With Shane Duffy following Darren Gibsons lead by chosing to declare for the Republic how nearer are we to an All Irish team. I for one would definitely be in favour of it.
This was the nearest thing I can remember to seeing an all Ireland soccer team play together, and it was a brilliant game, In the papers after the game an all Ireland team was a must, but here we are now almost 40 years on, it'll never happen in my lifetime, but howcome the rugby can do it? Shamrock Rovers XI vs Brazil An association football friendly match was played in Lansdowne Road in Dublin in July 1973 between Brazil and a team billed as Shamrock Rovers XI, made up of international players from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Brazil won the match 4-3. The match was played at the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, and was intended as a gesture of friendship and solidarity. Louis Kilcoyne persuaded João Havelange of the Brazilian FA to include a match against an "Ireland XI" on the itinerary for their 9-match summer tour of Europe, reportedly promising him the FAI's vote in the 1974 election for President of FIFA. Johnny Giles captain of the Republic team and Derek Dougan of Northern Ireland were friendly with each other, supported the project, and persuaded many of their respective teammates to participate. The IFA was opposed to the match, seeing it as setting a precedent which might encourage moves for the IFA to merge with the FAI. Further, the Republic of Ireland manager, Liam Tuohy, who also managed this team, subsequently disclosed that the FAI also had reservations. In deference to these concerns, the "Ireland XI" had to be called a Shamrock Rovers selection, after the leading League of Ireland club connected to the Kilcoyne family. (In actuality, all the team played in the English League.) Also, only the Brazilian national anthem and flag were displayed, although A Nation Once Again was among the tunes in the pre-match entertainment. Derek Dougan, always a controversial character, alleged that IFA President Harry Cavan instructed Northern Ireland manager Terry Neill not to pick him in future because of his involvement in organising this match, thereby ending his international career. However this overlooks the fact that Dougan had not appeared in any of Northern Ireland's five matches prior to the game in Dublin, had failed to score in any of the last 10 international games in which he had played and in any case, at 35 he was clearly in the twilight of his career. Indeed, he was to retire from playing full time football less than two seasons later. Dougan's claim also overlooks the fact that none of the five other Northern Ireland players who featured suffered any adverse consequences for their international career; indeed three of them (Jennings, Hamilton and O'Neill) were subsequently to captain Northern Ireland, with Hamilton also going on to be appointed manager. Proceeds from the match went to UNICEF and the Irish Cancer Society. The fixture was featured on Irish soccer show Monday Night Soccer on April 7th 2008. Line Ups Shamrock Rovers XI Goalkeeper: Pat Jennings (NI) Defenders: David Craig (NI), Paddy Mulligan (RoI), Allan Hunter (NI), Tommy Carroll (RoI) Midfielders: Johnny Giles (RoI), Mick Martin (RoI; 1 goal), Martin O'Neill (NI), Terry Conroy (RoI; 1 goal) Strikers: Derek Dougan (NI; 1 goal), Don Givens (RoI). Substitutes: Liam O'Kane (NI) and Bryan Hamilton (NI) for Carroll and Givens (66 mins); Miah Dennehy (RoI) for Conroy (88 mins). Manager: Liam Tuohy (RoI) [edit] Brazil Goalkeeper: Émerson Leão Defenders: Zé Maria, Luis Pereira, Piazza, Marco Antônio Midfielders: Paulo César Lima (2 goals; also had a penalty saved), Clodoaldo, Rivelino, Dirceu Strikers: Jairzinho (1 goal), Valdomiro (1 goal) Manager: Mario Zagallo
IFA want answers on player exodus Friday, 26 February 2010 14:35 The Irish Football Association are raising the matter of player eligibility with the Court of Arbitration for Sport after another talented youngster turned his back on Northern Ireland. Everton defender Shane Duffy, 18, was this week named in the squad to face Albania in a friendly on Wednesday, only to state he would prefer to play for the Republic of Ireland instead. That is a path also taken by Manchester United's Darron Gibson and Portsmouth's Marc Wilson among others. Like Duffy they played for Northern Ireland age group teams before deciding their international future lay in Dublin, not Belfast. The IFA have become increasingly infuriated that, after investing time and money in young players, they can just walk away. They feel FIFA could be more helpful and have therefore turned to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. A statement from the IFA read: 'We do not take this course of action lightly but, in light of recent events and potential future issues, it believes it has no other choice regarding the resolution of player eligibility. 'The decision is taken purely on the grounds of upholding the FIFA statues of article 15 and 16 and that the current situation that exists puts the IFA at a clear disadvantage over all other 206 associations. 'The association has worked hard on its 'Football for All' programme being at the heart of everything we do. 'We spend a substantial amount of money on grassroots and youth international programmes and this must be protected for the good of football in Northern Ireland.'
i know nothing about this lad duffy's background or darron gibson's and i couldn't care less to be honest but when you see they way neil lennon was treated by the northern ireland fans i can understand why these 2 lads made their decisions if it's for similar reasons. if it's just because they think the republic have a better team than northern ireland then it's wrong in my opinion and it shouldn't be allowed
Why shouldn't he declare for the Republic? As long as he hasn't played at senior level for N.I. it's his choice. Don't forget the multitude of players we've had over the years who weren't born in the Republic yet declared & played for us, & we were happy getting to Euro's & World Cups with them. If he's born on this island he should have every right to declare to play for us.
I can see why he wants to play for us...Getting that level off abuse up there for playing football is just not worth it..Also i wouldnt care with the IFA think as know gave a fcuk about us when that goal was allowed.. Hopfully we will get a chance to see these young players getting their chances.
This is still a long way off (if ever) From club football perspective, I have first hand experience of watching Shels play against Linfield, Glentoran, Portadown in the Setanta Cup. Winder Park and the Oval are not very welcoming places for people from this part of the Island i have found. We got a armed police escort from edge of Belfast up to the Oval to play against Glentoran a few years back and same back out Their is still so much hate and abuse directed from both sides that i cant see all Ireland team happening
My blog post on Shane Duffy, ROI and NI. Feel free to read and comment: http://anirishred.tumblr.com/post/4160575671/north-or-south-their-futures-green
Just a quick suggestion mate, can you change the font on your blog? As its really hard on the eyes. Maybe thats just me Just thought id let you know.
I wouldnt be interested in something like this - it would bring far too much politics into something as simple as picking a home venue and a team.
I've often surmised what percentage this has to play in the big picture, as to why IFA and FAI have not merged before now and neither in the near or medium future. http://www.fifa.com/search/index.html?q=International+Football+Association+Board "The International FA Board (IFAB) Ever since it was founded in the 19th century, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has played a vital role in international football. It acts as the guardian of the Laws of the Game and is responsible for studying, modifying and overseeing any changes to it. In late 1848, a meeting of reputable private schools in Cambridge, England convened to establish a set of reasonable football regulations. This historic meeting was the first step towards a universal set of rules. Fifteen years later, the English Football Association (FA) was established under a banner of 14 official rules. The first-ever IFAB meeting took place in 1886 when the English FA, conscious of the need for standardisation, invited their Irish, Scottish and Welsh counterparts to join forces to come up with a uniform code. Up until then, different rules had applied in different countries. Since its foundation in 1904, FIFA, as football's world governing body, sought to team up with IFAB. The first real steps were made in that direction two years later, in 1906, when Englishman Daniel Burley Woolfall became FIFA President. And although the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Football Tournaments were run under the FA's supervision, FIFA began to take part in meetings from 1913 onwards. Four representatives from FIFA and one each from England, N. Ireland, Scotland and Wales meet at an Annual General Meeting where they set out to identify, study and accept or reject possible alterations to the Laws. Four weeks before the AGM, which following an amendment at the 117th meeting in 2003, takes place in either February or March, the associations must . . ." http://www.fifa.com/search/index.html?q=International+Football+Association+Board