Soccer Republic

[nigel-harps1954]

Did it just seem like the Limerick Bohs roundup was the shortest. That match had everything real end to end stuff but RTE only just about showed the goals and sending off!!! Far too much shown from some other games!

Try the Wexford v Harps game..Harps had around four really good chances in the first half, Wexford also drew a couple of good saves from Gallagher. Avoided two potential red card challenges from Youths too.
From those highlights it was all one way traffic.

[Dunny]

Trying to remember what show i seen Ollie Horgan on last? Some help..


http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00802/Worzel-Gummidge-460_802674c.jpg

[nigel-harps1954]

Never mind Horgan, Mick Wallace was pictured with a few Harps fans the other night.

https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11870940_786761678112037_1937745266827068432_n.jpg ?oh=60f205caf85ee3251fa6c2f97614f5e2&oe=5680045B

[L.T.F.C.]

Try the Wexford v Harps game..Harps had around four really good chances in the first half, Wexford also drew a couple of good saves from Gallagher. Avoided two potential red card challenges from Youths too.
From those highlights it was all one way traffic.
You mean Harps.

[blueblood]

Did anyone else notice the commentary on Shams v Pats, who the hell was that, was it even a real person, the commentators on fifa 15 sound better!!!! It's well worth a listen ha.

[nigel-harps1954]

You mean Harps.

Obviously I meant Harps. We're just a dirty shower of hacking c**ts.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Did anyone else notice the commentary on Shams v Pats, who the hell was that, was it even a real person, the commentators on fifa 15 sound better!!!! It's well worth a listen ha.

Ger Canning I'm pretty sure

[outspoken]

Did anyone else notice the commentary on Shams v Pats, who the hell was that, was it even a real person, the commentators on fifa 15 sound better!!!! It's well worth a listen ha.

Ger Canning, the GAA commentator. More passion in a glass of water than that fellas commentary

[SwanVsDalton]

Caught up on Monday's episode - enjoyed hearing about Sean St Ledger signing for Colorado from Orlando Magic, but sad the NBA career didn't work out.

[Pablo Escobar]

Caught up on Monday's episode - enjoyed hearing about Sean St Ledger signing for Colorado from Orlando Magic, but sad the NBA career didn't work out.

They failed to mention Shane O'Neill, a Midleton lad who left the Rapids for Apollon Limassol the same week.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Dublin media bias?

[osarusan]

Towell looks like a very lucky boy from those highlights.

[Spudulika]

Flicked on the RTE site when I landed in the office, saw the video, dreadful petulant behaviour. It would be a great sign if the club were to suspend him for 2 games (okay, a game) to take a lead on how NOT to play the game. I don't think he can be banned retroactively and I doubt the FAI will do a GAA on it (by laying down a standard), so an internal club discipline for bringing the club/game into disrepute would be a real marker.

[seand]

Flicked on the RTE site when I landed in the office, saw the video, dreadful petulant behaviour. It would be a great sign if the club were to suspend him for 2 games (okay, a game) to take a lead on how NOT to play the game. I don't think he can be banned retroactively and I doubt the FAI will do a GAA on it (by laying down a standard), so an internal club discipline for bringing the club/game into disrepute would be a real marker.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that Dundalk will indeed follow the lead of all those other clubs who volutarily suspend their own players for on-field misdemeanours.

[Spudulika]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that Dundalk will indeed follow the lead of all those other clubs who volutarily suspend their own players for on-field misdemeanours.

This is where the game is steeped in shame. We whinge about diving, about cheating, about refs, about everything. Last night it was embarrassing at times watching the RTE coverage when Stephen Beattie came onto the ball. The 2nd chant of "Stephen Beattie is a w......" was magnified by George and Brian staying absolutely silent. Far worse goes on in other leagues, yet isn't as audible. I'm not against idiotic chants, but it hammers the efforts made by clubs to gets euros in (tickets, sponsors). And what a mega media coup it'd be for Dundalk to take a principled stand and say "It could have been worse, Richie knows it was stupid and he's accepted the game ban." It would stand Dundalk and the LOI far above the scumbaggery of Tyrone and their "everybody hates us" excuses.

[nigel-harps1954]

Totally with Spudulika on this one. It was pretty awful having such audible rubbish coming from the stands towards Beattie at times during the live game last night. I know, part and parcel of supporting football, but as Spud says, when trying to attract a new audience to the league, and promoting a family friendly area, this is not the sort of thing we need.

As for Towell, for Dundalk to come out and issue a ban themselves and a short statement encouraging proper sportsmanship (sticking two fingers up to the GAA) would be great publicity and set a proper precedent for the league as a whole. They only have to say something along the lines of "Richie realises what he done was wrong in the heat of the moment, apologies and regrets his actions. He pledges further to encourage proper sportsmanship amongst his fellow professionals and team-mates".

This would be a proper proud moment for the League of Ireland in my opinion if it were to happen.

[White Horse]

And what a mega media coup it'd be for Dundalk to take a principled stand and say "It could have been worse, Richie knows it was stupid and he's accepted the game ban." It would stand Dundalk and the LOI far above the scumbaggery of Tyrone and their "everybody hates us" excuses.

Would it though? Let's say he apologises (which he should) and Dundalk leave him out of the next game. Would that satisfy everyone? Not at all. The attention would then turn to the number of games.

This is not the way to handle disciplinary issues. The ref was beside the incident and linesman was a couple of feet away. I was sitting four tiers from the top of the stand on the opposite side of the pitch and I saw the kick as clear as day. Officials have to get basic decisions right. Why did the ref give him a yellow? I heard some rubbish that it was due to an altercation with Forrester, but Towell just walked backwards as Forrester pushed him, so the yellow wasn't for that.

[colonelwest]

All this talk of martyrdom & Dundalk suspending him themselves, if it was one of your own players and your club I highly doubt you'd be saying the same thing Spud. He should have gone, the ref booked him and dealt with it (whether he dealt with it rightly is another matter).

Over the years how many players have got away with scything someone down or stitching someone a loaf or getting a yellow when they should have walked?


As to the chants, it's a football game, not a game of bridge down the rotary club. We've all heard plenty worse and if calling someone a ****** in a chant is all we have to worry about hearing about at a match we're doing ok. RTE obviously just can't be arsed mixing the audio on the broadcast, they could have just turned it down when that was being chanted.

[eelmonster]

Yeah, we're definitely going to voluntarily suspend the best player in the league for a match in the run in to possibly winning an historic back-to-back league title. It was a reckless, rash and totally out of character moment of petulance, but hardly the worst I've seen or seen players get away with. The self-righteous, hypocritical pontificating is hilarious though.

[White Horse]

Yeah, we're definitely going to voluntarily suspend the best player in the league for a match in the run in to possibly winning an historic back-to-back league title. It was a reckless, rash and totally out of character moment of petulance, but hardly the worst I've seen or seen players get away with. The self-righteous, hypocritical pontificating is hilarious though.

In the same game last season, Dave McMillan was sent off after Derek Foran feigned a punch to his face. McMillan ended up serving a three match ban when Hoban was out injured.

No-one from Pats or any other club chasing Dundalk were up in arms about that wrong decision.

[PartySaint]

No other club in the world would suspend their player for it so there is no reason why Dundalk should.

If McGrath had of kicked Towell in the face and broke his nose Dundalk fans would be up in arms demanding Pats were kicked out of the league but it's the other way around so Pats fans are up in arms and Dundalk fans defending their player. Unfortunately that's the world of fickle football fans.

[seand]

No other club in the world would suspend their player for it so there is no reason why Dundalk should.

If McGrath had of kicked Towell in the face and broke his nose Dundalk fans would be up in arms demanding Pats were kicked out of the league but it's the other way around so Pats fans are up in arms and Dundalk fans defending their player. Unfortunately that's the world of fickle football fans.

I haven't seen any Dundalk fans defending Towell, to be fair.

[Hulsey]

Absolutely no excuse for that kind of act, obviously dundalk aren't going to suspend him but a public dressing down and a fine wouldn't go amiss. He's currently the poster boy for the league (well excluding Duff) so allowing this to go unpunished sends out a very bad message

[White Horse]

I haven't seen any Dundalk fans defending Towell, to be fair.

I've seen some embarrassing stuff on gutter social media.

[Dunny]

I've seen some embarrassing stuff on gutter social media.

Aye,from both and all sides,and some people with huge fecking social media egos leading the lines!! Some people need to cop themselves on.

[oriel]

No other club in the world would suspend their player for it so there is no reason why Dundalk should.

If McGrath had of kicked Towell in the face and broke his nose Dundalk fans would be up in arms demanding Pats were kicked out of the league but it's the other way around so Pats fans are up in arms and Dundalk fans defending their player. Unfortunately that's the world of fickle football fans.

I agree, haven't seen any either, for me it should have been a straight red for Towell. Simple as.

[Spudulika]

All this talk of martyrdom & Dundalk suspending him themselves, if it was one of your own players and your club I highly doubt you'd be saying the same thing Spud. He should have gone, the ref booked him and dealt with it (whether he dealt with it rightly is another matter).

Over the years how many players have got away with scything someone down or stitching someone a loaf or getting a yellow when they should have walked?


As to the chants, it's a football game, not a game of bridge down the rotary club. We've all heard plenty worse and if calling someone a ****** in a chant is all we have to worry about hearing about at a match we're doing ok. RTE obviously just can't be arsed mixing the audio on the broadcast, they could have just turned it down when that was being chanted.

It is my club that I've supported since birth (according to my Uncle last week). I made the pilgrimage up twice when I was home and am not a Pollyanna. We can use all the Whaboutery we want, just like Tyrone or Meath or the GAA apologists who claim that what goes on in other codes is worse. Richie is a decent lad, but that was nasty last night and yes he got a yellow but it should have been red. This is not pontificating, simply fair play. I've worked long enough in sports to see how this works and how a bit of decency never goes astray. Nothing Dundalk do will be enough and the country doesn't give a flying flip anyway - it's only a minority sport after all, but with all the gains Dundalk made this Summer to show how class the club is, this would be (from a simple PR standpoint) Gold! And maybe, just maybe, we could create a league that stands apart from the dross over the water.

Of course nothing will happen because it's the LOI (part of the FAI "family') and it's every dog for itself.

Anyway, we are the champions in waiting.

[Spudulika]

I agree, haven't seen any either, for me it should have been a straight red for Towell. Simple as.

PS is correct that fans are fickle, but anyone I've heard from at home today has been disappointed to disgusted.

[wedwood]

Towell, deserves a suspension for that, but so does the referee for his home town decision last night where he bottled it by only issuing a yellow when he clearly saw Towell kicking the Pats player in the face.

[White Horse]

Nothing Dundalk do will be enough and the country doesn't give a flying flip anyway - it's only a minority sport after all..

The most important audience Dundalk need to address is not the media or supporters, it is the local kids who worship Richie Towell.

People outside the area don't realise how big of heroes these Dundalk players to the young people. In my opinion, Richie should make it clear to these kids that he was wrong and that what he did has no place on any pitch.

[Spudulika]

The most important audience Dundalk need to address is not the media or supporters, it is the local kids who worship Richie Towell.

People outside the area don't realise how big of heroes these Dundalk players to the young people. In my opinion, Richie should make it clear to these kids that he was wrong and that what he did has no place on any pitch.

WH, you're 100% correct. I think he's an amazing player and (with zero disrespect for our league or clubs) he is well capable of performing in a good continental league - German BII, Portugal I for eg - and showing that the LOI is a launchpad. With the Louth senior team again at a low, DFC are EVERYTHING in the town and around abouts. Seeing a kid sitting on a wall in Tallanstown wearing a Dundalk shirt shows what this club can do. If the club do something positive they will not only show how great they are, and how decent Richie is, they will set a standard for the country.

[Nesta99]

(with zero disrespect for our league or clubs) .

Thats a bit harsh. Ambition to move on is hardly disrespect! What has you come to thos opinion Spudlika. He has stated that if he didnt get a club that is of a higher level tha LoI he would stay and would only play with Dundalk - that at least negates tha lack of respect of the club. The kick out last night can happen to the most disciplined player with a rush of blood or with provocation. I agree that a big point should be made that it isnt appropriate and is actually as inferred a big opportunity too if managed well!

[Nugget]

As for Towell, for Dundalk to come out and issue a ban themselves and a short statement encouraging proper sportsmanship (sticking two fingers up to the GAA) would be great publicity and set a proper precedent for the league as a whole. They only have to say something along the lines of "Richie realises what he done was wrong in the heat of the moment, apologies and regrets his actions. He pledges further to encourage proper sportsmanship amongst his fellow professionals and team-mates".


What are you getting at here?

[nigel-harps1954]

Thats a bit harsh. Ambition to move on is hardly disrespect! What has you come to thos opinion Spudlika. He has stated that if he didnt get a club that is of a higher level tha LoI he would stay and would only play with Dundalk - that at least negates tha lack of respect of the club. The kick out last night can happen to the most disciplined player with a rush of blood or with provocation. I agree that a big point should be made that it isnt appropriate and is actually as inferred a big opportunity too if managed well!

I think you misunderstood what Spudulika was trying to say there.

[nigel-harps1954]

What are you getting at here?

That the GAA is full of a lack of sportsmanship. I'd have thought that bit was obvious. I played and supported the game of Gaelic Football all my life and fell away from it around 4 or 5 years ago altogether once I realised how petty and bitter the game had become. Too many people get away with too much crap. The first sign of anything decent being done by the GAA was the ban handed out to the Tyrone player for feigning injury, to which a good 75% of GAA fans and players ended up outraged at the decision.

[White Horse]

That the GAA is full of a lack of sportsmanship. I'd have thought that bit was obvious. I played and supported the game of Gaelic Football all my life and fell away from it around 4 or 5 years ago altogether once I realised how petty and bitter the game had become.

Players move around clubs in the football. In any game, it is quite likely that many of the players played together at some stage, whether at schoolboy level, other clubs, or underage Irish teams.

In inter-county GAA, players grow up with the same players and develop a tribalism that makes anything acceptable.

[Nesta99]

I think you misunderstood what Spudulika was trying to say there.

Really? (should have a non sarcastic smiley!!) As an aside, do others have trouble watching RTE player with constant buffering - I never have a problem watching any other catch up or streaming live. Its a pain in the ass!!

[Spudulika]

Thats a bit harsh. Ambition to move on is hardly disrespect! What has you come to thos opinion Spudlika. He has stated that if he didnt get a club that is of a higher level tha LoI he would stay and would only play with Dundalk - that at least negates tha lack of respect of the club. The kick out last night can happen to the most disciplined player with a rush of blood or with provocation. I agree that a big point should be made that it isnt appropriate and is actually as inferred a big opportunity too if managed well!

Nesta99, sorry, that was mixed in context. My mistake. I mean that I don't (ever) wish to demean our league or our clubs, I just see Richie being capable of playing at a really good level - he'd be a started in the Russian Premier and a number of other high level leagues. I would dislike seeing him move to England because I think it would harm his development as a player, though there are plenty of good clubs and leagues for him to go to (should he choose). Agree, it was not usual for him and it'd be a real standard setter if something was done. In a way I don't care about what the other clubs do, we should set a standard!

I'm with both Nigel and White Horse on the GAA situation. I was up in the press box Saturday before last and next to me was a Tyrone reporter. Behind us, in the fans, were some of the most obnoxious fans I've ever endured - from Tyrone. Their language, abuse of officials, of other supporters, was disgusting and sadly mirrored what their team were doing on the field. The sense of entitlement and stupidity shown by them I've seen many times in 6 county GAA, yet a week earlier I'd been near some Fermanagh fans who made me genuinely proud to be a Gael. They embodied what real supporters are. Too often in GAA the tribalism takes over though internal discipline and GAA reaction is good, because they can make their own rules. It just shows how our sport (football) is dysfunctional and all the talk of the FAI failing to promote a super Monday.......

[Couch Potato]

Yeah, we're definitely going to voluntarily suspend the best player in the league for a match in the run in to possibly winning an historic back-to-back league title. It was a reckless, rash and totally out of character moment of petulance, but hardly the worst I've seen or seen players get away with. The self-righteous, hypocritical pontificating is hilarious though.

Out of Character you must be joking be me he is constantly fouling players and goes down like a brazzer if the breeze blows too hard near him.

Don't get me wrong he is an exceptional player but I'm sick of the rose tinted view of him.

Dundalk absolutely battered us last night from start to finish they were on top and absolutely blew us out of the water.

We need a massive improvement and a return of some of our injured players to settle things back down again we have been relying on kids for a number of weeks now which isn't ideal when your in a scrap for european football.

[White Horse]

Out of Character you must be joking be me he is constantly fouling players and goes down like a brazzer if the breeze blows too hard near him.

Don't get me wrong he is an exceptional player but I'm sick of the rose tinted view of him.

I have watched Richie play well over 100 games for Dundalk and this is the first instance of nastiness from him.

Yes, he fouls and does get away with it more than many other players. However, I cannot recall another instance where he tried to hurt another player.

[Nesta99]

There is an element of 'give a dog a bad name' or the opposite maybe. Towell is an energetic and physical player and does niggle, I dont think overly so. He will make the most of someone making a challenge that isnt precise for want of a better word. He possibly gets away with a bit more than say Killian Brennan, for example, due to his well publicised professional demeanour and attitude. He is not a dirty player but is probably a very frustrating player for opposition players and fans to watch.

[JC_GUFC]

Yeah, we're definitely going to voluntarily suspend the best player in the league for a match in the run in to possibly winning an historic back-to-back league title.

Totally agree with you eel - would be ridiculous for the club to suspend him for a league game... however as the cup doesn't matter to you maybe he shouldn't play on Friday (along with the other 10 Dundalk players who were on the pitch at the time)

[Nesta99]

Nesta99, sorry, that was mixed in context. My mistake. I mean that I don't (ever) wish to demean our league or our clubs, I just see Richie being capable of playing at a really good level - he'd be a started in the Russian Premier and a number of other high level leagues. I would dislike seeing him move to England because I think it would harm his development as a player, though there are plenty of good clubs and leagues for him to go to (should he choose). Agree, it was not usual for him and it'd be a real standard setter if something was done. In a way I don't care about what the other clubs do, we should set a standard!


Thanks for clearing that up...I think:confused: maybe im having a stuck on stupid day!

[Nesta99]

Totally agree with you eel - would be ridiculous for the club to suspend him for a league game... however as the cup doesn't matter to you maybe he shouldn't play on Friday (along with the other 10 Dundalk players who were on the pitch at the time)

Reserves and youths arent to shabby either :p

[Yossarian]

Totally agree with you eel - would be ridiculous for the club to suspend him for a league game... however as the cup doesn't matter to you maybe he shouldn't play on Friday (along with the other 10 Dundalk players who were on the pitch at the time)

I'd say there'll be a couple of changes but not too many after the last cup outing in Galway. I'd say Shields, Kilduff and Meenan will start and probably Sava in goals.

[JC_GUFC]

I'd say there'll be a couple of changes but not too many after the last cup outing in Galway. I'd say Shields, Kilduff and Meenan will start and probably Sava in goals.

Really? I'd have thought you'd have put out your strongest XI in chasing the double.

We'll have a couple of players back from suspensions but are still really stretched.

[Spudulika]

Thanks for clearing that up...I think:confused: maybe im having a stuck on stupid day!

It's my english. When you wake up and start your day in a different language, and then spend 2 hours without a drop of English, it's a pain trying to write!

[oriel]

Really? I'd have thought you'd have put out your strongest XI in chasing the double.

We'll have a couple of players back from suspensions but are still really stretched.


I would say DLK will play a strong enough side in Galway, but I can see them resting 4 or 5 players, probably Kilduff in for McMillan, Grimes in for Massey, Shields in for Towell (maybe) and Meenan in for Mountney, all are first team players, maybe he will promote a few youth players, but it will be a different team that played the LC Semi.

As for Towell, I've been watching him 3 years, I don't think he was sent off once for us, think he may have missed one game for suspension, that's about it. His actions last night was very poor, it was a clear red card offence, the ref booked him for 'afters' so it won't be looked at again, but he should have been sent off. However It was missed by the ref, who didn't cover himself in glory it has to be said, that free kick for Pats which led to their goal should not have been awarded. Gannon clearly won the ball.

As for the match, and considering Pats were on a club record run of 9 straight wins, the first half was one of the best displays I have seen by Dundalk in a Prem Div home game in recent times, this was backed up by an unusual standing ovation at half time, but too many Pats players made it very easy, Bolger's back heel trying to clear the ball set up the 4th goal, no wonder he didn't appear for the second half. I was actually thinking what was our record score at home to Pats after the 4th goal, but to be fair Pats improved a lot in the second.

[Charlie Darwin]

Last night it was embarrassing at times watching the RTE coverage when Stephen Beattie came onto the ball. The 2nd chant of "Stephen Beattie is a w......" was magnified by George and Brian staying absolutely silent.
How do you know he's not though?


I've seen some embarrassing stuff on gutter social media.
The lad who was frothing at the mouth about Forrester throwing away Stephen O'Donnell's armband made my night. What an absolute hero.

[mcgonigle]

Towell, deserves a suspension for that, but so does the referee for his home town decision last night where he bottled it by only issuing a yellow when he clearly saw Towell kicking the Pats player in the face.

He also missed two elbows on Dundalk players. Refs miss things, that's what happens. The incident was in front of me and I missed the heel at the time, thought he just accidentally caught him as he came through and so did everyone around me. He obviously didn't clearly see it.