February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The vital game is now only days away and I think it’s fair to say that there have been have been huge changes in Irish football since the Republic last visited Tel Aviv, in February 1985.
In those intervening 20 years, the Irish have qualified for their first-ever European Championships as well as for three World Cup Finals. The FAI have seen six different CEOs come and go.
Eoin Hand was in charge back in 1985 and after two English-born bosses, we are now back again with a Dubliner, Brian Kerr, who is really proving to know his stuff. Kerr said that he has no fear going to Tel Aviv, despite the recent bombs. “Obviously our supporters will need to be sensible about the places they go, but I think that applies in any country I’ve been in,” Kerr said. “There are as many if not more people killed in Dublin and the main cities of Ireland as there would be in Tel Aviv in particular. I’ve been in Israel three times and we were always treated with great respect and there was no sense of threat about the place.”
Twenty years ago, Ireland drew 0-0 at the Ramat Gan Stadium. This time, I think, we should see a few goals. Whatever happens in Tel Aviv the Boys in Green are back in Dublin on Sunday and they will play China in a friendly at Lansdowne Road on Tuesday.
SANCHEZ AIMS TO
UPSET ENGLISH
Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez admits that it will be one of the greatest shocks of all time if his team can beat England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday. Northern Ireland have three draws to their credit, but have yet to win a game in their World Cup group. England, who have already won in Poland, are hot favorites to top their group and they also seem to do well in the World Cup qualifiers. The Irish Football Association are celebrating their 125th anniversary this year and of the highlights of their celebrations will be a game against Germany at Windsor Park on June 4.
O’CONNOR TO TESTIFY
Irish Olympic gold medal winner Cian O’Connor will have his long-awaited appeal heard by the Federation Equestre International on Easter Sunday. O’Connor, his legal team and witnesses will appear before the committee in Zurich. The County Meath-based rider is battling to keep his gold medal after his mount Waterford Crystal tested positive for a banned substance after the Olympic Games. “We feel we have a strong case, but one can never tell with an inquiry of this nature,” O’Connor’s solicitor, Andrew Coonan, said.
Meanwhile, Eddie Macken, who is based in Canada, has been offered the post of chef d’equipe/trainer to the Irish showjumping team for the 2005 season. Last year Irish showjumping found itself in turmoil as the riders balked at the set-up when Macken was installed as team trainer alongside chef d’equipe Tommy Wade.
ULSTER SAYS NO
It now looks like seven of the nine Ulster counties will be voting against any change to the GAA’s Rule 42 at Congress next month. Last week, Antrim’s chairman, Joe O’Boyle, confirmed that his county would vote against the proposal to open Croke Park to soccer and rugby. Of the Ulster counties, only Cavan and Donegal are still undecided.
O’Boyle also had a go at the FAI and the IRFU.
“The FAI has qualified for three World Cup finals in the past 20 years,” he said. “Where has the money gone? It has won qualification money and has made millions in merchandising, yet soccer still not have a national stadium in the Republic of Ireland. It has one of the best teams in the world and yet no venue. The FAI should be embarrassed. Equally there is a lot of money in rugby and the IRFU can afford to redevelop Lansdowne Road or build a new venue as we had to.”
To be fair to the FAI, they didn’t make a whole lot of money from the World Cup campaigns and the players also took their slice of the profits. Former FAI CEO Bernard O’Byrne wanted to build Eircom Park and would have done so for around