IRELAND AS A country has been seriously impacted by the coronavirus crisis and in many instances, footballers are no exception to these problems.
Before the pandemic, Áine O’Gorman was coming off the back of a good few weeks.
She had come out of international retirement, after an absence of over a year. She helped Ireland secure important wins over Greece and Montenegro, boosting their chances of qualifying for the Euros in the process, as they now sit top of Group I, one point above second-place Germany, who have a game in hand.
O’Gorman’s Peamount side were also due to start the Women’s National League season on the weekend beginning 14 March, but all plans have recently been put on hold because of Covid-19.
Yet a lack of football is not the only major change for O’Gorman. She also works as a personal trainer, and like many people, has seen her business effected in recent weeks.
“A lot of the gyms closed last week, which is understandable,” she tells The42. “Obviously a lot of clients are on hold, but it is what it is. A lot of businesses throughout the country and throughout the world have been massively impacted. I think we’re all in this together and it’s obviously for the best in terms of the health and well-being of everyone.
“I sent my PT clients some home workouts they can do and I’m doing a little bit of work with the Dublin City Sport and Well-Being Partnership, online stuff that will be rolled out over the coming while, so that’s kept me a bit busy too.”
And does the 30-year-old Wicklow native have any advice for those looking to maintain good fitness levels in these unusual times?
“As long as you’re well, it’s important to keep a little bit of routine and get the whole family involved if you’re at home and get a bit of exercise done. Obviously it’s hard with people working from home, kids being at home as well. I’m a better person after I’ve exercised, so I think it’s really important for your physical and mental health to stay active.
“Everything is quite individual at the moment. But everyone is in the same boat and you just have to get on with it. I still managed to get out to Enniskerry this morning. There was no one out there at nine o’clock going onto the pitch and I could do some runs and ball work and stuff like that. That’s where I’m at at the moment. And then just doing some strength and conditioning at home.
“I haven’t really been that bored yet. I’ve been keeping myself busy and always have something to do every day. I’ve been doing a bit of work out in the garden — it’s great having the nice weather.”
In terms of football, it’s been similarly frustrating. Having undergone part of pre-season and nearly been set to kick off the campaign, she has suddenly been forced to stop again.
With the Irish team too, there is no chance to build on the momentum created by the victories earlier this month.
An upcoming match with group rivals Germany has been postponed, while a game away to Ukraine, due to take place on 5 June, is far from certain to go ahead.
Though it has yet to be officially confirmed, there is strong speculation that the Women’s Euros, scheduled to take place in the summer of 2021 in England, will be moved to avoid clashing with the men’s Euros. A report in the Telegraph yesterday suggested it would be pushed back to 2022.
I don’t know what’s happening,” O’Gorman says. “We just got told that the match against Germany won’t be going ahead for the time being. We’re just going to focus on qualifying, but the more they push it out, the older I’m going to get, so that doesn’t help, does it?
“The men’s Euros moving to 2021 is a good decision to make, especially when it’s spread across the 12 cities. It’ll be a really good boost when it does come around for the Irish public, hopefully the lads can qualify as well.
“I don’t know if [the women's event will] get moved back a year. It might have to, to get all the qualifying games out of the way and proper preparation done. But once we’re in the Euros, I don’t care when it is.”
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Sure why wouldn’t he take it.Any gobsh cd do that job.No competition for the league, decent run in champions lge if they qualify n gettin well paid for it.Its a no brainer really.Cushy job!!
Yeah ….but Glasgow????
Celtic will do well to qualify for the CL for the next few seasons. Between last season and this, they’ve lost quite a few good players.
The Sevco half will be gunning for Keane if he does become manager….I remain skeptical about all of this though.
Yeah and the league of ireland is so much better, ARSE
Gunning for him? Like he going give a hoot ;)
What is sevco? I see it a lot recently but what is it? Rangers I presume.
Anyone can do the job???????
Tell john Barnes and tony Mowbary that
Sevco was the company name for the tribute act company before they renamed to imitate the club that existed as Rangers 1872-2012.
Sevco is Charles Green’s company that bought the business.
Its the basket case that was thrown together in the aftermath of the once mighty Rankers following their epic fiddling of their majesty’s revenue, with the embezzled season ticket monies that Mr. White claimed came from Prince Albert of Monaco and wait for it, a certain Mr.Green claimed was never recieved and is still resting in Mr. Blue’s account or was it Mr. Orange’s!?! Either way, it’s almost enough schadenfreude to put an immigrant peasant off their half time jelly and ice-cream of a balmy Wednesday evening in the Camp Nou….well nearly….NOT!!
Thank yous :)
And it’s a step up from where he is at the moment. He’d be a full time manager not a part time assistant . That’s where football men want to be .
Why? Roy Keane this is the man that signed El Hadji Diouf that’s enough to rule you out ever managing again.
Kinda happened to houllier all right
Keane would never walk out on his country… Oh wait
While Hoops favourite Henrik Larsson……..??
Taxi for author Adrian!
Keano, Arsenal legend!
It’s as if the media are doing their level best to cause him to leave Ireland and balls up Martin’s time as manager. Keane already ruled himself out ffs
It’s a long wait until our first competitive match, I can see them both crack up and leave before that
He didnt rule himself out..”if they call i will have to listen” and how will it balls anything up? Martin O Neill is no Trappatoni and well avle ti look after the Irish fold without Keanes assistance.
To be fair Sean, he didn’t rule himself out entirely. His exact words were “I already have a job”, then when asked would he consider the move, he said” If I got a call I’d listen”.
For the sake of support for him in Ireland, its really not a great move for him to leave.
Allot of people are only getting over the whole Saipan crap now, so for him to walk out of the setup again would be a PR disaster for him.
He ruled himself out several times….You’re obviously not an Arsenal supporter because your comment was dumb and pointless…COYG
Still pissed from last Saturday week, Sean?
I wouldn’t begrudge RK the Celtic job and I think it would actually suit him.
Walks out on his country…..again.
lol trademark Keane
He is an assistant manager. Have you ever heard of this kind of commotion over an assistant manager POSSIBLY leaving ??
Apparently he’ll be announced as manager tomorrow…
Did Arsenal not win the greatest cup ever Ann, therefore becoming the greatest team that ever existed???
Arsenal! COYG!!!! Phhff Spurs…. hahaha, now what a joke…
Who makes people the favourite? The bookies obviously, they’ll put who ever favourite hope people back him because of the media hype about said favourite and laugh all the way to the bank! Roy Keane won’t take the Celtic job why would he? Its a poison chalice coz if he doesn’t win the league he’ll be the laughing stock of world football as they don’t have any credible opponents where as he has the chance to learn and grow as a manager off one of the best!
I think you fancy me, Graham. ;)
Whatever you decide Roy the very best of luck to you.
As usual he runs off. Has he ever finished a contract ?. Think they call is it ” saipan syndrome “
Didnt know you had to sign a contract for international football !!
Of course you do, as a manager! Its a paid job!
“As usual he runs off”? sure he hasnt signed anything yet stupid
I think the text I was referring to was inferring that he walked out in Saipan whilst under contract
Just shows what you know with that comment
Like you can talk !!
He already ruled it out, what’s making people back him?
Shortened odds will always attract mugs, unless Marty has talked him into it!!
The odds only got shortened because of people backing him, but why are they?. Somebody knows something anyway!
someone put €50 on so in a market about the Celtic manager’s job that equates to a ‘flood’ of money – this is a nonsense story that was dealt with by RK a few days ago but is still being dragged up by the media – are we going to get daily bookies prices on the Celtic manager’s job?
Like bookies never create false favourites to draw in mugs punters who can’t see beyond the ‘fav’!
Mightn’t necessarily be the case in this intance but it’s always worth checking the market breakdown on the exchanges before wading in!
Happy days, Celtic might pay the fai 100 grand to take him and then hopefully the fai might put that into Temple Street children’s hospital
Or give it to our own domestic league
Yea because football in Ireland is more important then children’s health, good man
Well he’s not wrong if you look at the bigger picture. Short term investment in the league could result in a long term gain. Increasing popularity would increase the amount of potential charity the LoI are involved in.
Besides we shouldn’t be relying on football associations to provide funding for a children’s hospital.
FAI aren’t here to give money to children’s hospitals. They’re supposed to be developing Irish football, but they neglect every year to put money into our domestic league; in fact they neglect to do anything that is pushing Ireland to next level.
You’re more.likely to see them pocket the money themselves than to give to a hospital or to LOI
They should give the proceeds to John Delaney as a thank you gift; the chief architect of Ireland’s footballing success over the past decade.
Hang on, hang on.
John Delaneys on 450k a year, don’t be squabbling over a 100gees
100gees? Is this some new form of sexual currency?
Also, where can you exchange it??
I hope he gets the job! He would do well.I’d be sorry to see him go,but surely his career should come first!We can’t keep holding the’His country comes first card’!
Rubbish. He was one of the finest players we have ever produced . In that qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup he was magnificent. He raged against all the odds and led us to the finals eliminating the Dutch in the process . I saw him play against Portugal in direct opposition to Rui Costa and Luis Figo . He put all he had on the line that day and scored the winner . To say he never cared about his country is wrong .
He`d be mad to take the Celtic job.
Both Hearts and Rangers are missing from the Scottish Prem, which were the biggest crowd draws both home and away for Celtic and vice versa, Scottish football is on its knees, almost every club losing money and fans turning their back on it in their droves,soon it will be like the Irish League.
Coupled with the fact that living in Glasgow,managing Celtic will be like living in a goldfish bowl – and i can`t see Roy doing that to his family.He will be expected to win every domestic honour up there and be pilloried if he doesn`t.
No crowds,No transfer funds to speak – why do you think Neil Lennon walked away from the job with no back up plan and nothing lined up?
No Hibs either….may as well leave it to the kids and head south for the Conference….L2….L3 and so on!!
Don’t forget what the man done for us when your spouting all the crap about him leaving. On of the greatest defensive midfielders the WORLD has ever seen. He had an argument and walked out. A valid argument at that. Now Stephen Ireland. … There is one who let us down. Done nothing for the country only gave 2 fingers to us. Keane was the best player we ever had. Robbie would be up there too on his international career but not as a whole. He is entitled to take the job. It happens every day with clubs sacking managers, managers leaving to get a better job and players have no loyalty. You can’t criticise keane for doing what’s Been bred into football the world over.
Celtic fans. Would you not want Larsson instead of Keane?
14-1 on Monday and now 4-6 with bookies. Somebody knows something or think they know something. Bookies as usual not taking any chances after receiving a ‘flood ‘ of money through various channels.
I would agree if he was 1/10, but until bookies stop taking bets, its nowhere near a certainty. Plus, you see 4/6 bets turned over quite a bit, its not that far from evens!
Bookies are in the business of making money, 4/6 is great odds if you a professional gambler and could turn 6grand into 10grand. That said false favorites/sure bets are what make bookies their money.
If he does take it it’ll be the second time he’s walked out on Ireland.
Is getting a job offer walking out ? Don’t think so.
Yes, it is when you have already agreed and signed a contract!
A job offer is not walking out, acceptance of it is.
Ah…of course. Every footballer and manager honours their contracts.
And lets face it !! He is the assistant fooking manager !!!!
Paul – you know the old story about never arguing with idiots?
Good point. Thanks
I dont know a lot about 22 or more clowns kicking an air filled ball for a few hours but I think Keane is one arrogant no manners cheeky sod.
Ya…….you were right !! You dont know much
He’s better off here! Scottish football is pony…comparable to the championship at a push
league 1 more like
Ok blue square premier!
Dermot Desmond will decide what job Keane will have , he owns both.,he,pays,the Bills ! All the speculation means nothing, only money talks in soccer !
This won’t work out. He is bound to fall out with the board over lack of transfer funds available.
He’ll fall out with them because they’re human.
Well that didn’t last long
Walking out on his country again??
NO
No Rangers,Hearts OR Hibs,its hardly challenging,and keane likes a challenge,go ask alf halland,
I hope he stays,if he wants to be manager,he has got to stay as number 2 for a campaign or two
Valid argument or not he still walked out on us all!!!!!!
Agree with u Michael. Would we be surprised if he walked again? A leopard doesn’t change its spots.
mmmmm mixed bag here! Firstly the SPL is at an all time low. I know a good few not renewing season books as the games are pretty bad. Despite the ill informed opinion of many above the current Celtic team SHOULD qualify for the CL with the play off the only real concern. Add the probable return of Rangers, Hibs or Hearts in 12 months time the picture becomes rosier as the crowds and interest will be up. Certainly not a bad job for someone at all. Just not sure its ever going to work out for Keano, who is a legend, as a manager tho. Laslty, google Kevin Mckenna’s article on Neil Lennon and decide yourselves if its a good idea for a fiery Irishman to live in Glasgow
If he walks out on Ireland again, you can forget about it. He needs to commit to the Irish Job for the Euros at the very least.
I just read on sky sports app that some shops suspended betting on RK. He might be going after all.
Good career move. Yes, he’d be expected to win next or near every domestic trophy there is to win, but so be it. I wouldn’t regard it as treachery if he stepped down from the Irish gig; far from it. Better to be Taoiseach than Tanaiste any day.
Throws a hissy fit in Saipan. Won’t play for Brian Kerr. Leaves Sunderland and Ipswich and now poised to walk out on Ireland again. Keano = Legend
Not a chance