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Joe Sheridan's infamous goal arrived in injury-time of the 2010 Leinster football final.

'My mother got a letter in the post one day and she actually started crying'

Joe Sheridan recalls the 2010 Leinster final controversy ahead of next Sunday’s Meath-Louth clash.

FORMER MEATH STAR Joe Sheridan has outlined the extent of the fallout arising from his infamous ‘goal’ in the 2010 Leinster final as he revealed hate mail sent in the post brought his mother to tears.

Ahead of next Sunday’s Leinster championship meeting between Meath and Louth, Sheridan recalled that the situation could have been “handled better” and that it was “hyped up for entertainment purposes.”

“I remember my mother got a letter in the post one day and she actually started crying. It didn’t bother me, that stuff doesn’t bother me. I just get on with things but to think somebody could do that over a football game. It is a bit much.

“People still talk about it but its six years ago now. I just accept it and acknowledge it. Some people try and annoy you about it.

“I think it’s nearly gone by talking about at this stage. Still I suppose people will always probably talk about it that’s just the way life goes.

“The way it was handled was probably the worst thing. It was put back on the Meath players and what we were going to decide to do regarding a replay.

“It shouldn’t have been. It had nothing to do with the players. It should have come out that the players had nothing to do with it.

“That would have been the biggest issue I had with it and the way we were portrayed as players.

“At the end of the day we go out to play we go out to enjoy it. The goodness was taken out of it a wee bit as well.

“It was left to drag out. It should have been nipped in the bud simple as that and then everyone moves on.

“It was a bit much and the crack of Marty Morrissey up outside our meetings looking for white smoke for this and that. It was on the 6 o’clock news, it was blown out of proportion.

Joe Sheridan celebrates with Peadar Byrne Joe Sheridan and Peadar Byrne after the 2010 Leinster final Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

It was hyped up completely just for the entertainment side of things but probably a bit of thought should have went into it.”

The Seneschalstown clubman is thankful “nothing bad” came out of the situation but believes “emotions can bring the worst out in people.”

“I probably took the brunt of the abuse being the person that was involved. I got letters sent to the house and messages sent to me on the phone. It was pretty dire stuff for people to write down.

“To actually think that someone could sit down and write that kind of stuff on a letter and send it across anonymously as well. They didn’t even sign it off which was the annoying thing.

Referee Martin Sludden is escorted from the pitch Referee Martin Sludden after the controversial 2010 Leinster final Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

“People are quite emotional about the GAA. A lot of people are involved in it their whole lives and are brought up in it.

“Their whole family are involved and we are exactly the same, but you have got to have a point where you have got to draw a line and say this can’t happen that is stepping over the line as well.

“Emotions I think bring the worst out in people sometimes and that’s probably what happened but lucky enough nothing bad came of it.

“It probably wasn’t the nicest of things for people to be doing at the time but that’s life. There was no harm that came of it.”

Sheridan was axed off the Meath panel at the end of the 2013 season by Mick O’Dowd along with other county stalwarts Brian Farrell, Peadar Byrne and Caoimhin King.

He wore the Royal jersey for the last time in a Round 4 qualifier defeat to Tyrone in Croke Park.

Joe Sheridan takes down Conor Gormley Joe Sheridan in action in 2013 against Conor Gormley Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“Did I expect it coming? Probably. Should it have happened? Probably not. To clean out so many players in one foul swoop was pretty severe.

“I didn’t agree with it but look that’s what happened. There is no point giving out about it that’s just the way life goes.

“It was disappointing the way it finished up to be fair.”

Meath will lock horns with Louth on Sunday for the right to advance to the Leinster semi-final on June 26. It is the first championship meeting between the two sides since 2011.

Cian Ward was the star that day netting four goals and helping the Royals to come out on top on a score line of 5-8 v 2-8.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

‘The Leinster Council got it seriously wrong and I just hope they learn from it’

‘I thought Michael Darragh showed good self control and discipline not to react’

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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 1:56 PM

    Shocking challenge seen red cards for far less than that

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    Mute Paul Nelly Nelson
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 1:54 PM

    without question it should have been red, the yellow card was a disgrace, distin should also had a straight red for his blatant elbow to skertels’ face

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    Mute damian
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 2:04 PM

    Didn’t hit him hard enough! ;-)

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    Mute john_john
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 5:00 PM

    Here here !! He’s Sc€m

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    Mute Ben Calton
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 5:15 PM

    The words pot & kettle come to mind

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    Mute Paul Quigley
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 2:13 PM

    for any other player id say absolutely red but considering its Suarez, he bloody deserved – what goes around
    comes around … karma.

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    Mute John Smith
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 2:55 PM

    Exactly, how many players has he got booked for his dives in the past

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    Mute FutureTech
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 5:38 PM

    2 derbies in a row Everton players are booked for diving but you claim Suarez is a cheat. Clueless.

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 5:52 PM

    That’s the only time they dived Suarez dives more times every match. Your the clueless one or are you blinded by the jersey??

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 8:02 PM

    Spoddgy, what slimey rock you crawl from?

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    Mute John Smith
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 9:32 PM

    The LFC supporters club?

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 9:44 PM

    Couldn’t have put it better myself haha!!!

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 10:14 PM

    Haha, ya know, we have one when we are bad too, not only when winning…

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    Mute John Smith
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    Nov 24th 2013, 12:08 AM

    At least your not denying LFC fans come from under a slimey rock

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    Mute Anthony
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 3:53 PM

    No doubt about it. Red card all day long.

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    Mute Oisin Byrne
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 2:22 PM

    Considering it’s Suarez, he should win some kind of humanitarian award.

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 3:09 PM

    All your stupid moron comments doesn’t mean it wasn’t a red card, bunch of fools

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    Mute john_john
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 5:05 PM

    It wasn’t a red… Moron!

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 6:20 PM

    No of course it wasn’t, even the majority of people who hate the man said it was a red, except someone called john john, who calls someone else a moron but who is in fact so stupid he needs to write his name twice so he doesn’t forget it. Ape

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    Mute Niall Quinlan
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 6:23 PM

    stop feeding the troll Peter !

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    Mute john_john
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 7:12 PM

    Ur the guy who started calling others moron and fool!! Did he get a red r yellow card??

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 7:48 PM

    He didn’t get the right one

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 8:09 PM

    Could not think of a second name…. Hmmmm

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    Mute john_john
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 8:12 PM

    Ur reply says it all peter…

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    Mute David Sharp
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    Nov 24th 2013, 12:36 AM

    Why don’t you crawl back in to the sh*t pile you came from JJ!! You never add anything of value! Honestly boy, show your parents what you writ (if you know them) and see how utterly embarrassed you will look!! Big man!!

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    Mute Brian Carroll
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 3:02 PM

    Suarez injured Mirallas in the derby last season and didn’t even get a yellow for a deliberate stamp. So revenge for Mirallas was sweet. Should have been a red but a player like Suarez reaps what he sows.

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    Mute Nicholas Ring
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 7:50 PM

    Exactly

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    Mute Colin Byrne
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 4:09 PM

    Drew blood from Henderson in the 2nd half as well.. Lucky boy

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    Mute Niall Quinlan
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 5:17 PM

    if I was Mirallas I’d get a tetanus straight after the game, just in case….

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 8:08 PM

    But when people respond to you, you try to be taken seriously, like you ahem, know what your talking about….

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    Mute Niall Quinlan
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 11:11 PM

    quit yo stalking dude :-(

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    Mute David Sharp
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    Nov 24th 2013, 12:37 AM

    Niall, why? Was he with your missus??

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    Mute Niall Quinlan
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    Nov 24th 2013, 12:44 AM

    ah now David, only the loons in here use personal insults………..the rest of us discuss things and engage in whats known as banter :-)

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    Mute Paul Carew
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 2:18 PM

    It’s only Suarez

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    Mute Joseph McGranaghan
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 3:04 PM

    It’s a red card but in life sometimes you don’t get them. I’m sure the Everton fans would point to a similar incident in the derby last year when Suarez stayed on after a nailed on red that put Mirales out for 3 months.

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    Mute John Fagan
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 4:49 PM

    Don’t forget when he got Rodwell sent off for nothing. Que Sera Sera.

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    Mute Nick Menezes
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 2:21 PM

    Karma indeed, between biting and racial remarks he should expect nothing less then a few hard knocks in games

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    Mute Niall Quinlan
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 3:16 PM

    Deffo should have been sent off but I’d give Mirallas a medal for that wee taster of the karma Blacula has coming his way…

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 10:18 PM

    I guess that made keanos gbh assault on haaland ok right? Suarez got his punishments, but not enough for you guys…. Typical BS… Guys also whine about dives, but never mention Bale or Young… Destroys your mediocre credibility….

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    Mute John Deane
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 3:54 PM

    No sympathy for Suarez.

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    Mute YourAuldLady
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 2:30 PM

    Yellow enough. A hard challenge. Only a scratch.

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    Mute Shane Leonard
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 4:45 PM

    He should of hot a red card for not breaking the rats leg!!

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    Mute Gaz McGoo
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 6:31 PM

    You truly are a muppet!

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    Mute David Sharp
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    Nov 24th 2013, 12:38 AM

    Wow look at the big man!!

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    Mute Shane Leonard
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    Nov 24th 2013, 10:48 AM

    Only joking lads ..was a red card all day long!

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    Mute YourAuldLady
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 4:30 PM

    It actually reminds me of a tackle by Carragher on Nani a few years ago, it also drew blood. He didn’t get red for that, so can’t see the difference really

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 8:06 PM

    He makes it hard because he would still get nothing if he was sucker punched right in front of ref anyway… You forget, he is not English… As for that crap you say about how many players he get booked? Only that Everton guy… Which was so wrong…. But remember noddgy, certain English players manage to get penalties, red cards and goals in 1 dive, mr A Young…. Ohhhh but he is Man U….. Lets not mention that… Biased right??

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    Mute Terry Corkhill
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 8:51 PM

    As a Liverpool I’m sick of fake fans talking Sh!te , this has nothing to do with Utd s€um so why bring it up , get a life ya spas

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    Mute YourAuldLady
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 9:24 PM

    “As a Liverpool” as in a city? Your a city all by yourself! Mad ted that. And you have a spa in it!
    Would love to be you.

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    Mute John Smith
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 9:38 PM

    Suarez dives & wins peno’s all the time. And as for the tackle, karma is a bit*h. It was Suarez who stamped on Mirallas last season and got away with it and don’t forget a couple of years ago Suarez pathetic rolling around faking injury incident to get Jack Rodwell sent off

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 9:46 PM

    Aye Ashley young is as bad as Suarez for it but Suarez has also bit an opponent so he is at least one up on young!

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    Mute Terry Corkhill
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 9:56 PM

    In sure you would love to be me going over to support my team a couple of times a year . How many matches do you go to clown !

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    Mute YourAuldLady
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 10:41 PM

    Ah Terry aka Paul Johson, the posting is all the same.

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    Mute theScorePsychiatrist
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 11:24 PM

    Hello paul, I see you are “Terry” today, how are you feeling today Terry? As I’ve already said, my offer of professional help is an open one to you(them), all you have to do is ask….

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    Mute Carthage Buckley
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 8:49 PM

    It probably should have been a red but the Liverpool doctor was a disgrace. He clearly tried to tell the ref what to do. Once he had done that the ref couldn’t give a red or it would have looked like he was taking instructions from the Liverpool bench.

    I normally don’t watch the premiership games but that was an absolute cracker.

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 5:49 PM

    Course it was a red but it was a beaut of a tackle. Suarez goes down too easily when he not touch now refs don’t know if he’s simulating or not which is prob why mirallas didn’t get a card. Ye will have to admit pool fans that he make it hard for the referee they can’t just give him every decision

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    Mute James Quinn
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 10:21 PM

    The stud marks on his knee are a little hint that contact was made!!! How many red cards has he got in the past year for diving compared to players like Young and Bale? U might be surprised!

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    Mute Nicholas Ring
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    Nov 23rd 2013, 7:52 PM

    What comes around goes around

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