With the European Championship in France approaching ever faster, Adam Murphy takes a look back at one of the best individual performances seen in a green shirt in recent times. It didn’t come in a major tournament, however, rather a cold September evening in Moscow in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Events at the World Athletics Championships have shone the spotlight on Russian law and the merits of the country hosting major sporting competitions. Actor Stephen Fry’s recent open letter called for them to be stripped of the Winter Olympics because of draconian homophobic laws just passed in the state. All this raises yet more questions about FIFA’s criteria for World Cup host nations as Robbie Duggan writes.
Richard Dunne has been named FAI Senior Player of the Year joining Irish legend and deity Paul McGrath by winning the gong for a second time, a feat also achieved by Roy Keane and Shay Given.
Bid for the Honey Monster’s jersey worn against Russia and raise money for charity.
(Warning: it comes with some ink stains)
Paul McGrath lauds Richard Dunne’s one man Iron Curtain in Moscow.
“Richard Dunne congratulations The Best performance I have seen from any Irish centre half and that includes myself”
Armenia 4 Slovakia 0. That scoreline puts Ireland’s result in Moscow into perspective. Taking into account the reverse result in Dublin and the fact that we were second-best for most of the night, this was a heroic display by Trapattoni’s Ireland. Richard Dunne was a stand-out performer and if Russia fail to beat Slovakia next month, Ireland still have a chance of automatic qualification.
After Friday’s display, Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for a first tournament since 2002 looked doomed. The reaction of the crowd at the end said it all. The team were booed off the pitch, not because they failed to score but because Irish people only demand one thing, 100% effort from everyone in a green shirt. Many people paid good money to be in the Aviva last week. Many people didn’t. We can accept limited ability but cannot except limited effort. And yet, in Moscow, Ireland have a chance to pay back their fans by finally backing up their words with a performance.