This is key really. Ireland's predominant sporting 'fan' culture is about big events and chasing success. You only have to look at the difference between the crowds GAA counties attract for league fixtures versus those for knock-outs. The same when Ireland qualify for a major football tournament, and people who rarely go anywhere near the Aviva are suddenly trying to pull all sorts of strings to get onto the bandwagon.
We're big game hunters. The week-in, week-out monotony of supporting football over an eight or nine month long season generally doesn't appeal to the Irish. But rather than be honest about that to ourselves, we just come out white sh!te excuses to put the blame onto everyone and everything else. "Not enough local players ; bad style of football ; weather ; blah blah.
We're an awful bunch of b0ll0x when you think about it.
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