A penalty for sure but the presence of Gareth McAuley gave the ref a very reasonable option of a yellow card.
Robbie normally flails his arms like a madman in such situations demanding redress but in this case he knew he'd the penalty and went straight to the ref when he saw the red card coming out to ask him to go easy -as did Keith Andrews. It was too late by then just.
" I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"
Was at the game last night. ROI played well but hard to judge against the opposition. Ward, Cox and Foley did well. McShane even against NI looked dangerous (to us!). But hard to take anything out of the game. When you see the likes of Foley and Ward turning up and playing most/all of the game with no fuss or hassle it really shames the likes of McCarthy, Stokes and the Stokes lads. Wolves were every bit involved in last day drama as Wigan were and no one would have excused them for going out and enjoying themselves on Sunday. Nonetheless they still reported for Irish duty as you would expect.
As for the crowd, oh god, abysmal. I hate to think what tonight and Friday night will be like. Dont think we'll be seeing a Nations Cup again or at least certainly not in this format.
Ref should have just used a bit of common sense. The game was over at 3 nil anyway so why turn it into an attack vs defence training session for the remainder of the 2nd half?
Fair play to Keane he did chat to the ref about it.
"If God had meant football to be played in the air, he'd have put grass in the sky." Brian Clough.
You'll NEVER beat the Irish.......you'll just draw with us instead!!!
The goat, sorry the kid had to go because as the refs performance will be looked at after the match, rules are rules.
15,092 as per Extratime.ie. Why were the Upper tiers open ? Surely it would have looked better if everyone was on the lower tiers.
Wow big statement from McGinn there. I mean, I'm sure most of us knew he supported the Republic but to say it while wearing a N. Ireland top is surprising
Folding my way into the big money!!!
It's hardly surprising though, it's realistic and quite representative of nationalist footballing support in NI. It won't stop him giving his all to NI and he'd hardly be the first NI international to feel as much - but you'd like to hope it would give those hysterical FIFA botherers food for thought when it comes to screaming 'sectarian!' about the FAI or players choosing to represent the Republic.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
It's not surprising that he supports the Republic but surprising for him to say it while he's a Norn Iron player. I don't recall ever hearing a Northern Ireland player saying such, even Neil Lennon.
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Times-they-are-a-changing. It probably reflects well on NI support that McGinn feels comfortable to say it, though since many struggle to accept McGinn's fundamental right to once-upon-a-time play for the ROI that might be a little generous.
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
There was another NI player covering. Is it still a red card offense to give away a foul in the box with a covering player around?
Not surprised McGinn is an ROI fan, but at the end of the day he gives 100% every time he plays for NI and he is more than happy to play for us and for that we will support him without issue.![]()
I think McGinn played for Tyrone at one stage.
I remember Mickey Harte talking about him in an article once anyway.
I know Martin Clarke that plays for Down is a big Norn Iron fan so it would seem that the relationship between 'nationalists' in the 6 counties and the NI soccer team isn't as simple it's sometimes made out to be.
Tardelli downplays absentee players row
Fahey also didn't make it apparently, but according to the assistant Wilson and Walters are injured while Whelan and Fahey are coming. Definite firefighting: ""I believe him [McCarthy], I believe Stoke, I believe the other players but sometimes it is possible to come here, have it assessed with the doctor and then go back."
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
Horrible in the sense it was so one-sided it wasn't even a match. You'd have almost feel sorry for NI if all possibility of sympathy hadn't been pre-eradicated by other issues before the game. 1999 wasn't comparable at all in the sense it wasn't one-sided. But cruel revenge, if you will.
So I'm just a last resort now?![]()
Obviously you're correct that an issue still exists so long as the eligibility of northern-born players to play for us will be disputed by the IFA and NI fans. It shouldn't be an issue though, but I think we all agree on that.
For anyone interested, the BBC highlights of the game are now up on the BBC iPlayer, although, they're only open to UK-based users, as far as I know: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ll_24_05_2011/
Out of interest, what do NI fans in general make of his comment?
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