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Most embarrassing Irish sporting moment?

diusmr8a504cvk

Ireland getting thumped 60-0 by New Zealand in Rugby in 2012 has to be up there.

Doesn't necessarily have to be the Irish national team, it can be an Irish athlete or team.

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dirtyden

Akrasia wrote: »

There was 2 minutes of normal time and Jimmy Cooney blew the whistle with Clare 3 points ahead

I don't think he ever refereed a championship game again

While the mistake he made was an embarrassment, it was nothing compared to the shocking behaviour of some of the gaa supporters who sent him death threats

See attached what Jimmy Cooney himself had to say about the response.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/cooney-finds-people-power-beats-the-whistle-blowers-26174148.html

His actual comments ``I expected to be absolutely cut to pieces. But I wasn't. It wasn't coming from any quarter. Letters, phone-calls, media. There was nothing but good. I couldn't get over that. I couldn't.''

Not sure where you are getting the above from.

partyguinness

mikemac1 wrote: »

An English club and a Scottish club playing the "Dublin Derby"

Matt Cooper and others banging on about Munster beating New Zealand in a meaningless friendly in 1978. Thomand Park was like the GPO that day, everyone claiming they were there! We roll eyes at the English and 1966 but we are worse

Yeah, slightly off track but since moving to England it's amazing how many 2nd & 3rd generations Irish I meet that had relations holed up in the GPO in 1916...including my barber...:rolleyes:

The J Stands for Jay

nokia69 wrote: »

football does need a rule change to reduce hand passing but can still be a good game

I just don't understand this preference for hoofing the ball up in the air in the hope it'll land with a team mate when it's finished bouncing around.

frostyjacks

The 60-0 loss to NZ wasn't embarrassing; you have to put it into the context of the three-match series. In the second test Ireland threw absolutely everything they had at NZ to level the series, but fell agonisingly short. It was to be expected that they would be torn to shreds in the final game.

The soccer team wearing black armbands after Diana died was embarrassing. Shameful decision.

Menas

tricky D wrote: »

When some turkey won the Tour de France in 1987. Translation: when Charlie Haughey mooched on to the podium when Stephen Roche won the TdF. /cringeworthy

I remember that well. Didnt he say something about wanting Ireland to bid for the Olympics when he was grandstanding on that podium?

J DEERE

salmocab wrote: »

Was that not a Leinster final I remember it happening it was hilarious the final whistle had barely gone and it came up on the big screen and the announcer sounded like he was panicking. I think plan B was to forget the original plan.

2009 hurling final. Was at the game

brian_7070

Can’t believe nobody has mentioned Irelands call cringe every time I hear it

captbarnacles

I like Ireland's Call. The other one is ridiculous and offensive to some supporters and players.

jamesbondings

partyguinness wrote: »

The thousands of Irish people that are quite happy to spend their money traveling to the UK every wend to watch games but have never set foot inside a LOI ground....:(

as an aside, i wouldnt mind taking up the attending of matches in the near future, however the standard of football is so poor. on top of that i have a feeling that its not the type of atmosphere one could bring kids to. (i havent been to any matches in any other country) if its dangerous then im out.

the fai itself is embarrassing as is delany and the sooner he is out the better imo.....

[Deleted User]

Menas wrote: »

I remember that well. Didnt he say something about wanting Ireland to bid for the Olympics when he was grandstanding on that podium?

No. The Olympic bid was Gay Mitchell afaik when he was Mayor of Dublin.

The hyperbole surrounding the rugby team before the 07 World Cup was pretty amusing. Fellows - who had been watching the sport, or more accurately Munster and Ireland games - for all of 2 or 3 years by then all pontificating that we were going to win it, following by the usual capitulation.

[Deleted User]

Has to be the story of Sonia's 5000m race at the Atlanta Olympics, when she suffered a case of the Hurry Out & the Delay Abroad.

She looked so sweaty and uncomfortable as she started to trail the pack; we wondered was this a tactic? Then suddenly she burst off the track and made right for the shitter. She literally saw her opportunity for olympic gold flushed down the toilet.

I'm glad she managed to win a medal in Sydney, but my word, that's one dodgy kebab she'll never forget.

[Deleted User]

jamesbondings wrote: »

however the standard of football is so poor....

That they'd rather watch Celtic playing Buckie Thistle?

There are many reasons Irish people follow the game in Britain, but I don't buy the standard of football one. Most kids support their Liverpools and Celtics long before they can analyse the quality of football.

Cienciano

We slag off england fans and media because they keep going on about the 1966 world cup. Biggest sporting event in the world and they beat Germany in the final only 20 years after the war.
But for some reason it's ok for munster fans to go on about a completely meaningless match against the all blacks in the poxy 70's.

jamesbondings

Deleted User wrote: »

That they'd rather watch Celtic playing Buckie Thistle?

There are many reasons Irish people follow the game in Britain, but I don't buy the standard of football one. Most kids support their Liverpools and Celtics long before they can analyse the quality of football.

I completely get your point, however i dont "support" anyone. I watch football from the UK and Spain mainly and it is far more entertaining than LOI. I wouldnt bother with the Scottish league either as that is also dire to watch bar some games. Removing a few teams from the SPL and its not far off LOI standard.

Again I would like to go and pick up a team to support in the near future but its not the safest place to go, and for the risk thats involved the quality just isnt there. Eradicate the hooliganism aspect of it, make it more respectful and the numbers attending will increase, families will go people like me will go etc but it would be foolish to say a LOI fixture is like going to ANY rugby match in terms of safety.

I also believe that the tickets are quite reasonably price which would be a HUGE selling point were either of my reasons above actually addressed by the LOI and the FAI

WinnyThePoo

Cienciano wrote: »

We slag off england fans and media because they keep going on about the 1966 world cup. Biggest sporting event in the world and they beat Germany in the final only 20 years after the war.
But for some reason it's ok for munster fans to go on about a completely meaningless match against the all blacks in the poxy 70's.

A province beat the best team in the world. It was extremely embarrassing for the all blacks.

Also there tend to be no friendlys in International rugby.

[Deleted User]

Cienciano wrote: »

We slag off england fans and media because they keep going on about the 1966 world cup. Biggest sporting event in the world and they beat Germany in the final only 20 years after the war.
But for some reason it's ok for munster fans to go on about a completely meaningless match against the all blacks in the poxy 70's.

And it wasn't even that heralded in the 80s and 90s. The new wave of rugby fan who signed up during the Celtic Tiger gave it an aura that it didn't previously have, a play, a book, ad campaigns using clips etc. etc.

check_six

Deleted User wrote: »

The hyperbole surrounding the rugby team before the 07 World Cup was pretty amusing. Fellows - who had been watching the sport, or more accurately Munster and Ireland games - for all of 2 or 3 years by then all pontificating that we were going to win it, following by the usual capitulation.

Looking back now it may seem like hyperbole, but the season leading into the 2007 had the Ireland team in great form. The '06 Autumn Internationals had gone really well, with a standout performance against Australia. Then the '07 Six Nations had Ireland playing some of the best rugby I've seen them play, with all our best players in top form. The France game went wrong in the last minute, with a bounce landing the ball in Clerc's hands 1v1 with John Hayes near the line. They nearly won the Championship anyway with the points chase on the last day and narrowly lost out.

So Ireland had their best players in great form and the team as a whole playing well, so imagining something could go their way in the World Cup was not out of the question. The fact they ended up playing so badly was disappointing, but I don't think fans daring to dream when it looked things were going well for a change was particularly embarrassing.

[Deleted User]

check_six wrote: »

So Ireland had their best players in great form and the team as a whole playing well, so imagining something could go their way in the World Cup was not out of the question. The fact they ended up playing so badly was disappointing, but I don't think fans daring to dream when it looked things were going well for a change was particularly embarrassing.

I remember telling fellows who had no idea of the history of the game that we hadn't even reached the semi finals of a tournament with a handful of teams in it. Scotland and Wales had a better record than us. I think most of them just didn't believe me.

newballsplease

The clip of Stephen Roche and David Walsh is embarrassing to whoever spoke in the audience or called in that night.
David Walsh was ridiculed that night for suggesting drugs were a part of Cycling

Pherekydes

ComfortKid wrote: »

I'd hate to be at a match if it was just boardsies at it. Not aloud sing, not aloud support our team if we're losing, not aloud do a mexican wave. Should we just sit there like vegetables?

To be fair, many of them are vegetables. :pac:

And come on, we'd sing as loudly as possible.

Paz-CCFC

jamesbondings wrote: »

as an aside, i wouldnt mind taking up the attending of matches in the near future, however the standard of football is so poor. on top of that i have a feeling that its not the type of atmosphere one could bring kids to. (i havent been to any matches in any other country) if its dangerous then im out.

the fai itself is embarrassing as is delany and the sooner he is out the better imo.....

It depends on your frame of reference. Is it as good as La Liga? No, because that's the best league in the world. Does that mean that it's poor? No. A six figure salary is a pittance compared to what someone like Mark Zuckerburg earns, but that doesn't mean that it's a poor salary. It's not as good as one of the richest men in the world, but it's still a good salary.

In Irish football, a tiny tiny percentage of footballers will make it into the "big" leagues. Maybe 50-100 will play in the likes of the English Premier League, higher English Football League or a league of equivalent quality. About 380,000 males play football in this country (17% participation in the 2.25M male population). So, about 0.013%-0.026% of Irish footballers make it "big" abroad. In the League of Ireland, there are 20 teams with senior squads of about 20-25 each (we'll say 22.5). So, that's about 450 senior players in this country. Most of them would be Irish - a quick sample of squads for this season puts it at about 90-95%. So, we'll say 415 of the players are Irish. Of the 380,000 playing in this country, a little over 400 have made it into national senior football. They represent the next 0.11% after the few that have made it abroad. They are in the 99.86th percentile when it comes to footballers. (Figures are rounded off and estimates from looking at club squad pages, but they give a feel for how high up on the ladder of Irish football the LoI is.)

They are among the best Irish footballers. Most are not good enough to earn even a modest wage. They are the best footballers in this country full stop. They are the highest quality that the vast majority in Ireland would have the opportunity to regularly watch in the flesh. And they do provide good entertainment and value for money. They're a great way for parents and children, siblings, uncles/aunts and nephews/nieces etc. to bond. Young kids particularly enjoy it, getting to see players in a stadium so close up, being in the family section with all the drums, seeing the club mascot, sensing the energy in the crowd etc. The vast majority of matches are safe. You rarely get trouble and even then most of that will not affect the general fanbase. Eg, recently there was a case involving a fight in some carpark...a mile from the stadium...at about 2 in the morning when the car park was closed to vehicles...when the teams weren't even playing a match. You and your children will be safe. And the above mentioned family sections provide good, language-free, smoking-free etc. areas for young children.

I'd really recommend you to take your kids out to a few games sometime. Not just one, but a string of a few, so you and your family can really get a feel for it. The European games are coming up soon. I see you're based in Dublin - there are three teams in action. UCD this Thursday, Shamrock Rovers tomorrow week and St Pat's Thursday week. Depending on how they do, there might be more matches the following fortnight and if they do well again, the fortnight after that. Dundalk will also be playing in the Champions League in a fortnight and Cork City will be playing in the Europa League this Thursday, if you'll be in either of these places.

Give it a try for a few weeks. Your kids will likely enjoy it in particular.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Cienciano

WinnyThePoo wrote: »

A province beat the best team in the world. It was extremely embarrassing for the all blacks.

Also there tend to be no friendlys in International rugby.

In a completely amateur sport? Its hardly Malahide United beating Barcelona. And it was a tour match, not far off a training game.
Considering what england did 12 years earlier was in the world cup final, in london, and it wasn't that long after the war, they have every right to go on about it. Us and the munster game, not so much.

brian_7070

captbarnacles wrote: »

I like Ireland's Call. The other one is ridiculous and offensive to some supporters and players.

I cant imagine too many other teams changing there national anthems just to avoid offending people. I am probably wrong and am going to get loads of example's of teams who did now. In my opinion if you are offended by a countries national anthem maybe you should not play for that country.

But aside from all the nationalism and political correctness BS it is such a terrible song surely some one could have come up with something better than that. It sounds like a song from one of those cheap albums of Irish songs you try to sell to Americans on the shopping channel

thesimpsons

who was the irish swimmer years ago in the Olympics who had to stop mid lane and adjust her goggles ? remember watching it but can't remember the story for the life of me.

Henlars67

jamesbondings wrote: »

I completely get your point, however i dont "support" anyone. I watch football from the UK and Spain mainly and it is far more entertaining than LOI. I wouldnt bother with the Scottish league either as that is also dire to watch bar some games. Removing a few teams from the SPL and its not far off LOI standard.

Again I would like to go and pick up a team to support in the near future but its not the safest place to go, and for the risk thats involved the quality just isnt there. Eradicate the hooliganism aspect of it, make it more respectful and the numbers attending will increase, families will go people like me will go etc but it would be foolish to say a LOI fixture is like going to ANY rugby match in terms of safety.

I also believe that the tickets are quite reasonably price which would be a HUGE selling point were either of my reasons above actually addressed by the LOI and the FAI

I've been going to LOI matches since the late 80s and I've only seen trouble twice. I've seen it more often at gaa matches.

The entertainment value is actually being at the match, not the quality of football on show.

I've been entertained watching under 14s in the local league, more than I've ever been by sitting on my sofa watching Sky Sports Super Sunday.

People need to stop looking at football as if it's a TV show.

frostyjacks

Cienciano wrote: »

In a completely amateur sport? Its hardly Malahide United beating Barcelona. And it was a tour match, not far off a training game.
Considering what england did 12 years earlier was in the world cup final, in london, and it wasn't that long after the war, they have every right to go on about it. Us and the munster game, not so much.

It was the only match NZ lost on that tour. They were virtually invincible.

England's WC win was a joke, it's been proven that the ball never crossed the line. And it's fair to say that given the losses Germany suffered during the war compared to England, it was an achievement for them just to reach the final.

jamesbondings

Henlars67 wrote: »

I've been going to LOI matches since the late 80s and I've only seen trouble twice. I've seen it more often at gaa matches.

The entertainment value is actually being at the match, not the quality of football on show.

I've been entertained watching under 14s in the local league, more than I've ever been by sitting on my sofa watching Sky Sports Super Sunday.

People need to stop looking at football as if it's a TV show.

Ive lived in the drumcondra area for 6 years, in that time there has been countless acts of violence by thugs and hooligans after LOI games. Im not disputing you in terms of you only seeing trouble twice, but there was always trouble in the area during LOI games....i was lucky enough to live right in between the two stadiums, the on at the top of withworth road and the other down by all hallows

LorMal

I found the whole hullabaloo about the England team being allowed to play rugby in Croke Park to be embarrassing. As if it was some sort of sacred holy temple.
And all the self praise about how we were so open minded and forward thinking and 'embracing a new dawn' and all that bollocks.

wp_rathead

brian_7070 wrote: »

I cant imagine too many other teams changing there national anthems just to avoid offending people. I am probably wrong and am going to get loads of example's of teams who did now. In my opinion if you are offended by a countries national anthem maybe you should not play for that country.

But aside from all the nationalism and political correctness BS it is such a terrible song surely some one could have come up with something better than that. It sounds like a song from one of those cheap albums of Irish songs you try to sell to Americans on the shopping channel

I'd sing "I'm a Little Teapot" as an anthem If it means we get to use players like Tommy Bowe, Stephen Ferris, David Humphries, Iain Henderson etc