ALL HAIL THE super sub! They may never get the full credit they deserve but any player who regularly comes off the bench to provide a positive impact for their team occupies a special place in the fans’ hearts.
2015 saw a number of players perform well in supporting roles, as well as a few people who we thought deserved a bit more game-time than they got.
Here are five men who we think should get more of a starting role in 2016.
Kevin McManamon
In fairness to Jim Gavin, McManamon does tend to play better when coming in off the bench against tired legs but has he not done enough to show that he should be in from minute one?
The pacy forward scored key goals in both semi-final clashes with Mayo – to add to his many championship strikes off the bench – and given Dean Rock’s lackluster summer, McManamon could well be in the first 15 when the league kicks off.
Shane Long
For an established striker, Long probably doesn’t score enough goals but for an Irish team short on firepower, he simply has to be in the first team. Long netted massive goals at home to Poland and Germany to help Ireland into a playoff for Euro 2016 and his speed offers a different route to goal than targetman Daryl Murphy.
With Robbie Keane winding down, this summer’s European Championship in France should be Long’s chance to finally nail down a starting position.
Tommy Walsh
Walsh hardly knocked down the door of the Kerry starting team after returning from a stint in Aussie Rules, but it would have been interesting to see how he would have re-integrated into the side with more game-time.
His former forward partner Kieran Donaghy is still going strong and Walsh showed in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Kildare that his high fielding has improved during his time away.
With another year of Gaelic football behind him, Walsh should be ready for a bigger role with Kerry this year.
Jack McGrath
McGrath starts a lot of games but when he and rival Cian Healy are both fit, it is the former that tends to end up on the bench. However, towards the tail end of 2015 Healy’s form dropped and McGrath played some of his best rugby.
Particularly, his carrying has improved to such an extent that Healy’s explosiveness isn’t missed quite as much. McGrath will be a serious contender to start Ireland’s Six Nations opener in February.
Darren Randolph
The West Ham back-up goalkeeper was heroic for Ireland after coming on for the injured Shay Given against Germany, conceding just three goals in four games against the strong attacks of the world champions, Poland and Bosnia Herzegovina. Randolph pulled off a string of classy saves and looked far more assured than Given between the posts.
Given how he finished the qualifying campaign, Randolph definitely deserves to keep his place for Euro 2016.
Rovers really need to shake off these burberry wearing wannabe hooligans. They are an embarrassment and they’ve been around for years now.
Rioting at a Setanta Cup match :-O !!!! You must have to be a special kind of idiot to resort to that!!
Soccer knacks
A bit of a generalisation there!!! Violence on the terraces at LOI teams is restricted to 2/3 sides and probably only 10/15 within those clubs. Your always going to get people who arn’t supporters tagging along for the more noteworthy away days
Scuse my french but what a bunch of f***ing idiots.
Same old shite from Rovers fans ,they should be thrown out of the competition.Instead the organising committee will probably reward them with a final in Tallaght Stadium.Hopefully they dont reach it.
Well done lads, you’ve undermined the whole point of the competition
I see Sherlock Holmes was there. I thought better of the man really.
That’s very disappointing to see.
Why is it only soccer with this shite?
Actually almost all Shamrock Rovers – a section of their supporters are only in it for the violence and should be video’d and given life bans.
Uneducated fans from working class areas. That’s why.
Its not just football.
God Brian, you must have a phd in social studies to come up with such an intelligent non-inflammatory statement as that…
No Niall I just state the obvious.
When was the last time you saw trouble at a rugby , cricket, polo, lawn bowls match?
My statement mightn’t be PC but its the truth
Those thugs would tiocfaidh in your mother flynner, thats the type of them
Thank heaven there is always the utmost decorum at gaaagh matches, both on and off the pitch.
Mumbai Dhule 7 jan this year.1 killed. 200 injured at a cricket match.
Because unfortunately soccer attracts more hooligans than other sports. Rovers fans have history with this kind of behaviour.
Brian that’s because your educated, top of the pyramid, rugby, cricket & polo fans draw blood using the pen as a weapon instead of the sword & they don’t do it in football stands but in bank boardrooms, corporate headquarters & the corridors of political power.
I presume you’ll be advocating mass government programs to improve education in working class areas & drag these segments of society out of the poverty trap to rectify the problem you identify… will you heck as like
Stupid comment.
You clearly are not “educated”.
Jailed. How can you bring your children to that lunacy.
What about gaa?
Idiots
Wheelers, shut your beak, good man.
Ah the young fella, hope final year is going for Ya kkiiiiiiidddd, gu man
Violence Rarely occurs in the league, just a few wannabe casuals in over priced gear.
Any time there is ever trouble in Irish football, it’s Shamrock Rovers.
More like Anytime it’s reported it’s Rovers …
Purely and simply because they are filth. End of. The truth hurts but there you have it.
Your lot are as bad
Kill any grannies lately!?
That’s a shock Rovers fans in trouble in Belfast…
The best way to stop this carry on by so called football supporters is to ban clubs & throw them out of competitions if supporters behave like this.
And give them life time bans from attending games.
These are not fans.
Rovers fans are a disgrace.
Hope d PSNI gave them a good hiding.
are you English Eugene?
well he’s a bluenose anyway..
What part of Liverpool are you from? Surely you know what the scouse are like….
RUC gettin stuck into hoops never sits well with me..
The psni getting stuck into hooligans always sits well with me.
The league of Ireland fans copy the English, pity the English stopped this stuff years ago.
No they didn’t, now it just happens away from the stadiums away from the cameras, but it still goes on.
Are you mad! Hooliganism is rife in England. Sky probably don’t report it to protect their no.1 brand. Week in week out firms are battering each other outside and around the grounds, widely known fact. The Irish media only seems to report on LOI when something bad happens, otherwise it’s all about some other countries league.
Wasn’t there trouble at tallaght stadium last week from the away fans?
Sham Rovers supporters could learn from the Dubs supporters regarding how to behave at football matches, (apart from some of the Dublin fans who were giving Seanie Johnson a tough time in Croke Park on Sunday)
Yep. The aul “ultras” had a chance tobshow respect to the match by not going as low as the Linfeild fans last week but……………..
Yeah, Dubs fans boo opposing team when they take to the pitch, chant soccer style and generally are an unsporting shower of….. If truth be known! Im ony sayin!
Flynn that’s rubbish, I’ve seen Laois fans celebrate a Dublin wide more than a point for themselves
I think the dubs have a great sense of humour one of the best crowds ive sat with in croke park them and cork supporters theres great banter off.
I love a bit of mid-match jibing and slagging but I go to Croke Park a lot and it’s only the Dublin supporters who have booed teams entering the pitch – I even resorted to supporting Down as a result of this once as I was disgusted at the middleaged Dub supporters and their young sons beside me shouting anti northern abuse and generally acting like soccer hooligans.
Leave it to Rovers to cause the trouble
C’mon the hoops
Good to see them interested in the actual match …
There was bad feelings from game last week when linfield (sc#mbags) put a Union Jack up the flag pole and were intimidating Stewarts and chanting sectarian songs which spilled over to this week. People commenting here prob didn’t even watch the match there was plenty of provocation again from linfield and heavy handidness by the ruc, however 2 wrongs and all that but it was inevitable
These particular Shams “fans”were an unprovoked disgrace at Sligo Showgrounds in last game of the season.
lol,
The RUC.
Did they arrive in their Ford Cortinas, eating Marathon bars and listening to a Pet Shop Boys cassette tape?
Hmm Noel the clever clogs doesn’t get it. Ruc with a new name is still the ruc, scccuuummm
Who are the ‘Stewarts’?
Ford Cortina s & Marathon Bars were 1970s . Pet Shop Boys were 1990s . T Rex or Status Quo would’ve been more apt !
Great win for Rovers, they were by far the better team. First goal was a cracker. Shame about the messing though.
They are only Dirt ! !
Thugs !
Stay classy…..
Linfield fans were totally innocent I suppose!
It doesn’t matter.
Real fans rise above provocation and support their team
I’ve a great idea…..we should go up north and cause a bit of trouble at a football match…..I’ll wear a deerstalker and you can wear a bowler……oh wait a minuet, the bowler’s been done already.
Absolute dim wits.
Linfield are filth…
The Boys of the old Brigade was being sung at Windsor… beautifullll.
In fairness,it says a section of supporters broke a barrier to taunt Linfield fans. The important word is section don’t tar all the rovers fans with the same brush. It seems a bit excessive aswell to send in riot police over a bit of jeering.
I was just going to say how amazing it is that they reacted so swiftly and with force towards supporters from the Republic yet, with Loyalist protesters, they don’t do anything.
It’s a pity the PNSI don’t use the same force on the Fleg protestors who are running the North!!
There’s always been a problem with Rovers fans. They have a big element that is simply out to cause trouble. And the club has never done anything to sort the problem out. They cause trouble everywhere they go and cause damage everywhere they go. They should have their free stadium taken off them for a few matches. It’s the only thing that will make their board of directors take action. What happened in Belfast tonight is no surprise to your average League of Ireland fan. Where there’s trouble, there’s Shamrock Rovers.
Rubbish
Utterly tripe statement!
Well I do hope the Setanta Sports committee have the balls to take action over this.
Good night had in Windsor, usual idiots on both sides acting the maggot but didn’t let them ruin it for myself and the majority in attendance. Best away trip in the LOI lies ahead in the semi’s… Cork.
Lets stick to GAA!
Eff off, this doesn’t concern you.
Moron
Linfield last week Shamrock Rovers this week both teams should be banned from the Cup and both should lose points in thier perspective leagues
Where was Watson during all this?
Elementary, my dear Wizzy. He follows the GAA..
Absolute fools.
Why don’t rovers hooligans ( s€um ) do anything last week when Union Jack was put up in their home ground and why don’t these ultras as they call themselves come up with their own hooligan name as the real ultras are Italian if I’m not mistaken Lazio is it ?
These hooligans are nothing to do with Rovers Ultras. Ultras are a fan group that organise banners and displays, get chants going and are generally aimed at bringing an atmosphere to the ground. They are an inclusive group that give young lads & girls going to the games an opportunity to contribute & volunteer in a constructive manner to the advancement of something they love. It gives them something positive to do and a great sense of belonging. I encourage any young football fans no matter what part of the country you are in to get involved with your local ultras/or whatever fangroup you have for a way you can actually participate in football & feel more of a sense of belonging than simply getting a skysports subscription & buying a jersey once a year.
There were 450 rovers supporters at that game contributing positively, about 20 or 30 people who went up with the intentions of getting an adrenaline rush & camouflaged themselves as football fans for this purpose. They are not fans, when you are more interested in confrontation than watching, supporting & singing then you are not a fan. These idiots toppled a flimsy fence & made their way the whole length of a stand unencumbered by stewards or security to get in position to taunt some opposition fans before rightly the PSNI got to them and put them in their place with riot shields & batons. Nowhere is this type of thing less likely to happen than at tallaght stadium because of the amount of attention to detail Rovers and the local event Gardai put into security planning & stewarding. I agree that rovers need to do a better job of taking names & keeping these types from infiltrating our great events because it is giving off the mistaken belief that the matchday is not a safe place for families & kids to be. Nothing could be further from the truth, but the clubs need to take greater heed of the false perceptions being created here & do more to counter it.
Last week there were 5000 fans at Tallaght for the home leg vs Linfield and the atmosphere was astounding from start to finish. Once again the media story after the match was a little nonsense about how a handful of fans ran a flag up a pole when it should really have been about the great occasion, the football on show, the fact that orange vs green could host a successful match at all. It’s true that rovers do attract a slight few more of this element than other clubs but that is simply because we attract more fans overall: the more fans you have the more bad apples you will have, it’s not rocket surgery.
I don’t want to be an apologist for this behavior, it should be dealt with swiftly. But I hope nobody is put off from sampling the great experience that is a LOI match night because of this type of story. There is probably not a safer place to be on a Friday evening than at a League of Ireland football match.
Shams know who these violent people are. Do the LoI a favour – ban them for life and make the league a better place.
Think it be a lot safer watching it on telly at home somehow and what is rocket surgery ?
Rocket surgery is a conjugation of half of Brain surgery & rocket science, occasionally people of great wit such as myself engage in this type of wordplay… the point is it’s not hard to understand why there are a few more bad apples at Rovers games because Rovers generally bring more to begin with. I’m sure the other clubs accountants aren’t quite as scathing of the rovers support as some of the opposition fans are due to the numbers we bring regularly.
You might indeed be safer to stay at home & watch on the telly, then again you might be safer to curl up in the fetal position & never leave your bed gaining sustenance through a feeding tube… but it’s no kind of life. Certainly you’re safer spending your Friday at a LOI match followed by a pint or two after than going out on the lash typical Irish style & not knowing how you got home. It’s a great constructive & healthy way to spend a night out on the weekend.
As for ISBA’s point, I think you are correct Shamrock Rovers(who are these shams you speak of?) should take a tough line on this. I think clubs in a league so shy of supporters are a bit loathe to turn anybody willing to pay through the gate away, especially when it’s a fan run club, it’s a bit like telling your bould brother he’s not welcome in the family home. But i think if they were a bit more farsighted & really evaluated the image that is being projected here from the point of view of a product being sold the correct decision would be to eradicate this completely.
Even though it is a harder thing to achieve than in England where the sheer size of the industry allows them to finance greater monitoring of these types. The first thing they should do is send out a signal that this kind of thing is not alright. It’s a bit like bullying, if the ordinary bystander doesn’t raise up their voice on the issue then these folks continue in the mistaken belief that they are great lads.
Sorry Lewis, take a trip to the rds on a friday night. Infact next month ulster are playing there. You will then see how sports fans behave.
Rovers have allowed these people to use their club as a front for years. As long as the club stand by they ate as guilty as anyone else. Most decent fans know who these people are and do nothing either.
Get off your high horse
Yer not united’s men in black lads, go home for your selfs, muppets
After all it,s only a game of football. There will always be antagonism between rival supporters when ever sectarian intolerance exists, the bigots are like dogs marking their territory (no disrespect to the afore mentioned dogs)
The first time the rovers republican army crossed the border
Is anyone really surprised by this?? I’m not
No surprise. Hooligans exist in every country.
In truth, the Rovers-Linfield games have been a lot quieter than people expected.
Good to see the PSNI put manners on that lot of muppets!
Handbags, not even a shamozel.