The day the League of Ireland gained respect
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What a few weeks it has been for the League of Ireland. Did anyone ever think that an Irish side would make it to the group stages of a European competition? I have to be honest, after seeing some great teams in the past few years try and fail narrowly, I had my doubts of it happening anytime soon - but boy am I glad that my doubts were emphatically proved wrong.
The basis of my doubts was simple. I remember the great Shelbourne team of 2004/2005 who became the first Irish side to reach the third qualifying round of the Champions League but eventually got knocked out by Spanish giants Deportivo. Or what about the talented Cork City side or even the Derry City side of 2006/07 who got through the preliminary rounds only to come up against the mighty Paris Saint-Germain where they lost out? Then there was my old team Drogheda United who came within a goal post away from knocking out Dynamo Kiev in 2007. I definitely had my doubt s whether we were going to see an Irish side qualify during my playing time anyway.
As a league of Ireland fan rather than a player, I was cheering Shamrock Rovers on last week - as was probably everyone that is associated with football here regardless of what team they follow. They were magnificent on the night and I send my sincerest congratulations to them. They displayed so many admirable qualities such as determination, grit, passion and I think it is fair to say that it was a special moment for all league of Ireland fans when they qualified. It was a land mark achievement for many reasons.
For years and years now, ever since I came into contact with league of Ireland football, a lot people have been criticising the league here, knocking it and putting it down at any chance they got. People have belittled it and showed absolutely no respect for it whatsoever. There has been so much negativity in the media over the past few years regarding the league here which made it hard at times for passionate and dedicated league of Ireland fans to stand up for their club and the league as a whole.
However, on the night of the 25th August 2011, that all changed. Shamrock Rovers monumental achievement has restored so much belief back into the league. Their achievement epitomises why we as league of Ireland fans care about the league here and come to watch our clubs play week in week out. Rovers are getting so much plaudits and positive media attention right now and rightly so.
Where all those people now who continually loved to knock football here in Ireland at any given chance? Maybe now, the league here will gain the respect it deserves and when people question the quality of the league, you only have to point to Shamrock Rovers achievement as proof of what exists here in the league. I am sick and tired of people showing absolutely no respect for the league here but hopefully now, that will change and people will begin to show it respect and recognition.
Before I move on, I have to give a special mention to an old friend of mine from my days at Drogheda United, Patrick Sullivan, who scored that sublime and crucial away goal. Sully has always been a top player but unfortunately his rise was plagued by an illness at Drogheda that kept him out of the game for a long, long time. However, since moving on from Drogheda a few years ago, he hasn’t looked back and through hard work and fortitude, has proven himself to be, in my opinion, the best right back in the league.
The last few weeks have also seen some of the exceptional young talent that we have on display here in the league highlighted by top English teams. We have seen the departure of James McClean to Sunderland, Daniel Kearns to Peterborough and now Enda Stevens who is set to move to Aston Villa in January. It is another prime example of the quality that we have here playing in Ireland. All three have thoroughly deserved their chance to move across the water and I wish them the best of luck.
What an example they are for young kids who may opt to stay here in Ireland and play football for a club in the league of Ireland. Through hard work, determination and belief, it is NOW possible for talented young kids to stay put here at home and learn their trade here until they feel they are ready and mature enough to make the move across the water.
Before I finish I have to say that one of the great stories of not only the past few weeks but also the past few years has been the return to action of Mark Farren who recently signed back for Derry City. Mark is not only a truly talented striker who can score goals for fun but he is also a real gentleman and I am delighted to see him return to playing the game he loves. He is an absolute inspiration to so many people out there including myself and he is a credit to himself and his family. All the best Mark in your return and hopefully you’ll be scoring sooner rather than later.
The basis of my doubts was simple. I remember the great Shelbourne team of 2004/2005 who became the first Irish side to reach the third qualifying round of the Champions League but eventually got knocked out by Spanish giants Deportivo. Or what about the talented Cork City side or even the Derry City side of 2006/07 who got through the preliminary rounds only to come up against the mighty Paris Saint-Germain where they lost out? Then there was my old team Drogheda United who came within a goal post away from knocking out Dynamo Kiev in 2007. I definitely had my doubt s whether we were going to see an Irish side qualify during my playing time anyway.
As a league of Ireland fan rather than a player, I was cheering Shamrock Rovers on last week - as was probably everyone that is associated with football here regardless of what team they follow. They were magnificent on the night and I send my sincerest congratulations to them. They displayed so many admirable qualities such as determination, grit, passion and I think it is fair to say that it was a special moment for all league of Ireland fans when they qualified. It was a land mark achievement for many reasons.
For years and years now, ever since I came into contact with league of Ireland football, a lot people have been criticising the league here, knocking it and putting it down at any chance they got. People have belittled it and showed absolutely no respect for it whatsoever. There has been so much negativity in the media over the past few years regarding the league here which made it hard at times for passionate and dedicated league of Ireland fans to stand up for their club and the league as a whole.
However, on the night of the 25th August 2011, that all changed. Shamrock Rovers monumental achievement has restored so much belief back into the league. Their achievement epitomises why we as league of Ireland fans care about the league here and come to watch our clubs play week in week out. Rovers are getting so much plaudits and positive media attention right now and rightly so.
Where all those people now who continually loved to knock football here in Ireland at any given chance? Maybe now, the league here will gain the respect it deserves and when people question the quality of the league, you only have to point to Shamrock Rovers achievement as proof of what exists here in the league. I am sick and tired of people showing absolutely no respect for the league here but hopefully now, that will change and people will begin to show it respect and recognition.
Before I move on, I have to give a special mention to an old friend of mine from my days at Drogheda United, Patrick Sullivan, who scored that sublime and crucial away goal. Sully has always been a top player but unfortunately his rise was plagued by an illness at Drogheda that kept him out of the game for a long, long time. However, since moving on from Drogheda a few years ago, he hasn’t looked back and through hard work and fortitude, has proven himself to be, in my opinion, the best right back in the league.
The last few weeks have also seen some of the exceptional young talent that we have on display here in the league highlighted by top English teams. We have seen the departure of James McClean to Sunderland, Daniel Kearns to Peterborough and now Enda Stevens who is set to move to Aston Villa in January. It is another prime example of the quality that we have here playing in Ireland. All three have thoroughly deserved their chance to move across the water and I wish them the best of luck.
What an example they are for young kids who may opt to stay here in Ireland and play football for a club in the league of Ireland. Through hard work, determination and belief, it is NOW possible for talented young kids to stay put here at home and learn their trade here until they feel they are ready and mature enough to make the move across the water.
Before I finish I have to say that one of the great stories of not only the past few weeks but also the past few years has been the return to action of Mark Farren who recently signed back for Derry City. Mark is not only a truly talented striker who can score goals for fun but he is also a real gentleman and I am delighted to see him return to playing the game he loves. He is an absolute inspiration to so many people out there including myself and he is a credit to himself and his family. All the best Mark in your return and hopefully you’ll be scoring sooner rather than later.
