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'Do your best': Enda's message ahead of Ireland's rugby opener

Here’s Enda Kenny’s letter to Declan Kidney and the boys ahead of the match against the United States tomorrow morning.

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has sent a good luck message to Declan Kidney and the Irish rugby team, wishing them well ahead of their Rugby World Cup opening match against the United States tomorrow morning:

Dear Declan,

I want to wish you and all the squad every success in the coming weeks.

To represent your country on the international stage is an honour and the lads have always done so with huge pride, great determination, wonderful dignity and that fantastic will to give their all. They respect the Green Jersey and all that it represents.

I have no doubt but that they will do us proud in New Zealand.

Please pass on my very best wishes to all your squad, your management team and all who are with you. Do your best.

Enda

We’ll have full live coverage of Ireland v the USA tomorrow morning – kick-off in New Plymouth is at 7am.

Send your message to the boys in the comments field below – if you keep them clean, we’ll send them onto the lads in NZ.

Read: Ireland v USA: the online debate >

More: Wilkinson unfazed by missed kicks

Hard Yards: What you missed this morning

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21 Comments
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    Mute Patrick McHugh
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    May 13th 2014, 7:52 AM

    He is absolutely right. For far too long the mentality is and this even goes to the our nick name the ” wee county ” that we are a small county so we dont expect to do well. If we beat a Kildare or a Meath the year is a success which is not acceptable. We have a bigger population than most. Louth does have a large choice to pick from. Look at the counties that surround Louth. Dublin, Meath, Monaghan, Armagh and Down have all enjoyed success in All Ireland competition were Louth is left behind. The question has to be asked, why? Cause the mentality is not right, we shoukd be expecting to beat the teams I just mentioned except for Dublin who are a professional team in everything but name. Dublin are showing the future of GAA and fair play to them.

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    May 13th 2014, 8:04 AM

    what would you describe as success would it be winning Leinster?

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    Mute Patrick McHugh
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    May 13th 2014, 8:21 AM

    Winning a Leinster Championship would absolutely be a success for Louth as it has not happened for a long long time. Its all about making baby steps forward to an ultimate target. Why cant they get to the knock out stages of the All Ireland series and build from there year on year. Ciaran Byrne a superb talent whi recently joined Carlton in the AFL even said it himself in an Irish Independent interview “we are a small county so we dont really have a chance in winning a Leinster or All Ireland” so if a mentality like that is in a young star at that stage its definetly an issue and it shouldnt be. 2 of the biggest towns in the country in our county. Some people forget this. We have been perennial underachievers in my opinion.

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    Mute Patrick McHugh
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    May 13th 2014, 8:21 AM

    Winning a Leinster Championship would absolutely be a success for Louth as it has not happened for a long long time. Its all about making baby steps forward to an ultimate target. Why cant they get to the knock out stages of the All Ireland series and build from there year on year. Ciaran Byrne a superb talent whi recently joined Carlton in the AFL even said it himself in an Irish Independent interview “we are a small county so we dont really have a chance in winning a Leinster or All Ireland” so if a mentality like that is in a young star at that stage its definetly an issue and it shouldnt be. 2 of the biggest towns in the country in our county. Some people forget this. We have been perennial underachievers in my opinion.

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    May 13th 2014, 8:53 AM

    improvement in the league might be more realistic over the next couple of years as this dublin squad and management have a fixation on winning and that includes Leinster titles and I agree as a dub I would love to see Louth challenge for leinsters

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    Mute lousybush
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    May 13th 2014, 8:21 PM

    Louth have a bigger population than Kilkenny…so it’s not about population.

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    Mute Robbie Scofield
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    May 13th 2014, 12:40 PM

    Patrick you say you should be expecting to beat teams except Dublin that’s great mentality way better so getting to a Leinster final and its against Dublin do you reckon there’s any point in heading up to croke park

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    May 13th 2014, 12:55 PM

    infairness Robbie he is been realistic

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    Mute Patrick McHugh
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    May 13th 2014, 1:34 PM

    Baby steps Robbie, baby steps!!!

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    Mute Robbie Scofield
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    May 13th 2014, 7:03 PM

    Baby steps for life I’m afraid !

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