Dublin City in the Sunday Times

**JW.** · 23/07/2006, 10:48 AM

The Sunday Times today has a story about Dublin City's departure. It begins along the lines of "Just after Cork City's European win, came the devastating blow of Dublin City's demise, making the league a laughing stock again in the process.
The first thing to point out is that the Sunday Times has no coverage whatsoever of the Eircom League, so it has no basis whatever for criticising the league, given that it does no effort itself to cover it.
Dublin City's demise was anything but devastating: the project was quixotic from its inception and - with no home ground - they never had a prayer of surviving at this level.
And their departure made the league a laughing stock, the same week that Drogheda, Derry and Cork did so well in Europe? How many clubs all over Europe are in a financial mess that makes our clubs' plight look positively tame.
GUFC chairman Nial O'Reilly was interviewed during the article, in which he refers to recent attendances at a United home game and a Monaghan away game. Monaghan have never had any support, even when doing well. We had a very poor crowd for the Cobh game because our form prior to it was rubbish and it was played during the week. He blames summer football, but this has nothing to do with it. During the time of the summer football experiment, we have been floundering in midtable in Division 1. If we were doing well, the crowds would be good.
In my view, the league is at its highest level in years - yet you still get cynicism from journalists who basically have earned no right at all to discuss matters they don't promote.

**Dodge** · 23/07/2006, 11:10 AM

IMO he's right about the laughing stock bit.

**GavinZac** · 23/07/2006, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

IMO he's right about the laughing stock bit.

i agree. in 10 years of defending the league i've put up with dodgy refereeing, registration problems, mergers, rebrandings and longford town but theres no way i can defend this rubbish to the usual nay-sayers. dublin city ****ed up, ronan seery ****ed up, the league ****ed up by letting them into the league and in how they've handled it since.

**JW.** · 23/07/2006, 11:17 AM

As far as I'm concerned, if they don't report on the league's many positive developments, they have no right to report on the Dublin City matter either.

**James** · 23/07/2006, 11:19 AM

thats a very idealistic view though isnt it JW. tbh im not 1 bit suprised by the nature or content of the article.

**JW.** · 23/07/2006, 11:26 AM

How can you report on a situation with a prevailing theme and moral about something you haven't reported on all year?

**James** · 23/07/2006, 11:31 AM

JW you're written for tabloids before, of which have reported some outragious and outlandish stories that were based little on fact or reality. bottom line for them isnt it all about what sell papers at the end of the day.
bad news sells!

eg. print lies on page 1, big banner bold headline
then bury the retraction / apology the next day in a box on page 27

**JW.** · 23/07/2006, 11:51 AM

Tabloids are poisonous without a doubt, but I'm not sure that there is an obvious nexus between that and the Sunday Times basically reporting on the eircom League only when it's bad news James.

**MariborKev** · 23/07/2006, 11:52 AM

JW

Whilst I agree broadly with the point, did the ST not have a decent piece about Derry's achievements last week?

**JW.** · 23/07/2006, 11:58 AM

Maribor,
If it did, fair enough - though their general coverage is non-existant. I didn't read the paper last Sunday I must say.

**Dodge** · 23/07/2006, 12:20 PM

BTW JW I agree with you general point on the Sunday Times but that doesn't mean the article in this case is wrong

**James** · 23/07/2006, 12:23 PM

with specific regard to the Sunday Times while their coverage of the EL is not regular i do think they report only on the very very good an d the very very bad. I did read in the past articles about George O'Callaghan a few months ago and a few other EL type stories.. one on Shels and their developments..and their Euro sucess last season.

fair from regular but i think most of the articles they have written have been on the mark more or less

**MervilleUnited** · 23/07/2006, 12:33 PM

Fair enough lads, but the Nick Leeson Piece on P2 of the times is the sobering thoughts from a man, if nothing else, knows a little about money and is GM of Galway Utd! Big debate here in Sligo about switching the Playing nights, but the reality is that outside revenue streams is the only way forward for the EL, not bums on seats. The poulation is not out there going to soccer in this country, and the new irish are more interested in spending SSIA Cash on HDTV on SKY than going to the EL

**MariborKev** · 23/07/2006, 12:47 PM

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...272220,00.html

JW, see piece from last week

**green-blood** · 23/07/2006, 12:55 PM

hey johny why isn't "quixotic" in bold too....

**Passive** · 23/07/2006, 12:57 PM

I believe the Tribune have also done their usual job of reporting only bad EL stories

**JW.** · 23/07/2006, 1:05 PM

lol green-blood

**pete** · 23/07/2006, 3:25 PM

I think the ST articles were a bit one sided this week as they said Cork Citys progress to the CL 2nd round was a "rare CL win for the eL" when thats not true in recent years.

If are to see progress from the FAI in running the league then they should be talking up the chances of eL sides this week & helping to spin positive stories for the media.

**pete** · 23/07/2006, 3:48 PM

Forgot to say - 2 negative ST articles today & no euorpean match reviews or previews....

**Plastic Paddy** · 23/07/2006, 4:19 PM

I'm surprised no-one has stated the obvious here as to why the ST does not promote the causes of Irish clubs at home and in Europe but would rather use the space to talk all matters (English) Premiership.

ST - prop. R Murdoch
Sky - prop. R Murdoch

Enough said.

PP