ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE: Kick-off, Saturday 2.30pm unless stated.
DIVISION 1A:
SHANNON (9th) v TERENURE COLLEGE (10th), Thomond Park back pitch, 1.30pm
An earlier kick-off due to Munster’s PRO14 clash with Zebre sees the bottom two go head-to-head as Shannon, who are without their Under-20 Grand Slam-winning half-backs Jake Flannery and Craig Casey, take on a rejuvenated Terenure College side.
Hosting Terenure for the first time in five years, Shannon need to recapture the form they showed in October’s 41-14 victory at Lakelands Park as five defeats on the bounce have sent them down to ninth place. ‘Nure trail them by four points following three recent bonus point wins, albeit all of them were at home.
Former Ireland U-20 international Matthew Byrne was back on the scoresheet for ‘Nure against UCC, bagging a brace to take his try haul to eight. His match-up at full-back against Shannon’s Jamie McGarry will be one to watch, as will the battle between captains Jade Kriel and Michael Melia in the engine room.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 22, 2014: Shannon 5 Terenure College 24, Thomond Park back pitch; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Terenure College 14 Shannon 41, Lakelands Park
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Shannon: LWWLWLLLWWLLLLL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Shannon: Points: Jake Flannery 69; Tries: Jake Flannery, Eathon Moloney, Pa Ryan 4 each; Terenure College: Points: James Thornton 68; Tries: Matthew Byrne 8
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY (4th) v CORK CONSTITUTION (1st), College Park
Holding onto that final play-off place, Dublin University have Garryowen breathing down their necks again. Teenage winger Ronan Quinn has grasped his opportunity for Trinity with two tries in three outings, while U-20 Grand Slam winners Rob Russell and Ryan Baird are set to start tomorrow on the right wing and in the second row respectively.
The biggest test of all comes in the form of Cork Constitution, who could wrap up top spot and a home semi-final with another winning performance in the capital. They fired a big warning shot with their seven-try dismissal of Lansdowne and make just two changes for tomorrow’s game, adding Dylan Murphy and Sean Duffy to the tight five.
Worryingly for the chasing pack, Con’s senior coach Paul Barr only rated the performance as an eight-out-of-ten. Ever the driver of high standards, he said it ‘was the best we’ve seen this season’ performance-wise, praising the collective work-rate as ‘the scores came from exciting rugby but it’s all underpinned by very hard work from everyone, one to 15′.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 3, 2018: Cork Constitution 41 Dublin University 6, Temple Hill; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Cork Constitution 24 Dublin University 13, Temple Hill
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Dublin University: LDLWWWLWLLWWWWL; C
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Dublin University: Points: James Fennelly 99; Tries: Colm Hogan, Giuseppe Coyne 4 each; Cork Constitution: Points: Aidan Moynihan 122; Tries: JJ O’Neill 7
GARRYOWEN (5th) v CLONTARF (2nd), Dooradoyle
The Cara Cup will impact on both coaches’ selections here. Clontarf’s Sean O’Brien and Declan Adamson both lined out for Connacht Eagles in Weymouth in the last week, and while O’Brien is marked absent tomorrow, the Light Blues will need to keep close tabs on centres Michael Courtney and Matt D’Arcy who have scored three tries each in as many games.
With their penalty try-winning scrum turning the screw and scrum half Rob Guerin impressing, Garryowen came good in the second half against UCD to win for the first time in three rounds. It is almost twelve months to the day of their 35-30 bonus point success at ‘Tarf, during which versatile young forward Diarmuid Barron touched down twice.
Clontarf have fared well against Limerick opposition in the top flight this season, winning five out of five against Young Munster, Garryowen and Shannon so far.
However, Conan Doyle’s side are sure to have a few things up their sleeve as they look to banish memories of October’s disappointing 28-10 defeat to ‘Tarf.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 24, 2018: Clontarf 30 Garryowen 35, Castle Avenue; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Clontarf 28 Garryowen 10, Castle Avenue
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Garryowen: WWLLLWWWWLWWL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Garryowen: Points: Peadar Collins 71; Tries: Diarmuid Barron 7; Clontarf: Points: David Joyce 91; Tries: Matt D’Arcy 8
LANSDOWNE (3rd) v UCD (6th), Aviva Stadium back pitch
It is neck-and-neck between Lansdowne and Clontarf in the battle for a home semi-final, with the headquarters club slipping to third place after leaking seven tries to Cork Con. For the visit of mid-table UCD, Leinster’s Ronan Kelleher returns at hooker with Tom Murphy and Willie Fay added to the back row.
Centre Conor Murphy and scrum half James Kenny complete the five personnel changes to the side that lost 49-17 on Leeside. Mike Ruddock’s men won the corresponding fixture with the students last season, triumphing 46-30 with scrum half Alan Bennie helping himself to a hat-trick of tries.
UCD are in a dangerous spot as successive home losses leave them 10 points outside of the top four and just five above the relegation zone. Andy Skehan’s charges faltered at crucial stages against Garryowen last time out, although young flanker Jonny Guy caught the eye with a cracking try and an abrasive all-round display.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 9, 2017: Lansdowne 46 UCD 30, Aviva Stadium back pitch; Friday, October 19, 2018: UCD 6 Lansdowne 20, Belfield Bowl
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Lansdowne: LLWWWWWWWWLWL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Lansdowne: Points: Scott Deasy 80; Tries: Peter Sullivan 10; UCD: Points: Conall Doherty 48; Tries: Andy Marks 7
UCC (8th) v YOUNG MUNSTER (7th), the Mardyke
Young Munster climbed above UCC a fortnight ago and aim to put further distance between the teams tomorrow. However, the Cork students have played most of their best rugby this season at home and are determined to add the Cookies to the scalps of Trinity, Lansdowne and Shannon.
UCC are boosted by the return of Munster Academy talent Jack O’Sullivan, who makes his first start since a cruciate knee ligament injury sidelined him for last summer’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship. He features at number 8 and Brian Walsh also brings in Mark Bissessar at blindside flanker.
As the end of the regular season comes into view, there is a furious scrap for points with Munsters gunning for their maiden away victory after going very close recently at both UCD and Lansdowne. Their powerful scrum and maul provided the platform for October’s three-try 23-17 success against UCC in Greenfields.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 6, 2010: UCC 12 Young Munster 14, the Mardyke; Friday, October 19, 2018: Young Munster 23 UCC 17, Tom Clifford Park
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: UCC: LLLLLLWLLWWLLWL; Yo
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – UCC: Points: James Taylor 125; Tries: Ryan Murphy 7; Young Munster: Points: Clayton Stewart 49; Tries: Darragh O’Neill 5
DIVISION 1B:
BALLYNAHINCH (2nd) v OLD BELVEDERE (7th), Ballymacarn Park
Ballynahinch are one of the clubs hardest hit by the Ulster ‘A’ team’s involvement in the Cara Cup, losing seven players to the Stateside tournament as well as prop Tom O’Toole who is on the Ulster bench tomorrow. ‘Hinch’s strength-in-depth will certainly be tested as they aim for a fourth straight win.
Seventh-placed Old Belvedere are looking for a quick-fire Ulster double after edging out Malone 15-12 last time out. Full-back Joe White, centre David Butler and hooker Ed Rossiter are the three changes in personnel, with Toby Robinson reverting to the left wing. Jack Keating, the division’s top try scorer with 11 tries, completes the back-three.
‘Belvo won 16-13 on their most recent visit to Ballymacarn Park last April, but they were second best when the sides met in the capital in October when ‘Hinch locks James Simpson and Bradley Luney, who is one of the players away in Boston, both crossed for tries in a 32-17 bonus point triumph.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, April 14, 2018: Ballynahinch 13 Old Belvedere 16, Ballymacarn Park; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Old Belvedere 17 Ballynahinch 32, Anglesea Road
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Ballynahinch: LDWWLWWLWL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Ballynahinch: Points: Johnny McPhillips 39; Tries: Rhys O’Donnell 6; Old Belvedere: Points: Steve Crosbie 110; Tries: Jack Keating 11
BANBRIDGE (6th) v NAAS (5th), Rifle Park
It will be a proud moment for centre Johnny Little tomorrow as he makes his 150th All-Ireland League appearance for Banbridge, who had a strong second half to thank for their 31-27 derby defeat of Ballymena. Provincial commitments, including the absence of U-20 Grand Slam winners Callum Reid and David McCann, mean there will be a number of changes.
Out-half Josh Cromie has recovered from an ankle injury and could line out against Naas play-maker Peter Hastie, who helped the Cobras overcome Old Wesley 7-5 in a gripping encounter. That result moved Johne Murphy’s men back into the top half of the table, leaving them just a point outside of the top four with Banbridge only a further point back.
Bann Chairman Robert Ervine said: “We need to win this next game to get out of the dogfight (with only two points separating us from the bottom two). Our final three fixtures are against teams in the same position as ourselves so we’ll focus now on the Naas game – it’s most definitely another ‘must-win’ for us.”
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 24, 2018: Naas 31 Banbridge 40, Forenaughts; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Naas 16 Banbridge 20, Forenaughts
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Banbridge: LWWWLLWLLWWLL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Banbridge: Points: Adam Doherty 78; Tries: Peter Cromie 7; Naas: Points: Peter Osborne 117; Tries: Andy Ellis 8
OLD WESLEY (1st) v BUCCANEERS (9th), Energia Park, Donnybrook
Two of the losing clubs from the last round will be looking to make amends tomorrow. Reinforcing a defence which conceded seven tries to Ballynahinch is top of Buccaneers’ agenda, and the Pirates will draw confidence from their October meeting with Old Wesley which resulted in a dominant 41-14 win.
However, Wesley have won eight of their 12 games since then and are currently leading the promotion race on scoring difference. Their spread of try scorers between backs and forwards shows the potency and variety of their attack, with Cork-born number 8 Paul Derham stepping up with two tries in the last three matches.
The Cara Cup has cut Buccs’ selection options but they should be able to field a similar side to the one that went down 43-24 to ‘Hinch, with Connacht’s Eoghan Masterson leading a combative back row. Nonetheless, Wesley should have too much firepower for the midlanders on their fast track in Donnybrook.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 11, 2017: Buccaneers 36 Old Wesley 14, Dubarry Park; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Buccaneers 41 Old Wesley 14, Dubarry Park
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Old Wesley: WDLWLWLWWWLWWWL; Bucca
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Old Wesley: Points: Rory Stynes 133; Tries: Paul Harte 5; Buccaneers: Points: Luke Carty 106; Tries: Shane Layden 5
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MALONE (4th) v CITY OF ARMAGH (3rd), Gibson Park
Malone want a performance and result to match the positivity surrounding the news that former Ulster and Ireland back rower Chris Henry will coach the Cregagh Red Sox next season. It will be fascinating to see what division they will be in when Henry takes the reins from the popular Paddy Armstrong.
Three successive defeats have moved Malone down to fourth spot, with only a four-point gap to the relegation zone. With the Cara Cup impacting on his selection, Armstrong has added the fit-again Rory Campbell, their top scorer with 75 points, and Shane Kelly to the back-line and promoting forwards Dan Kerr and Ryan Clarke from the bench.
With a cleaner bill of health than most of their rivals, City of Armagh boss Willie Faloon is unlikely to make many changes to the team that put five tries and 39 points on St. Mary’s College. Competition for places is seriously high with Andrew Willis, Daryl Morton, Robert Whitten, Oisin Kiernan and Andrew Smyth all back in contention this week.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 3, 2018: City of Armagh 18 Malone 34, Palace Grounds; Saturday, October 20, 2018: City of Armagh 32 Malone 3, Palace Grounds
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Malone: WWLWWWLLLWWWLLL;
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Malone: Points: Rory Campbell 75; Tries: Rory Campbell, Peter Cooper 4 each; City of Armagh: Points: Cormac Fox 68; Tries: Neil Faloon 5
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE (8th) v BALLYMENA (10th), Templeville Road
Bottom side Ballymena have really struggled for continuity this season and they are hit injuries and unavailability again this week. As an example, four of their starting forwards from the last round are absent tomorrow, including Ulster call-up Clive Ross and the Ulster ‘A’-tied JJ McKee and Marcus Rea, the club captain.
Rodger McBurney is back to full fitness to start at full-back for the Braidmen, who have Phil Campbell packing down at number 8 and Eoin Ritson and Sam Miller filling the wing berths. It is win or bust for Andy Graham’s men with second-from-bottom Buccs 14 points ahead of them.
Like many of their divisional rivals, St. Mary’s are in the limbo area between challenging for the promotion play-offs and staving off relegation. Steven Hennessy’s charges have followed a defeat with a win on the last two occasions, and the Templeville Road factor certainly tips this one in their favour.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 6, 2016: Ballymena 12 St. Mary’s College 15, Eaton Park; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Ballymena 40 St. Mary’s College 22, Eaton Park
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: St. Mary’s College: WLLWLWWWLLLWLWL; Ball
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – St. Mary’s College: Points: Conor Dean 69; Tries: Hugo Conway 4; Ballymena: Points: Tim Small 113; Tries: Connor Smyth 5
Division 2A
Blackrock College v Navan (Tonight, 8pm)
Nenagh Ormond v UL Bohemians (Tonight, 8pm)
Galwegians v Queen’s University
Highfield v Cashel RFC
Old Crescent v Dolphin
Division 2B
Skerries v Wanderers (Tonight, 8pm)
Belfast Harlequins v Dungannon
Rainey OB v Greystones
Sundays Well v Galway Corinthians
Sligo MU Barnhall
Division 2C
Bangor v Midleton
Bruff v Tullamore
Malahide v Ballina
Omagh v Thomond
Seapoint v City of Derry
Murray Kinsella and Andy Dunne dissect Ireland’s disappointing Six Nations campaign, and discuss the pros and cons of rugby’s new law proposals in the latest episode of The42 Rugby Weekly:
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Why does John Delaney get paid €430,000 a year?
Because he’s the head of a football association that works tirelessly to maintain top quality and entertaining domestic leagues…..oh sh!t hold on a sec…
Its combination all the same ingredients..a lad with a chip on his shoulder…and a lad with a steady logic…a potential master stroke….lets see what happens…well done to all involoved…
Idiots are the best paid people in Ireland….Simple.
Because he wont make many phone calls
Id love to be an idiot.
Tubirdy would never have the guts to ask him that or else he would have to try in vain to justify his own ridiculously bloated salary.
Funny how people are disliking your comment. What has he actually done that’s worth that amount of money. He doesnt even discuss the LOI problems
its the curse of the irish,we wont put you in power or elect you unless your a complete corrupt incompetent leech with gombeen tendencies !!!
Look at that…two grossly overpaid, underperforming tw@ts having a chat..and it’s apparently called entertainment…
DANGER DANGER*****Moan alert****DANGER DANGER
Absolute muppet. The man doesn’t give a shit about the league of Ireland. Stood by as clubs like Kilkenny and Kildare went under. Not to mention the joke that was sporting fingal
Appetite for League of Ireland football simply isn’t there beyond Rovers, Sligo and at a push Derry and Cork. Club football will never compete with rugby and gaelic games on this island, for an island of only 6million people something has to lag behind.
And as long as we have that English league to gawk at across the water where Irish people descend on in their thousands each week, LOI will go nowhere..
Still isn’t an excuse for the head of football in this country to let the league fall to pieces.
And dublin city
Fair enough. Sadly the majority on this island don’t care about the league, its always been the same (since I was growing up) and if something doesn’t drastically change then it will be always be the same.
Monaghan, Various cork and Galway teams… The list goes on
Ye I’m aware of that. My point is that thick Delaney should do more for the league. If he doesn’t care then let it be independently run again because since the FAI took over it hasn’t done much at all
Cork and Galway? The clubs with the debts? They brought their demise about themselves. Situation in Galway is a joke though.
Winners of the LOI receive €100,000. What chance do clubs have in developing and keeping talented young players when they don’t have 2 pennies to rub together. Sad state of affairs when players leave for League 2 or non league football in England instead of premier league football here. Serious investment is needed in each county.
The appetite not being there surely should highlight his pay packet being slashed
Winners of the league only get 100k? And he gets 430k. What an absolute joke. The new management team are getting what 2 million a year. How much is o brien contributing?
We live in a capitalist country; if teams can’t survive and if the game can’t attract sponsors John is not totally to blame. If he can turn two failed managers living on past glory into a dream team that’ll rake in €€€s while getting someone else to pay for it; job done.
Why did my comment get deleted?
Agreed. Blaming the FAI for clubs who get into debt is misguided!!
David. Yet another gem from you. How can clubs not be in debt when the league winners get 100k in prize money. You are some peach.
Cork City was run into the ground by false ownership. A bunch of nameless gangsters and subsequently another gangster called Tom Coughlan. Which is precisely where the FAI should have been stepping in to stop these kind of lads from ruining clubs. I’ll give you Galway United. Run by local business men who were raking it in during the boom times and left when it went sour.
GAA ruined it for us! Imaging where we could have been if we had no armature shite like that
Did you ever notice how plonkers like that are usually also illiterate?
Anyone remember Thurles town
Delaneys salary is 4 times higher than the prize money for League of Ireland.
So John Delaneys basic salary is 4 times what the league winners receive God knows what he puts on his FAI credit card.This guy is so overpaid it makes my blood boil.
Seriously how is the league meant to develop when that cretin gets paid over four times what the winner gets. You should see the prize money on offer to each club, it is absolute pittance, so of course there are going to money issues. Delaneys legacy of the Irish football league in the last decade has seen Kildare County, Kilkenny, Dublin City, Sporting Fingal, Monaghan, Galway and Cobh all go under and Cork City, Shelbourne and Derry City relegated because they nearly went under. Add in Shamrock Rovers, Drogheda, Bohemians and Dundalk amongst others that have had serious financial difficulties and you realise how precarious life is as a senior football club in Ireland.
Obviously some of these problems have being the fault of the clubs only but the FAI just do not seem to care, and have let clubs go under without saying a word. Compare this to when there were problems with Portsmouth, and the reactions of the FA to the crisis and you really understand how pathetic the FAI are in their dealings with their national league. This is Delaney’s legacy of senior football in our country. It was sickening to watch that interview last night, we are at our lowest world rankings ever and our last campaign was our most abysmal I can ever remember yet the way Tubridy and Delaney were acting you would swear Irish football is in a great place. Here’s hoping Roy and Martin can turn it around but with Delaney in charge the Irish league is never going to develop.
Couldn’t of put it better myself.
MarkMurph1 – That a lazy attitude.
They’re lots of countries with a similar population to Ireland that have allot more professional sports to contend with be-it netball, basketball, winter sports, etc & still manage to have clubs participating in the europa & chapions league.
In essence their are only 3 professional clubs in Irl Leinster, Munster, connacth & to a certain extant ulster!
Snug-clown who hasn’t the balls to sign in his own name!! What about the teams that have gone in to receivership? The league is not their mammy and daddy!! They have a responsibility to run themselves properly and with proper financial planning behind whatever they do!! Blame the FAI on clubs going bankrupt?? That’s rich!! Even if the prize money was more than 100k do remember only one team can win it!! So then the bottom clubs get nothing and still go into receivership? You are an absolute clown!! So why not do everyone a favour and let the adults speak little boy!!
In fairness, he comes across as a genuinely nice fella and people who have met and interacted with him have said the same.. But there is no justification for the mans salary and some of the decisions he has made as chief of the FAI.. What I will say though, he and the association (with the helping hand of a certain fella) have delivered this time round with what I hope turns out to be a quality management setup for our senior side!
Keane was dead right about Saipan, not sure if he did the right thing though
prepared to be corrected on this , but I think he wanted to retract and Mick wouldn’t let him back …
I have the height of respect for both men by the way ; true warriors ; they were bound to fall out ; shame it was just before we had the best chance of ever winning a world cup …. and if you don’t believe me look at Roy Keane in the semi-final of the champions league .
He would have killed Spain in the last sixteen and then the rest would have just went home !
I think Keane regrets Saipan deep down. He knows he blew a once in a lifetime chance there by going home. Plus he could easily have apologised to the squad and gone back out but he was too stubborn. I reckon if he has his time all over again he would have done it differently.
but I thought he did look to get back and they said no that the paperwork was done the replacement was called in ……
It was more confusing than the seanad abolition at the time….
Come of it, we were never going to win that World Cup
Keano,keano, keano! Can’t stand Delaney, my skin crawls when I see or hear him uggh!
Roy Keane is now a parody, he has become what he hated so much in football a has been who rolls around the media circus and is always ready to drop a quote to the same media he despised when he was younger. I wonder also is this managerial selection a plot by Dermot Desmond to give his today fm gift grub team enough ideas for the next 30 years ?
wow ; well done Mr. Delaney , you have gone up in my estimation …
not that my estimation counts for a hill of beans but fair play !
To be honest dermot. Even the wife said earlier, “you hate john delaney” but this quote made me view him in a different light. But his wages are massively still too high.
I am exactly with you on that Leslie …… in every sense !
Shall we question Sepp Blatter and go into bungs? ……….. Nah , to hell with it John Delaney is Irish and most of us would jump at 400,000 ; wouldn’t myself personally but there you have it !
Of course we’d love that money. But don’t be putting him too far from blatter
Minions ; still tonight he is good, so …………….vive la diifference !
Keano is gonna get ya John lol
John Delaney – who?
ROY KEANE = LEGEND!
….end of discussion….
Legend is his own lunch time.
anyone that questions Roy keane as a sportsman or a man is braver than that misguided idiot who thought he could insult Zinedine Zidanes mother just because the world was watching ; we know how that happened ; Zidane walked off the pitch as the greatest man to ever play football in a world cup final !
Respect your right to type it though !
Hi Dermot!
Well, I’ll always question Keane as a man because he turned his back on his team. Whatever about the timing of when he did it, or if you think he was pushed out – fact is Roy Keane decided that Roy Keane would not play for Ireland in the 2002 World Cup. Nobody else made that decision. For that reason I’ll never respect him as a man.
To compare Keane to Zidane is gas. Zidane is known worldwide to have been one of the best ever players, while Keane is well known (and not exactly universally loved) just in Ireland and the UK – the rest of the world doesn’t care about Roy Keane.
Still hope the new Irish management brings the best out of this team though.
@Roy
1999 juventus vs United – a very young Roy Keane played zidane and Davids off the pitch, the golf in class between them isnt as big as you suggest.
I was only 5 years old do I didn’t watch it live but I watched lots of documentaries about it on YouTube. Im an arsenal fan and Keane isnt exactly loved by us but even we can see he was a world class player, probably best ever to play for Ireland
Get real Dermot!! Keane v Zidane? You on drugs? Zidane I do love but in no way is he better than Maradona!! Really…. You were having a laugh right?? Right??
That’s the worst bullsh*t comment I’ve seen in a long long time, what happened at Saipan was simple, McCarthy and a click of the senior players were delighted that they got to one more major tournament, keane got them there and that was enough they felt they didn’t need him anymore, his performances against Portugal and holland were the best Ireland will ever see, so they were happy wit ther lot and jealousy of keanes success was a lot to do wit accusing him of faking injury and signalling him out as an individual? Keane being the warrior he is wouldn’t lie down and they got there way, he had a change of heart and he was told too late?? Ppl come on giving out about Roy then, ppl who don’t really understand football and have an ignorance about there attitude, keano was the best in the world at his job, a general on the field, minding his back four as well as driving the team forward, chipping in wit plenty of importand goals hard tackling, had the boldness to go in to the backyard of European giants like juve inter barca bayern and hurt them, scholes giggs beckham Neville’s and more relied on keanes unbelievable drive and belief and he is known worldwide and many top European managers and players have pointed him out as the player they wud like to have in there team, juve in 1999 was probably his finest hour or holland in 2001, Irish ppl are so bitter about keane, most of them anti-united, well keanes is Ireland’s most successful player and will never be surpassed
PAF – I’m not denying Keane was a fantastic player, he was brilliant at what he did, the best in the world in his day. I just don’t think he was in the same league as Zidane.
For me it’ll always come back to this: Who decided Roy Keane wasn’t gonna play that World Cup? If your answer isn’t Roy Keane, I think you’re wrong.
What makes you think I’m ignorant about football? Because my opinion opposes yours? Nah I’m not that ignorant to be honest and im sure you’re not either.
Materazzi didn’t seem misguided? He intended to get Zidane sent off which he achieved.
Well said PAF, well said..
Whatever you think of Keane, the fact is he was SENT home from Saipan: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/team_pages/rep_of_ireland/newsid_2003000/2003681.stm
Wasn’t Delaney just the treasurer of the FAI during Saipan? What business would he had ringing Keane during the whole thing?
Who was the CEO in 2002? My understanding is that Delaney was acting as ‘front of house’… There’s a gap between Bernard O’Byrne stepping down (2001) and Fran Rooney stepping up (2003) that I cannot figure out.
I want an Irish team to go to a European championships and do a Denmark ; have a really good time , play a few games of football and then see what happens !
I also want 10 Roy Keanes on the team so my ultimate combination of soccer dreams can never happen……. woe is me for me dreaming !
Roy Keane against Portugal in Landsdowne Road ; had the pleasure of treating my eyes to that one live ! Never any greater commitment; unquestionable and talent sublime.
Anyone but into the theory that Alex Ferguson destroyed POTENTIALLY one of Ireland’s greatest ever attacking midfielders by giving Roy the defensive mid-field role ; He was awesome at Forest when given the run of the pitch by Clough !
there are 2 options witht he theory above yes one can but into it or they can if they wish buy into it ….for a free fee !
Eh dermot. Keane only scored 22 in 114 for Forest. And the reason he played deeper at united from 95? Paul scholes. Only one of the most ingenious attacking midfielders in the history of world football. Could scholes have played deep? No. So it had to be keane.
He does seem like a likeable person. Whatever happens, it would appear that the overly generous salaries of the Celtic tiger period have yet to be dealt with. The fans have taken a big hit. It’s time the executives did too.
Did you see that the Bondholders have upped their interest in Iris sport they told Enda and co. to up the rates on Landsdowne Road ! extra million or something ….
Try as I might, I can’t decipher your response.
Oh yeah blame enda and the bondholders. It’s all their fault.
Alot more than an extra million, over 500% rates increase according to the sindo… Jeez if we thought they were broke before they are screwed now… Wonder if DOB will pick up the tab for that too?
…what?
*probably
In fairness to John Delaney you could be quite sure that Keane would’ve told Delaney to &%#^ himself & hung up if he had rang him.
That sap is on 400’000 a year…..
So what? It’s a business and profitable!! Not his fault we have a lack of talent!! Football is cyclical!!
David what are you on about? The FAI are haemorrhaging money year after year and need Denis o Brien to help pay the wages. Cop on to yourself.
It’s profitable you fool!! Look at its p&l for FY11/12!! Don’t speak before you know what the hell you are on about you twit!!
I know you….don,t I
That’s right David profitable if you count the contribution that Denis O’Brien has made and that they are only paying interest on debt owing to their main bankers Danske.
In other words, profitable but not profitable enough and relying on the support of their banker.
In case you think I’m supporting your view David.. I’m not…
Have a look at the accounts again – https://www.fai.ie/images/FAI_AR_2012.pdf
Correct the FAI recorded a small surplus of 25k after handing out grant monies etc. The balance sheet tells a different story. The FAI actually has no cash on the Balance Sheet, if wound up in the morning would not be able to meet its short term liabilities and INCREASED its long term indebtedness during the year! The financial statements of the FAI are in rag order.
The Irish Times also provides a nice synopsis – http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2020-vision-makes-fai-figures-look-all-the-more-daunting-1.1454757
I read elsewhere that the FAI have been paying interest only on debt since 2010 – http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1329962.ece
All the while, John Delaney is on massive bucks whilst presiding over the scariest looking balance sheet I’ve seen in a long time. It’s a national embarrassment.
That guy gets paid more than both the head of the Spanish FA and the Italian FA combined, and you think that’s justifiable? There are kids all around the country getting changed on the side of a pitch in the pissing rain with no showers or toilets because of lack of funding from the FAI..Cop on to yourself!
David…anybody seen or heard from David?hes gone quiet for some reason
Oh and I forgot about this gem… http://www.independent.ie/sport/uefa-give-fai-advanced-payment-to-help-with-aviva-stadium-debt-29331829.html
The IRFU must be pulling their hair out however it’s not as if they don’t have their own problems (http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/irfus-ticket-sales-26m-below-target-29435047.html). They appear to be acting more prudent however.
Mind if the worst case scenario comes to pass (i.e Default), what’s half a stadium worth on ground owned by the IRFU? The hilarious thing is that it could actually play in the FAI’s favour.
What’s the difference between Denis O and a sponsorship? Nothing. So the books are profitable!! Yes ?? Yes!!
Easy knowing you haven’t a clue how to read a set of company accounts.
I struggle to put into words the hatred I have for this man, gets paid more than the head of the Italian FA & the head of the Spanish FA & Ireland has one of the poorest leagues in Europe. How he can he justify his wage is beyond me.
i would do that job for €419,000
The League of Ireland should be re-invented with just ten teams, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Galway, Athlone, Dundalk, Sligo, Derry and two Dublin teams and the involvement in European competitions that would come with them..
Organise the amateur leagues around them as feeders rather being in competition with them.
Develop further the Under 19 competitions, to give decent players a showcase.
Make deeper links with continental clubs to improve their skills, dumping them into the lower levels of the premiership, never mind the rubbish level of championship and Scottish football destroys good players.
So two of Bohs, Shels, Pats, Rovers and Ucd would always be in a lower league. Genius. Unbelievable.
Roy Keane should tog out himself and leave that other Keane lad sitting on the sideline..Or throw in Bernard Brogan for the Latvia Game to give him a run..
If Roy was right about you Sapian ( which i believe he was) but if you u believe that all ur credibility is gone which questions why are you still in ur job?
He’s a very slimy creature altogether, one of Ireland’s biggest “yes men”, he’d sell his own mother down the river
It’s soccer a sport for brain dead idiots
Football*
Y U NO SPIK INGLES!
He never cheats he never lies
John delaney hes a lovely guy
The FAI are like the MaFFia ,when bertie was in comand.
Refreshing to see someone being paid a lot of money to do f##k all admitting he is a tool.
The FAI is a shambles. John Delaney earning €430, 000 , and for what exactly? ?? Better investing that money in the clubs around the country to benefit youngsters who play football. If we want an Irish team to advance in the future there needs to be more emphasis on club level soccer & not on the wages of management.
You can appoint whoever you want to manage Ireland, but at the end of the day it’s the players that win the matches and Ireland just doesn’t have the players
They have some good players, and if the new management builds a system around those players then who knows, maybe they’ll be a decent team.
Trapattoni had one system in mind and forced it, hoping the players would be good enough. Didn’t work, and that’s why we are where we are now.
I’m excited for the next few games. We have everybody riiiiiiiiiiight where we want them. We’ll come good yet. All goin to heaven lads waaaaaaayy
It’s all getting a bit too much for me.
The man is a parasite, he has more interest in lining his pockets than improving Irish football. The national team and domestic league will never get better as long as he’s in charge.
I’m delighted with the new Management team but I feel for Mick McCarthy – I reckon he feels very betrayed
Love him or hate him. It takes a lot to admit you are wrong , unlike that egotistical butch in the revenue.
It suits him to admit he was ‘wrong’… Delaney would have never given Roy the mgrs job. Even so, it must have been a fair kick in the teeth when he heard his main man wanted to bring in Roy as assistant…
I agree he is overpaid but the league of Ireland is a weak excuse. The support and interest just isn’t there and never will be with the level we need when you have the premiership across the pond and when it’s on all TV stations. Don’t believe the media all the time as it might surprise you John Delaney is the most successful CEO in their history.