Stephen Finn
@FutsalFinn
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Futsal advocate in Ireland. UEFA A Youth Elite licence holder. Blog:
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Joined July 2009
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Just returned from family holiday in Puglia & one of the highlights for my son was the nightly game of street football with the local kids. He has never really experienced this at home in Ireland & he loved it ⚽️🇮🇹 Wish we could create this opportunity for our children
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There are four Canadian players in the Champions League. If Ireland played Canada next week most people would expect us to win comfortably. The football world has changed & we’ve been playing catch up for years ⚽️
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All starting XI born on the island of Ireland 🇮🇪 When was the last time that happened? ⚽️
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Status update! Delighted to be joining
@LongfordTownFC
@LongfordClub
as U19s head coach ⚽️
Longford Town Football Club are delighted to introduce our new u19s Head coach Stephen Finn.
#welcometoLTFC
@LongfordTownFC
@ETUnderage
@FutsalFinn
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That Danny Murphy lad doesn't half talk tosh. Defenders shouldn't take pens? Denis Irwin anybody? Ray Stewart was the best peno taker in the 80s. Stuart Pearce was very good too (Except that one time!).... I'm sure BBC get full value for their colour commentator's expertise.
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Ah the great quest to say every other sport is bad but we’re just looking after the development of our game line 🤦🏼♂️ Is this a child centred approach? Sure, they’re 14 year old ‘elite’ players obviously ⚽️🏐
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I wanted us to get the result tonight for many reasons & no more so that Stephen Kenny represents optimistic football & our country has had way too long wallowing in pessimism about what Irish players can do. We are heading in the right direction & the critics need to let it be⚽️
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Yes it’s a mad time for international soccer but here’s some positive news for Ireland.
@uefa
stats show we’re the joint 2nd most accurate passing team in the Nations League (87% completed). It was 77% in Euro qualifiers, 74% last UEFA NL & 77% in 2018 World Cup qualifiers ⚽️🇮🇪
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If you don’t like Stephen Kenny you’ll be negative. That’s fine. There were glimmers of hope in the performance. We’re heading in the right direction but it’ll take time. The intention in our play is good & we will get better. Still sick to exit this way. The results will come
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Battered. Like 0-0 in Moscow 2011 when outshot 18-2; like 1-0 v Germany when we were outshot 12-2; like 1-0 in Austria 2016 when outshot 13-5 or 1-0 in Wales 2017 when outshot 16-4. If it’s a results business why does it matter if we’re battered? Man shouting at clouds… ⚽️
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Great news! There were a bunch of kids actually playing football on the lawn near our house. Trees for posts. Their own rules. The world hasn’t stopped spinning yet
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I’ve always said that many LoI games I attended live never looked the same on TV due to the backdrop as much as anything. Put good LoI players in a top stadium & the quality of their ability is illustrated properly. More LoI teams at Aviva I say! ⚽️ Well done to Keith Long & co
🪄 All the goals from a magical evening at the Aviva Stadium as a first-half goal from Rob Cornwall and a second-half brace from Georgie Kelly gave Bohs a 3-0 win against Dudelange on the night, and a 4-0 on aggregate to progress in the Europa Conference League qualifiers.
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Listen to the last 30 seconds of this….
'We've always believed in what Stephen's trying to do'
Matt Doherty reflects on the Republic of Ireland's 1-1 draw with Serbia in Dublin
#RTESoccer
#WorldCup2022
#IRLSRB
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I love seeing Daryl Horgan on the pitch with Ireland. He makes things happen. Works his ass off but then tries to create chances. He’ll never be an Ireland legend maybe but right now he’s a real asset ⚽️🇮🇪
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Seeing this tweet made me remember that I thought I’d stopped following this account a long time ago. Tweets like this encourage people to pile on footballers like they were cartoon characters not actually human beings. Go ahead & call for someone to be unemployed
#bantermyarse
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If a player is good enough to play U17s for their country, how likely are they to go on & play senior level? Not that likely it seems. Just 15% in my study of U17 caps 2008-2013 went on to win a senior cap. Nearly 14% were never capped at any level again
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@HoltChris
@Spudy8
Pat Byrne played for Ireland against Iceland in an early Charlton international. Jack says to him at halftime ‘Mick! I’ve been shouting at you the whole half & you’re ignoring me!’. ‘Sorry Jack my name’s Pat!’ ‘Oh you’re right! So it is!’
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Some people tried to take the piss when Brendan O’Carroll sponsored a heart screening initiative for LoI underage players last year. Having witnessed a child die on the pitch two years ago I can’t say how important this initiative is & really respect the thoughts behind it
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Got my results from my BA Humanities (Psychology Major)
@DCU_Connected
today. After six years work it’s very nice to see this message! Happy enough with the result 💪🏻
#humblebrag
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If you can get to the Aviva on Saturday or Tuesday then do it & give this young Irish squad serious support. These lads deserve it & it’ll be the first time Stephen Kenny’s side will have played before a home crowd which sums up how odd the past 12 months have been 🇮🇪⚽️
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Savannah McCarthy is one of the greatest Irish sports women. She’s a warrior & it’s fantastic to see her represent Ireland with distinction. She’s an inspiration to the traveller community too. She deserves all the accolades in my opinion ⚽️🇮🇪
'It's really busy, but I love it'
Ireland defender Savannah McCarthy's weekly schedule is pretty jam-packed
#rtesoccer
#LateLateShow
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Analysis: Ireland’s new approach will take time to perfect but it’ll be worth it
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In Germany they’re looking to improve what they do for the youngest players They’ve met resistance of course. In our country we seem to prefer changing nothing but moaning about the need to make it better at the same time 🤷♂️
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Ireland U19s have played nine competitive games this season. 7 wins, 1 draw & just 1 defeat. Given how many players Tom Mohan & his staff have had to utilise, it speaks volumes for his their work & also how those who want to be negative about our game aren’t worth listening to l
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Absolutely delighted to see so many LoI clubs taking their marketing into their own hands. Lots of top promo videos going around. Control your own destiny. Wait for nobody to do it for you. Clubs are speaking directly to their own fans & nobody will do that job better for them
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Has to go down as one of the best results any Irish U21 side has achieved. Well done to Jim Crawford, staff & players. So many other players could have been there but these guys delivered. I look forward to some credit being shown from the Usual Suspects but won’t hold my breath
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Well done to Tom Mohan’s Ireland U19s on 3-1 win over Azerbaijan today. How lucky we are to have him coaching our young guns. If Russia are held by Romania this afternoon then we’ll be in the finals with a game to spare
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I’d (much) rather see
@padraigamond21
called up for the Ireland squad than anybody looking to play for us as some kind of career move
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Back in 2015 I was coaching the Leinster FA squad. John McShane recommended a kid called Liam Scales from
@ArklowTownFC1
& when we played the Hessen FA in Germany I told the whole group that I believed he’d play for Ireland one day. So happy he’s stepped even closer today ⚽️🇮🇪
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All the evidence shows that we’ve been sending our kids abroad far more than anyone else does. Our clubs don’t get their due compensation & the players are less likely to have long careers. We need to make our home game better for our young players. Players & clubs will benefit
The historic role played by English clubs in signing young Irish players is well known but surprised to see it made the Republic of Ireland the football country with the most U18 transfers in the entire world. Brexit has utterly changed this. Irish football has to adapt quickly
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The same people slagging off the Uruguayan player for crying with five minutes left will throw out the insincere words of ‘support’ for the next sports person to crack under mental health stress. The fella was emotional. Shit happens
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Delighted for Jim Crawford & the Ireland U21s on their late win over Sweden tonight! Ollie O’Neill is a little gem ⚽️🇮🇪
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That penalty award is yet another reminder of how football has been destroyed by decision makers who don’t believe any contact can occur without penalisation. It’s a competitive sport not interpretive dance. Dumfries booked for it too! End this nonsense ⚽️🤦♂️
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I look forward to reading about FAI ‘bored’ members briefing the Usual Suspects in tomorrow’s papers…. Give it a rest. Our players are working hard & it’ll take time until they’re world beaters. Changing coach is irrelevant. We need to improve our long term player development 🇮🇪
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Apparently Huddersfield earned €117m in TV money last year. In Ireland we have no TV deal for our domestic league. That’s our biggest issue. In Ireland TV money is spent on rights to the GAA mainly & fair play to GAA for that but with no TV deal Irish football can’t progress.
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Five U19s currently on the pitch for the Ireland U21s against China. Only two players not raised here started. There are things to be positive about in Irish football. Hopefully tournament continues to go well & seniors do well in their games so we head into summer in good mood
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After six years as a part-time student BA Humanities (Psychology Major)
@DCU_Connected
I had my last exam today. Just one presentation left then I can start enjoying these books!
#eternalstudent
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Interesting to note that both Ireland U17s & U19s named starting XIs for UEFA qualifiers today which were all born/raised in the country
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Ever wondered what age most players who reach the top of international football start with an academy, how far those academies were from their homes & at what age they first leave their home country to join a foreign club? Wonder no more: ⚽️
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If Lee Carsley is out, the FAI should ’feel the fear & do it anyway’ by appointing a coach who fits the job description rather than try to appease the pundits by bringing in a well known name who doesn’t fit the description. The limitations of our player pool means it no easy job
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Will Smallbone is class. The kind of creative player we need to progress on international stage imo 🇮🇪⚽️
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There are a few LoI heads who would be quick to slag off Shane Keegan but his interview on
@offtheball
tonight was more honest than 99% of what we usually get in football. He’s a young coach & has plenty to offer the game so hopefully he gets back in with a club soon ⚽️
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Facts not Opinion: How Ireland compares at U17 level to Europe’s best
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As a schoolboy I used to drag my grandad to Ireland games at the old Lansdowne. Now I’m with me Da
@AVIVAStadium
! Come on Ireland 🇮🇪💪🏻
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Working from home without children versus with small children particularly is like the difference between golf & hurling. Some actions are similar but the level of threat & chaos makes them worlds apart
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As I was saying! Don’t give me any crap about the standard not being that high, Champions League blah blah - international tournaments are what makes football the beautiful game. Beautiful drama, beautiful play, beautiful errors! What else excites so many at the same time?⚽️
So there were some people on here today about dead rubbers or something… I love international football tournaments. Club football is grand but give me nation against nation any day. Love it ⚽️
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Chris Hughton is one of the best people I’ve met in football. Absolute gentleman who retains his integrity no matter the situation. Not many people deserve to work with a man like that. Next challenge awaits. I hope he finally gets an employer who can match his values
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Cracking game that. Never deserved to lose it but you have to take your chances in international football & quite simply we don’t do that often enough. Disappointing result ⚽️🇮🇪
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Sweden play Moldova tonight & then play Kosovo on Monday in two non-FIFA date international friendlies. Their squad is mostly home-based but not completely. Further proof that Ireland could find plenty of teams to face if we wanted to organise this at some point in the future
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The days of clubs nicking footballs off each other are numbered 😅⚽️
Can I kick it ? Yes you can .... ⚽️
The New LOI Umbro Neo ball available NOW at
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Very pleased for Williams. Good lad who has had a very good career & this will mean the world to him. With Stevens also on it shows how the LoI has to be our player development priority regardless of what we did in the past. Late developers are generally our best players
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I feel like I’ve just sat through ten minutes straight of adds for betting companies 🤮 Should be banned before the watershed imo. Kids watching football with their parents should be protected from this 💩
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I took a deep dive into analyzing one of Irish sport’s most interesting coaches & how Jim McGuinness’s first role as a head coach in soccer actually went. There’ll be plenty of lessons learned
Jim McGuinness: An analysis of his first head coach’s role in soccer
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Congrats to Jim Crawford & staff & players on securing a playoff at least in
@UEFAUnder21
for the first time ever! If they win against Italy next week they win the group! ⚽️🇮🇪
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We in Ireland may not be overjoyed with England teaching the Euros final but if you’ve seen their underage national teams in past decade get better every year you can see the benefit of having a vision for their game. This is 100% what we need to do here rather than half attempt
🏴 2014 🏴. The FA unveiled its England DNA philosophy at St. George’s Park with the ultimate aim of creating winning England teams.
England Under-21s head coach at the time was central to it Gareth Southgate.
@sturge_p
. The change is palpable 👏
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@evanfanning
Some of the misses from his team mates were even worse than what we’ve seen in the last two international windows 🤦🏼♂️⚽️😳
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If the scores we’ve seen in the EPL today were repeated in the FAI underage leagues some people would be using it as proof that it should be scrapped 🤦🏼♂️⚽️
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@MalachyClerkin
Unforgivable? I’m not even sure Ireland would have been awarded a penalty in the exact same situation had it occurred at the opposite end of the pitch
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Junior GAA comeback aged 45. Alongside No.1 son & my brother. Supported by No.2 son & family! Just the five years since last donned the St Marys Saggart shirt
#clubforlife
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RIP Maurice Price. One of the best coaches this country ever produced but didn’t have profile he deserved. Worked with Jack Charlton at two World Cups, coached Ireland at UEFA U18 Finals 1996, massive influence on Coach Ed here & coached Roy Keane at FAI FAS Academy in Leixlip ⚽️
The FAI is saddened to learn of the passing of Maurice Price
A dedicated football man who worked with international teams and had a huge impact with Lourdes Celtic
May he Rest in Peace 🙏🏻
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I never retired from GAA but the
@StMarysSaggart
Junior B team had been on hiatus for a few years so I’d no team to play on. Tonight I scored my first goal in probably a decade 😂🏐 Good things come to those who persevere! Never give up kids!
#keepingthedreamalive
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My optimistic approach to the future continues. Ireland U17s v Mexico ⚽️🇮🇪
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Junior B comeback last night with my brother
@builder_pete
, my son & my godson 🏐 Great to be back out in
@StMarysSaggart
colours after five year hiatus!
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Jim McGuinness: An analysis of his first head coach’s role in soccer
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RIP Pele. One of the reasons why I fell in love with the game. I used to take his autobiography out of the library so many times! It was the first ‘big’ book I ever read. Total inspiration & very nice to ordinary people considering he must have been plagued for attention ⚽️🇧🇷💔
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So sad to hear about Michael Hayes passing away earlier today. Most people in LoI circles will have dealt with him at some point. Always had disagreements with him but we never took it to heart & always gave it socks again the next time we chatted. Loved football. RIP Mick ⚽️
Really sorry to hear of the death of Michael Hayes of
@FAIreland
- Spent ages on the phone arguing with him this week, as I did nearly every week - Always a mixture of football and politics. I will miss him...
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So there were some people on here today about dead rubbers or something… I love international football tournaments. Club football is grand but give me nation against nation any day. Love it ⚽️
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While I know it suits some to only see Irish football negatively, it’s probably escaped the notice of many that the U21 squad announced today has only two ‘declarees’ in it. That’s seldom happened in the past 30 years
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Those who abuse anybody racially are minus humans in my eyes. Adam Idah is a young man trying to make a career for himself & is going through a dip in form. His class as a player will come through eventually. The cretins who behave like this have no higher level to offer society
The 20-year-old Corkman shared a screenshot of racist messages aimed at him on Instagram after Norwich's loss to Crystal Palace.
#RTEsoccer
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Forza Italia 🇮🇹 Bravo Jorginho! That lad was farmed to an Italian club as a teen by an ‘advisor’ who left him to live off €20 a week. When he went through those dark days could he have imagined a night like this?
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21 years ago today this young man was born. What a great young man
@rianfitzsimons
has grown up to be
#ProudDad
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Finally a positive result. It’s all about taking your chances. Robinson did that. Delighted for Ogbene. Hopefully it’s the start of a spell of positive vibes. Enough of the negativity. ⚽️🇮🇪
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We’ve had this rubbish in Ireland since I was a kid myself (e.g. a long time ago!). People wanting praise for ‘developing’ players when they’re dumping such young players & basically nabbing ‘better’ ones from other clubs. Sickens me
It can make you frustrated when you hear of grassroots clubs trialling and selecting u8s, but to hear they are 'releasing' kids that have played all season and swapping them for 'better' ones. EIGHT year olds. GR clubs. Charter Standard. Seriously. The world has gone insane.
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I wonder if those people who don’t like rugby (or don’t like people who like rugby) enjoying Ireland losing today feel more Irish because they like a different sport. I want Ireland to win whatever sport they play even if I don’t want to watch that sport. Sports snobbery bores me
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Great play from the Ireland U15s again today. Please don't give me that rubbish that Irish teams can't pass and move. If the coaching is there and the players are willing then of course we can knock it about at any level.
Half Time: Poland 2-2
#IRLU15
’s
Pressing all over the pitch, huge effort. Two defensive slips / but two excellent goals - Michael Leddy converting both chances.
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The pessimists will be pleased but there was a lot good there again. Dumb error cost us their goal but their GK was the busier. We’ve a lot of hard working players but the search for goals continues. It’s getting closer. ⚽️🇮🇪
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Delighted for
@LongfordTownFC
to get a big win tonight. Three of our u19s on the bench & brilliant for local lad Emmanuel James to make his League debut ⚽️🟥⬛️
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Less than 10% of players at
@EURO2020
joined foreign clubs before the age of 17. Staying at home longer matters. Last reminder of my trawl through the 624 players at the tournament & their development stories
#soccer
#football
⚽️
ANALYSIS: What did Euro 2020 tell us about player development? Read my latest blog & what we can learn from the finalists
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This is truly horrific. Ireland 2019. Young people targeted by hate. Remember who is stirring up this hate when you are at the ballot box next month. What a world we live in. I wish all the boys a full recovery but what happened to Tega sounds truly dreadful
THREE teenage boys were assaulted in what Gardai believe was an acid attack. The deadly poison was thrown over the three teenagers -
Irish soccer u17 international Tega Agberhiere is still in hospital as doctors fight to save his sight.
@wlrfm
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Brilliant to see Nathan Collins has made his debut for Stoke City tonight. Same night somebody reckons no young Irish lads are coming through
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Interesting to see Brandon Finn Benoa of
@GetafeCF
follow his brother John Patrick into the Ireland colours. Look forward to seeing how they progress over the years 🇮🇪⚽️
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Read a weird piece on our U21s today. Ignored a win over Bosnia away but focused on unlucky draw in Lux without mentioning they were without Bazunu, Omombamidele, Knight, Idah, Connolly & Parrott. Plus injured Ebosele, Smallbone, McGuinness & Collins; plus absent Obafemi
#agenda
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Great points in this from
@colnoc77
. So many kids have their love of sport destroyed at a sadly young age. Play for the love of the game! Sports should take ‘as many as possible for as long as possible’ approach in my view ⚽️🏉🏀🏈🎾🏐🏓🏸🏑
When does sport stop being about activity and just about competition?
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FT Ireland 2-1 Mexico. Very good U17s international. Mexico very good first half. Ireland excellent second. Local lads Umeh & O’Mahony with the goals
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People saying ‘ah Slovakia were poor so relax with the positivity’ must have been on holidays when we played Gibraltar & Georgia. The positive vibes are due to how we’re trying to play. We’ve needed to be better up front since Robbie Keane retired & that’ll take a while to solve
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Winning ranked 40th out of 81 in terms of importance to young players & enjoyment of their sport. Also being allowed sample other sports or play different positions. Please pass on to the next adult who gets excited about winning a U8 game or wants the kids to get more focused
A new study dispels the popular myth that what makes sports the most fun for girls are the social aspects, like friendships, while for boys the fun factor has to do with competition.
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Just been sent this stat about Andrew Omobamidele. The 18-year-old is yet to lose a challenge or even concede a foul in his three first-team starts and has won over 80% of his aerial duels. Thanks to
@FrankDevine54
for informing me about that amazing stat!
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We need 25 of these around the country imo
John O’Shea was the special guest at the launch of the Football and Fitness TY Course 21/22.
This is the 6th year of the course, which is run by Fingal County Council and the
@FAIreland
#Football
#Fitness
#Education
#TransitionYear
Read the full story:
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For those interested I once visited an AC Milan Summer Camp while on holidays to chat to some of the coaches. I probably should have put that on my CV it seems...
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The LOI season starts this week. Are the next Seamus Coleman or Chiedozie Ogbene ready to emerge? I looked at the data for clues: 🇮🇪⚽️
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Absolutely brilliant result. So happy for Tom Mohan, his players & staff. To progress to the semifinals with so many absentees is a testament to the character & talent. Brilliant
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If you are truly interested in player development as opposed to just winning youth competitions then this book is really worth seeking out ⚽️🏐🎾🏉🏀
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What a load of crap. Virgin just ignore ending the week with a top home win & unlucky not to get 3 points tonight so the first thing to look at is not getting results in the first two games last week! The inability to pay Kenny, his staff & players any credit is pathetic
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@caffo10
Totally agree Alan. More than disappointed to see this. The sooner gambling companies are banned from sponsoring sport the better
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The world is full of fools. Racism is utterly disgusting
FAI condemns online abuse of Ireland underage players
Full statement ➡️
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We can’t just look at what Belgium did say ‘let’s do that’ but when
@KrisVDHaegen
came to Ireland in both 2020 & 2019 to explain how they changed their game, how many Irish football people actually made the effort to listen to him? We need a complete revamp of our game 1/2
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