Tag Archives: irish football

Like watching a James Bond movie, viewing the RTÉ analysis of Irish football games is reassuringly predictable. Every time we see a 007 film, it’s obvious what’s going to happen. We all know he will somehow avoid death and get the girl. With the RTÉ panel, it’s the exact same. We’re certain, no matter what the result, Eamon Dunphy and company will …

When Harry Sloan was killed in action at Combles, near the Somme, on 21 January 1917, Irish football lost one of the most celebrated players of that era. He was one of very few Dubliners to have plied their trade at home and also to have represented Ireland regularly. The fact that he did so as an amateur competing against professionals …

Why do we bend over backwards to accommodate the ‘reluctant Irish’? Time after time, every effort is afforded to coax individuals to play for the Republic of Ireland when their heart quite clearly belongs to another land. It’s time we start developing the next Robbie Keane and Damien Duff rather than be preoccupied converting other nation’s also rans. There’s something …

In this strange paradoxical little island of ours, it is a curious fact that you can make a pretty educated guess at an Irishman’s age by the English soccer team that he supports. For instance, there exists a thriving community of fifty-something Irish Leeds United fans, for the simple reason that they were at an impressionable age around the time …

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams. According to the BBC, Mr Infantino has suggested that 16 of these countries would be eliminated after a preliminary knockout round. This would ruin the World Cup. 32 teams at a World Cup finals is more than enough. As far as the beautiful game is concerned, the …

There are moments in football when you realise you’re watching a special player. Cork City hosted a Manchester United XI selection at Turner’s Cross in the summer of 2012 and aside from the fact that over 6,000 people paid in to see a team of United’s underage stars play on Leeside, the performance of the night came from Cork City’s …

How many of us envy the life of a footballer? Getting to play the game for vast amounts of money sounds like the perfect scenario for millions of us who spent the majority of our childhood kicking a ball around. A few hours training and having a laugh with your mates each day before playing a match at the weekend. …

With Dundalk flying the flag high for the League of Ireland in this season’s Europa League calls have emerged for some of the Lilywhites’ players to get the ultimate recognition they deserve: a call up to Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland squad. The latest squads have been named for the forthcoming games with Georgia and Moldova without the inclusion of …

Jeff Hendrick notched up his first goal for new club Burnley against Watford on Monday night. The Irish midfielder rose highest in a congested penalty area to head in a Steven Defour corner and give his side a 1-0 lead. Hendrick’s star has risen steadily over the last few years and having established himself in Derby’s first team, he then forced …

A peculiarly bleak atmosphere lingered in the stands during Dundalk FC’s 1-1 draw with Shamrock Rovers last Tuesday night. Hoops supporters riled the home fans by applauding each of the seemingly endless line of players who hobbled to the touchline and wasted an extra few minutes. Perhaps Dundalk fans have become a little too pampered by success and don’t react …

If ever there was a football competition that needed an overhaul, surely it’s the Europa League. Europe’s secondary club football tournament, formerly the UEFA Cup and also an amalgamation of the old Cup Winners’ Cup, is now in its eight season under its current moniker. Between the qualifying rounds, groups stages, knockout stages, quarter-finals, semi-finals and eventually a final at …

Ok. I know. You’ve read the headline and thought to yourself “Jesus, that’s a bit strong isn’t it?” It’s the usual tactic. I think “click-bait” is what it’s pejoratively referred to in the media industry. It’s Conor McGregor saying he’s going to kill his next opponent. It’s Arsenal being tipped to buy a top striker (yeah, right). It’s Katie Price having cellulite …

Much of the lead up to this opening group qualifier has been based around who will not be on show for Serbia but there are still plenty of names familiar to Irish fans that the Boys in Green will have to be wary of. Like Ireland, most of Serbia’s high profile players are based in England. Aleksandar Kolarov and Nemanja Matic are …

‘A nation holds its breath…’ As Ireland countdown to their massive World Cup qualifier with Serbia this evening, The Opel Jersey sat down with Serbian journalist, Milas Dusanovic (@SerbianFooty), to discuss the dangers that the opposition could present for Martin O’Neill’s men. ____ TOJ: There has been a lot of media coverage over the off-the-pitch issues Serbia faced in the …

Another hectic summer transfer window has come to an end and all the speculation can be put to one side until January at least. It was certainly eventful as the constant increase in transfer fees saw the Premier League spend sky rocket past the £1 billion mark. Paul Pogba’s world record move to Manchester United, John Stones’ £50 million move …

‘Are we wasting our time playing football in Ireland?’ An absurd statement that can’t possibly have any base, foundation or logic to even consider the thought of Ireland without football, but nevertheless, should we focus our sporting talents somewhere else other than football? Football is the world game, the most popular sport in Ireland, at least by playing numbers, and …

Shamrock Rovers’ breakthrough as the first Irish team to qualify for the group stages of a major European competition was supposed to herald an era of domestic domination. However, it hasn’t worked out that way, writes Macdara Ferris from Póg Mo Goal Magazine, Issue 3.  For Shamrock Rovers, 2016 marks a number of anniversaries in their recent history. This year …

The Germans have been responsible for a lot of useful inventions over the years with the computer, the MP3 and the smart card all attributed to German creators. In an Irish context though, their invention of the term ‘Schadenfreude’ may be the most applicable. Schadenfreude can be described as ‘pleasure derived from the misfortune of others’, and Irish people are experts …