Just like watching Brazil............

[STEVIEG]

Not the biggest Cork City fan in the world but at work getting minute by minute updates from these scumbags would drive anyone mad

From Shelbournes site

Poor free by O'Callaghan sees Shels launch an attack!!
15' Owen Heary cross and Glen Crowe diving header!!!!! Just wide!!! Another great chance.
13' Richie Baker, despite a decent start, is replaced by Bobby Ryan
13' Richie Baker is in a bit of difficulty. Looks like he will be subbed.
12' Crawley free in dropped by McNulty but he recovers.
12' O'Callaghan fouls and stamps on Crawfords foot.
11' Great pace to this game!!!
10' Byrne sets Stuart Byrne in!! Carving open the defense. Byrne passes the keeper and ...oh the keeper recovers and saves...another chance!!!
8' Shels forcing defensive errors in Corks defence.
7' Jason Byrne is through!!!! Just as he is about to shot, Danny Murray tackles and stops a SUPER chance!!!
5' Baker to Crowe and he turns the defender but the ball bobbles and his shot is poor
5' Good work by Baker on the wing and his cross is caught by McNulty
4' Good tackle by Crawley
3' Shels caught offside. Positive start for Shels
2' Shels with the ball the most in the opening two minutes
1' Free to Shels inside Corks half
1' Referee is David Malcolm. The game is underway
0' The game is about to start. Williams took ill this evening and withdrew hence Shels have no keeper on the bench!!!
0' The atmosphere is growing. The anticipation for this game is huge. The tension of a semi final is added to by the rivalry bwteen these two sides. Kickoff is in under 10 minutes and then its the biggest game of the season so far!!
0' News from the ground is the Shels fans are in good voice in Turners Cross. Lets hope they can get behind the players!!!
0' Shels team is somehwat of a throwback to olde times. All the new signings on the bench and with the exception of Crowe, its the same team we may of played two years ago. Cork City lineup is not fully up yet.

Steve Williams is not on the bench for Shels.
0' Hello and welcome to tonight's live updates for the Setanta Sports Cup Semi-Final match in Turners Cross between Cork City and Shelbourne FC.

The team lineups will be announced shortly. We hope you enjoy this evenings coverage and we are all celebrating a Shelbourne win come 22:00.

[STEVIEG]

And the tinted continue....


23' Crawford is man marking O'Callaghan and doing a good job of it.
21' Fintan Cassidy makes an appearance on the tv screens. Fleeting but none the less there!!
21' Crowe in again, but his shot is once again not great. The ball sat up just as he hit it.
20' Eamonn Collins is sent off the bench.
19' Late tackle by Fenn on Crawford.

[STEVIEG]

Good attack by Fenn but the shot is blocked
31' Bobby Ryan gets booked from what can be only described as an over exaggrataed reaction from Murray.
29' Ball sailed into the box and Harris has two stabs at it but Cork clear
28' Yellow card to Horgan
28' The two midfields battling out betweeen them
27' Ryan and Crowe combine but the ball runs for a goal kick
24' O'Callaghans corner fails to beat the first defender and Crowe gets the ball
24' Bobby Ryan heads a good Cork cross for a corner.
23' Crawford is man marking O'Callaghan and doing a good job of it.

[STEVIEG]

Heh heh heh


35' Billy Woods is booked. Some agro there
34' Totally against the run of play. Harris could have done a bit better!!!
34' O'Brien scores!!Against the run of play.

[STEVIEG]

So far so good


Half time now and that save could be an indicator of the kind of night Shels will not score on. So many chances, no goals for Shels and Cork take a one goal lead into half time.
47' STUART BYRNE!!! Super strike, super save by McNulty. So close!!!
46' Ryan attempts to chip the keeper but to high!!
45' Two additional minutes
45' Cahill crosses. Scrambled in the box. And cleared
43' Cork have had one real chance and taken it. Shels have had numerous and have failed to take them. Crowe and Byrne finishing needs to improve!!!
41' Our final ball or the end shot is always lacking!!! Its very frustrating,
40' Crowe and Murphy tackle. Crowe deemed to have pushed Murphy.
39' Ollie Cahill looping header goes just over the crossbar
39' Shels attack!!
36' Free out to Cork.

[Sound]

McNulty just saved a pen from Byrne.

[Jim Comic]

2-0

[STEVIEG]

Heh heh
Not bad since City were genuinely under the cosh for the first half!

[Jim Comic]

ft 2-0

[Jim Comic]

SETANTA
SPORTS
CUP
---------------------
SETANTA SPORT CUP SEMI-FINAL RESULT
MONDAY APRIL 10
Cork City 2-0 Shelbourne
O'Brien 33 Byrne 54 missed pen
Fenn 61 Crawley s/o 90

[storysham]

Great game, had everything. atmosphere, 2 great goals, a saved peno, 2 sendings off, plenty of abuse for peanut and ollie.

Roll on the final

[Jim Comic]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0410/corkcity1.html

[Echoboy]

Great game, had everything. atmosphere, 2 great goals, a saved peno, 2 sendings off, plenty of abuse for peanut and ollie.

Roll on the final

Hee hee ... Judas Cahil comes off to leave Judas Kearney come on ... what a nightmare he had, classic stuff. Wasn't setting the place on fire technically but it was a great game and a good one for a City fan, atmosphere was great !! :p

[Comeretamebubbilah]

YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!! Fenn you are a genius....i always enjoy when we beat shels but my fuck that was sweet last nite...escpecially as we were poor enough in the 1st half. Had to laugh at Liams slip and bounce...heheheh...t eh money bags were class too....

[Rebelred]

0' News from the ground is the Shels fans are in good voice in Turners Cross. Lets hope they can get behind the players!!!


heh heh heh

[Jim Comic]

drogs winning 1-0 against linfield

[Jim Comic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/4901254.stm

[eric2k5]

Good riddance to Linfield. Their supporters look very "friendly". Trying to be Rangers FFS.

City to avenge FAI Cup defeat.

[Echoboy]

Good riddance to Linfield. Their supporters look very "friendly". Trying to be Rangers FFS.

City to avenge FAI Cup defeat.

We've play Drogs three times this season

We won 2
We drew 1
We had 0 goals aganist
We had 4 goals for

Still though, it'll be a hard game ... they are very defensive, if we score early it'll be fine ... if they score, they'll park the bus in front of goal.

[Rebelred]

game in tolka,on a saturday night,with every hotel in dublin booked solid beacuse of the rugby.

[Fat Tom]

YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!! Fenn you are a genius....i always enjoy when we beat shels but my fuck that was sweet last nite...escpecially as we were poor enough in the 1st half. Had to laugh at Liams slip and bounce...heheheh...t eh money bags were class too....

heheheheheehehehe

[Comeretamebubbilah]

heheheheheehehehe

if it helps you sleep at nite....

[Fat Tom]

Oh right so a guy who flops at Spurs and Norwich is a genius now.
Sorry, my bad.

What next Dan Murray the next Nesta?
John O'Flynn better than Pele?

A relative genius maybe, but then thats not saying much

[Comeretamebubbilah]

Oh right so a guy who flops at Spurs and Norwich is a genius now.
Sorry, my bad.

What next Dan Murray the next Nesta?
John O'Flynn better than Pele?

A relative genius maybe, but then thats not saying much

did you see his performance the other night? how many times have you actually seen him play? His touch and control is class relative to football. now go away and watch some more MUTV...im sure there's an u16s game that you could be supporting...

[Fat Tom]

did you see his performance the other night? how many times have you actually seen him play? His touch and control is class relative to football. now go away and watch some more MUTV...im sure there's an u16s game that you could be supporting...

If he is such a genius then how come he couldn't cut it at spurs?
I've seen him play plenty.
His touch and control may be good but that doesn't make you a genius.
If he was a genius he'd be playing at a better level than the eircom league.

[STEVIEG]

With due respect, there are a lot more people you could be knocking than Neil Fenn
anyone with even a passing interest in the Eircom League will tell you how good he has been in the last couple of years and just because it didn't work out elsewhere shouldnt mean he is not good.
In Cork Citys fans eyes he is a genius and thats good enough for me

[Comeretamebubbilah]

If he is such a genius then how come he couldn't cut it at spurs?
I've seen him play plenty.
His touch and control may be good but that doesn't make you a genius.
If he was a genius he'd be playing at a better level than the eircom league.

define a football genius for me so....i never knew that football genius was defined somewhere in the dictionary. can you show it to me...

you've seen him play plenty...when was this? some of the stuff he does with the ball is genius imo....simple as that..some of the stuff he did the other night was genius imo...

[Fat Tom]

Yeah some of the stuff is genius.
I've seen him on the box enough.
Anywho, if he was a footballing genius he'd have made it at a bigger level.
FACT

[Comeretamebubbilah]

oh it's fact because you said so...

why not have a go off Stevie for saying it was just like watching Brazil because in all fairness if we're gonna act the langer then city are not brazil and watching them certainly isnt like watching brazil. etc etc etc different stripes etc...blah blah blah

[Fat Tom]

No its a fact because its true.
Not because I gave an opinion.
If Neale Fenn was a footballing genius then he would be playing at a better level.
Look I support my local team.
They have some class players for the standard they play at.
They too look like geniuses next to their opposition, in terms of skill and touches.
At the same time this is all relative.
Just like it is with Neale Fenn.
No matter what way you look at it - Darren Fletcher would be the best player in the Eircom League if he played in it.

[STEVIEG]

oh it's fact because you said so...

why not have a go off Stevie for saying it was just like watching Brazil because in all fairness if we're gonna act the langer then city are not brazil and watching them certainly isnt like watching brazil. etc etc etc different stripes etc...blah blah blah


Yeah Just to clarify
my reference to Brazil was a dig at the biased bullshit coming from the Shelbourne website, which seems to be consistent with the constant Dublin centric national media bias when it comes to the league
Fair enough, it's their own clubs website, but a bit of humility wouldn't go astray

[Rebelred]

Darren Fletcher would be the best player in the Eircom League if he played in it.
let's not push it,O'Callaghan is probably a better player than Fergieson

[optimus]

No its a fact because its true.
Darren Fletcher would be the best player in the Eircom League if he played in it.
no he wouldnt
fact

see i typed fact so therefore its fact..

[Fat Tom]

no he wouldnt
fact

see i typed fact so therefore its fact..

See the difference between Fletcher and Fenn is that Fletcher has actually made it as a soccer player at the highest level.

Can any city fan seriously say that Darren Fletcher wouldn't be yer best player if ye signed him now?

[optimus]

honestly yes i can say that ,,,
but obviously this is my opinion and cant be disproved by anyone

[Fat Tom]

honestly yes i can say that ,,,
but obviously this is my opinion and cant be disproved by anyone

but obviously you know jack shit about soccer if you believe that.
Obviously!

[Rebelred]

but obviously you know jack shit about soccer if you believe that.
Obviously!
obviously you have far too much faith in fletchers ability ;)

[Fat Tom]

obviously you have far too much faith in fletchers ability ;)

He may not be Man U standard in some peoples' opinions but he pisses all over the wasters who spend Sunday nights in Havanas

[optimus]

but obviously you know jack shit about soccer if you believe that.
Obviously!
i have more insight into soccer than you know just because i dont choose to share my insight with you ..you know what tom naff was right you really are ahttp://www.mpcforum.com/imagest/smilies/wank.gif



i bid you good day

[Fat Tom]

i have more insight into soccer than you know just because i dont choose to share my insight with you ..you know what tom naff was right you really are ahttp://www.mpcforum.com/imagest/smilies/wank.gif



i bid you good day

Great comeback on the Fletcher point.
Share the insight on how you believe Neale Fenn is a better soccer player than Darren Fletcher so please.

Myself and Naff actually got on quite well in the end.(after all the bickering and bitch slapping).

[STEVIEG]

Fletcher is a potentialy a good player but there are a lot of players in the Eircom league who are mor epolished as it stands.
Joe Gamble and Neil Fenn would probably hang on to the ball better than him to be honest
I'm not saying he's crap (i've generally stood by him), but its unfair to be so totally dismissive of league title winning players who are playing excellent week in week out

[Fat Tom]

Fair point Stevie and I'm not being dismissive.
Its all relative.
If Gamble, Fenn and O'Callaghan were near as good as Fletcher they'd be playing in the premiership.
They are class relative to the standard of their league.
For all Fletcher's faults he has still captained his country at 21 years of age and would dance on the Irish squad.
Something that can't be said for the afforementioned city boys.

Anyone who thinks Darren Fletcher wouldn't be the best player in the Eircom LEague is dillusional.
Its like saying Djimi Traore wouldn't be the best defender in the Eircom league.
Thing is - he would.

And its a lot easier keep the ball against poor opposition FFS.

[STEVIEG]

I disagree
Its a lot easier to play with so-called better players too and on better pitches too

I think a player like Fletcher would be over-run in the eircom league and wouldn't have a hope
I'm no expert but im sure there are loads of other players better than him there
Same with Traore
Other factors sometimes come into play
Thats why the weakest out of a childhood group of successful players (Roy Keane) was the only one to make it properly in England
His brother Pat was superior player to Roy and is playing at a much lower level than gamble and co now
But that doesn't mean he is a crap player

[Fat Tom]

I disagree
Its a lot easier to play with so-called better players too and on better pitches too

I think a player like Fletcher would be over-run in the eircom league and wouldn't have a hope
I'm no expert but im sure there are loads of other players better than him there
Same with Traore
Other factors sometimes come into play
Thats why the weakest out of a childhood group of successful players (Roy Keane) was the only one to make it properly in England
His brother Pat was superior player to Roy and is playing at a much lower level than gamble and co now
But that doesn't mean he is a crap player

If they are so much better how come they aren't playing for better clubs Stevie?
We are not talking about who was better underage Stevie we are talking about now.
Your point is like the village hurler who was so much better than his brother (the county star) until he hit the drink.
It's bollix if Dan Murray and the likes were better than Traore then maybe they'd be playing for the pool.
Ditto Fenn (the Genius - me hole) and George who couldn't cut it at Wolves.

[STEVIEG]

Darren Fletcher hasn't cut it yet fully if thats the case
The reason he has been played so much (and captained Scotland) is more to do with his potential than anything else
I admire Fergie for giving him every chance
And i stuck by him earlier in the season when everyone was having a go
But since he left Uniteds first eleven they have won every match and he could easily end up in the same lower divisions of England that many eircom league players dont want to play in
It wont happen, (he has got good footballing education at United and I think he will remain at the club and hopefully develop into a player), but it could happen, and there's a thin line between success and non success
Its all speculation, but i think there are many players here up to hs level while you do not, fair enough.
Anyway, thats it for me on the subject

[Fat Tom]

Darren Fletcher hasn't cut it yet fully if thats the case
The reason he has been played so much (and captained Scotland) is more to do with his potential than anything else
I admire Fergie for giving him every chance
And i stuck by him earlier in the season when everyone was having a go
But since he left Uniteds first eleven they have won every match and he could easily end up in the same lower divisions of England that many eircom league players dont want to play in
It wont happen, (he has got good footballing education at United and I think he will remain at the club and hopefully develop into a player), but it could happen, and there's a thin line between success and non success
Its all speculation, but i think there are many players here up to hs level while you do not, fair enough.
Anyway, thats it for me on the subject

Agreed Fletcher hasn't cut it at United but he has still reached a far higher level than these boys ever did including captaining his country at 21 years of age.
I think there are plenty of good players in the league too Stevie but not many of them are Premiership standard and Neale Fenn certainly isn't a genius.
My point was Darren Fletcher would be the best player in the league and I stick by that.

[Lamps]

i avoided this thread until now but i feel that a few things should be set straight. joe gamble couldn't make it at reading(when they were shit), was shipped out to barnet before heading back to city. he is probably city's best player. Georgie couldn't make it at port vale, and hasn't got the pace for the championship not to mind the premiership, he'd be eaten alive, way too weak and too slow.
To say that either is better than fletcher who must have nearly 100 appearances for united, won an FA cup and captained his country is just ludicrous. he would be far and away the best player in the eircom league. look at wes hoolahan, arguably the best player in the eircom league for the past 3 years, signs for livingston.

wasn't it denis keane who was the best player in the keane household? don't think pat keane was regarded that highly.

[STEVIEG]

In your opinion
I disagree

You must suddenly think an awful lot more of fletcher than I do because I see a guy who can't hang on to the ball for more than two seconds and the basics dont change no matter what level you are at


Anyway, we'll beg to differ

[MonTheHoops]

If the question is "Would Fletcher beat all around him if he were in the Eircom League?" then thew answer is who knows. Technically he's a gifted enough player but maybe wouldn't cut it due to the physicality fo the league. Then again, plenty of the City players wouldn't, and haven't made it across the pond. Best person to ask would possibly be Brian Barry Murphy. He's moved down the divisions in England. I wonder what he thinks of the standard of where he's at now and the standard of the Eircom League.

One thing is for certain - if any Eircom league player were a genius (a footballing genius, not a City genius) they would be playing at a higher level. There are very few footballing geniuses plying their trade anywhere in the world.

[Fat Tom]

In your opinion
I disagree

You must suddenly think an awful lot more of fletcher than I do because I see a guy who can't hang on to the ball for more than two seconds and the basics dont change no matter what level you are at


Anyway, we'll beg to differ

Hanging onto the ball in the premiership as opposed to the eircom league are two entirely different things.

I doubt Lamps thinks any higher of Fletcher.
But we are talking relatively here.
He is relatively poor in the Premiership.
He would piss all over the Eircom league boys.

[Sound]

I think people would have said the same of Doyle 12 months ago but now he could be compared favourably to the poorer PL players. The whole point is that it's not an exact science. For every Kevin Doyle who, by logic, had no right to make it there is a Cherno Samba.

[MonTheHoops]

I think people would have said the same of Doyle 12 months ago but now he could be compared favourably to the poorer PL players. The whole point is that it's not an exact science. For every Kevin Doyle who, by logic, had no right to make it there is a Cherno Samba.


Don't you mean a Sonny Pike?

[Fat Tom]

I think people would have said the same of Doyle 12 months ago but now he could be compared favourably to the poorer PL players. The whole point is that it's not an exact science. For every Kevin Doyle who, by logic, had no right to make it there is a Cherno Samba.

Thats a good point Sound but Doyle did prove it.
He had never played abroad before.
The others have been failures abroad.
And I stick by my point that Djimi Traore and Darren Fletcher would be the best 2 players in the league if they played in it.

[Lamps]

I think people would have said the same of Doyle 12 months ago but now he could be compared favourably to the poorer PL players. The whole point is that it's not an exact science. For every Kevin Doyle who, by logic, had no right to make it there is a Cherno Samba.

Maybe so, but Doyle looked the part even at city. He was head and shoulders above anyone else at the club at the time. It will be interesting to see how he goes next year.

I would love to see Georgie in a premierleague game, just to bring him down a notch.

[Sound]

Thats a good point Sound but Doyle did prove it.
He had never played abroad before.
The others have been failures abroad.
And I stick by my point that Djimi Traore and Darren Fletcher would be the best 2 players in the league if they played in it.

I think it's still tough to know though. Even in the case of fellas who couldn't cut it before. Maybe one of them would as they are more mature now etc. Weird example- look at Simao who left for Barca and flopped spectacularly. He went home to an inferior standard of footie and is now a far better player for it and has clubs queueing up to take a chance on him.

[Fat Tom]

I think it's still tough to know though. Even in the case of fellas who couldn't cut it before. Maybe one of them would as they are more mature now etc. Weird example- look at Simao who left for Barca and flopped spectacularly. He went home to an inferior standard of footie and is now a far better player for it and has clubs queueing up to take a chance on him.


True.
Georgie and the boys went home to play at an inferior standard and still no one wants him.
Even Traore and Fletcher, if they were to leave their respective clubs would have a lot of interested parties.
Tough to know, possibly - but we can use educated opinions and common sense.

[Lamps]

but we can use educated opinions and common sense.

2 cornerstones of this forum

[Fat Tom]

2 cornerstones of this forum

If I was being honest I'd say what I really think.
That anyone who thinks that Darren Fletcher wouldn't be the best player in the Eircom League is talking through their hole.
What next? Georgie better than Scholes. Dan Murray the next Carragher.
Me Fucking Hole!

[Sound]

If I was being honest I'd say what I really think.
That anyone who thinks that Darren Fletcher wouldn't be the best player in the Eircom League is talking through their hole.
What next? Georgie better than Scholes. Dan Murray the next Carragher.
Me Fucking Hole!

You are very probably correct but, if we went looking, we could find posts declaring the very same about Doyle.

They were wrong though.

[MonTheHoops]

You are very probably correct but, if we went looking, we could find posts declaring the very same about Doyle.

They were wrong though.

Spot on Sound though I think there's probably more than one post comparing him to Ronaldinho ;)

Sometimes I think luck has a bit to do with it too though those who have been at a few clubs across the way and find themselves back here are here for a reason.

[Fat Tom]

Spot on Sound though I think there's probably more than one post comparing him to Ronaldinho ;)

Sometimes I think luck has a bit to do with it too though those who have been at a few clubs across the way and find themselves back here are here for a reason.

And they certainly ain't footballing geniuses if they are playing their trade in the eircom league.

[Comeretamebubbilah]

****Premiership in Better standard of football than the Eircom Leagure Socker***

fuckin hell, I never seen a word produce so much confrontation before...

Day after big game win against hated rivals, teams starman gets labelled genius by fan of said football team....I bet that has never happened before....

FAT TOM...yes your beloved Man U are better than anything the Ericom League could ever hope to offer so please let the rest of us roll gleefully around in our so called muck league...

I am wondering how much live eircom league football you have actually seen . posters like Stevie and MTH have actually been to games and that is where they draw their opinions from...

As for the Fletcher thing...I dunno how he'd get on and thats being honest. Potentially he should be the best player in the league but would he actually. who knows...would he be able to handle getting the legs kicked off him against the likes of Whafur or Longford..i dunno. As for traore ...he's shit and has been getting away with it..

There have been hundreds of young fellas who make great starts to their careers at premiership teams...look at the host of utd youngsters who were the next big thing over the last 10 years and you'll see that most are playing in lower leagues now...Some players just stagnate or go backwards...

There are a hell of a lot of good footballers in teh eL at the moment, a few who didnt "make" it in England for one reason or another. in some cases it had nothing to do with football talent but discipline, attitude etc...You can use the usual "the eL is shit" attitude if you want..I'll be the first to admit that you do get shit games...but that is the case with all leagues .. the premiership being a good example. The eL is improving each year and needs the backing of the public to keep on improving...We have the potential in this country to have a league on a par with the championship in england. We could and should be getting crowds of 15,000 at football games in Cork. We could have a league in this country where all the young irish talent go to first..if they are good enough they will then move on to bigger and better things but at least the money would be going back into the league. It is possible but need the backing of the public..not going to happen with our generation but the amount of kids going to the cross these days is encouraging. hopefully they wont fall for the lure of tv football like our generation did. Thats a dream of mine and ive rambled too far off topic...apologies..

Lamps, As for Doyle...everyone who watched him knew he had the ability to play for Ireland, but because he was playing in the eL he was overlooked...He wasnt head and shoulders above his teammates..he was one of the better players...The fit John O'Flynn a couple of seasons ago was a better prospect imo than doyle. He's no longer the same player after a string of injuries.. Doyle has stated that a lot of players in the eL could handle the championship no bother...its all about peoples perception
of leagues.

so to sum up..Fenn is a football genius in my eyes and you aint taking that away from me FACT..........

[Sound]

Everyone has to start somewhere lads.

[Fat Tom]

****Premiership in Better standard of football than the Eircom Leagure Socker***

fuckin hell, I never seen a word produce so much confrontation before...

Day after big game win against hated rivals, teams starman gets labelled genius by fan of said football team....I bet that has never happened before....

FAT TOM...yes your beloved Man U are better than anything the Ericom League could ever hope to offer so please let the rest of us roll gleefully around in our so called muck league...

I am wondering how much live eircom league football you have actually seen . posters like Stevie and MTH have actually been to games and that is where they draw their opinions from...

As for the Fletcher thing...I dunno how he'd get on and thats being honest. Potentially he should be the best player in the league but would he actually. who knows...would he be able to handle getting the legs kicked off him against the likes of Whafur or Longford..i dunno. As for traore ...he's shit and has been getting away with it..

There have been hundreds of young fellas who make great starts to their careers at premiership teams...look at the host of utd youngsters who were the next big thing over the last 10 years and you'll see that most are playing in lower leagues now...Some players just stagnate or go backwards...

There are a hell of a lot of good footballers in teh eL at the moment, a few who didnt "make" it in England for one reason or another. in some cases it had nothing to do with football talent but discipline, attitude etc...You can use the usual "the eL is shit" attitude if you want..I'll be the first to admit that you do get shit games...but that is the case with all leagues .. the premiership being a good example. The eL is improving each year and needs the backing of the public to keep on improving...We have the potential in this country to have a league on a par with the championship in england. We could and should be getting crowds of 15,000 at football games in Cork. We could have a league in this country where all the young irish talent go to first..if they are good enough they will then move on to bigger and better things but at least the money would be going back into the league. It is possible but need the backing of the public..not going to happen with our generation but the amount of kids going to the cross these days is encouraging. hopefully they wont fall for the lure of tv football like our generation did. Thats a dream of mine and ive rambled too far off topic...apologies..

Lamps, As for Doyle...everyone who watched him knew he had the ability to play for Ireland, but because he was playing in the eL he was overlooked...He wasnt head and shoulders above his teammates..he was one of the better players...The fit John O'Flynn a couple of seasons ago was a better prospect imo than doyle. He's no longer the same player after a string of injuries.. Doyle has stated that a lot of players in the eL could handle the championship no bother...its all about peoples perception
of leagues.

so to sum up..Fenn is a football genius in my eyes and you aint taking that away from me FACT..........

He wasn't overlooked because he was in the Eircom League.
He was overlooked because he didn't prove his talents at a higher level.
Now he has and the potential all the city fans saw is being rewarded with international caps but until players actually prove themselves on a bigger stage then we can't really bring them into senior squads ahead of fellas who have made the breakthrough at their respective clubs.

[Rebelred]

I think alot of young Irish players would potentially better off if they didn't leave for england at the age of 15 and 16.John O'Shea didnt go to united until after he had completed his leaving cert.Look at Norway, they have a great youth system,and most of their young players start their professional careers with Norweigan clubs,then,if they're good enough,get the chance to go on to bigger leagues.I'm not sure but the number of young Irish players who come home every year disappointed and with their dreams in tatters must be fairly high.

Also, the standard of the eircom league has improved considerably since the switch to summer soccer,for those who doubt this,why not dip your toes in the water and go see a game for yourselves?

[Comeretamebubbilah]

He wasn't overlooked because he was in the Eircom League.
He was overlooked because he didn't prove his talents at a higher level.
Now he has and the potential all the city fans saw is being rewarded with international caps but until players actually prove themselves on a bigger stage then we can't really bring them into senior squads ahead of fellas who have made the breakthrough at their respective clubs.

if he's good enough he's good enough..

[MonTheHoops]

The eL is improving each year and needs the backing of the public to keep on improving...We have the potential in this country to have a league on a par with the championship in england. We could and should be getting crowds of 15,000 at football games in Cork. We could have a league in this country where all the young irish talent go to first..if they are good enough they will then move on to bigger and better things but at least the money would be going back into the league. It is possible but need the backing of the public..not going to happen with our generation but the amount of kids going to the cross these days is encouraging. hopefully they wont fall for the lure of tv football like our generation did. Thats a dream of mine and ive rambled too far off topic...apologies..

While we're off topic, and I'm sure you won't mind me discussing this, I don't think we have the potential here to have a league on par with the Championship. At BEST I think it could end up like the much maligned (and rightly so) SPHell because towns like Limerick and Waterford don't have a population to provide a major challenge should sides like Cork and the Dublin teams be pulling in 15k per week. You'd never see 15,000 Drogheda fans at a game week in week out.


Lamps, As for Doyle...everyone who watched him knew he had the ability to play for Ireland, but because he was playing in the eL he was overlooked...He wasnt head and shoulders above his teammates..he was one of the better players...The fit John O'Flynn a couple of seasons ago was a better prospect imo than doyle. He's no longer the same player after a string of injuries.. Doyle has stated that a lot of players in the eL could handle the championship no bother...its all about peoples perception
of leagues.


That's very true. Doyle was consistent but O'Flynn looked a better prospect. Well done Steve Coppell for noticing his talent - I certainly didn't see anything in him that suggested he'd be inside top 3 scorers in the Championship. In saying that, next season could be a different prospect - he had a lot of football under his belt while others were only starting pre-season training there.


EDIT: Standard has certainly risen since Summer football took over.

[Fat Tom]

if he's good enough he's good enough..


True, but how can you judge him until he proves it against better opposition?
I agree that more players should try and make a break through by establishing themselves in the Eircom League first.
As has been said - a la Norway.
But it is unlikely given our close proximity to England.

[Lamps]

Lamps, As for Doyle...everyone who watched him knew he had the ability to play for Ireland, but because he was playing in the eL he was overlooked...He wasnt head and shoulders above his teammates..he was one of the better players...The fit John O'Flynn a couple of seasons ago was a better prospect imo than doyle. He's no longer the same player after a string of injuries.. Doyle has stated that a lot of players in the eL could handle the championship no bother...its all about peoples perception
of leagues.


I'll have to take your word for this as someone who only goes to the occasional game. However the dude in the office next to mine is a fanatical city head and he assures me that doyle was a superior player than the flynn of old. says he was stronger, more composed and better finisher with similar pace. if doyle was merely one of the better players you'd think that there'd be some rush on to take the rest of them across the water.

the only interview i'v heard doyle give on this eircom league v championship thing was on the last word and he was very non-commital about saying a lot of league of ireland players would handle it, and matt cooper specifically asked him about the differences between the leagues. doyle did say the standard was much higher with the pace being quicker, crowds bigger and pressure greater.

not doubting you, but i'd like to see the source for these doyle claims youre on about

[Rebelred]

It's a pity Daryll Murphy hasn't had more playing time this season, as whenever I've seen him, he's more than held his own in the premiership.It'll be interesting to see how he does in the championship