EDITORIAL
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EDITORIAL 1st July
Being Irish, I'm a great fan of the old moral victory. If there's anything better than winning, it's losing with a perfectly good excuse. We're much better at that kind of stuff. Sure aren't we only Irish after all ? Crazy Irish.
Well, maybe that used to be the case. The World Cup gone by has suddenly got Irish people thinking. Seeing a German team that Ireland pretty much outplayed competing in the final has got Irish people into the mindset that we actually have a right to go to these competitions with aspirations of winning. Normally, we'd politely step aside at the last sixteen stage and let the big boys get on with the real business of the competition. Get the pints in, and off home you go. Crazy Irish.
Now, as a more ambitious nation we harbour hopes of better things. The inferiority attitude that holds our nation back in so many ways seems to be waning as the Celtic Tiger generation grow up a little.
Not around Oriel Park though. It pains me to say it, but the decision to concede the advantage of playing at home in the second leg against FC Varteks smacks of that age old inferiority complex. I'm sure our Croatian opponents are quaking in their boots ahead of the tie by Dundalk's obvious assertion that we are expecting a good thrashing.
When the draw was made, the collective reaction amongst Dundalk fans was one of disappointment. These had beaten Aston Villa once so they must be good. On closer inspection, there are flaws in FC Varteks. This is a side that does not travel well. This is a side that after taking a 3-1 lead to Denmark to play Brondby, shipped five goals and went out 6-3 on aggregate. In the same year they knocked out Aston Villa, they were 3-1 down with five minutes to go away to Liechenstein opposition. Hardly invincible. Then, why are we, as a club, admitting that we feel they are.
To add further insult to injury, St Pats have now knocked Croatian side Rijeka out of the Inter Toto Cup. After putting on a good show in Croatia, they took them back to Dublin and knocked them out. Sure, the Inter Toto Cup may be of little worth or consequence in many people's minds but you can be sure that both sides were taking it seriously. Croatian sides are certainly better than Irish sides, but in a Cup game anything can happen. Dundalk, of all teams, should know that after the season gone by. Whose to say that Dundalk couldn't have gone to Varteks and contained the opposition reasonably well ? Then, take them back to Tolka and create a special atmosphere and then see how they react, and if they crumble in the manner they did against Brondby.
At this point, I leave myself open to criticism. Why don't you live in the real world, some of you will say. We're Dundalk. We've been told to expect second best, so that somehow makes it alright. It's like being back to school again. Someone will take out a blackboard, write up some grim figures and start pointing frantically with a big pointing stick. The club's opinion seems to be that it makes sense to play the home leg in Ireland first because at least then we'll be guaranteed a crowd. When we get hammered in Croatia in the first leg, no one will want to come and watch the second leg.
Of course, what these people are neglecting to mention is that it's going to be hard to hype up the first leg as it is when you've basically admitted you have no faith whatsoever in the management and playing staff to even trouble Varteks. It's a mere formality apparently. It's a defeatist attitude, and it stinks. The rewards for a place in the next round would potentially solve all the club's financial problems. How much money will Dundalk really gain from switching legs ? A few extra bob possibly. A short term solution to a long term problem ? Seems like it.
We are saying to our Croatian opposition that we are not worthy to be on the same park as them. We will play them, then lose, and politely move aside so the real clubs can get on with it. We are saying to them that we are a smalltime outfit, privileged to even get this far. What next ? We'll be telling them we're sponsored by a cab company ! As if ....
Or perhaps we can take it to another level. Play a funeral march when the teams walk onto the field. Bring a priest on to shake hands with the players before the game and say a little prayer for them. Something nice and symbolic to represent the attitude we seem to be going into the game with.
Sure shouldn't we just be happy though. We're Irish, begorrah. We're Dundalk, and these guys all have names that sound like Boksic and Prosinecki so we haven't got a hope in hell. Is it forbidden to show ambition ? Surely, if we had a more positive frame of mind it would drum up support for the games. Not this pathetic, "prepare for the worst" crap. Who would want to sponsor a club in that frame of mind. Surely a good advertising pitch is to say that, we, Dundalk FC can do good things for you. Not going around saying that we are Dundalk FC, please, please give us your money.
When Dundalk's Cup run gained momentum, some exuberantly talked about the Lilywhites competing in Europe. When we won the Cup, many spoke of it as the greatest possible reward. The relegation blow was softened somewhat by the prospect of a European adventure. Surely, we were entitled to expect more than this.
Yes, we were going to make money from it, but it was also going to restore some pride. Just like the old days with Dundalk representing Ireland in Europe. Has a nice ring to it.
Sadly, the small time, "we're gonna lose anyway" attitude has removed some of the romance. We're going in there expecting to lose. The Pats' result has possibly buggered things up in some respect. It's not a massive gulf in class. Not in a Cup tie. If Dundalk lose narrowly it will not be a moral victory. It will be an absolute tragedy because we'll never know what could have been. Going in with the attitude of losers means we will lose. Are we allowed to expect better ?
21st April
And so we reflect on a season gone by, with the uncertainty of our position compounded further by the breaking scandal involving Longford’s registration woes which could as yet change what division we play our football in next year.
Cup Final victory was met with euphoria filled proclamations that all the big name players would be staying. As one wag put it at the time, this was the best side we’d had for a long time, and there was no way the blip of relegation should allow it break up. Keddy and McGuinness were affordable, and Haylock would be staying. It may be the case that only the latter plies his trade for the Lilywhites in Division One next season.
Time passes, and with it comes the sobering and ever nearer reality of Division One. Ideally, we’d like to keep all our best players for the shortened new season, but despite the bonus of a UEFA Cup appearance, fiscal reasons may dictate otherwise.
The UEFA Cup is wrongly being heralded as some kind of cash cow. The sad fact is Dundalk will be playing their tie in Dublin, and a sizeable crowd will be required to meet the costs of away travel and the rent of whichever ground they choose to play in. Bohs made their money by getting to the second round and drawing Kaiserslautern. There is no guarantee Dundalk will make the same progress, and the gamble of holding onto all the best players in the hope of making that unlikely step is a risk the money men at the club may choose not to take. A trip to Bulgaria isn't exactly going to be cheap.
All these steps will be discussed during the Summer, as those in power at the club will doubtless spend the month of June in anticipation of events in Geneva, while elsewhere the country immerses itself in the World Cup.
As we enter that horrible limbo between end of season and the beginning of pre season, Dundalk fans can only reminisce about the amazing happenings of the past nine months which took us from one emotional extreme to another.
It seems like only yesterday we sat in the Grand Club lounge, inspecting our new signings as a series of press conferences unveiled the faces who would hopefully keep Dundalk in the Premier Division. Stephen McGuinness talked of winning trophies, while the likes of Stuart Connolly and James Keddy slouched in their chairs, looking slightly unnerved by the enthusiasm and expectancy of their new supporters. Martin Murray talked with confidence, and we all went away with that feelgood feeling all fans tend to experience before the start of every season. Words are great.
The first game against UCD on a sunny August evening ended in a 1-1 draw at Oriel Park, a scoreline which repeated itself far too often over the season. The first away game against Shamrock Rovers drew a massive away crowd, but a disappointing result.
The team had the potential, but not the results. We said it then, we say it now.
It would be boring of me to go through all the ups and downs of the season, because as fans of Dundalk FC we have lived them all. Only those with a masochistic streak would wish to relive them all. Tales of frustration, with the occasional memorable night thrown in there just to tease us all a little. Not good for heart, not good for sanity.
The rollercoaster nature of the season is best illustrated by the fate of Ger Robinson, who arrived at Oriel fresh faced in August, keen to impress after joining on loan from Middlesborough in August. He scored in his debut against Shels, and celebrated at the Shed where he was become to a hero. Six months later, a melancholic Robinson who had gained martyr status was on his way to Kilkenny where his disenchantment with all around him continued. His term there has been a failure, with one Kilkenny fan confessing to me recently that the impression of him at his new club is that of a "fat waster". At 19 years old, it doesn’t seem right.
We also have the case of David Ward, the great white hope of Dundalk FC since he burst onto the scene in 1998. At the start of the season when the team struggled, Wardy kept going. On the night in Belfield where Dundalk arguably turned in their worst performance of the season, Wardy was the only shining light. Playing out of position on the left wing, he was enthusiastic, an elusive figure and the only player on the visiting side which looked remotely Premier class. A few games later, after receiving praise from the manager in the presence of the first team at training, Ward was placed on the transfer list, the scapegoat for the 1-1 draw at home to Longford. He spent the rest of the season in Newry, while other players lacking his natural ability enjoyed Cup final success. When the team paraded around town on the day of the Cup Final win, Ward stood on the float with a distant stare, half heartedly clapping and joining with the celebrations, perhaps wondering what could have been.
On the other hand, there have been good news stories. The emergence of Chris Lawless, whose surging run leading up to the fourth goal against Shamrock Rovers was one of the highlights of the season. Cormac Malone, whose rise from junior football in January to scoring Premier Division goals in March provided one of the fairytale stories of the season.
We have Cormac McArdle also breaking through to the first side, and the return to form of John Whyte at the end of the season, a player who fought back from injury to play a pivotal role in the season run in. A player with a dedication to the cause, who, upon hearing of his omission from the quarter final side to play Finn Harps went out to Hiney Park on his own to train and improve his fitness. Minutes later David Hoey injured himself in the warm up, and an SOS was sent out to Whyte to play his first game for six months. He played every game from thereon in, culminating in a Cup winners medal.
And of course, we have Gary Haylock. A class act from the moment he joined. One of those names that we’d heard so much about, but knew so little of when he arrived at Oriel. Some bemoaned the signing of another "journeyman". Scarred by a fallout with Dermot Keely at Shels, he was a man on a mission to prove he still had what it takes at this level.
He scored goals, he created goals and his all round class almost saved the club from the drop. His first time finish in the 4-2 win over Derry was top class, and his two goals in the Cup final will be replayed for years, the first displaying an awareness for goal that many strikers who will grace Japan and Korea next month would die for. A player who expects the best from himself, as he displayed after the 1-1 draw in Derry in late December when, as the others celebrated what is, for many, a rare point in the Brandywell, Haylock shuffled off the pitch looking absolutely gutted.
The reason for his ire ?
A last minute miss in that game which still bothers him, an opportunity to grab three points which, in his eyes, would have kept Dundalk in the top flight. A thorough professional, Haylock believes he has failed at Oriel Park to date, as his remit was to keep Dundalk in the Premier Division. Any man who has brought so much pleasure to so many people and still believes he has failed obviously has incredibly high standards. One of the greats.
The 2001/2 season will always be a tale of two Sundays, the miserable day in Gortakeegan when we went down and the glorious day when we won the Cup. Hugs of consolation, followed by hugs of joy, all in the space of a week. In Monaghan, surrounded by the stony grey soil Patrick Kavanagh hated with such fervour, the laugh from our love was thieved as we prayed in vain for St Pats to score a last minute winner in Longford which would have kept us in the top flight. Outside Gortakeegan, amidst the gloom and depression, the defiant promised that Cup final day would make up for it.
Their optimism did not prove unfounded. Cup final day revived a community spirit in Dundalk FC that has been sadly lacking in recent years, with plenty of jerseys on show from days gone by mixed with the vibrant new generation of Dundalk fans. New songs aired, passion in the club reignited and a day heralded as the best for Dundalk football since the days of McLaughlin and co. The team paraded through Dundalk that night, with people young and old coming out of their houses and bars of Dundalk to acclaim their team.
It should have been the start of something, but if the team starts breaking up it will be remembered as more of a last hurrah. The last hurrah of a team that was only just beginning to realise it’s potential.
So, were the expectations of those who sat in the press conferences last Summer ultimately realistic ?
Back in August, this column expressed the belief that, "It's time for the talking and the speculation to stop… It's going to be a rollercoaster of a season.,. Lets hope we'll still be on a high come the end of it."
Are we on a high or not ? It really is an impossible question to answer. Without a doubt, we were right to expect a lot from this side. They answered it themselves by showing what they could do in the Cup run, but more pressing questions should be asked as to why the side failed so miserably in the League.
A season where we won a Cup, where we increased our support, enjoyed unprecedented media attention and received the belated present of a grant to upgrade the Oriel Park facilities. All tempered by the fact that we are going back to where we started from.
2001/2 – It’s been good, it’s been bad, and it has certainly not been boring. We’ll never forget it, we’ll just have to choose how to remember it.
3rd March
You really wonder if they saw the irony. Minutes before, and indeed, minutes after Avery John was subjected to racial abuse from a section of the Dundalk shed, they launched into a rendition of "Black Army ..White Army".
It was one of many incidents on Thursday night which completely detracted from the positives on the pitch. Numerically, an excellent crowd and a good game of ball with plenty of drama and passion.A brave comeback by the Lilywhites against a top side to salvage a draw with a local teenager bursting through to score from midfield to grab that equaliser.
No-one is talking about that now though. For many, the image of Thursday March 28th will be that of bottles flying between rivals fans, punches being thrown, with gardai and stewards in the middle virtually powerless. And then, not for the first time, despite what people may like to think, racism reared it's ugly head at Oriel Park.
That is the angle which most media groups have taken on Thursday's riots. Wrongly, some are citing it as an instigator which is complete and utter garbage. Racist noise was virtually non existent during the first half, and only came to light after the worst of the violence when Dundalk fans made monkey noises towards Avery John and Mark Rutherford to further annoy the Bohs fans. This, however, does not mean we can sweep it under the carpet. Racism is a recurring problem at Oriel Park, and the unwillingness of Dundalk FC to accept there is a problem has disastrous ramifications for all decent Dundalk fans who will receive the backlash on their journeys away from home.
The reaction by the club, thus far, towards Thursday's trouble has been inadequate. On the offical website, there has been little reference to the racist taunts which are to be investigated by Roy Dooney and the other League officials.
To say it was only a few people is insufficient. While it may only have been drunken teenagers and grown men barely beyond evolution that made the chants, it does not excuse it from happening. The fact is, it has happened at some Dundalk games already this season. It happened at home to St Patricks Athletic, it happened away to Longford in September and some noises, albeit very very muted were heard at home to Derry City and Bohemians. Even in Longford last week, two fans were insistent on making racist noises when Lavine got the ball. It's there, accept it, now try and do something to about it.
Racism is inherent in Irish society, and to be honest, many of the clubs taking a moral high ground on the issue at the moment cannot boast to having a perfect record on the issue. Curtis Fleming and Paul McGrath were both racially taunted at several grounds around the country during their time in the League by fans and indeed, players.
Banana skins were thrown at Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in an World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road this year. Ex-Rangers players are booed anytime they play in Ireland. That is bigotry, maybe not racism in the coloured sense but just as bad.
It's not fair to expect Dundalk fans to ask them to stop. Asking decent Dundalk fans to go into the back of the shed and tell these people to stop is similar to asking an innocent bystand to break up a fight on the street outside a nightclub. Only the insane would try.
Stewards ? What stewards ? Sadly, the stewarding at Dundalk FC is completely inadequate. That is not to blame those that do it. It's a job I simply would never do : too much hassle. These are Dundalk fans who volunteer, and have their enjoyment of the game ruined as a result. Again, attempting to stop these louts would just be putting their safety at risk, possibly making them the target of the next coin or bottle.
What bugs me is, a statement was released after the Pats incident saying Dundalk were against racism and would attempt to weed out the culprits. Absolutely no attempts have been made in that department. If they have, I apologise, but they haven't worked. It appears to have been nothing more than a PR stunt, and Thursday's events were highly predictable.
Everytime Dundalk play a team with a coloured player, when a certain bunch of fans are in attendance, I have to say, I spend the whole ninety minutes in fear. Everytime a coloured player receives the ball I can't wait until he gets rid of it again in case someone decides to shout something. Racism is the biggest problem in Irish society, a sickening problem in a country which isn't as modern as it likes to think it is. Be it towards asylum seekers, or just coloured people or even people that are just different, it is wrong, absolutely wrong. To be generalised as a racist, because some idiots in your fanbase are doing so is quite depressing.
At Inchicore earlier in the season, a section of Pats fans called the decent travelling Dundalk support who were in no way near the incident at Oriel Park, a "pack of racist bastards" and several other obscenities. It made a bad day worse, but should we stay in the Premier Division, we better get used to it. Last week, the Longford fans sang, "there's only three K's in Dundalk". Witty, yes, but really no laughing matter. I do not want to be accused of something I'm not, especially something so vile and disgusting. I'm sure the rest of the Dundalk fans at Inchicore that night, and those that the chants was directed at in Longford feel the same. But sadly, nothing is being done about it, nothing at all.
The next time we play Bohs in Dalymount, we are likely to be the target of similar abuse. Of course, those responsible for the hassle in Oriel will not be there. Instead, we are left with that cross to bear, and that alone should be enough for the club to take strong and firm action against these racists. They owe it to the travelling supporters who have stuck with this club through thick and thin.
Earlier in the season, Dundalk made a half time presentation to a schoolboys side from Dundalk which had won some trophy or other. It may well have been the successful under 15 side. On that side, there was a coloured player, from Nigeria I believe. Obviously he has spent a significant amount of time in Ireland and has progressed with this Dundalk side. I gather he lives in the town, goes to school in the town, and now, plays at underage level for the town. As Ireland becomes more and more multi cultural this is going to happen again and again. Down the line, it is inevitable that a coloured player, perhaps with a more traditional Dundalk name will don the black and white. In fact, one of our current under 21's, Ciaran McCormack, has an Asian background and may break through over the coming years. I wonder if they were in attendance on Thursday night. Is that the club you would want to represent ?
Listen up people, we are being tainted, we are being dragged down by a few idiots. For the first time ever, I actually felt uncomfortable wearing the Dundalk shirt around Dublin today. We are branded, we are generalised, when people see a Dundalk jersey they will think, "racist".
Dundalk has a dirty name around the country. Some people may like it, the whole "them against us" thing but I don't like it, and you shouldn't either. Prepare for hell until our club takes a firm stand, not just a throwaway statement, but a firm stance against racism.
Maybe relegation might be the safest thing for our fans after all ...
29th December
It's been a strange year at Dundalk FC. While Dundalk fans seem to be disagreeing widely on most things, this is one thing that surely no one could argue with. A year of promotion, of new signings, of shock exits and calls for the manager to leave. A year that ended with the club saying they needed financial help again, so soon after a period where Dundalk had great crowds for several games in succession, the best in Oriel for some time. Could this be deemed a successful year ?
On the playing and coaching side of things, it's obviously been a year of upheaval. While the manager remains the same, much to the dismay of many Dundalk fans, the backroom staff has been added to with Frank O'Neill and Arron Callaghan becoming prominent members of the coaching staff, joining Murray, Ollie Ralph and Tommy McConville on the bench. Player wise, Dundalk have probably been the most active club in the transfer market, signing John Ryan towards the end of the promotion campaign and then going on a spending spree since entering the Premier Division which has seen the likes of Keddy, McGuinness, Prizeman and subsequently, Haylock and Nesovic coming to the club.
Dundalk's first game of 2001 saw the following team line out. John Connolly, Ian Hill, David Crawley, Donal Broughan, Arron Callaghan, John Flanagan, Tommy Byrne, Martin Reilly, Anto Reilly, David Hoey, Eoin Mullen, Subs used, Liam Dunne, David Martin, John Whyte
The last team of 2001 : John Connolly, David Hoey, Stuart Connolly, Arron Callaghan, Stephen McGuinness, John Flanagan, Ciaran Kavanagh, Martin Reilly, Gary Haylock, Johnathan Prizeman, James Keddy, Used sub, Chris Lawless
Those teams don't even include other players who made such a big impact throughout the year, such as David Ward and latterly, Ger Robinson. In the closing stages of the 2001 campaign, Martin Reilly, David Ward and to be fair, John Ryan played pivotal roles in Dundalk going up with key contributions in Whitehall, Waterford and Athlone. Yet by November 2001, all three had been placed on the transfer list. Ger Robinson is Dundalk's top scorer in the 2001 Premier Division campaign to date, and hasn't started a game in over a month. Alex Nesovic, a double winner with Bohs, came and went. Arguably the clubs most promising player, Ward ended up going on loan to Newry Town.
It's been a year of much uncertainty on the field with the transition to Premier Division perhaps tougher than expected. The manager completely lost the plot midway through this season and had no idea who or what players he needed. Only in recent weeks has the team settled down somewhat to some kind of stable starting line up. Surely there will be no more changes to the playing staff until the end of this season. The last signing of 2001, Gary Haylock, could prove to the best.
Stability in moving from the First Division to the Premier is what every club wants, but it is what Dundalk have lacked most. It certainly has been a year where many harsh lessons have hopefully been learned.
Off the field, the club finished the Division One season in a reasonably healthy state and were able to spend money in the Summer to bring any transfer targets to Oriel Park. With crowds excellent at the start of the season, and performances good, then things were looking up. However, the nightmare months of October and November hit the club hard, with the dramatic collapse in form on the field leading to reduced gates. However, to remain in the Premier Division, investment in players was needed. The monies were provided to sign Haylock and Nesovic, but this led to five players being placed on the transfer list to reduce costs. Subsequent events have seen one of these players go on loan, but the likes of Reilly and Connolly are now important players, while Nesovic ended up being a complete flop. The club now predict a £60-70,000 shortfall come the end of the season unless things improve
Still, the crowds in Oriel at the end of the Division One campaign and generally this season haven't been too bad and the problems Dundalk face are no doubt being faced by most sides in the Premier Division around us in the table.
Dundalk were always going to have it tough with the hasty reduction of the Premier Division from 12 teams to 10 meaning three automatic relegation places as opposed to last years two. The task for the promoted sides this season was greater than that facing sides entering the top flight in previous years.
Therefore, deciding whether 2001 was a good year for Dundalk is virtually impossible. A lot of gambles were taken during the year, and only the first four months or so of 2002 will decide if 2001 was a good year for Dundalk. The various team sheets from the first game and last game of 2001 show that there is now a significantly better quality of player at the club although they have taken a lot of tme to gel.
Let's be honest though. If I had asked any Dundalk fan on 1st January 2001 where you wanted Dundalk to be on 1st January 2002 the first thing anyone would have said is in the Premier Division. The next thing people would say is to survive in the Premier Division. That is not beyond the reach of Dundalk yet. Basically, it's a job half done
2001 will be a pivotal year in the future of Dundalk FC. Let's just hope that in the longer scheme of things, it was a year where Dundalk realised what is needed to compete in the Premier Division again, and learn from any mistakes to go on and secure a Premier Division future for the club in 2002.
Definitely, Dundalk will be hoping that 2002 will be a "Happy New Year".
28th October
Fourteen games into the season, and things aren't looking great for Martin Murrays' Dundalk. The early season target of eighth position is five points away at this stage, after a beginning to the season that has lacked any sort of consistency and continuity. Friday nights humiliation at the hands of Shelbourne was the fifth loss in seven games, and looking at the team which started the other night, you have to wonder if pre season planning is worth anything at all
Who would have thought back in August, that over a third of the way into the season that Martin Reilly's strike partner would be John Ryan. Who could have predicted that Noel Melvin would be back at the club, playing in a free role against Shelbourne. Who could have envisaged the scenario that summer signings Stuart Connolly, Mick O'Byrne and Bryan McCrystal would only start one game between them ?
Some of it is bad luck, some of is, well, dodgy management but whatever has happened to the shape of this Dundalk team, one thing is sure. It has to be changed soon, before this season of bright hope becomes a season that undoes all the good work of the last eighteen months
It's fair to say that Injury problems haven't helped. The injuries to Bryan McCrystal and Mick O'Byrne were unfortunate. The tribunal saga, and subsequent injuries to Stuart Connolly is almost a farcical situation. Martin Reilly and James Keddy missing chunks of the season through injury is unlucky
On the flip side, suspensions to the likes of Dunne, Callaghan and especially McGuinness have disrupted the fortunes of the team so much, that continuity has simply been impossible. Disclipine is a continual problem in this side
The central defensive dilemma is one that Murray could not have expected, with the return to form of veteran Arron Callaghan threatening the emerging McGuinness and Broughan partnership.Eventually, this led to Broughan being the fall guy, and having a disastrous few games at right back. Broughan and McGuinness were reunited on Friday night, but in truth, found it tough to cope without a right back. David Hoey was just beginning to settle in at right back when he was taken out of the position.
In central midfield, Murray has returned to the Dunne and Kavanagh partnership, that have scored a combined 0 goals between them all season. At Tolka Park on Friday night, Gannon, Byrne and Crawford, Shelbournes' three central midfielders all scored. Creativity is badly lacking in this department. Dundalk's best performance of the season came against Bohemians with Prizeman creating from the middle of the field. Since then, he has been deployed on the right wing and hasn't been anywhere near as effective. He must be restored to the centre of the park, with either Dunne or Kavanagh beside him. Many like to single out Dunne for criticism, but in truth, Kavanagh hasn't been any better than him. John Flanagan must also come into the equation as well. Right side of midfield is probably the role for him, even if he lacks the pace and trickery of some other wingers. He can score goals though, and could provide an option in the middle of the park if Dunne or Kavanagh fail to improve. Of course, when Stuart Connolly eventually returns, he might fancy the central midfield role alongside Prizeman
Up front, the continual inclusion of John Ryan baffles Dundalk fans. He had to fill in earlier in the season, when Reilly was injured, and Ward was needed in midfield. But now, he still commands a starting place ahead of young Ger Robinson. Martin Reilly is beginning to look dangerous, and when midfield problems clear up, David Ward should return up front alongside him. Robinson, who can't get onto the team now ahead of his uncle Ryan, is the teams top scorer on three goals. After fourteen games of Premier Division action, Dundalk have only scored twelve times. Ten of those goals came in the first eight games. John Ryan has started every game since. While the usefulness of someone to hold the ball up is recognised, it is obvious that it is not having the desired effect with this team. If this side was passing the ball around a bit, then there might be a role for someone like Ryan, but while they continue to hoof the ball, an aging and not particular tall striker is not going to provide the physical presence required to make any kind of impression
The last two lines does say a lot about the most pressing problem with this side. Hoofing, why ? It's not that the players aren't good enough to play a passing game, because they have already shown this season that they are capable of doing so . The first couple of games, Dundalk passed the ball around and opened up teams with ease. In fact, at times fans complained as the players were trying to pass the ball everywhere. No such luck now though. Instead, the back four, normally Broughan aim long balls up the field to the vertically challenged front line. The manager has accepted this has happened, but why is nothing being done about it ? Is it lack of brains from the players ? Or are they being told to do it ? Whatever the excuse may be, it is obvious by now that it is simply not working. Surely, the experience of the last month or so has showed the manager a few things about the make up of his side
Surely he can see John Ryan will not score goals at this level ? Surely he can see that with the absence of Keddy, and the isolation of Prizeman that this side provides no threat of goals from midfield. Surely he can see that at the back, the lack of continuity makes every game a "getting to know you exercise", and that the defenders aimless hoofing up the pitch is rendering the midfielders useless. Everyone else can see it, so please, do something about it
In many ways, the Bray game has been the undoing of this side. Up until then, the side had a settled look to it. That night in the Carlisle Grounds, everything that could have went wrong, did go wrong. Bray shots from twenty yards took deflections and flew into the net. John Connolly fumbled one between his legs and over the line.However, Dundalk were still trying to play football and doing the right things. Sadly, panic set in after that loss, and since then, the constant tinkering with the side has taken them further away from the model that defeated Bohs comfortably in Oriel Park. It still hasn't stopped. Friday night's decision to effectively go in without a right back, and play Noel Melvin in a floating role suggests that the manager has completely lost the plot
There is still time to retrieve it though. It starts against Cork in the League next Sunday. Martin Murray has to forget all that has gone on in the last six or seven games, and get back to where he was before that trip to Bray. There's still fifty seven points to play for, and Dundalk probably need thirty points from that to ensure safety. This squad is good enough, but has the manager got the nerve to drop some of his signings as freely as he drops the likes of Flanagan and Hoey ? That may be the deciding factor in the end. It's over to you Martin
4th August
Premier Division football returns to Oriel Park on Thursday night with the visit of UCD to Oriel Park. Its doubtful that those who draw up the Premier Division fixture list set this fixture up knowing it has some sense of symbolic importance to Dundalk FC. The students visit to Oriel back in 1999 was the last Premier Division game played in the town. The situation going into both matches couldn't be more different. The doom and gloom surrounding all at the club then has been replaced with an optimism and enthusiasm going into a new season that I haven't seen around this club in all my time supporting them, save perhaps for the false dawn which was the beginning of the ill fated Hewitt era
The last two years have opened Dundalk fans' eyes to Division One, a division many thought we would never visit. That has increased the hunger for Premier Division football, and for the success the club has in the past enjoyed. However, it was up to the management and all at the club this Summer to ensure the right players and structures were put in place to make these goals achievable. On Thursday, and over the next few weeks we will find out how successful they have been in their task
It is a vastly different Premier Division we return to, from the one that we left back in 1999. Teams are more professional, grounds have improved. For example, Longford Town who pipped us to promotion back in 2000 have in the past year renamed their ground, developed it into an all seater stadium and on the day we play UCD, will represent Ireland in the UEFA Cup. Even the most cynical would have to admit that is progress. It also should encourage all at Oriel, as it is showing what can be achieved by a promoted club. Indeed, visiting many of the improved grounds around the country should accelerate enthusiasm in Dundalk for the renovation of Oriel Park
That however is secondary to matters on the field which must be sorted out first and foremost. This year, three teams definitely go down and fourth last will have to take part in the dreaded promotion/relegation playoff as the League quite rashly reduce the Premier League to 10 teams. The change to Summer soccer in 2002 also brings with it a March conclusion to the season and several midweek rounds of fixtures : which means a hectic schedule for all the clubs. It is very much a transitional season for the League. Sadly, any club going through a transition period on the pitch will have little time to settle as pressure to stay up will be on from the start. Therefore, any side which wants to stay up will have to gel together from the start. A successful pre season leading to a good start to the League will be vital
Did Dundalk have that ? Well, we've signed several new players, added a few new coaches and apart from a few drab Oriel games, the training and friendly matches have reportedly gone very well. Indeed, big game friendlies were sacrificed in favour of an intense training schedule. The success of that policy will be tested over the coming weeks
Players wise, seven players have been added. Justin O'Neill has been signed from Drogheda to provide cover for John Connolly.Out from the defence goes the likes of Gollogley, Hill and Mullen. In come former Pats captain Stephen McGuinness, a motivator and fierce competitor who isn't here to lose matches. Bryan McCrystal is back from Leeds and hoping to make an impression in Oriel. Those two along with the slimmed down Donal Broughan will compete for the centre half berths. A strong pairing is essential in order for survival. It is in midfield that we see the real changes of the Summer. Greg O'Dowd has left, David Hoey will be reverting to right back and Liam Dunne and John Flanagan will be fighting to hold their place in the side. In come Ciaran Kavanagh, a local man returning home after 10 years with UCD. Stuart Connolly and Jonathan Prizeman, former foes from the past two seasons now both arrive at the club. On the left side of midfield, James Keddy is another big name addition. A player who has won the double with Shels back in 2000, and is used to success. Up front, the debate will be over who partners the brilliant Martin Reilly. UCD's all time leading goalscorer Mick O'Byrne will increase competition for places in that department, and will likely be in competition with David Ward for that spot
Strength in depth ? Again, on paper it looks impressive. The likes of John Ryan, David Martin, Arron Callaghan, Derek Delaney and John Sharkey are still there. Coming through the ranks young players like Chris Lawless and Ciaran McCormack will be ready to take their chance should it arise. The under 21 side will be used to give several of the promising youth players at the club a chance to gain experience alongside some of the established players who can't get in the starting eleven
Sounding a bit too optimistic ? Perhaps that is the case, but all the vibes coming out from the club are good. It would have been nice to please everybody by winning the three games in Oriel last week, but the most important thing this summer was the whole "getting to know you" process within the squad. Again, the next few weeks will show if that has been successful or not. Thankfully many of the current squad and new signings have played together in the past, with McGuinness and Reilly playing together at Pats, and Keddy, Kavanagh and O'Byrne all members of the UCD squad of the mid nineties that burst into the Premier Division
With so many changes at the club, it is not surprising that most of what I have written above is pure guesswork, speculation, what ifs and maybe's. All conversations about how we will adapt to the Premier Division again are filled with such doubts. In truth, we don't really know. We can be optimistic, and with good reason. We can take praise from pre season opponents such as Glenavon one week and take it as encouraging. Then the next week after one bad friendly performance we wonder if it was just a fluke. Then we worry about such issues as ...Is our midfield good enough ? Will the centre halves gel quickly ? Will Martin Reilly find the same form in the Premier Division ? Many times between now and Thursday, those questions will run through everyone's minds.
That's the glorious uncertainty of pre season. But now it is almost over. It's time for the talking and the speculation to stop, and it's time for the team to answer those questions. It's going to be a rollercoaster of a season. The eircom League have ensured that. Lets hope we'll still be on a high come the end of it
4th July
It's been a bizarre few weeks in the National League. We've had the takeover of St Francis by St Patricks Athletic, giving them the bizarre new name of St Patricks Athletic FC [incorporating St Francis]. The emergence of Dublin City FC from the ruins of Home Farm Fingal and of course, the ongoing saga of whether Roddy Collins will be taking over Drogheda United
Things have taken a step or two further over the last week, with Roddy now confirming his interest in making a move. All that remains to be done is the current Drogheda board being satisfied with what Roddy has in mind for the club, and then effectively handing over the reins. Watching from the outside, but with more than a little interest in our nearest neighbours and rivals, it is hard to know what we should make of such a takeover
Roddy Collins' first proper game in charge of Bohemians was against Dundalk, in Dalymount Park back in 1998. It was a clash between the bottom two sides, and already Bohs fans weren't happy, branding Roddy "a puppet", who had no say in what was being done, and that Turlough O'Connor was the man in charge. Bohs scrambled a 1-0 win that day, their first of the season and they went on to survive relegation. Two and a half years later Roddy Collins was mobbed by Bohs fans in Tolka Park, after a season in which he had beaten Aberdeen and Kaiserslautern on their own turf, guided Bohs to the double , and in doing so ended a 23 year wait for the League title with a full time playing staff. That was a pretty dramatic turnaround. However,a week earlier he had launched a stinging attack on club officials in Kilkenny, saying they were living in "The Stone Age" and did not want Bohs to progress like he did, not wanting his visions of another Rosenberg in Ireland. Those comments would lead to his sacking by Bohemians, and explain why he is available today and interested in buying Drogheda
What does this mean to Dundalk ? Well, it is unlikely Roddy would be able to take Drogheda to the heights that he did with Bohs, but with the right backing he could definitely take them to the Premier Division and keep them there. With all the progression we are making, it is quite likely we will be a part of the new 10 team Premier. If we were to become a force in that 10 team League, and Drogheda were also competing it would be fantastic for football in Louth. Many other rivalries around the country call themselves local derbies, but in many cases the teams are separated by some distance, in some cases more than a hours drive apart. Dundalk-Drogheda has the real potential a fierce rivalry, given the close proximity of the towns. Cup ties in recent years have yielded massive crowds, with great atmospheres and did give an indication of what could happen if both clubs were going well
However, given the merger between St Pats and St Francis you can be sure that someone from outside the area will put forward the proposal that Dundalk and Drogheda should merge to form Louth United or some other united Louth team. That would never be viable, and would never be supported because of the rivalry that exists between the towns, be it at schoolboy or senior level in not just football, but in most sports. The county is big enough to support two very good Premier Division sides because each town is individual and big enough to support a club of its own. So what if they are only twenty minutes apart ?
Even the most ardent Drogheda fan would have to admit, that for most of their existence, they have been envious of the success Dundalk have enjoyed. Even for someone who hasn't lived through all of that period, you only have to look at the respective honours lists of both clubs to see that while Dundalk have been winning Leagues and Cups, Drogheda have not been doing so. They have never been rivals on the same level as us. Shamrock Rovers are now more determined than ever to start winning things again, after Bohs' successes last season. Competition will be more fiercer than ever between the clubs next year. A resurgence by Drogheda would have a similar effect on Dundalk. While it is always nice to get one over your local rivals, there really was no such pleasure last year beating Drogheda four times. The first game in United Park was brilliant, but by the time the second one came around in December, Drogheda were last and were down to double figure numbers of fans. It wasn't a local derby, it was a humiliation and it was almost embarrassing to try and gloat about it when Drogheda were just so poor. Roddy Collins offers them the only possible escape from that humiliation
Looking at it logically, which match would you think would encourage the Dundalk public to come out and get behind the team in more numbers. A Premier Division game against UCD, a student side with little or no support, or a clash against Drogheda, led by a brash , at times arrogant Dub, with the potential for good support when the team is going well ? Of course the latter prospect is a lot more attractive. The Cup ties between the club back in 1996 were fantastic occasions, even if the result eventually went against us. To have a chance of such occasions four times a season would be magic for both clubs, and for the image of the game in Louth
If Collins were to takeover Drogheda and take them into the Premier, no doubt their fans would be cocky and talk up their chances, and it would make us dislike them even more. And that's the way it should be. Every team needs a proper local rival, and we never really have had one. I felt sorry for Drogheda when we fluked a last minute goal against them back in April after they had defended in numbers for 89 minutes, and I was not the only Dundalk fan to feel that way. They were so embarrassingly bad, that all they could do was hope for a draw, and they had no fans there to support them. Hardly a local derby, was it ?
We've got on fine in the past without serious local rivals, and we could probably do so in the future. However, I think it would make things a lot more interesting if Drogheda were to do well. Maybe if both teams got a chance to show the depth of their support and the fierce rivalry that simmers between the two on a Premier Division stage, then any notions of a merged Louth team would be forever put to sleep
It's only just over two years since Dundalk exited the Premier Division. Back in '99 we went on a nine game losing streak to finish the season last by some six points. On the last day of the season we went down 1-0 to Finn Harps, the Donegalmen one week away from the FAI Cup final and tickets were selling at half time. Elsewhere that day, Roddy Collins' Bohemians went down in UCD, to be condemned to a promotion/relegation playoff while at Richmond Park, St Patricks Athletic defeated the thus relegated Bray Wanderers to be crowned League champions for a second successive season. Only two years ago, but so much has changed since, and without doubt at Oriel Park, things are definitely changing for the better
Now, in 2001 Collins is jobless, after taking Bohs to the double. Finn Harps, buzzing with Cup final fever then, are now relegated and in financial trouble, with a clear out of some of their top players necessary to keep the club afloat. St Pats have been through a transitional period since, but still showed impressively in the second half of this season. . Bray after learning from their relegation experience, and strengthening last Summer, finished in the top four this season. The news that Pats captain, Stephen McGuinness has decided to join Dundalk, now a newly promoted club only goes to show how much things have changed.
Hopefully, we have learned like Bray did from the lessons of relegation It's not just in terms of the level we play at that things have changed at Oriel since 1999. We've had the introduction of the co-op, and also such sacrifices as the sale of Steve Williams in order to stabilise the future of the club, and that has proved to be thusfar successful, with the clubs huge debts in the excess of £350,000 now brought down to a manageable figure which is being mortgaged off in repayments by the year. This year, Dundalk enter the Premier Division they left with a £350,000 debt, as a club instead working with a £25,000 surplus Money is of course the main element in progressing to the top level. It has been the key factor in the McGuinness capture, with our wage offering bettering what his former club could come up with.
There were those who said that we'd never get McGuinness. Hardened by a decade of financial struggles, the concept of signing the captain of one of the Dublin big four was surely too much to believe. Now it's happened, it could well trigger more than a change in the playing staff, but also in the general mood around the club. It's only one player at the end of the day, but the significance is worth much more than that. Yet, for me the most heartening happenings of the Summer so far have occurred off the field . Arron Callaghan has given up playing, but he is a revered coach, and has now taken up a full time coaching role with the club. Frank O'Neill, a Dub with a wide knowledge of the Dublin scene has also been appointed as a coach. All the players that have been re-signed for next year have been given a regime for the Summer months as regards fitness, dieting and all things a good professional should do. Weekends away for pre season training have been planned. Last year Shelbourne went away for a week in France before the Champions League campaign, and ended up performing credibly. Bohs ex-boss Roddy Collins took his players away to hotels in the build up to big games and it yielded improved results. It's not just a passing trend. It's the proper professional thing to do. And even if our players are still part time, we have to think professional.
I have looked at the clubs such as Bohs and Shels progressing in recent years and despaired because I never thought we were either capable, or had the desire to follow suit. Dundalk for most of the 90's have been in many respects very amateurish in the way they have been run, and the way they have approached things. While other clubs copped on in the late 90's and began to move forward in a professional direction, we had been stuck in a time warp, but now things seem to be changing. The era of guys carrying a bit of weight in pre season, maybe into the first few games and getting fitter as the season goes on is over. Pre season preparations don't begin in early July anymore. Bohs and Shels playing staff will be basically all full time next season, and while we are not near that level yet, it is something that is going to be forced on us over the coming years if we want to compete
. Our directors have given us a five year plan, and by the end of the five years, challenging for the main honours is the aim. To be able to do that, we will need to be a professional club in the way we approach everything, from the men at the top, to the manager, to the players, right through to the youth structure at the club. It's the only way forward, and won't be achieved from throwing the wages out after games every week to journeyman semi pro's looking for a bit of money on the side to supplement their main income Those days must depart immediately, as we exit the First Division, hopefully, never to return. Plans such as two year, three year, five year plans,whatever it may be are used in any half decent firm or company to set out targets and goals. Sometimes in football clubs, and indeed normal businesses they are used to deflect attention from the pressing short term problems a business immediately faces, and to buy some time. In our case I do not believe it to be the case
. In year one alone, our financial situation has been stabilised and promotion achieved, which was the target at the beginning of the year. We have now signed the captain of one of the country's leading clubs, one that prides itself as a club that has a vision for the future of football in Ireland I remember overhearing someone back in the relegation season of 1998/99 saying that Dundalk was being run like a small time GAA club. Quite honestly, back then, they were right. Only two years later things have changed completely. There's no need to have modest ambitions any more, or to be afraid of proclaiming good things for the future of the club, because the facts and structures are there to back up these proclamations.
Of course it would be unwise to get too carried away, and expect too much, too soon. It is a five year plan after all, and this is only the second year. Yet, it wouldn't be too bold a prediction to suggest that in three years time, that Dundalk fans will be speaking of the brains behind the co-op, and our current directors, as true Dundalk FC heroes, more important than any player or manager
19th May
There's been twists and turns along the way, and one major hiccup now banished from the memory , but aside from that it has been a progressive season for Dundalk. Support has been up, and off the field money matters have improved. Club-fan relations couldn't be better, and in its first full season the co-op has flourished, with the best part of that operation still to come. We now look forward to the Premier Division and a chance to clash with the current top crop in Irish football, the likes of Bohs, Shels et al. A chance for some great nights at Oriel, with the growing numbers of voiciferous home supporters trying to outshout the large contingent of travelling fans from Dublin
All sounds good, but the last line will most certainly not develop if Dundalk proceed with the policy of playing home games on Thursday nights
Yeah, its a well worn argument and one that people will probably never change opinions on, but while the Thursday night novelty had initial success in its early days, there is no evidence to suggest that it has captured the imagination of the Dundalk public so much so to make the phrase "Thursday nights are Oriel" true.
The financial side of the club is important, I know that, and everyone accepts that. Keeping the club going is the main thing for eircom League clubs and doing so is an unending struggle. Dundalk have a great advantage, with a fantastic bar facility and area to facilitate parties et al over the weekend. Therefore the argument used is, by playing on Thursdays, Dundalk can maximise bar income by hosting parties on Friday and primarily for this debate, Saturday nights. At a meeting the other evening, Dundalk outlined provisional budget aims for next year. They included a figure of £72,000 for gate receipts, with a possible additional £10,000 or £15,000 on this regard. Rounding that off to £80,000, and for arguments sake including Cups that would leave 20 home games, and a required gate income of £4,000 per match. Including 200 season ticket holders, that would require a crowd of roughly 900 for every home match. At our last two home games the crowd was around the 2,000 mark. If we could keep that figure or even say 1200 home supporters at least for every game then already you are talking about a vast improvement on that figure although of course there is a tax consideration
What has this to do with Thursday vs Saturdays you ask ? Put simply, Saturday nights mean more substantial crowds. I stand ready for correction, but by my reckoning we played five games at Oriel Park this year on a Saturday. The home League wins over Cobh and Home Farm which had similar crowds than resultant games against them on a Thursday and Sunday, the Cup game vs Limerick which would draw a good crowd anyway, a home game vs Waterford which suffered because Waterford were unsure of game date in the run up due to a fixture congestion at the time and were unable to arrange a travelling bus, and last Saturday versus Athlone. It could not be said that the crowd for any of the games was disappointing
Last year when people argued for Thursdays, they said, "well there's no travelling support in Division One so we can get away with it", but many admitted then that in the Premier Division things would be different. What, can I ask you, has changed in the last twelve months to make this argument invalid ? Its clear as day to anyone that Premier Division clubs, especially the Dublin ones bring decent support. Bohs, Pats and Rovers particularly could bring a few hundred,as could Derry whose away support this year has been excellent which put at a conservative estimate of 200 each totals at for just one home game against them each, an extra £4800 in the gate. Take into account many would use the bar, you could be talking another £1600 on to things, and in the event that we would play a few of those clubs twice at home then you are talking big money
Thursday night isn't good for Dundalk fans away from home either, but I'm not going to use that argument on the grounds that it could be construed as more a personal interest, which it is not. If I lived next door to Oriel, I'd still rather Saturday nights because it does lead to greater atmosphere. There is the feeling of people heading to the match before heading out for the evening, and normally coming to Oriel beforehand. The bar was buzzing before kickoff last week, but most normal Thursday nights is like ghost town beforehand. And lets be honest here, the atmosphere at Oriel in recent years has been crap. The last two seasons now and again there is good atmosphere, but that has only really been twice, the games vs Bray and Athlone. The one factor linking them, travelling support. Young people can go to games on Saturday, and if there is a good atmosphere and a bit of that spirit in the air then they would be encouraged to come again. Do we want to watch games in silence next year, and console ourselves with the fact that at least they'll be doing a good trade in the bar afterwards ? Is that what things have been reduced to ? We haven't had bad numbers through the gates this year, but they don't make much noise, its only travelling supporters that are capable of making that happen
Thursday nights may satisfy those that are in the routine, but realistically it means the same faces. Its a school night, its a night most football teams train on, its a night for UEFA Cup football now and that situation is not going to change. Saturday evening has no such comparisons. People don't go out until after 10pm most Saturday nights ... and remember we don't play at home every week, its every second week so people can get the best of both worlds, with the bar income taking precedence on alternate weekends. Recently there have been several fundraising efforts in Oriel Park, with a local DJ playing some tunes and hoping to raise some money for the club. Instead of playing on Thursdays, we could realistically work this to our advantage. As Thursday is the traditional student night for going out as it is, if Dundalk were to have similar events on Thursday nights and offer discounts to attract students serious money could be made, students will follow cheap beer, its a proven fact. So instead of taking football away from the weekend, Dundalk could maximise revenue from an excellent venue during the week
What it all boils down to, is that while the bar is an excellent feature of the club, it should only be supplementary to the football club. Look at the figures though, gate income is £72,000 per year target, while the bar is projected target of £50,000. That £50,000 is very much fixed, but the £72,000 is one that with the right planning could be seriously improved on. The shortfall lost from the Saturday nights could be made up elsewhere, but the effect in playing on Thursdays has long term ramifications. Because of you want long term prosperity you need fans for the future, to secure the future of the club. And by playing on a Thursday, in front of a reduced subdued crowd, with a crap atmosphere you are not portraying the most positive image of a football club, and you are not making the games accessible to every member of the community. Every other provincial club in the Premier Division next year will be playing on the weekends next year, and they all face the same problems that we do. Then why are we being so different ? It is something I can and never will understand
Ok so some will say that last Saturday was an exception, but instead of one night a season like that, we could have it regularly as it was the travelling support that really made the Athlone game what it was, because it made us realise how lacking in atmosphere our home games really are. We have made progress in the last year, but to stay with Thursdays would be a seriously repressive step. Its time to ask the question, do we want to keep the club and home matches to ourselves ? or do we want to broaden our horizons ? If some are happy with an average of 900 per home match then so be it, but there's so much untapped support out there its frightening. The last two home matches have only served as a reminder. So are we prepared to take a chance and have confidence in our ability to gain them ? I ask you now, which is better for the club, a few quid extra behind the bar, or large crowds in Oriel, singing fans, and a good atmosphere that in time will lead to making up that shortfall ? Surely, as a football fan the answer is obvious
Monaghan United are a team on the upgrade on the pitch. Under the stewardship of Bobby Browne, they have turned from re election fodder into promotion chasers. Yet, they aren't showing much signs of progress in gaining support from the local community. From the outside, people find it hard to understand why they can't gain some support from somewhere. Well, this seasons events have shown to me, that perhaps the people running their club have a lot to do with it
As you know, the League game between Monaghan and Dundalk went ahead behind closed doors. FAI rules stated only players, management and officals were allowed enter the ground. This week, Dundalk sent off a list of officials to Monaghan. A list of people who play an active part in running and promoting of the club. Yet, Monaghan refused the list and complained to the League. They then took the incredible step of banning all Dundalk officials from the match, including club directors such as the chairman and financial controller and restricting entry to just team members. It is unclear whether the same procedures will exist for Monaghan officals, but I severely doubt it. That said, the party of Dundalk officials would probably equal Monaghans hardcore support.
In a situation where Monaghan are extremely lucky to be allowed play on, while Drogheda who are in less danger of receiving foot and mouth than Monaghan, are stopped from playing, you'd think the Mons would understand the severity of the foot and mouth restrictions. Yet, if we expected any solidarity from Monaghan in this time we were to be disappointed, but hardly surprised. Consistently, they have shown themselves to be a thoroughly un-cooperative, brash and unhelpful club
Now, there are two reasons why Monaghan took this heavy handed approach. The first is that the home games versus Dundalk are their only big games all season. They are guaranteed a few hundred Dundalk fans, who through gate and bar receipts will provide easily their two biggest gates of the season. By taking this approach with the officials, with the wholesale banning of everyone travelling, which is probably not in their authority anyway, they were perhaps hoping for a Dundalk complaint so that the game would not go ahead. Then, the game would be rescheduled for after the April 21 deadline, and Monaghan would have the large support, and the money. Thats not going to materialise now, and in light of this weeks events, some would say they are glad Monaghan won't get their money from the Dundalk match
The second reason is probably just pure and simple revenge. For those not in the know, the Monaghan directors, including chairman, PRO, amongst others planted themselves in the Dundalk season ticket section for the League game in late January. Then after disputing some decisions, they were naturally in the middle of the Dundalk faithful, and one Monaghan official decided to get into a standing row with a Dundalk fan. While the home fans complained that the Monaghan directors should not be in there, and should be removed immediately, the Monaghan crew would not budge. One of them, resembling a character from Dallas, with his interesting head attire was drawing particular attention. The stewards were called in, and while four out of the six Monaghan group left [including the one with the hat], abusing several home fans on the way out, and causing general disturbance, two remained. They would not move from where they were sitting, so two Dundalk stewards stood in front of them for the rest of the first half, while there was talk of the police being called. One of the Monaghan group, a female, even physically attacked one of the stewards. At half time they left and didn't return to the season ticket section. Now, reports since have suggested there was alcohol involved, and that is hardly surprising. Apparently, the Monaghan group tried to tell the stewards they were in the directors box. While the particulars of this incident are still to a certain extent unclear, one thing remains for sure : There was a lot of anger amongst the Monaghan directors that night, and no doubt the bad blood and desire for revenge, which only existed on one side prior to this weeks incidents, has been a factor in their recent events
So after their brash, ignorant, childish, provocative and maybe even drunken behaviour that night in Oriel Park, this could well be Monaghans very own brand of revenge. While other clubs such as Derry and other eircom League clubs have accepted the situation and showed some kind of solidarity, the directors of Monaghan United FC stand alone with their uncooperation. It's nothing to do with foot and mouth implications, its down to money and revenge. They haven't won themselves many friends with this, and if this is their normal manner then it is hardly surprising they can barely get 100 to home matches
Yes, Monaghan are very much an improving team on the field, but unlikely to get anywhere with those people in charge. In this current situation, its easy for Dundalk fans and officals to become paranoid, as everything seems to going against us, but I can't see how anyone can support the actions taken by Monaghan United
Small men with small minds, two reasons why Monaghan United FC will always depend on other clubs to make their money
The last few weeks, for any Louth person has been a very difficult time. The plight of the farmers is one we all sympathise with. It is a nightmare situation, especially for people in the Cooley peninsula who face their livelihoods, and their lives work being wiped out in foul swoop. Everyone is aware of that, and I hope that any comments on this website are not misconstrued as insensitive to the plight of the farmers. Some things just simply have to be said though
Sport is a very powerful instrument nowadays. It can help children in disadvantaged areas and give them something to aim for. It has no prejudices or boundaries, if you are good at it, you will get somewhere with it. It is important to the lives of many people. But if ever sport really needed to be shown its place, then this FMD crisis has done so. When it comes to sacrificing things, sport is the first to go. Despite what it gives to the nation, in terms of pride, Irish people can't seem to accept there is now an added economic importance to it. Too often, when the debate raged over Stadium Ireland the moralistic will come on and say that there are homeless on the streets, and other issues that should be sorted out first before they built a sports stadium, conveniently ignoring the fact that it would give the youth of the country something to aim for, and be proud of, and something that could yield reward for the country pyschologically, as well as economically
Despite that, I think you'll find that many people could tolerate Dundalk FC having to play behind closed doors, or Louth GAA teams, from county to school levels being denied access to play in national competitions, if there was some level of consistency. If the so called "ring of steel" around Louth was extended to more than just football and sport fans, then I doubt there would be any complaint. But what a sickening blow, what a way to stir up tensions to see thousand upon thousand of people leaving the county every day, to go not just to work and college, which can be considered as essential, but to concerts, cinemas, theatres, and any other form of entertainment not just in Dublin, but around the country
What a bodyblow for Drogheda United, that while they badly need any kind of match day income to help the club survive, Monaghan who are much closer to the outbreak, and a lot more likely to receive the disease, are able to host teams from Limerick and Sligo within a week, while meanwhile Drogheda players are banned from travelling to Sligo ?
But now lets get back to real sore point. The amount of people allowed to leave Louth and go around the rest of the country. How can any group of people possibly explain to anyone why thousands of people can leave Louth every day to go to Dublin to work, to college etc. And not only that, but these work areas and college areas are in the main, in a city centre location meaning possible contact with hundreds of thousands of people. But this seems to be ok ? Yet a few hundred fans can't travel up the motorway on Sunday to Baldonnel, a destination which would mean that those travelling from Dundalk, if they had their car wheels etc disinfected would not be going near the city centre itself. It's these kind of decisions that would have historians in hundreds of years time looking back at this period and telling their students that these were a crazy civilisation.
If you want to get really picky, you can say that those going to work and college are doing so for their livelihoods, and their education etc etc. But what of those going to concerts, that could have crowds up to 20,000 there ? There would probably only be 2,000 at the most at the FAI Cup tie. Are Louth people being stopped from travelling to airports to go on holidays, to go to Ireland games in Cyprus and Barcelona ? Are we a special kind of people more likely to spread the virus ?
Realistically, we all know how seperated the Cooley area is from the rest of Louth. From the minute of the outbreak, all efforts should have been concentrated in the area surrounding Cooley, within a five-ten mile radius perhaps. All movement in and out of there should have been stopped completely. Puzzingly though, officials have been more concerned about people leaving Dundalk. The only bloody chance of FMD getting to Dundalk would be via someone from Cooley, or South Armagh or that direction coming into the town. Instead, we have checkpoints in Drogheda. What a waste of time. The mind boggles.
So for now, sporting fans in Louth must sit in silence and watch the rest of the country continue as normal. We can talk to neighbours who go off to concerts, and to other social gatherings in Dublin without any bother in the world as long as they don't bring a few steaks with them. We can see people going off on holidays, or to football matches in sunny climates. We can be held back, as the country passes us by. And then we're told this is a national effort. This is hypocrisy of the highest order.
So when the government is asked what they are doing about foot and mouth, they can point to the lack of sporting activity from teams in the Louth area as a sign of their tough measures, and conveniently ignore the thousands of people who go off and partake in other leisure activities.Their stance on the outbreak, needed some sort of symbolic pointless gesture, some sort of sign to show they really know what they are doing. They've found that now, and again, sport is the fall guy. Is anyone really that surprised ?