby playing nation. Take a look at the proportion of the general population of the most successful rugby nations who actually actively take part in playing rugby:
England – 4.9%
Ireland – 3.35%
New Zealand – 3.1%
Wales – 1.65%
South Africa – 1.25%
Scotland – 0.72%
France – 0.48%
Australia – 0.39%
Italy – 0.1%
Rugby union is a game played by a very small proportion of the population in any country, but in England, Ireland and New Zealand is disproportionately popular.
The Irish football team were ranked 6th in 1993, 23 yrs ago. Wales were ranked 8th last year, a country with a population of 3 million.
I would have thought boxing was in Irish blood also no?
@Bob Woodward: Bob I enjoyed the New Zealand game. I thought it was a thoroughly well deserved victory and hugely enjoyable. If it is different or cool not to be a realist and not buy into media advertising spin or the usual Irish hype, so be it. Although I would suggest you ask again who is more immature or inadequate (and insecure), someone stating that a sports team has never reached a world cup final in or a grown adult, getting offended and taking personal insult with that? I am not sure what the late great Axel Foley has to do with my comment about world cup semi finals or did you just throw that in there to add effect?
@Brian Hackett:
I don’t know if wales are better than Ireland at rugby, what difference does it make and why compare Ireland to Wales…because of population?
‘Git’ You are so upset and angry with a stranger on a screen who said Ireland have never reached a rugby world cup semi final…man, think about that, how old are you.
@Paul Kealy: what media advertising??? do you want the media to ignore the match,You are whataboutery merchant , look at your comment above for evidence. Ireland haven’t reached a world cup semi , yes that is a fact , i dont dispute that . What i do dispute is using it the play down a great victory yesterday. This could be a step along the way to a world cup semi or final in 2019, so cheer up things the future is bright , dont dwell in the past
@Bob Woodward:
Inadequacy:
The state or quality of being inadequate; lack of the quantity or quality required.
inability to deal with a situation or with life.
Bob. You copy and paste every link of every post you comment on here into your Facebook…It seems you spend hours every day congratulating yourself on your sharp wit and keen observational skills yet not one person ever seems to agree. Why on earth would you do that? Very mature of you. Are you sure you dont think you are cool and different Bob?
@Bob Woodward: Bob rugby seems to get a disproportionate amount of air time from the media and it is overwhelmingly positive when not always deservedly so. The furore over this Irish team is nauseating and there seems to be a never ending reverence applied to the Irish rugby team, no matter what, win lose or draw. They’re infallible in the eyes of the media.The terminology used to describe them (this is in no way a slight on the players, or the game, rather my gripe is with the media’s treatment of the sport) is frequently along the lines of “heroes, legends etc” . I remember someone even suggested POC getting injured was the sporting equivalent of Mick Collins being shot….and you say I want to be cool and different, you’re a gas man Bob ;)
I said it was a great victory Bob, I also said they have never reached the semi finals of a world cup.
I am very cheerful :)
@Brian Hackett:
“Boom”…”Smackdown” WWF??
Easy fella. How old are you…and why are you so upset over a game, a sport.
Name one other sporting amateur organisation in the world that is a well set up as GAA and has it’s OWN stadiums in more than one country
@Celtic_Horizon: Huh? Not sure what you are going on about the GAA for? All I said was that the Irish rugby team have never reached the semi finals of a world cup, what has the GAA got to do with anything?…But anyway, since you asked, ‘amateur’ is not entirely accurate in the true sense of the word. We can start with the managers and coaches who are attached to club teams up and down the country, the vast majority of whom get paid a fee for every training session and match day they have. The majority of inter county managers also get paid for their services. The figures can vary enormously but range from €40,000 to €100,000 when we throw in all those ‘material rewards and benefit in kind’ which cover a multitude. If we assume that between football and hurling there are 40 paid managers and they average about €50,000 a head all in it brings us to €2,000,000. Other straws in the wind regarding the abuse of finance for GAA activities are harder to prove but they certainly exist. Several players have been financially rewarded to transfer to different club teams for example. The likes of Dublin GAA have received millions in recent years, not to mention the millions more in sponsorship they rake in. So all in all it would be more accurate to state that the GAA is a slightly amateur organisation.
Do you work for the GAA or something, is that it? Do you want, a pat on the back from a stranger on a screen?…OK, well done, the GAA is a very well run organisation and you do a great job, it’s also brilliant that they have their own stadiums in more than one country. Fair play to ye, ye are only brilliant. There ya go :)
@Celtic_Horizon: “But to give up so much of their free time to play for free in club and inter county every year no other sport can claim to have the same passion.”
Thats not true also. Billions (Not thousands) of people of all ages give up their time every week to play football (soccer) throughout the globe for the love of the game also. 2.6 billion play amateur soccer world wide, in local leagues, school cups, pub leagues….the list is endless and they are hugely passionate about the game so it is not true that no other sport can claim to have such passion. By the way most of the league of Ireland lads train hard and dedicate their lives to football also even though most of them are on no more than they would get on the dole
@Celtic_Horizon: “no other sport can claim to have the same passion.”… What about the Olympics and all the amateur athletes there, are you suggesting they are not passionate? :)
Some ppl are just never happy. Hate bloody trolls
@Celtic_Horizon: Now you are resorting to the old ‘troll’ nugget because you cant retort or debate and you feel silly….yet you were all talk earlier, what happned? :) A troll would generally attempt to rise a stranger for a reaction, I am offering my genuine opinion because you asked me and I have answered your questions. That and I coulnd’t care less about you but as you went to the trouble of getting really upset and writing me a long post I thought it polite to reply to all your questions. Now you are angry again because you cant really debate anything unless you want to look like you are contradicting yourself so of course I am a troll :)
I’m fairly happy with my lot actually, though I suspect my definition of happiness differs to yours. If I was to measure my happiness by sporting results and get really really happy over a game in America or indeed really angry because someone wounded my pride or jingoistic sporting patriotisim…well I guess that would suggest I am unhappy and use sporting occasions to escape my otherwise deep unhappiness…..like you perhaps?
@John R: Let’s not spew bull crap here now,New Zealand’s rugby population is not far bigger than Irelands. 156893 registered rugby players in New zealand, to 153080 registered rugby players in Ireland. Very small difference.
@Celtic_Horizon: Oh and I hate ‘bloody’ idiots who run away shouting ‘troll!!!’ when they have nothing else to say and get owned on a screen….give it up, you are begging to embarrass yourself.
@Paul Kealy: Hi Paul do you want a bigger shovel?
@Veroníca: 111 years, to win a rugby match….thats all ye waited for, really?
@Kerry Blake: Hi Kerry, for what exactly. To help you with the big hole you’re about to fall into? :)
@Martin Quinn: Good man Martin…How did I lose and how am I a begrudger? … I’m Irish and said it was a well deserved win and I thoroughly enjoyed the game. Are you OK hun?
@Martin Quinn: @Martin Quinn: Martin, I could eat a bowl of alphabet soup and shit a better retort than that.
Martin, name calling in a debate is called Ad Hominem (Personal Attack) The first person to use it automatically forfeits the debate unless they can follow up with a cogent explanation for why they called someone else a troll. So since you are the one attacking my character and not my belief by definition you are the troll not I.
The Irish rugby team haven’t reached a world cup semi final, and being reminded of that is enough to upset you so much? Why on earth are you so angry? I pity you if you ever have to confront real problems :(
Get a life man
@Martin Quinn: Oh go away you fool
I think that was a perfect tribute to a great man. Himself and Jonah no doubt enjoyed a few pints watching down on a great game.
Jerry Collins too
Axel would have been smiling for sure up above. Eire Abu!!
Axel was smiling & alive in our hearts right there.
So proud of you all
Ye’re a credit to ye’re families and country.
Ireland’s call was answered
How long before we can claim to have been one of the 2.2 million Irish in the stadium?
Well I’m flying to London today and going to land in Dublin at the same time as the team, will be wearing the Irish rugby jersey through arrivals and seeking out Tony O’Donoghue for a chat…..
I met a fella on the pub last night who was there, and he was in the GPO in 1916 as well.
@John Considine: it was lovely to meet you last night!
Murray , hope you enjoy the night . Congrats on a superb run-in to the big day ( two weeks early !) . The series from down under is an eye opener to say the least . But Ireland are on their way towards a more consistent top four placement in world rankings thanks to the players , the structures and some superb coaching . Roll on Dublin in 2 weeks , gotta back it up now !
Legends all!!
The fact that Ireland beat a battle hardened side after a tri-nations with only 3 collective training sessions makes the achievement even more incredible. Great gesture to Axel backed up with an unfailingly brave, committed and skilful performance.
THANK YOU ANTHONY, THE 16th MAN ON THE TEAM TODAY
Rest in peace
Wow that was special. Game, result, anthem, everything! Bloody proud
great respect shown by ireland for the late anthony foley im sure he was looking down on you all today.with a pint of the black stuff in hand great performance from you all in the green jersey you did all of us proud.
No chance we’d lose
Please please start this as a new tradition every we time we face the haka
That’s what I was thinking. It worked once!
Never doubted it for a minute
Serious imagine…mighty stuff lads great for Irish rugby and the family
Brilliant tribute to a true legend of Munster and Irish rugby. Great display by our green army.
Big congratulations to the IRFU for actually putting a team and strategy together to make something that seemed impossible, “Happen” surely it’s time for the FAI to be held accountable and get people in that knows about the sport to decide what’s needed to develop the skills needed to bring it to this level..”John Deleany out ” NOW “..
A great touch that’s a proper way to face up to the haka!!!
Not forgetting the excellent The Journal coverage from Chicago….for those of us with a hundred TV channels but unfortunately not the one showing last night’s IRL v NZAB match.
Great performance,great result and great for the foley family .
Brilliant
Great match history in the making.
…mighty happy to see my worst fears were unfounded , no slight to the players just felt preparation time was very short against a team on such a hot streak …wonderful to witness …pity had to drive to the nearest pub showing the game , what a shambles to let this one slip by Sky who seem to dominate all such events ..many people would love to have this recorded to look back on ….well done to all & propose Joe be made an honorary Irish citizen as soon as he arrives back …
He doesn’t need to be given an honourary citizenship, he got a proper one about a year ago! He was at the same ceremony as Strauss.
He is an Irish citizen!!!
Anyone know anywhere I can watch it back?
@Jen Doyle: It’s on YouTube, FULL game (highlights also showing just the tries)
Anthony Foley played against the All Blacks 15 years ago where the All Blacks won 40-29.
Wow that’s amazing Thanks for sharing Anthony
Would love to know who came up with the Axel tribute, fantastic idea.
Joe the jenius
Plenty of nonsense spouted here from regulars over the last few days but as usual nowhere to be seen now.
We’re all here.
Why did ye say Joey carbery is at the front?,ye Seem to want to name him at every opportunity!!!
Well if you look at it there are 6 at the front but the media seem to want to push him to the front the whole time,the story was suppose to be about the Munster players and axel
Darragh, Ireland were playing. IRELAND.
I reckon they left us win because of Brexit
BOD and his ilk must be ragin’