Celtic Cup thread

**gspain** · 10/02/2011, 10:19 AM

Rule Britannia is not sectarian or offensive. I'm sure it wound up the Scottish fans and will wind up our fans in May

**elroy** · 10/02/2011, 10:20 AM

Sorry for raising this question, dont want this thread to descent political: but I believe when Ireland played England in Nov 1990 in LR, GSTQ wasnt played?? Is this true and what were the reasons? Was ANaF played?

Were the anthems played that infamous night in 1995?

**ArdeeBhoy** · 10/02/2011, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by gspain

Rule Britannia is not sectarian or offensive. I'm sure it wound up the Scottish fans and will wind up our fans in May

Ha ha. Nice try....GS.

And as I recall GSTQ was not played in '95 or even @ the rugby until Croke??

**paul_oshea** · 10/02/2011, 10:40 AM

Its always been played at the rugby. it just wasn't played in croke park.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/02/2011, 10:42 AM

re-1995, both anthems were played as far as I can recall. There was some booing of GSTQ from the South Terrace, but it was far from widespread. I was on the North Terrace and there was no booing. Some English interviewed on TV tried to justify the riot by using that, but the reality was that even during GSTQ their own fans, almost to a man in the West Upper, stood up and gave Nazi salutes. Quite an astonishing sight to anyone who was there.

In 1990 I think only our anthem was played. Totally poisonous atmosphere that day.

I don't have any big deal with what NI fans sang. The atmosphere came across as really good. Footy songs are often foul or distasteful, or antagonistic. There's a line between what is and isn't acceptable, but Thierry Henry would get me mad before anything political! When England sing "No Surrender" I find it sad, rather than offensive.

re-Ardee Bhoy's earlier post about the excesses of the British Empire and the affect on his / our ancestors, what about the excesses of the outgoing government and some sections of our own people? A generation of negative equity, emigration and all kinds of economic woe awaits. We can't blame this one on the Brits. I, for one, am hoping that this whole sad affair leads to us having a more mature relationship with Britain. By all means hate them in sport though!

**ArdeeBhoy** · 10/02/2011, 10:59 AM

Fair points I suppose, much of how one feels comes down to personal experience.

**ifk101** · 10/02/2011, 12:20 PM

Let's get back to the football, eh?

Remaining fixtures:
Tuesday May 24th
Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland

Wednesday May25th
Wales v Scotland

Friday May 27th
Wales v Northern Ireland

Sunday May 29th
Republic of Ireland v Scotland

Based on the first round of games and results, it's reasonable to conclude that it's between us and Scotland for the title. The game against NI would be a good opportunity to give players on the fringes a run out as we don't need to win it, and based on NI's performance last night, we shouldn't need to field a strong side to get a positive result.

**holidaysong** · 10/02/2011, 12:24 PM

I'd say we'll draw with NI, Scotland will beat Wales and then Scotland will get the draw they need against us to win the tournament.

**Fixer82** · 10/02/2011, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by elroy

Have no problem with fans of any country having their flags and banners etc and we as a country prob need to get over our sensitivity to the union jack and so on. Although flags carrying the names of certain loyalist/unionist organisations has no place in football. However I do think the same fans should have some sense of respect for the visiting country. By and large I would like to think we do and aim to have the craic with the home fans. Like we wouldnt go to Austria singing about the holocaust for example or to germany and sing about the berlin wall or the WWs etc. Now I know our history is so closely linked with NI in comparison to the examples I used there but nonetheless I think they could have some respect and tone down the political orientated songs for such a visit.

Oh and of course the Welsh fans, singing Thierry Henry on Tuesday night. Didnt like that either, still too soon, Im a sensitive soul. But seriously that sort of chant is banter and thats fair enough, its the politically motivated stuff that shouldnt be in our game.

Well said

**Fixer82** · 10/02/2011, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Its always been played at the rugby. it just wasn't played in croke park.

It was most certainly played in Croke Park. One man pulled his father's all-ireland medals out of the Museum in protest. And I'm fairly sure it was played in LR in 1995. Not sure about 1990. I imagine it was.

It's always been played at the rugby. In fact it is in the IRFU manifesto that GSTQ should be played when Ireland rugby team play in Ravenhill but the Ulster Rugby Association, in their wisdom, choose not to. I imagine it's 'Ireland's AWFUL Call'

**Fixer82** · 10/02/2011, 12:34 PM

Darron Gibson and Marc Wilson to start against NI. With a shock recall for Alan Kernaghan

**Predator** · 10/02/2011, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

Let's get back to the football, eh?

Remaining fixtures:
Tuesday May 24th
Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland

Wednesday May25th
Wales v Scotland

Friday May 27th
Wales v Northern Ireland

Sunday May 29th
Republic of Ireland v Scotland

Based on the first round of games and results, it's reasonable to conclude that it's between us and Scotland for the title. The game against NI would be a good opportunity to give players on the fringes a run out as we don't need to win it, and based on NI's performance last night, we shouldn't need to field a strong side to get a positive result.

Based on the performance last night, Nigel Worthington might reconsider his selection policy for our game...

**ifk101** · 10/02/2011, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Predator

Based on the performance last night, Nigel Worthington might reconsider his selection policy for our game...

I don't think Nigel knows how he can improve the team. NI have only scored a couple of goals in the last two years of international football regardless of team selections.

**SwanVsDalton** · 10/02/2011, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

I don't think Nigel knows how he can improve the team. NI have only scored a couple of goals in the last two years of international football regardless of team selections.

NI can play ten times better than last night though - they were woeful and undermotivated. I'd be very surprised if they are not considerably more fired up and determined against us.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 10/02/2011, 1:01 PM

I've sure I've seen far better keepers than Tuffey leave in goals like those conceded by NI last night. Three or four defenders stood there looking at Miller for the first. The second was well poxy -though he (Tuffey) should've measured it better and been closer to his line. But again I've seen better than him caught out when a ball dips like that. He made a couple of fine saves in there as well.

**geysir** · 10/02/2011, 1:06 PM

The IFA still persist with GSTQ as an anthem to represents the IFA team, a region with 2 established constitutionally recognised national identities.
Far be from me to tell another association how to run its shop,

except to remark that the IFAs instutionalised belligerence in maintaining this particular aspect of homogeneous identity, in the face of social and constitutional progress made over the last 20 years, will contribute to ensure that we have a decent enough pool of northern born players to choose from for the foreseeable future.

**ifk101** · 10/02/2011, 1:06 PM

Ten times better

And I don't think you can say they were lacking motivation. After all they got to meet Ken Doherty and play in the Aviva.

But they can certainly improve on their organisation and defensive structure, and from other games I've watched they can present a danger on the break.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/02/2011, 1:07 PM

In Tuffey's defence, as an ex-keeper I can tell you that there's nothing worse than when an intended cross goes is misdirected towards goal. You see the ball being struck, you set yourself up for the cross and then too late. It beats keepers regularly and it's why you hear the question so often asked "was it intentional?". It rarely is I reckon. Hennessy was beaten all ends up by Duff's cross on Tuesday.

**Charlie Darwin** · 10/02/2011, 1:13 PM

Tuffey is no Alan Mannus, to be sure to be sure.

**Gather round** · 10/02/2011, 1:15 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

NI have only scored a couple of goals in the last two years of international football regardless of team selections

WC Feb 2009 San Marino W 3-0
WC Mar 2009 POLAND W 3-2
WC Mar 2009 Slovenia W 1-0
WC Sep 2009 Poland D 1-1
WC Sep 2009 SLOVAKIA L 0-2
WC Oct 2009 Czechia D 0-0
EC Sep 2010 Slovenia W 1-0
EC Oct 2010 ITALY D 0-0
EC Oct 2010 Faeroes D 1-1

P-9 W-4 D-4 L-1 F-10 A-6 Pts-16