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As it happened: London 2012 Olympics, day nine

Join us as we bring you all the action from the Olympics today, including the highly anticipated 100m final in athletics.

There’s plenty of action for day nine including the small matter of the 100m Final this evening.

As always, we’d love to hear from you, so send us your thoughts and comments on all the action.

E-mail us at sport@thescore.ie, tweet us @thescore_ie, post to our Facebook wall or leave a comment below.

Hello, and welcome to day nine of the Olympics.

Cian O’Connor has just given a less than assured display in the showjumping, but remains in contention.

Meanwhile, Linda Byrne, Ava Hutchinson and Catriona Jennings are all competing in the women’s marathon currently.

In case you were living under a rock for the duration of the day yesterday, here are all the key things that happened:

Patrick McCarry here. The Women’s Marathon is underway and GB has lost Mara Yamauchi to injury early on. She had to pull up and is in tears.

The Show Jumping continues today at Greenwich. We will keep you posted on the exploits of Billy Twomey and Cian O’Connor.

We are 16km into the Women’s Marathon and Linda Byrne is 85th, running alongside teammate Ava Hutchinson for now.

Missy Franklin won five medals (four of them gold) at London 2012. Here is what the swimmer has to say for herself and Rio 2016:

Over the next four years, I know I’ll have so much fun, I have my senior year, I need to pick a college and go there. That is what I am focusing on now and hopefully I’ll be at 2016.

I am definitely just taking (each Olympics) one at a time, I have taken so much motivation from being on that podium and seeing the flag go up.

IIt is pouring in London today but that has not stopped the fans from coming out and cheering the marathon runners on. Straneo of Italy leads by four seconds after 20km.

Stuart Pearce was trying to remain positive last night after he witnessed his side lose their quarter-final shoot-out 5-4. Daniel Sturridge missed the crucial penalty to give South Korea an advantage that they grasped. Pearce said:

We are in this together, the important thing is that all the players have had an experience to make them better and stronger.

Some of those experiences are scoring goals and winners, and some of those experiences are having days like today when you are disappointed because you missed a penalty. ’But experiences like that make you stronger and he will benefit from this tournament without a doubt.’

Cian O’Connor is down for eight penalties after his round in the Individual Show Jumping. He is joint-eight for now. Billy Twomey is further back after collecting 12 points for his two rounds to date. Both should advance to the next stage.

Victoria Pendleton looks set for a second gold medal of the games this afternoon. Cycling with Anna Meares, Pendleton was in impressive form at the Velodrome. The GB women set an Olympic Record in the Team Pursuit qualifiers. Martyn Irvine from Team Ireland will be in action later today.

Should be a day to remember for Andy Murray. The Scot will play Roger Federer in the Men’s Singles Final at Wimbledon, then team up with Laura Robson against the Belarusian pair Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi in the mixed doubles final.

Hot knife through butter! Hutchinson and Byrne have advanced to 82nd and 83rd in the Marathon after 27km. Caitriona Jennings is about 30 positions further back.

Una has the right idea.

Nick Skelton and Ben Maher of Great Britain have both had clear rounds in the show jumping. Twomey may struggle to advance, it seems, as his 12 penalty points have him placed near the back of the field.

Irish sharp shooter Derek Burnett is in 21st place after two rounds of the Men’s Trap. He hit 47 out of 50 ‘clay pigeons’. Only two competitors have hit 50 flawlessly.

Burnett in action at the Royal Artillery Barracks. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

George Hamilton must have been on IMDB or Wikipedia this morning. As the Women’s Marathon goes into its final three kilometres, our George is telling viewers all about the movie career of Marilyn Monroe. Don’t know how he segwayed to that topic – some runner must share a birthday with the Some Like It Hot star.

Gelana of Ethiopia leads. George, on RTE, explains that it is the 50-year anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s passing. All makes sense now.

It is Ethiopia (Gelana), Kenya (Jeptoo), and Russia (Petrova) crossing the line, in that order, finishing up the Women’s Marathon. The Irish ladies are still out there. Best we can hope for is something in the 60.

Tiki Gelana set an Olympic Record in the marathon with a time of 2:23:07. Hutchinson and Byrne are still to finish while Jennings is near the back of the field.

Update from Team Ireland’s boxing squad:

The Star sailing is underway with Peter O’Leary and David Burrows in action. Lovely use of the word ‘rapido’ from RTE’s crack commentators as the Swedish crew trying to pick up some wind and momentum.

66th for Linda Byrne in the Women’s Marathon, best of the Irish, and Ava Hutchinson is two places back. Jennings still to finish.

Ian Percy and Andrew Simpson from GB only needed to finish sixth in the Star Sailing medal race but they faded in the final 100 metres to end up seventh and drop down to a silver medal placing.

Serena and Venus Williams combine to devastating effect and get the Gold in the Women’s Doubles Final at Wimbledon. Straight sets win. The sisters embrace and give the fans a little jig of celebration. That is two golds for Serena to follow her Wimbledon Singles win at SW19 last month.

I do not believe this. Another Irish athlete injured. Caitriona Jennings is battling through the pain as she nears the end of her marathon run. 11 runners pulled out but Jennings is determined not to make it 12. She is getting lots of encouragement from the fans lining the streets in London but looks to be in serious discomfort. I’m looking forward to hearing her interviews later.

Gold - Jin Jongoh of South Korea has retained his Olympic 50m Pistol title.

Roger Federer, GOAT (Greatest of All Time).

- BBC commentary ahead of his gold medal tennis match against Andy Murray.

Derek Burnett has got 23 from 25 in the Men’s Trap and is currently in 24th place.

Peter O’Leary and David Burrows ended up in 10th overall at the end of the Star sailing. The Swedes came from behind to take the Gold while GB were second and Brazil third.

Caitriona Jennings eventually crosses the finishing line in the Women’s Marathon. Her time was 3:22:11. Hopefully our man in London, Will Downing, can grab a word with her or someone from Team Ireland to learn more.

Gold medal for Lina Din of China. The first round conqueror of Scott Evans wins in three sets. And, what’s this? AAnother Gold for the Chinese as Zou Kai wins the Individual Floor event in the gymnastics.

Jennings was carrying a foot injury into that marathon and it completely hampered her. She was in tears as she finished well over an hour behind the winner.

In the tennis, Andy Murray has just broken Roger Federer’s serve to go 4-2 up in the first set. It’s best of five, so still a long way to go, but we could be seeing Murray turning that gorgeous frown upside down by the end of the day.

Meanwhile, Ben Ainslie has just secured Great Britain’s 15th gold medal of the Games in the sailing.

Andy Murray has won the first set of the tennis final 6-2.

Seaton and McGovern are eigth in the 49er at present. Murray broke Federer early in the second set and is looking to go 3-0 up.

India, India, India, when will you learn? They concede three penalty corner goals to South Korea in their 4-1 Men’s Hockey defeat. The Netherlands and Germany are the table-toppers there with three wins from three.

Seventh place finish for Seaton and McGovern in Race 12 of the 49er. Still three races to go before the Medal Race on Wednesday.

Katie Taylor will face Natasha Jonas in her Monday quarter-final. The Great British boxer won her Last 16 bout against Quanitta Underwood around 15 minutes ago.

Holy smokes! Federer double faults to trail 4-0 to Murray in the second set. Best of five sets today so it is not over yet but the fans are getting very excited.

Sandra Raluca Izbasa of Romania wins Gold in the Women’s Vault over at North Greenwich Arena. The 22-year-old, who lists her hobbies as music, dancing and make-up, holds off stiff, vaulting competition from McKayla Maroney of the USA and Maria Paseka from Russia.

Juan Martin del Potro breaks down in tears after beating Novak Djokovic in the Men’s Tennis bronze medal match. Andy Murray, meanwhile, leads 6-2, 6-1 against Federer.

One hopes that the fervour of the home crowd at the ExCel Arena tomorrow does not sway the boxing judges for the Katie Taylor v Natasha Jonas bout. Kenny Egan found out all about hometown decisions when he went for gold at Beijing in 2008.

Taylor has kept away from the Olympic Village all week to train in Bray but she flew back to London last night.

Here, thanks to RTE, are some of the comments from the Team Ireland female marathon runners:

Linda Byrne (66th): I was hoping for a PB but the conditions today weren’t great.

Ava Hutchinson (68th): Overall, I’m pleased. Today was about competing and getting in among the girls. It was a good, solid performance … The cheers for Ireland were unreal.

Caitriona Jennings (107th): I couldn’t stop. I had so much support coming into this race, I’m just really sorry … I could feel (my foot injury) before the race so I knew it was going to be tough … The support was amazing. I’d like to thank everyone for travelling over and supporting me.

Natasha Jonas: Bring it on! (Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Andy Murray to serve for the gold medal at Wimbledon …

… 30-15 to Murray.

Ace to win it! GOLD for Andy Murray!

(Credit: Eurovisionsports.tv)

6-2, 6-1, 6-4 – comprehensive dismantling of Roger Federer. He was in another zone entirely today and the Swiss didn’t stand a chance.

Sporting greats (and Joey Barton) line up to praise Murray’s achievement:

Krisztian Berki of Hungary does just enough to capture Gold in the Men’s Pommel Horse. He narrowly beats Louis Smith of GB with Max Whitlock, another local, getting bronze.

A less than amazing outing at Weymouth and Portland for Seaton/McGovern in the 49er. They finish 13th and are done for the day. Next Irish interest will be track cyclist Martyn Irvine at 5.01pm in the Men’s Omnium 15km Scratch Race.

Andy Murray can’t hit the bubbly yet. He is playing the Mixed Doubles Final, with Laura Robson, in 40 minutes time.

We don’t know who Simon Zebo’s bookie is but they are some very generous odds on Usain Bolt.

Martyn Irvine was 14th in the 4km Individual Pursuit earlier so he will need a very, very good scratch race to climb back up the standings. He is off at the Velodrome.

Shay Given enjoying himself at London 2012:

Martyn Irvine is going very well in the scratch race. He stayed with the leading pack for most of the race, even after they had dropped leading GB rider Ed Clancy, and comes in ninth. He couldn’t quite keep up the speed of Frenchman Bryan Coquard but moves up to 13th overall. We can safely assume that he will not be taking home any medals but he will be looking to win the 1km Time Trial in an hour’s time to finish as high as possible.

The other speedster in that race was, of course, Zachary Bell of Canada who was first.

Check out this lovely picture:

Here is what Andy Murray told the BBC’s Sue Barker after his win:

I watched the athletics last night, it was just amazing. The way Mo Farah [in the 10,000m] won, I mean I do 400m repetitions in my training and when I’m completely fresh I can run it in 57 seconds and his last lap after 9600m was 53 seconds. It’s just unbelievable fitness and it gave me a boost.

He is out at SW19′s Centre Court again – ready for a second goal medal match.

Not all going well for Team GB – their women’s handball team have been battered 37-14 by Croatia. Five goals apiece for Dijana Jovetic, who is a teacher when she is not an Olympian, and Sonja Basic.

Diana Taurasi of Team USA, and Phoenix Mercury, is showing the Chinese how to play basketball. She has 22 points as the States lead 76-40 in the third quarter.

Lin Dan: Loves a win. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

I don’t know if you have ever seen a water polo shoot-out but it is good fun. Australia’s ladies defeat the Chinese in the quarter finals and I liked the tactic of the final two Aussie penalty takers – they skimmed the ball off the surface of the water, propelling it over goalkeeper Jun Yang. 4-2 win and they advance to the last four.

4-1 to Robson and Murray in the Mixed Doubles Final, first set.

Eamonn Coughlan, former World 5000m Champion, is speaking to RTE from London:

The atmosphere is really buzzing … From Victoria Station on the subway out to the (Olympic) Park, it is just thronged with people. I could almost feel the butterflies again, like when I was competing.

‘Mixed emotions’ he says when asked about Team Ireland on the track. ‘Hats off’ to walker Rob Heffernan, who got ninth yesterday, but he feels Joanne Cuddihy ran a horrible 400m heat and was lucky to get to the semi-final.

China’s Zhou wins +75kg weightlifting Gold with a world record lift. in the process.

First set to GB in the tennis. Azarenka overhits a return and Murray/Robson win it 6-2.

Martyn Irvine is going in Heat 3 of the track cycling time trial, part of the Omnium. He will get going in about five minutes.

These stamps will require a lot of spittle but they will definitely get your letter to Santa:

We have a champions tie-break in the Mixed Doubles after the Belarussians level the match up. 3-2 to Belarus – first to 10 but you need to win by two clear points.

Laura Robson keeps the GB fighting but Belarus have one more match point and Max Miryni thunders in a serve, Murray can only scoop a return back and Azarenka’s smash is too good for Robson. Gold for Belarus. Silver for Murray and Robson. 10-8 in the tie-break.

Andy, you can start celebrating your gold and silver … now.

Martyn Irvine finishes 13th overall in the Men’s Omnium. Lasse Norman Hansen gets the gold while Ed Clancy of GB is third and a bronze medal winner.

Sounds like a familiar lament.

Action is getting underway over t Olympic Stadium. Remember, we have the Men’s 100m Final later – Bolt vs Blake – and the last Irish competitor of the day, Paddy Barnes, fights at 8.45pm. A medal could be in the offing there.

Ok, Tony Cuddihy is raring to go. He will guide you through a fantastic evening of sport at Olympic Stadium. As for the 100m Final – I’m backing Blake.

We are ten minutes from the semi-finals of the 100m. Ten minutes. Mes nerfs!

We’re almost ready for the first Men’s 100m semi-final.

Justin Gatlin wins, with an impressive time of 9.82.

Asafa Powell was quick off the blocks, but there was no stopping Gatlin once he got going.

Bolt… Chambers… Bailey… Here we go. It’s the second heat of the men’s 100m semi-final.

Bolt canters home ahead of Ryan Bailey, canters being the operative word. He’s bang on form, the Jamaican. Chambers faded badly towards the end, giving a wry smile as he discovered he wouldn’t be running in the final.

Bolt’s time was 9.87, with some commenters insisting he was walking at the end.

Now it’s Blake v Gay v some other lads who will be gallant in defeat.

And Blake takes it in a time of 9.85, just ahead of Tyson Gay and the British 18-year-old Adam Gemili, who JUST misses out on qualification.

Gatlin, Blake, Bolt, Gay, Martin, Powell, Ryan Bailey, Thompson – the eight runners hoping to take Olympic gold in the men’s 100m tonight.

Ken Egan is talking to Bill O’Herlihy, saying he’s as nervous now as if he was in the dressing room. John Joe Nevin’s fight against Mexico’s Oscar Valdez Fierro is coming up and there’s a medal at stake for the winner, with at least bronze guaranteed.

It’s coming up…

Here comes the 23-year-old from Westmeath, his third bout in these Olympic Games about to start. Ireland expects… Ireland waits… Ireland hopes…

It’s a good start, Nevin landing a few blows and swerving Valdez Fierro’s jabs.

We thought Nevin had the better of that but the score is 5-5 after the first round.

A scrappy second round, and what we would not give to have the scores on the screen to give us some indication of whether Nevin is landing these right hooks or not.

Nevin has gone three points ahead!

He won the second round 7-4, giving him an overall total of 12-9 going into the final round.

“One of the most brilliant amateurs we’ve had in Ireland in the last three decades,” says Jimmy Magee.

We’re waiting for the result…

Ireland have a medal! John Joe Nevin wins by 19-13 and that means that….

And on that very happy note, we’re wrapping up the liveblog for the day, but don’t worry – we’re sticking around to bring you action from the men’s 100m in approximately 45 minutes…

Read: Olympic Breakfast: John Joe Nevin on the brink of glory>

Read: It’s Sunday, so here are 16 sporting pics from the last week>

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18 Comments
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    Mute D
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:02 PM

    Coleman at fault for both goals . Only worth 4.

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    Mute James Quinn
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:13 PM

    Very poor from Coleman for both goals. Long showing once again that he is not a natural finisher, should have had a hat trick.
    Its a reality check, the Scots are pulling out some very good results in the last 6 months, its going to be tough to make the top 2 of the next campaign.

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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:02 PM

    Lets be frank… we are not great at the moment…. good first 20 min then got to complacent in the remaining minutes… At pro level that cant happen…

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    Mute scaldbag
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:13 PM

    Steve Staunton..come back please

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    Mute Conor Cahill
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:23 PM

    Anyone but him….

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    Mute James St John Smith
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:33 PM

    Benny Hill?

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    Mute Conor Moore
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:07 PM

    At least we get a night off the Robbie haters tonight! He’d have had a hat trick tonight! I like Shane Long but he is no Robbie keane…. Keano is massive for us qualifying to the euros, imagine if long had missed the two sitters in a 2-1 loss at home to scotland!

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    Mute James St John Smith
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:34 PM

    Robbie is that you?

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    Mute Rob Allidine
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    Mar 6th 2014, 7:26 PM

    Conor, do you honestly believe Robbie Keane has the pace or muscle to run onto these chances? No way. He is fine from 6 yards but when did you ever see him drive through on goal and score? 2002 against Germany at the World Cup!!!!

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    Mute david garland
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:00 PM

    Are you having a laugh giving Whelan a 6.. How that man gets on an international panel I’ll never know..

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    Mute Conor Moore
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:17 PM

    Scored a dinger to give us the lead but for Wes (wrongly) stealing it offside

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    Mute Handy Man
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    Mar 6th 2014, 12:46 AM

    The goal that was disallowed was onside. Look again the number 18(I think it was) kept hoolihan onside.

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    Mute Conor Moore
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    Mar 6th 2014, 7:44 AM

    That’s what I meant by wrongly

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:19 PM

    International football is literally depressing……

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    Mute James St John Smith
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:36 PM

    Literally?

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    Mute Noel Howley
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    Mar 5th 2014, 11:31 PM

    Why?

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Mar 6th 2014, 9:12 AM

    Literally…….it depresses me.not, it pisses me off….it depresses me…..dat uncomplicated enough?

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    Mute Hound of Cooley
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    Mar 6th 2014, 9:49 AM

    dat?

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    Mute Noel Howley
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    Mar 6th 2014, 2:47 PM

    That’s what it does to you but you still haven’t explained WHY international soccer specifically does this to you. It’s the best players from each country playin against each other. If it’s Ireland that depresses you we compete better than Scotland or Wales even tho there’s no reason why we should, definitely man for man we shouldn’t. Club football depresses me more, certain clubs too big to fail, mercenaries galore, certain managers treated like tele workers in Bangladesh, over priced tickets, etc etc

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Mar 6th 2014, 11:16 PM

    Its international football in general……its constantly touted as the highest standard of football but its not.generally its deplorable to watch regardless of who is playing and i think the fact that Ireland are so uninspiring and dull only compounds my misery.being better in qualifying than Wales/NI/Scotland doesnt make me feel any better….siiiiiiigh……..depressing.

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    Mute Noel Howley
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    Mar 6th 2014, 11:35 PM

    Granted international games can be tight cagey affairs but it is the ultimate test for players, only top players with the big game temperament and quality shine on the international stage, all of the games last nite were meaningless friendlies as well, you couldn’t beat the passion and drama that Sweden v Portugal produced in their playoff in November, the reason..it’s the last thing in soccer you can’t buy, a place in a finals tournament

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    Mute simon shewster
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    Mar 5th 2014, 9:59 PM

    Nice indeed to see more attacking play, but they played quite poor tonight.

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:42 PM

    Coleman (the right full) at fault for both goals and gets a 6! Come on Ben, get off the stage.

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    Mute pat James buchannan
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:00 PM

    How on earth does Long get a seven

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    Mute simon shewster
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:05 PM

    He missed a sitter or 2 for sure.

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    Mute Eoin Byrne
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:06 PM

    He won a lot of headers and performed decently. A seven is a bit generous when a six might have been fairer but seven isn’t totally unreasonable. He missed two chances he maybe should have done better with but we were spoiled for the last fifteen years in having a striker who would likely have had a hat trick tonight and you can’t just compare Long to himself.

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    Mute Conor Moore
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:12 PM

    He ‘maybe should have done better with’? This is international football, one of them chances a game is a gift never mind 2

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    Mute Noel Howley
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    Mar 5th 2014, 11:41 PM

    I don’t think Robbie would have been in those positions to create those chances, I can’t remember the last time Robbie scored a goal from an angled run off the last shoulder, it’s just not his game anymore, granted he’s a lethal finisher and our best without doubt but you can’t airlift him into those positions. Long as a lone combative striker suited Wes, his running stretched the defence and meant that through balls would be latched onto.

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    Mute Conor Moore
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    Mar 5th 2014, 11:49 PM

    You make a fair point Noel but I personally think your giving too much credit to longs runs. Ball won in midfield and the striker released was my take on the two chances, even if he did well to stay onside for the first. I just feel if we played long up front instead of Robbie the end result would be half the goals.

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    Mute Noel Howley
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    Mar 6th 2014, 12:20 AM

    If you look at the first goal, the amount of ground long made up to get there Keane just can’t do, plus the finish if you watch it in slow mo is quite good, on the half volley. For me Robbie is a luxury we can’t afford anymore, Robbie can’t play as a lone striker, therefore to accommodate him we have to play 442. Then we get out numbered in midfield. The argument was always that Robbie got goals, well long got a goal tonight that Robbie would have been proud of, and got 2 other great chances created in part by his strong angled runs (and a sweet ball from Wes), admittedly he fluffed both poorly

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    Mute Ger
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    Mar 6th 2014, 2:30 AM

    The two areas that cost us tonight were in defense where Coleman had his worst game of the season and Ward did nothing to suggest that he should still be an option at left full. And while both Wilson and Keogh might be ok alongside a more experienced centre half neither are good enough to lead the line. Both dived in with challenges when the likes of Dunne would have stayed on his feet….this cost us the second goal and nearly cost us others.

    The second area that cost us was Shane Longs lack of ability to score goals. Yes he got one but he missed two that any decent international striker would have scored with their eyes closed. The second miss in particular was embarrassing. Yes he works hard and runs the channels etc but the main job of the striker is to score goals and he didnt look like scoring either of the ones he missed. Even if you look at the one he scored, another keeper would have stuck out a hand and blocked that, one and one with the keeper that should have been drilled in leaving the keeper with no chance but Long hit is shoulder height. I like Long but I dont think he is good enough to play upfront on his own.

    The first half we were decent and passed the ball around well, even Whelan sprayed some good long passes that he would never have been allowed to do under Trap. But in the second half we looked ragged and we outplayed in every area.

    O’Shea and Dunne will add solidity to defense and when Gibson comes back he will give the midfield a bit more bite alongside McCarthy and Hoolihan looked good and was easily our best player, so there are some positives. But we really need to unearth a replacement for Robbie Keane from somewhere. Aldridge was 26 when he made his Irish debut…..O’Neill and Keano need to search the globe for an Irish qualified striker because when Robbie does hang up his boots we dont have an International quality goal scorer to take his place.

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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:50 PM

    We need a far more mobile midfield. ie we have to forget about Glen Whelan…hes not mobile enough and he loses us impetous when we are breaking by nearly always playing a side or backwards pass!! We have to play with tempo to be at our best and he slows it down to a crawl almost every time and could not live with Matic as hes not near mobile enough

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    Mute Jim Butler
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    Mar 5th 2014, 11:44 PM

    And Matic is a far, far superior footballer!

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    Mute Truth Patrol
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    Mar 6th 2014, 3:13 PM

    Glenn Whelan = Neil Lennon

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    Mute Nick Menezes
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:06 PM

    I know its only a friendly and roughly a half hour cameo but David Meyler looked very poor and has looked poor for Hull all season, very heavy touches and couldn’t pick nor spot a pass. On the plus side O’Neil actually introduced the right substitutes that warranted a run out(even though Meyler was poor he deserved a run).Something Trap never did.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:35 PM

    He probably had a sore head.

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    Mute Johnny Mc Donnell
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:17 PM

    Looked to be improving slightly under o Neill in first half , but we slowly slipped back into our old habits, Why we stopped pressing up the field so early in 2nd half is worrying, we’ve too many not up to this level unfortunately

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    Mute Barry Dempsey
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:14 PM

    Thought things were supposed to change.. At least the Irish rugby team have a shot at a championship. This looks a long way off. Fed up of hoping every 4 years away of my life

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    Mute Kevin Mannion
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    Mar 5th 2014, 11:15 PM

    The Irish rugby team play the same teams year in year out and at best have been the 4th most successful 6 nations side since the tournament began. Plus they have failed miserably at world cups.

    Soccer is far more competitive at international level and we do well in intetnational tournaments bar the last one.

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    Mute Ronan McCarthy
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:39 PM

    Bring back trap..

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    Mute Dan
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:04 PM

    Terrible performance. No work ethic and no game plan. Is Trap still in charge??

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    Mute Donal Scallan
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    Mar 5th 2014, 11:43 PM

    Usual friendly guff, can never read too much into it. Anyone else think a mini league played on the same dates would be better? Something to play for ect….. Just putting it out there.

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    Mute Ken Donohoe
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:52 PM

    The sooner people realise that Trappatoni was right in saying that our players are not good enough the better. O’Neill Keane or whoever else manages this limited group of mediocre journeymen should immediately get rid of McLean McGeady Meyler Keogh Ward Pilkington and Stokes as they are not up to international football and pray that we are not depending on Long to score goals for us.

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    Mute Jim Butler
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    Mar 5th 2014, 11:46 PM

    And if we were to get rid of all of those players, who would you replace them with?

    This is a genuine question, who else is out there?!

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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Mar 6th 2014, 12:12 AM

    The answer is no one Jim. We will do well to reach the play offs in 3rd place

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    Mute Noel Howley
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    Mar 6th 2014, 12:28 AM

    Joe I said that last week after the euro draw and got a load of red thumbs.. think we will sneak 3Rd place though and should beat any of the other relatively poor 3Rd seeded teams. We drew a tough group in all fairness considering we were second seeds

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    Mute Mick Rooney
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    Mar 6th 2014, 7:25 AM

    So we’ll just turn up for matches with half a squad, Joe? Or maybe just field a team with 8 or 9 players and tell the ref, yeh sorry, but we just don’t have the players good enough for this level.

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    Mute Liam O Sullivan
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:25 PM

    First half was promising but we were the third best team in the second half. Long tried, but disappointed. Hoolahan had a great game though. I understand rotation during friendlies but why take of your best player, unless O Neill has his mind made up. Fingers crossed

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    Mute Simon Brogan
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    Mar 6th 2014, 12:12 AM

    Long is a championship level striker, he’s never proven himself at the top level, he has no consistency in his game when playing as the lone striker .
    We need two men up front plane and simple.

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    Mute Noel Howley
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    Mar 6th 2014, 12:23 AM

    And get completely over run in midfield with just two holding central midfielders? Your robbing Paul to pay…

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    Mute Simon Brogan
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    Mar 6th 2014, 12:56 AM

    One Holding Midfielder should suffice.
    Goals win Games, we already tried the overly conservative approach remember.

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    Mute Noel Howley
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    Mar 6th 2014, 8:23 AM

    Barcelona can play up to 6 midfielders but you wouldn’t accuse them of being conservative, it’s just modern football, just cos you plonk 2 strikers on the pitch doesn’t make you more attacking necessarily, sure look at traps teams before

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    Mute Lee Smith
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    Mar 6th 2014, 2:16 AM

    Mcgeady is an absolute dud, always has been.

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    Mute Stephen Blake
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    Mar 5th 2014, 11:05 PM

    I found it disappointing when they seemed to be on an attack…. They turned back and gave the ball back to Forde instead of bringing a midfielder Into play? Forde then proceeded to hoof the ball and it generally landed to the opposition. I thought they were going to be using the wing backs and working the ball out? I suppose they were too complacent when they tried that too tho…

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    Mute Hughie O'Donnell
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    Mar 5th 2014, 10:30 PM

    Is Roy still assistant manager ?, nothing on sky yet.

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    Mute Alan Carroll
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    Mar 6th 2014, 8:03 AM

    We have a collection of very average players. Keane, Dunne and O’Shea are still needed in the first 11 if we’re to make Euro 16.

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    Mute Donie Daniel Courtney
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    Mar 6th 2014, 2:26 PM

    Irish football has declined rapidly since 2002. John Delaney should have been sacked after the Kerr,Staunton and Trap disasters. It reflects Irish Society as a whole with inept people in power every time.

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    Mute Bill Spencer
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    Mar 6th 2014, 6:21 AM

    Shane Long had a great game! Great goal. A one on one with a keeper does not mean an automatic goal! If we make chances and convert 1 in 3 – happy days

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    Mute Fergal Ward
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    Mar 6th 2014, 5:51 PM

    Serbia have 5 champions league players we have zilch be grateful we haven’t got to face them in euro 2016 qualifers

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    Mute jimjoryrt
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    Mar 6th 2014, 5:27 AM

    Laughable nonsense, time to just forget about this excuse of a sport

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    Mute Donie Daniel Courtney
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    Mar 6th 2014, 2:29 PM

    Just look a Longs celebration after he scored his goal as if he was Messi or something then goes and misses 2 sitters due to inflated ego

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    Mute Donie Daniel Courtney
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    Mar 6th 2014, 2:34 PM

    Charlton and Trap did not trust Irish players technical skills and decision making. I think they were right sadly. O’Neill will do the same after watching that crap last night.

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