A Sporting View - Conan Byrne
Credit:
Hello again to all the extratime.ie readers and cheers for taking the time to read the first column. Once again feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below and I'll try to answer them next time around.
Last time you heard from me the team were just after being hammered by Waterford. Well it’s safe to say I’m in a better mood now! I think we are in great form ahead of the Cup game against Blarney after two massive wins over UCD and Wexford. We played really well at Belfield in what was a tough match. They had a couple of chances but didn’t take them but it was lucky for me that a chance fell at my feet and I managed to put it in the back of the net.
As for the Wexford game I don’t think we were as bad as Aertel made us out to be! It wasn’t really a smash and grab performance because I thought we outplayed them for the majority of the game. We had most of the possession and about 15 shots on target so I don’t think we were exactly hanging on. Our goal did come late in the game and they were probably unfortunate to have a man sent off but it was a crucial win.
As for this week, I think that the Blarney game will be really tough, but we have been training well and are raring to go. It is a step into the unknown but we have heard a few things about them. I know they have a few ex-Cobh players playing for them so I’m sure they won’t be a pushover. If we go down there and concentrate on our game we should win but we can’t be complacent. Just look at the Crumlin vs Shelbourne match on Tuesday night. I thought Crumlin were really unlucky not to go through. It just goes to show you that you can’t take anything for granted.
It seems that a lot has happened since I last talked to you. Without doubt the big story in the League of Ireland is the Dave Rogers incident. "Paulyg" wants to know what I think of it and, in all honesty, I really do feel for Dave. Dundalk were a bit severe in their punishment, but it was a stupid thing to do. Everyone knows it was just a bit of banter, but I can understand the negative press that he has got. There are families at most League of Ireland matches nowadays and it’s not something that people on the terraces want to see. I genuinely feel for Dave because he is a nice bloke, a good player and I’m sure he regrets what he did. I hope he will bounce back and find a new club.
"XaviTownsend" (class name by the way) wanted to know about some of the highlights from my amateur days before I joined UCD. Well I played for a lot of different teams when I was younger but my football idol was always my brother…yeah I know I had shocking taste! In all seriousness, he was a really good player but unfortunately injury prevented him from making a career for himself in England. I always wanted to play in the same team as him and I got that chance when I was at Rivervalley Rangers. The season when we won the double and both of us scored in the cup final against Whitehall is definitely my favourite memory.
"Sheaoccfc" wants to know who I think will win the Premier Division and which player has impressed me most. Well I don’t want to sound like a cliché but I reckon it’s a bit early to predict a winner at this stage of the season. I think Bohs are just having a slip at the moment but every team has one at some stage. The return of Jason McGuinness from suspension will be a huge boost for them. I would still have to make them favourites especially with the way the two boys up front are scoring goals for fun.
As for the best player, it has to be Gary Twigg for me at the minute. The man is just a goal scoring machine but without doubt one of the most underrated players is Rafael Cretaro. We played against Sligo in the League Cup a few weeks ago and he was pure class.
"Waterford1" wants to know who has impressed me most in the First Division. It’s a tough one to answer mate because I think the league as a whole has improved. The team that have impressed me most though are Wexford Youths, despite the fact we beat them twice. The amount of work and effort that Mick Wallace has put into that club has to be applauded. The set-up that he has down there and the quality of the young players that they have brought in is fantastic.
I’d say of you give them a few years to develop they could be challenging for promotion. The best thing about Wexford is that they always try to pass the ball around and play the game properly. Waterford are also playing brilliantly this year. They are so strong in defence and their front two are such a handful. In fairness if you get hammered 4-1 at home by a side like that its hard not to be impressed….and angry!
As for the star player in the First Division, you can’t look past Ronan Finn. The chap has been in excellent form for UCD this season and in the two games he played against us this season he was the best player on the pitch by a mile.
Away from these shores, I have to say the Cristiano Ronaldo fee is absolutely ridiculous. Personally (and it’s not because I’m a biased Liverpool fan) I don’t think he is even worth half of what Real are paying for him. I mean he is a great talent, you don’t win World Player of the Year by fluke, but there is also the arrogant, petulant and spoiled side to him that we have all seen over the years. The Premier League is better off without him in my opinion…maybe I’m just jealous because of all the money he makes! Seriously this sort of fee needs to be looked at with some degree of logic. We're at a time when the world’s economy is in recession, Irish people are losing their jobs and thousands are dying of starvation in Africa daily.
Speaking of Africa, the Sporting Fingal Zambia project is coming along very nicely at the minute. All the local students who are going have been picked and John Frost is also coming, along with two more players. Eamon Zayed and Shane McFaul are just some of the lads that have shown an interest. I’ll make them jump through hoops to see who goes!
It looks like I’m in for a busy few weeks especially because the fundraising campaign really starts now. There is a family fun day coming up soon in Morton Stadium along with a few more events in the Fingal area which will keep me busy no doubt. The next stop is Blarney, however, but don’t worry I’m keeping busy and out of trouble.
All the best
Conan
Last time you heard from me the team were just after being hammered by Waterford. Well it’s safe to say I’m in a better mood now! I think we are in great form ahead of the Cup game against Blarney after two massive wins over UCD and Wexford. We played really well at Belfield in what was a tough match. They had a couple of chances but didn’t take them but it was lucky for me that a chance fell at my feet and I managed to put it in the back of the net.
As for the Wexford game I don’t think we were as bad as Aertel made us out to be! It wasn’t really a smash and grab performance because I thought we outplayed them for the majority of the game. We had most of the possession and about 15 shots on target so I don’t think we were exactly hanging on. Our goal did come late in the game and they were probably unfortunate to have a man sent off but it was a crucial win.
As for this week, I think that the Blarney game will be really tough, but we have been training well and are raring to go. It is a step into the unknown but we have heard a few things about them. I know they have a few ex-Cobh players playing for them so I’m sure they won’t be a pushover. If we go down there and concentrate on our game we should win but we can’t be complacent. Just look at the Crumlin vs Shelbourne match on Tuesday night. I thought Crumlin were really unlucky not to go through. It just goes to show you that you can’t take anything for granted.
It seems that a lot has happened since I last talked to you. Without doubt the big story in the League of Ireland is the Dave Rogers incident. "Paulyg" wants to know what I think of it and, in all honesty, I really do feel for Dave. Dundalk were a bit severe in their punishment, but it was a stupid thing to do. Everyone knows it was just a bit of banter, but I can understand the negative press that he has got. There are families at most League of Ireland matches nowadays and it’s not something that people on the terraces want to see. I genuinely feel for Dave because he is a nice bloke, a good player and I’m sure he regrets what he did. I hope he will bounce back and find a new club.
"XaviTownsend" (class name by the way) wanted to know about some of the highlights from my amateur days before I joined UCD. Well I played for a lot of different teams when I was younger but my football idol was always my brother…yeah I know I had shocking taste! In all seriousness, he was a really good player but unfortunately injury prevented him from making a career for himself in England. I always wanted to play in the same team as him and I got that chance when I was at Rivervalley Rangers. The season when we won the double and both of us scored in the cup final against Whitehall is definitely my favourite memory.
"Sheaoccfc" wants to know who I think will win the Premier Division and which player has impressed me most. Well I don’t want to sound like a cliché but I reckon it’s a bit early to predict a winner at this stage of the season. I think Bohs are just having a slip at the moment but every team has one at some stage. The return of Jason McGuinness from suspension will be a huge boost for them. I would still have to make them favourites especially with the way the two boys up front are scoring goals for fun.
As for the best player, it has to be Gary Twigg for me at the minute. The man is just a goal scoring machine but without doubt one of the most underrated players is Rafael Cretaro. We played against Sligo in the League Cup a few weeks ago and he was pure class.
"Waterford1" wants to know who has impressed me most in the First Division. It’s a tough one to answer mate because I think the league as a whole has improved. The team that have impressed me most though are Wexford Youths, despite the fact we beat them twice. The amount of work and effort that Mick Wallace has put into that club has to be applauded. The set-up that he has down there and the quality of the young players that they have brought in is fantastic.
I’d say of you give them a few years to develop they could be challenging for promotion. The best thing about Wexford is that they always try to pass the ball around and play the game properly. Waterford are also playing brilliantly this year. They are so strong in defence and their front two are such a handful. In fairness if you get hammered 4-1 at home by a side like that its hard not to be impressed….and angry!
As for the star player in the First Division, you can’t look past Ronan Finn. The chap has been in excellent form for UCD this season and in the two games he played against us this season he was the best player on the pitch by a mile.
Away from these shores, I have to say the Cristiano Ronaldo fee is absolutely ridiculous. Personally (and it’s not because I’m a biased Liverpool fan) I don’t think he is even worth half of what Real are paying for him. I mean he is a great talent, you don’t win World Player of the Year by fluke, but there is also the arrogant, petulant and spoiled side to him that we have all seen over the years. The Premier League is better off without him in my opinion…maybe I’m just jealous because of all the money he makes! Seriously this sort of fee needs to be looked at with some degree of logic. We're at a time when the world’s economy is in recession, Irish people are losing their jobs and thousands are dying of starvation in Africa daily.
Speaking of Africa, the Sporting Fingal Zambia project is coming along very nicely at the minute. All the local students who are going have been picked and John Frost is also coming, along with two more players. Eamon Zayed and Shane McFaul are just some of the lads that have shown an interest. I’ll make them jump through hoops to see who goes!
It looks like I’m in for a busy few weeks especially because the fundraising campaign really starts now. There is a family fun day coming up soon in Morton Stadium along with a few more events in the Fingal area which will keep me busy no doubt. The next stop is Blarney, however, but don’t worry I’m keeping busy and out of trouble.
All the best
Conan
