Irish U-23 latest

[pineapple stu]

What was the atmosphere like ? Any singing ? Were people there in EL tops or Oireland ones ? Any of the EL banners there ?

It was a friendly. One large-ish group of kids started an "Ireland!" chant a couple of times, but it never got anywhere. Didn't actually see many Ireland jerseys. Don't think there were any banners? Saw Rovers, Bohs, Drogheda and (obviously) UCD jerseys/scarves. It felt like an eL taem for the eL fans, which was nice in a way.

People were generally interested more than involved.

[Schumi]

What was the atmosphere like? Any singing?... Any of the EL banners there?

No, it was mostly kids there. I doubt more than 20% of the crowd paid in.

Were people there in EL tops or Oireland ones?

Neither, it was too cold for football tops! Mixture of Ireland & EL scarves, jackets etc.

[pineapple stu]

I doubt more than 20% of the crowd paid in.

Yeah, I was walking up to the turnstiles with cash in my hand and someone gave me a free ticket. Rather wierd arrangement! Wasn't going to complain about E15 less to the FAI anyway.

[Ceirtlis]

Only because it's not limited to the EL. On every other measure, U23 would be higher as it's older.

Only because no country in it will actually be using their best u23 team available to them and because there are only 8 teams competing. On every other level it is higher though yeah.

[superfrank]

No, it was mostly kids there. I doubt more than 20% of the crowd paid in.

Bray were doing a deal for the Sligo game where the first 50 to buy a programme got 1 adult ticket and 2 childrens tickets to the match free. One of my mates ended up with 1 adult ticket and 3 childrens ones somehow.

[pineapple stu]

We did a deal whereby if you asked the lad with loads of tickets in his hand nicely, you got a free one.

[Sheridan]

Half the players in the league were there, I saw about eight Bohs players, Stuey Byrne, Graham Gartland and loads more. Great to see them supporting their colleagues, it was a real hardcore LoI night.

[Dodge]

If you're eligible at the start of the campaign then you can play for the whole campaign.

According to the rules of the makey up competition? What if players move to a club in another country? Rememberering that England don't have any age limits on their team

[Poor Student]

When is the next game or is there a list of fixtures flying around somewhere?

[pineapple stu]

Away to the North in March, and home to Belgium next November. That's it unless we get through the group.

[sligoman]

Where's the game with N'Ireland gonna be on? Some IL team's ground?

[Sheridan]

NI away in the spring then Belgium at home next autumn. Even though it's a low priority competition they should have got a Nordie ref to do last night's game or something, Winter and his assistants gave everything marginal to Ireland. Hopefully they'll sort it out for the rest of the tournament.

Although Ireland were clearly the better team and played superbly, the fact that most of the Irish players were a bit older and more experienced contributed to the extent of their dominance. Slovaks couldn't handle the strength and athleticism of Keegan and Rice at all.

[pete]

Just like the B team for the U23 level to have any credibility the FAI need to also arrange friendlies.

BTW I presume B International is highest level/honour below full International?

[dcfcsteve]

Just like the B team for the U23 level to have any credibility the FAI need to also arrange friendlies.

BTW I presume B International is highest level/honour below full International?

Do we still do B Internationals any more ?

I thought European football had moved onto U21 instead..?

[Dodge]

WTF steve? There's always been both but B games are far rarer. B squad announced last week (with Dan Connor and Graham Gartland in it)

[Sniffer]

Have written a wee report on last night's occasion if anybody's interested it's here. For those of you who aren't interested it's still here.

[Buller]

Have written a wee report on last night's occasion if anybody's interested it's here. For those of you who aren't interested it's still here.

Very well written; do you work as a journalist?!!

[monutdfc]

Stephen Rice is more of a footballer than an enforcer. I'd say with Keegan alongside him he got plenty of time to knock the ball around?

[Sniffer]

Stephen Rice is more of a footballer than an enforcer. I'd say with Keegan alongside him he got plenty of time to knock the ball around?

Agree with your point, but Ireland weren't playing that kind of game.

[Sniffer]

Very well written; do you work as a journalist?!!

No, walkthechalk.com is my mistress.