League of Ireland

Both sides of Manchester will be celebrating this weekend as both United and City clinched the top prizes in English domestic football. For them and, indeed, all British clubs, players and fans, it's almost time for a well-earned breather before the pre-season matches, transfer speculation and season 2011-12 preparations get fully underway in July.

On this side of the water through, we're just into a dozen games into the season with plenty to come, not least the inevitable trials ...

We’ve all heard it; like a particularly tone-dead, annoying, half-witted cuckoo heralding the Spring, it recurs with depressing regularity, often around this time of the year as the Premiership season nears it’s conclusion.

Yes, it’s that hoary old chestnut, “I don’t go to League of Ireland games because the fans are too cliquey and they won’t make someone outside their gang feel welcome.” League of Ireland fans “look down from a self-appointed pedestal,” denigrating those foolhardy ...

Occasionally, just occasionally, I regret being a League of Ireland fan. It can be downright torture. Most people living in Dublin recognise the infamous rivalry between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers, even if they have little interest in the League. Bohs-Rovers derbies are greeted by certain tabloid newspapers as the coming of the apocalypse in sporting terms. When violence rears its head on these occasions, it receives blanket coverage. You try to hold your head up as people quiz you about the ...

“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.”
A. Bartlett Giamatti

Strange things, leads. Like an investment banker checking his bank balance, you can never be too far in front. And when things go the other way, any lead at all will inevitably ...

Derry Stood For More Than Football

Fine them, take points from them, relegate them but don't throw them out of the league. If you do, the league will be the losers. Two and a half decades on, it's once more time for the hand of friendship.

I'm biased because I greatly admire Derry and what the city and the club stand for. Now I'm hoping John Delaney feels the same way.

Frankly, from his statements over the past week or two, I think he does.

There's been plenty said by now I agree with regarding the financial situation at Derry. There was one particular issue I wanted to highlight though.

I personally know plenty of hard-working people who aren't exactly flush with cash at the minute, who have donated money over the past few months, and especially the last few weeks because they were convinced that it would help the club. In the pub a few weeks ago there was a 'lively' debate about it where I said that I wanted to know ...

Fair play Mr Darragh Farrell, who had a response to one Jacqueline Cotter's nauseating comments printed in today's Irish Independent.

Jacqueline originally wrote in on Monday:

“As a true blue Manchester City supporter may I offer my sympathies to the rebel army after Cork's defeat on Sunday. Kerry are to Cork what Manchester United are to Manchester City -- a pain in the butt.

But, let's take a lead from the politicians' phrasebook and "be ready ...

Nice little article from Eamon Sweeney in today's Independent contrasting the passion and the excitement on display in the midweek FAI Cup quarter-finals, which saw three of the top tips for the trophy go crashing out, with the soporific Champions League ties on the same night:

"There is something deeply shallow about the affection of Irish sports fans for English soccer teams. A minority of men and women spend a lot of time and money making the journey across the water to follow ...