JoeSoap: Just want to try to clear up a couple of things in your original post. Please keep in mind that I have a lot of time for yourself, Noel and Damien, so I'll try to keep it as even-handed as I can.
1. The guy (Kiss NOC) is not Damien (or even "Damian"
) O'Neill.
2. I was on the phone to Damien last night and he was absolutely apalled that you of all people could insinuate that he was a disgrace to Limerick. He mentioned a number of things, which I have previously heard about from others, that you have done in your soccer dealings which are far more serious than what happened at the Cork game. Most people know what these events are, and this is not the place to list them so I will refrain from doing so. It seems a little "Pot-Kettle" to me.
3. Noel O'Connor was absolutely in the wrong when he left. He signed up players on wages much higher than they deserved and then jumped ship at the last moment. The opportunity to step up was one he really had to take, but no-one can say that the way he left Limerick was incredibly disappointing to all involved.
4. I think you are leaving your friendship with Noel cloud your eyes here. You weren't at the match to my knowledge and therefore are talking about events that you only have second-hand information to. Don't forget that Damien also has (had
) a friendship with Noel O'Connor as well. Judging from your post you really are talking this up as a major incident. The referees were not as worried about it as you seem to think they were. They regarded the infringment onto the pitch as (in their words) "trivial." They are required to ask Noel O'Connor if he wishes to take it further, as it is part of their remit, but this does not automatically mean they deem it to be something major.
5. I have looked into this through the FAI rules and through separate legal council and on the facts of what has happened the only thing that could happen through the FAI is that Limerick FC can be fined. The infraction is not major, it is as a result of Limerick FC not meeting certain aspects of the licencing requirements and therefore Limerick are liable for Damien having access to the pitch. The only way anything could be done to Damien is if Noel O'Connor takes a civil case against Damien. This would be completly separate from Limerick FC and the FAI.
6. Noel O'Connor could have been deemed to have been "inciting the crowd." Just prior to the match beginning Noel was heard by myself and a number of others to say that we would be leaving ten minutes before the end. He was trying to rise Damien and the rest of us by insinuating that Cork would have no problem beating us. We all believed that this was good natured banter between fans and an ex-manager. Likewise I think everyone believes that what Damien did was in a similar spirit. However, going from my understanding of the FAI regulations I believe that Noel would be in as much trouble as Damien if he pressed on with anything.
7. As for slagging off Pat Dolan (and Noel), I think this is a poor point. If you really had a problem with this behaviour you would have addressed it well before now. I thought that the slagging and banter wasn't all that bad in the game. I have been at an awful lot of Limerick FC matches in the past few years where it has been much worse. Most of it was quite friendly with both Noel and Brendan Sweeny involved with Cork. I don't think there was any real bad feeling in anything said. Also, you have to remember that these players are professional (or semi-pro). This means they are being paid to play soccer. Part of that is having the maturity and level-headedness to let this type of banter roll off their backs. I have to say that I don't think Pat Dolan was bothered by it at all. He gave no indication of it getting to him and he got on with the game at hand like the professional he is.
All in all, I think there was very little in what happened. Perhaps we should all just look at this in context and realise that there really was nothing in it.
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