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A member of the public fishing in Loch Measca this week. James Crombie/INPHO

Cantona in Dundalk, propaganda in Newcastle and Con: It's the week's best sportswriting

Here’s the best of the internet this week.

1. “The prerequisite for Con Houlihan’s pioneering role in the development of Irish sports writing was his willingness to engage sport without prejudice. A Kerry native who made no secret of his fandom, such personal preferences merely shaped the dialogue. Dogmatism was to be avoided at all costs.”

Arthur James O’Dea celebrates the work of Con Houlihan, on OffTheBall.com.

2.The truth is the Newcastle fans are more bystanders than beneficiaries. Their club has been chosen because 13 years of Ashley austerity meant it was cheaper than some other clubs the Saudis would rather have owned. Newcastle’s prize is to become a host organism, the vehicle for a propaganda agenda that has nothing to do with the supporters and their city.”

For the Irish Times, Ken Early prepares for a new north-east reality when football resumes.

3. “It is very unusual, particularly on an English ground, for a standing ovation to be given for an opposing player. It’s the kind of event you might almost attach to an Anfield night, perhaps because Liverpool are a slightly more emotional kind of a football club. It was a proper standing ovation for Ronaldo. A hat-trick away from home.

An oral history of the night Ronaldo lit up Old Trafford in The Guardian.

4. “Leahy started roaring laughing. So did Tommy Dunne and Brian O’Meara. I got a fit of the giggles then. As the shemozzle was breaking up, four or five lads were falling around laughing in front of nearly 50,000 people.

By that stage, we could have some fun with Tipp at our expense because the wheel had turned full circle. And we were no longer the butt of their jokes.

Any resentment I first formed against Tipp was framed from my experience in St Flannan’s. Most of the Tipp borders were sound lads but you still always detected an underlying lack of respect they had for Clare.”

For The Examiner, Anthony Daly looks back on some inter-county slagging that stayed rooted in fraterity.

5. “Just 20 minutes in, Dundalk were 2-0 up and in dreamland. Loughlan and Patmore got the goals and, suddenly, it looked like a partnership had been formed. Van Boxtel also did a lot to enhance his reputation by making a number of great saves. The most notable came when he became the first goalkeeper to deny Eric Cantona from the penalty spot.”

A walk through the 1994 archives, from DundalkFC.com to hail their ninth title success.

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    Mute Danny Mike Hennessy
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 7:37 PM

    And Iam one of them.. from Aherlow to Madrid Harps!!

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    Mute Felicia Spells
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:58 PM

    That’s the legacy of Fianna Fáil and you still will get idiots that will vote for them

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    Mute Steve M
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:59 PM

    Colm Keaveny says they have changed….surly he couldn’t be wrong

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    Mute Jack Strong
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:21 PM

    Of course they will, because their TD’s great-grand-uncle 14 times’ removed handed DeV a glass of water in Boland’s Mill when he asked for a drink. Ironic really seeing as we replaced one monarchy with another…

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    Mute Fong Wannapho
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:27 PM

    Green Thumb.

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    Mute joe o'reilly
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 11:14 PM

    It’s sad to hear but money pays the bills not playing GAA.

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    Mute Plucky Duck
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    Dec 4th 2013, 11:59 AM

    If these guys played for Dublin there would be alot more help available to them…. Anyone else… On your bike lads…!

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    Mute YourAuldLady
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:57 PM

    Sad sign of the times. Our club were county champions 2 years ago, of the 30 on the panel 16 have left as no work in the area and 14 of those have left the country.

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    Mute Lad
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:02 PM

    What? What club is that

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    Mute Kevin Beakey
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 8:24 PM

    Ahhhhhhhh come on…….
    any of the 600 gone wouldn’t have stopped Clare winning the all Ireland this year….

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    Mute Tomás Tiernan
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:17 PM

    Ridiculous statement!

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    Mute Paul White
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    Dec 4th 2013, 10:12 AM

    Clare ha..one back door all ireland in near twenty year and cocky all ready eh. Not even munster champs…roll on next year.

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    Mute Kevin Beakey
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    Dec 4th 2013, 10:18 AM

    Yea can’t wait back to back all Irelands

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    Mute Dave Dson
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:33 PM

    Incredible that they only went to U.K. ,U.S. and Australia. 100%.
    It was a very narrow-minded group of people.

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:41 PM

    And where did you go to Dave? North Korea? Iraq? Afghanistan?

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:50 PM

    Spoddgy you left out Limerick

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    Mute Dave Dson
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:58 PM

    I am in Budapest. 8 years. Why?
    They may end up joining their armies and end up in Iraq and Afghanistan anyway.
    Why not got to Canada, Germany, New Zealand, The EUA or anywhere in Scandinavia? They all speak English if that is their problem.

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    Mute Padraig Culbert
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    Dec 4th 2013, 11:28 AM

    Listen? Hear it? That’s the yawning sound of ignorance. Mark it well because it is often disguised as informed opinion.

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    Mute Niall H
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:54 PM

    600 new club members in Dublin gaa?!

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    Mute W.j.d.
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 11:02 PM

    Ever hear a tipp man speaking English …. Ha ha ha here comes the red thumbs…

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    Mute Daddy De La Noche
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    Dec 4th 2013, 2:11 AM

    Anyone who has been to Tipperary will know that emigration is better than a life stuck there, coming from someone who lives here and will be leaving soon.

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    Mute Sean Lawlor
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    Dec 4th 2013, 1:06 PM

    You will be a major loss… Hope the rest of us can manage without you in the premier county!

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    Mute Richard O'Gorman
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:00 PM

    No worries, plenty have arrived to take their places.

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    Mute Reg Holdsworth
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    Dec 4th 2013, 2:02 AM

    Ya mary, more like a spent force!

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    Mute Mary Walshe
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    Dec 3rd 2013, 11:52 PM

    Kilkenny on the way back, in force !

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    Mute Conor O Callaghan
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    Dec 4th 2013, 8:02 AM

    The Tipp crowd are no good

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    Mute Elvio Verdi
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    Dec 4th 2013, 7:58 PM

    GOOD.

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    Mute Brian Hurley
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    Dec 4th 2013, 5:44 PM

    Is that all? Lucky they still have 500+ Most counties would be lucky to have 50

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