Play Off Draw!

What a great draw! Its exactly the type of team we rise to when we play. Oh roll on croker! I feel so sick, just cant afford the away leg at this time... Paris would be amazing, but just cant afford the money at the moment.............aaaagh!

Roll on Croker anyway. I'll be there in the Singing section with my son and I'll come back with no voice I promise!

Ireland 2 Italy 2 Sat 10 October 2009

Pride comes at the end of a night of bitter disappointment! Not a hint of the poison that came from the RTE panel after the game. Frustration at the team selection or performance? Whistles and boos with 10 minutes to go? Anger at the manager? All lies...complete lies. The Luas home was quiet - sad...but no anger...no frustration. This was finally Croke park and a singing section we had been waiting for! What a night of passion and it shows the love is still there for this team even if it doesnt exist in the RTE studio. The sooner O'Herlihy,Giles and Dunphy are off the air the better.

But finally.. bring on the playoffs. No fear.. The bigger the better in my opinion. No guarantees, but it'll be a great night of pride and I trust the players and manager.








Joy unbounded!

"This fella is a proper manager. He reminds me in many ways of Bob Paisley, a wise old guy who just understands football and footballers. He came in and spotted what needed doing, and then did it. He’s looked at what is available to him and has decided this is how we’re going to play – and, when you look at the table, how on earth could you argue with him? We were in there with the world champions, what do people want, for goodness sake?

Our greatest strengths are our raw energy, our desire and endeavour – and he has harnessed all of that. We should be shouting from the rooftops" MARK LAWRENSON

IRELAND V ITALY. IRELAND V MONTENEGRO

Thinking about the games coming up...

Hunt is such a key player now in my book. I dont quite see McGeady as his equal. It's like that moment when you realise that Benitez is right about Dirk Kuyt, and you never have a bad word to say again... Hunt is like that.

Secondly, it'll be some trip up and back from Cork next Saturday. The 8pm kick-off is a blessing and a curse at the same time - you have to say it'll be absolutely ideal for the atmosphere. Atleast those who are normally late wont have any excuses! Having said that by the time you get through the inexplicable queue at Connolly Luas stop, and then pack in like sardines for the 30 minutes or so to the Red Cow, it'll probably be 11.30pm. Then the three hours to West Cork, will make it about 2.30am... Plenty of coffee thats for sure!

Montenegro could actually be a monstrously important game... It's been a long time, but it really could end up being massive and it excites me. Yes Italy will be big, but Montenegro.............. Still have to decide what to do with my tickets.. a few people need to get back to me.