Shamrock Rovers v Liverpool friendly debate | Soccer Republic

What impact do huge attendances at friendly matches between big English teams and League of Ireland clubs have on Irish soccer? What about the fans who attend these games but have no interested in the domestic game in Ireland?
Watch Dermot Keely, Richard Sadlier and Stuart Byrne give their view on whether these games are good for the Irish game.
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[@coolcathal6]

How do you expect good facilities over here when you have an average attendance of around 1000 people, maybe less? Facilities are just a bullshit excuse to not going to a local club because you have been told that the standard is not good when you probably never even gave it a chance.

[@raymonddixon5162]

Irish people support English teams that are easy to follow. They support Liverpool, Man U or Chelski. They don't follow Southampton, Halifax or West Brom. English people support there local team regardless.Thats why the english league is strong. I hate when Irish teams play friendlies against these teams, its only a day out for the ACCs > Armchairs Cross Chanellers

[@nathansmyth2602]

People won’t walk a down the road to watch their local league of Ireland team but they’ll cross the whole country and watch Liverpool reserves

[@gorgesmiff]

Would you make a conscious effort to go and watch some kids having a kick about on a playing field, basically same thing

[@jakesullivan8339]

Why wud I watch a shit LOI game with players know one has heard of over games in England

[@nasiunainaheireann4122]

@@jakesullivan8339 then you're a glory hunter fan

[@finalfrontier001]

​@@nasiunainaheireann4122who cares better than being Irish team supporter.

[@KingSnooker]

The difference between football supporters supporting a team in Ireland compared to supporting other teams is, that usually the team you support in Ireland is your team, from your city/town ie your team. But the supporter who supports a team from the likes of the UK is only their team because they chose that team, and they usually choose that team because that team at the time was the successful team. And the other scenario for supporting that team is because their dad's supported a team that was successful when he was young. That's why most supporters support either Liverpool or Manchester Utd. It's laughable when they say it's 'their' team. You don't find too many supporters supporting the likes of Doncaster or Southport, do you?

[@matthewdooley9046]

Hey I support Utd because my dad did and he started supporting them in the 80s when we were kinda crap.

[@prodigiii712]

The English clubs and the premier league promote themselves as a global league where less than 30 percent of the players are actually English.

[@graemefarrell4983]

Wrong my dad suoports chelsea since the 60s when they won fuck all im a liverpool fan since 91 and we barely won anything.. Im a pats fan too and were almost allergic to trophies.. I live in edinburgh and am a hibs fan too and its the same story.. Theres clubs you get a feeling for and you become a fan.. My dads a bohs fan and loves dalyer.. I know dalyer needs to be redone but itll bring a tear to me eye when its torn down..

[@cringycook9597]

I was born in Merton, Wimbledon but never lived there and moved to Ireland a few years later but I always supported Wimbledon and I've no regrets about being a fan of the Crazy gang 💙💛

[@BringBackOle]

@@prodigiii712 Doesn’t matter these are Global clubs they are No longer English clubs.

[@nathansmyth2602]

On dermots side

[@javiersacristan9686]

I think the problem of Irish football is simple: an enormous lack of money. FAI has to invest harder in the LOI, promoting it and helping clubs improving their facilities. If they made a solid promoting campaign and get like 3,000 to 5,000 crowds (not like now when we get 1,500 to 2,500), clubs would earn more money to profesionalize their squads. In addition, if the FAI supported the improvement of stadiums, more people would feel attracted for the League (it's not the same a game at the old Dalymount than a game at Tallaght). When those improvements were made, attendances would start rising, and clubs would be able to produce better players hiring better coaches for their academies and attracting foreign players. Sadly, it's a matter only the FAI can solve. Fans can do little. If they keep thinking the best thing they can do for the League is arranging a couple of friendlies against english teams, it's hard to think of a bright future for football in Ireland.

[@soularsurfer7391]

If we united the clubs into for example 2 teams per province we could get 10s of thousands instead of a few thousand attendances

[@izdatsumcp]

Did the FA invest in the Premier League? The clubs need to stand on their own two feet.

[@cabaiste]

Like many things in Ireland we imitate england too much, nothing against england, I just feel we should look into how scandinavian countries do things and copy their models, their leagues are reasonably successful and they have similar size countries.

[@cabaiste]

Michael Hokgri I played in division four and five in Finland about 10 years ago so I saw how their league system was doing, one good thing to note is the buzz created by high profile players finishing their careers in their home countries, when I was playing, Jari Litmanen was playing in the first division, games were selling out because of him so maybe if the current trend of players like mcphail and keith Fahy and maybe Duff in a year or two continue finishing off at home the crowds etc will improve.

[@soularsurfer7391]

Right on! Well said! And it would have a knock on effect in the national team too. Denmark have their own league and their national team won the European Championship

[@soularsurfer7391]

Michael Hokgri Well said! But I think we should have a 2 team per province league - similar to rugby

[@Neymarjr-dc8ln]

John Lennon the gaa consists of gaelic football and hurling they all play under the 1 association

[@MrJinkxy]

Richie is the only one being realistic.

[@johnquigley5214]

No he isn't, he's a squeaky twat. Why he's allowed on a show that covers the league of ireland is beyond me.

[@Omar_Little]

John Quigley He's the only one of them with a brain.

[@issmaise]

you're the problem

[@MrJinkxy]

Besiktas1903cArsi We don't really need people like Dermot Keely in Irish football. If I was a casual fan and seen the way he thought of me for not supporting an Irish team it would make me feel extremely uncomfortable with the idea of supporting a League of Ireland club if that is how the rest of the support base would view me. He is pushing away potential new supporters with his arrogance and self-righteousness.

[@seanstokes7635]

Besiktas1903cArsi you can say what about who the real fans are but people like you and dermot Keely shunting outsiders away from the league are more of a problem. I support my loi club and have done for my whole life, but maybe if we concentrated on trying to get the fai to invest and market their league and maybe stop the hooliganism that’s starting to really creep in and improving the facilities people will start coming to the league,

[@WBFC1995]

It happens here in Australia except football here is growing as every year goes by, crowd averages have hit 15,000 or so for the local competition which is only 10 years old, dunno if you can say the same for Ireland. However we do have these friendly problems where fans go to watch the big European teams but don't support their clubs.

[@NottMacRuairi]

The thing is if Liverpool, Man Utd, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich played a friendly against a local team in almost any small country or league in Europe they'd probably have far more supporters than the local team. Most soccer fans in small countries and leagues follow one of the big clubs from around Europe, so of course the total number of local fans of big foreign clubs is always going to far outnumber the total number of fans that follow the local clubs. Even if the LoI was as well supported as the EPL by Irish fans, Liverpool and Man Utd would still have far more total Irish supporters because the vast majority follow/support only those two English teams, whereas the fans of local teams would be divided up amongst 20 or more teams. So the problem is not that 42,000 fans turned up to support Liverpool it's that only 5,000 turned up to support Shamrock Rovers. Its people like Dermot Keely that are the real problem for Irish soccer because they see something they cannot stop or control as being the reason for poor support for LoI teams, when in reality it's the deficits of the league itself that are causing poor support. Just because most Irish soccer fans support an English team does not mean the LoI cannot be well supported as well. The LoI and the Irish FA need to concentrate on actually improving standards of soccer and facilities if they want to improve attendances and interest in Irish soccer.

[@soularsurfer7391]

I think we could have a great Irish league and national team. But Big changes need to be made. 1) We need to lose the 'little country syndrome' and grow up and do things for ourselves - instead of automatically sending kids to England. 2) We need to do something similar to Irish Rugby, We need to unite the Football teams into for example 2 teams per province. 3) We need a provincial team league because the current teams are from with respect towns with too little population etc. Eg. Drogheda vs Bray compared to leinster vs munster. 4) Then you'd have huge attendances and huge money to build centres of excellences and wages to keep players in Ireland. 5) The national team would then benefit big time also.

[@IsCumaFut2]

Soular Surfer irish rugby is leading an example compared to the league of ireland.

[@aidanmoran12]

Soular Surfer I'm sorry but those provincial points are absolutely ridiculous how can you have teams with 100+ years of history like Bohemians, Rovers, Pats and Shels for e.g. and just lump them together into one big mess, after all the individual history, rivalries and derbies between them. it would be as stupid as asking Man United and Liverpool or the two Milans to combine, people want numbers at the games but never ever like that

[@johnjoe6291]

How the fuck can we have a great league with just two teams in each province? Would we have two divisions of 4 teams. You are talking absolute fucking bollox.

[@izdatsumcp]

John Joe No, put all 8 teams in the same league.

[@izdatsumcp]

Or what could be done is give each province one team. Then Wales can do the same (Pro14 has 4 Welsh teams). The two nations can join together to form a league of 8, with each team playing each other 4 times. This means 28 games per season, which is a fair amount. Maybe some time in the future, teams from other nations can join if the league is successful e.g. Australian teams.

[@christophermyles]

It's a professional league now Richie. Can we have that conversation now?

[@RandyortonRko239]

I support saint pats and arsenal and I went to this game as one of my favourite young footballers is Jordan Ibe and I went with with two of my friends who were Liverpool fans and I didn't feel conned I was delighted to see ibe and other notably Ronán Finn on both sides play well and I went cause I love football the colours don't matter to me

[@damienocallaghan7914]

Watch the first THREE Minutes again Did you notice anything strange???? 42,000 at it and 37,000 were IRISH wearing LIVERPOOL shirts.........

[@NC-ck5oj]

it would be the same in most countries in the world

[@nasiunainaheireann4122]

@@NC-ck5oj no it wouldnt, most other countries support they're top league and would come out in their thousands to support their local club if it were playing a giant like Liverpool, irish people are just bandwagon supporters that wont even give our top league a chance.

[@whoneedsposers]

If LOI fans dropped the chip on their shoulders and welcomed everybody to the games then more might be enticed to go. Less of the 'Irish people should follow Irish clubs and not the English'. You sound like bigots. Sadlier speaks the most sense. People can do what they like. Serve up a good dish and people will order it. A Waterford United Fan.

[@David-fv7vt]

P D come on the blues

[@gibboanx1]

The moment when Richie became a star and a future permanent resident on the main panel.

[@jeffd3473]

Most people are brought up to support english teams and not irish teams from childhood. No matter what money facilities you throw at it its not gonna change. If a team got to the champions league group stage it would change it thats it.

[@DavidMurphyLanzarote]

Dermot and his wife were in my bar tonight for Dinner, that's why I'm here

[@dazzer273]

What’s wrong with supporting Derry or Clifftonville ect

[@evanrules3635]

We don't live up north

[@natedoghd7026]

Easy to blame the fans but when the league gets absolutey zero promotion or financial support from the FAI you cant expect people to go to these games, when they probably dont even know the league exists or aren't shown any reasons to care about it's existence.

[@seosamhofionnaghain8699]

It's up to the club's to market their own teams not making excuses about the fai . Rangers or Celtic don't look to the Scottish fa to market them they do that themselves.

[@jayt1n]

Im a Finn harps fan but i went to see liverpool 2day!

[@fraz6354]

Stuart Byrne seems a bit clueless when he's talking about how LOI players should be profiled like the Leinster Rugby players. Irish rugby is very strong, and the players are world class, known superstars. You can't compare that to LOI footballers who are nowhere near world class, if you tried profiling them it would be a bit of a joke. The LOI isn't great, but to be fair you've got the GAA and top class Rugby teams, and for a country of your population, I'd say that's pretty impressive.

[@pierzing.glint1sh76]

This is hilarious!

[@johnw848]

It wasn't until I was 15 years old (6 years ago) that I knew there was a "League of Ireland". I always thought the standard of football in this country was at community/pub level, where you progress to the next team as you get older, in which you had the freedom to quit and join a team as you please and the senior teams were managed by a few of the local fat lads and played by those with dodgy knees who just played to get a run around because they have the time to do so, not an "amateur/semi-professional" league ran by the FAI. What Keely says is kind of true about the lack of support with the Irish teams, but can you blame them? I think it is idiotic to call them "morons" (what Irish man says "moron" anyway?), because they simply have no choice. The LoI here is on par with the "pub level" in England. It is absolute tripe. I feel it is all down to the corrupted and delusional FAI not developing/promoting/advertising the League, and thats probably why I've only known about it from a late age. As long as this countries obsession with English football doesn't affect the GAA and the All Ireland Championships, which is rightfully supported by me and the majority of the country, then nobody cares about the LoI. Simple as that. The LoI seems to be a "Dublin thing" anyway.

[@robertb-zh7vb]

Were you in a coma or just locked in a cellar for the first 15 years of your life before you were let out to sit on the barstool to support 'your' English PLC?

[@johnw848]

robertb2183 Who said I supported English football? I simply just stated that the standard and promotion was so bad, that fans simply have no choice other than support British clubs etc. And what's wrong with that? It's their choice, not yours, so fuck up about it. Maybe if the FAI promoted the league I might have known about it at an earlier age. The GAA and the IRFU don't seem to have this problem. All teams in each respective sport are well supported, whether it is the Allianz Hurling League, All Ireland, Provincial Championships, RaboPro or the Heinekein Cup etc. So, the problem must lie with the FAI. Maybe if you read the comment like any other intelligent person would do instead of jumping to conclusions.

[@raymondbutler834]

@@johnw848 Totally Agreed! SSE Airtricity is at best Toliet Bowl standard football to the point I wouldn't attend one of their garbage games even if I was paid €50. The Uninspiring, Underwhelming and Unappealing League of Ireland is ranked approximately 42nd of all the domestic leagues in Europe behind countries of smaller populations like Cyprus, Belarus, Slovakia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg etc. Interestingly two of my colleagues whom I worked with, one said he'd prefer to watch paint dry and the other said he'd prefer to go to the Dentist than attend a Drogheda United game, and this coming from a Drogheda Native.

[@ajohara8664]

@@raymondbutler834 the toilet bowl standard of the league of ireland is bohs beating paok? Dundalk drawing away to vitesse? What about pats winning away to Cska sofia, sligo battering motherwell, or dundalk in the group stage just 2 years ago, and rovers in the group stages this year, in fact getting there with eas in a 5-2 victory, hardly toilet bowl quality ye twat.

[@seanyok]

I agree with Richie , Dermot Keely was moaning about Liverpool fans paying to see liverpool reserves , who beat S. Rovers team 4-0. but it was ok for shamrock rovers pay the same money to see how far behind they are !!!? the Liverpool team were all their top Youth players ! so it shows the standard that a Liverpool Youth team can beat S. rovers easily , maybe that's the reason Irish don't pay to watch the crap on offer!

[@theresawaters5571]

To the debate of shamrock rovers v Liverpool I lay at the door of Rte for not showing the league of Ireland premiere decision matches every week like the English. Stations do and I do go to the league. Of Ireland. Games

[@MINISTRYOFTRANCE]

It's fine to support or have a favourite team in the premier league but our own league shouldn't be completely neglected, because at the end of the day our national team suffers from lack of youth coming through the ranks , that's why we aren't a top national team with no world class players coming through because our league is frowned upon and selling our players for peanuts.

[@prodigiii712]

If players from your national team play in your league, then your national team will suffer.

[@adamfinnegan735]

@@prodigiii712 but that's what he's saying, the league needs more publicity to improve and therefore keep players playing for Irish clubs so they don't move abroad

[@prodigiii712]

@@adamfinnegan735 Ireland has a population of 3 million people and has to share with other sports such as Rugby, Hurling and Gaelic Football. You can't have a strong league in Ireland. The best thing would be to have one league for the entire island and be good enough to send very young players, to England, Germany and Spain.

[@Elias_rais]

The one who spoke the least had the soundest idea, kinda funny that.

[@matthewb86]

There is something weird about an Irish team playing an English team in Ireland and the vast majority of the Irish fans at the game support the English team

[@Sliimbo96]

The style of football is the main reason the LOI has flopped, a complete overhaul and change of mindset in how the irish play football is needed. Without this you'll keep seeing the boring televised LOI games which will further put people off it

[@Norlandsson2]

sad story , in Scandinavia is same...ppl care about PL more as about their own leagues and teams, ... sad , realy sad

[@piercetravers7677]

People should go see their local team even if they support a big club. It strengthens the Irish game and they support their local economy.

[@Eoin-gg9tz]

It’s boring as shit

[@piercetravers7677]

Eoin 1124 not really it’s a local league with entertaining games at a cheap price and improves ur area.

[@nasiunainaheireann4122]

@@Eoin-gg9tz stop talking nonsense, going to watch your local club beats sitting in a bar or on a couch watching a british club any day.

[@cianlynch6494]

I haven't a clue people can pick a team and call themselves true supporters.

[@ce2441]

I feel so sorry for Richie in this room, the only one with any sense

[@grahamkavanagh1245]

Don't agree with Richie at all they all use stupid excuses the fans in this country standard of play but yet the Irish team has been crap for a number of years and they turn out in their thousands to watch that standard. They always turn up for Ireland games and not their local team it beggars belief support your local and not television.

[@ce2441]

@@grahamkavanagh1245 people have a right to watch what they want

[@grahamkavanagh1245]

@@ce2441 of course I'm a United fan but Bohemians fc are my team I'm from Dublin It's just my point of view why people don't follow their own for me isn't right. Watching a team on the tele to me isn't football what sort of experience is that not really getting the football experience.

[@jakesullivan8339]

Richie is the only one talking sense

[@jackoneill7610]

Sadlier is 100% spot-on.

[@michaelcaulfield6638]

they interview about 5-7 liverpool fans and presume all 40,000 dont support a LOI team? ive supported liverpool all my life and NEVER miss a game and ive supported Galway United ever since their return to LOI football in 2013 buying two season tickets (last yr. and this yr.) and watch em with me brother every friday at home. you cant rush to conclusions... or mabye ders no passion in dublin anymore?

[@johnbkeane85]

What is the beard on about. I went to support Liverpool and knew it would be the reserves but I was happy with that as it gave me the opportunity to see them in the flesh. I was hoping the title would be there but that wasn't too be.

[@Marlondurran]

Have to agree with the Richie lad!!?

[@evanrules3635]

Richie was the only person talking any common sense the fan's are entitled to Support liverpool or whoever they support loi fan's are deluded af look it's a poor league stop making excuses for it .if the fai actually invested and didn't put money it John Delaneys wallet dermot keely calling them morons was absolutely uncalled for and stuart Byrne seems to think Irish people should just support a league that isn't pro the facilities are dire loi fan's need to accept that there league is not good enough to to compete with the English premier league you can call me a barstooler or a sheep it it shows how deluded and stupid some of these fan's are I've been to tallaght a few times it's 55 minutes from where I live but if the fai invested in a team in carlow or portlaoise I would easily go to home and away games

[@danielstapleton6795]

It was said over 40 thousand supporters and only like 5 thousand were rovers

[@jasonirwin2947]

Fuck Rovers

[@danielstapleton6795]

@@jasonirwin2947 not the point lad regardless support more Irish support band English league it’s there choice but again it’s a shame 😱

[@danielstapleton6795]

It’s true do you wonder why league Ireland 🇮🇪 has. Or support coz nobody goes to games and no money in it

[@jasonirwin2947]

@@danielstapleton6795 yea its sad to be honest

[@CeemPlay]

There is a reason Richie does the World Cup and bigger fixtures, two absolute barnacles beside him.

[@jamiemacnamara3048]

rovers fans ar right

[@TheEtho09]

Who would want to go to a league of ireland game when half of the stadium are sheds and the premiership is supportorted by sponsors league of ireland is not

[@cillianwhelton5963]

Get off ur barstool Nd support ur local club u lazy unloyal bollox

[@cianlynch6494]

I never find myself agreeing with Richie

[@graemefarrell4983]

Dermot keeley calling people morons for going to see Liverpool.. Ffs i go to pats when im home i used to go regularly aswell.. I go to hibs every week as i live in edinburgh so i support me local team.. But dont call me a moron cuz im a liverpool fan.. I actually got a ticket for it free.. But i didnt go cuz i saw the team that day.. Never heard anything being said when they packed the stadium out when united opened against a LOI XI

[@brianclarke61993]

Why on earth would people spend there hard earned money on going to see a football match in Ireland that's of a poor standard, when they can go and see Liverpool, man Utd or Arsenal who are world class football teams,lets face it, if it was up to the level of England people would obviously go! I have nothing against Irish football and I am a big supporter, but lets be realistic , we have a population of 4 million compared to about 20 million in England, get real people

[@smkgamer6998]

English football didn't just magically happen, It started like the league of Ireland. Local people supporting local football. Everything has to start from somewhere

[@brianclarke61993]

+SMK Gamer True ... but having a population of near 30 million helps !

[@irishlongswordboland3114]

smk gamer they are other sports in england,but football is well out in front.In ireland its a different story its one of 4 sports that have a claim for no1 position.

[@nasiunainaheireann4122]

@@brianclarke61993 croatia has a population of 3 million and made it to a world cup final, uruguay has a population of 3.5 million and has 2 world cups, what's your point?

[@marcusmaher-triskellionfil5158]

Let me weigh in here as a Liverpudlian growing up in both the Pool and Dublin. I've watched Shamrock Rovers/Bohs and I can understand the frustration but that has to be levelled at the FAI and there lack of commitment in supporting the game, Richie Sadler is spot on as it doesn't help when you're calling fans Morons and the like...Liverpool and Man Utd are the most supported in Ireland because of that cultural and geographical link...that's a given...in Liverpool 50% have Irish heritage...hardly Islamabad is it...

[@evanrules3635]

Dermot keely made a fool calling liverpool fans morons and richie put I'm in in his place and Stuart Byrne wasn't making sense with his argument

[@mickmickymick6927]

It's fine to want to watch the best version of a product, but these English football fans don't be following Real Madrid or Juventus as football fans, they follow a single English team and get passionately involved with them, which doesn't make sense.

[@aaronbourke7621]

I live in mayo

[@FinalFlameProductions]

Sadlier is wrong here.

[@Denilson24]

Week in week out week in week out week in week out week in week out

[@nigefal]

I think there are too many teams for a start particularly Dublin clubs. What about making a 4 province league playing each other 4 times? Then have schoolboy feeder teams for each of these teams which can be the division below. That way at least the teams will be able to have better facilities, more money etc. Current system not feasible.

[@BringBackOle]

If the Irish leave was funded properly & given better stadiums with better facilities by the state then people would take it seriously As for the English league they are Not English clubs they are Global clubs with a world wide fan base the likes of Liverpool and United always had Irish connections from the people who lived there. Liverpool & United always had Irish players so Irish fans where bound to feel connected to the clubs. we go to England to see top level football with the best facilities as for paying the mount of money to see the reserves you're going to see if any of the youngsters are ready to break into the team and if not how are off they are from breaking into the team you are watching the future of your club.

[@redfaceedithd749]

He's a pundit omg what's fucking dope the Bloke with the croaky voice And glasses he doesn't make sense we have proper pundits like Gary Neville Jamie Carragher Etc youse have some aufella who pronounces Steven Gerrard "Gerro" what even is rte

[@redfaceedithd749]

Haha fair enough bro

[@NC-ck5oj]

People have a right to spend their money however the fuck they choose.

[@fergusdesmond546]

Keely 100% correct here. Support an Irish club and if you wont dont complain about the national team.

[@grahamkavanagh1245]

Great point.

[@greglyons2526]

Plenty support both

[@seancahill7496]

I went see Liverpool play shamrock rovers and I'm Irish but I still support The Ireland national team

[@lobriain572]

Your a fucking twat

[@Irish780]

Ireland rugby six nations champion. Enough said

[@oliver69cork46]

No comparison in the least between rugby and football. Big fish small pond game is rugby. Rugby is only number 1 in new Zealand, no where else. Only about 9 countries any use and haven't changed due to its low appeal as a game.

[@issmaise]

I love being Irish I can proudly wave a Liverpool flag during our anthem and also while signing another Irish song i can replace Athenry with Anfield without judgement. i just wish we could be apart of the UK so i can be more British but fuck it being Irish is close enough after all we're all west Brits

[@issmaise]

SD ninetysix sarcasm chap i hate the epl with a passion , above comment was more or less having a dig at the barstooler

[@KenAllen87]

Oh nevermind then bro haha

[@FeuerFrei2K10]

How can it be professional when there's no money there? Irish people who support British teams complain about the standard of football and that's why they have no choice to support Liverpool or Manchester United or Arsenal or whoever however when you say to them if more people went there would be an improvement of standard they still don't go then they don't care about a remedy, they're just making excuses. I have friends from literally a 20 minute drive from town asking who their local team is and I say Rovers or St. Patrick's or Bohemians and they say it's not local. They're more local than the Irish soccer team are yet they don't go out and support them. You know it's bad when people are talking about their football teams and they ask you and you say I support St. Patrick's and they literally don't believe you or think you're making a joke or even say that St. Patrick's are scum. Rovers and Bohemians get called scum too by these same people. Whether we're scum or not at least we have the integrity to support our local teams even though they don't hold a chance against a team from England or France or even America. We have the integrity to support the teams that are getting creamed because they're our clubs. The measure of a true fan is to stick by their team no matter what. I'd much prefer Richmond Park or Tallaght or Dalymount Park to Old Trafford or Anfield because these fans are real fans.

[@draoicht22]

ALL About the Money

[@mulroious]

Jesus that keely hasn't a note in his head.

[@As-qd2eq]

Please rte get keely as a regular pundit, also he used to be my old maths teacher haha

[@davidnoonan1292]

the one on the left looks like a evil version of santa a clause and the reason why we support teams in different countrys is because its are dream to play professional football and for me the League of Ireland is not a profeesional league . with the most respect i have for my country

[@ryansroadmap]

well said!

[@ryansroadmap]

THAT SPELLING THO

[@davidnoonan1292]

ryan asgharian

[@matthewdooley9046]

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a massive advocate for supporting local football. But I just hate these people who think supporting an English side makes you sub human garbage, as if most people in this country don’t support Man United or Liverpool. If you don’t feel a connection to your local side but you do to a foreign club, support that foreign club. I think football is about loving your team and having fun, not being criticised because of your proximity to your team of choice.

[@Kopite4life12]

The reason Liverpool played their 'reserves' is because of international duty, many of the players where afforded some time off, before they had to prepare for Brazil.

[@markoneill8797]

Many rural Irishmen don't have any connection to LOI clubs as they are based in the cities, why would I support Derry City when I'm not from Derry City? Why would someone from north Cork support Cork City? it's easy for Dubliners to rant about it when they can catch a quick bus ride to all their grounds.

[@greetingsiamross]

Morons? What a childish comment. Im 23 and have been a Liverpool fan since ive been 10. I have travelled to Anfield. I have no shame in what so-called brand of football I watch. I happen to love watching the reds. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but to branded as morons is too far. Coz we're all couch supporters is that it? I know some fans who travell every 2nd week to Anfield. Are they foolish for investing in something that makes them feel happy? Football worldwide is the ultimate fulfillment of happiness for many people around the world. If there was a GAA fan on the panel above, he may have a go at how the foreign sport has poisoned the minds of the Irish people. Then what would Keeley say? He's just in an old school frame of mind and seems to be ignorant of other people's independent thinking (which should be underlined). I didn't go to this match last week, simply because I had work and wouldnt be able to make. However, the cost would not have stopped me from watching not one, but two great teams in their own domestic leagues. I was fully aware that more than likely that this would be a reserved team. I was quite satisfied with the starting 11 of Liverpool. Ive seen them players and know what they're like. They're young, exciting and bright talents that play for the club I support. There may be some who may say,"yes, but thanks to the media, you don't have to move off your ass to watch them". True. But it's my choice. If that's what I have chosen to do, respect it. If you don't want to, that's fine aswell. But don't attack people for spending their hard earned money and wanting their kids and families to enjoy a cheaper than going abroad experience than watching a local LOI game which doesn't match in capacity/atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, there is atmosphere, but it's not as big, due to bigger crowds at matches.

[@greetingsiamross]

robertb2183 Pardon, but the so-called PLC you mentioned have been around a few years. People from Ireland and the rest of the world have willingly spent money on tickets and transport to games across the water for years and years. I bet you're still thrilled nevertheless that the FAI made their money thanks to the attraction of a foreign club. Hypocrite. Don't be such a caveman, get on with reality and stop living under a rock.

[@robertb-zh7vb]

greetingsiamross Yes, bandwagon sheep like you are not a new phenomenon and the American owned British PLC are always looking for new bandwagon sheep to extract money from to pay the primadonnas.

[@greetingsiamross]

I never said they were a new phenomenon. And in the fixture above, i believe it was Liverpool fans who made a majority of that fixture game's money. And if anything, with its live showing on tv, it helps catch the talent of the Shamrock rovers players and to see how close they could have caught Liverpool in that game, which is a good thing. PS. You don't need to keep saying "bandwagon sheep". I read it the first time. What are you, five years old? Grow up man. Worry about your own beliefs and stop trying to put people down on what they do. Everybody's allowed to enjoy themselves, whatever you think is your opinion. Im just saying I don't agree with it. Let's leave it there.

[@greetingsiamross]

robertb2183 Let me ask you this.. What would you say to someone who despises football and calls it a dirty englishman's sport and judges you for following this foreign sport - branding you as not as Irish as the other people who follow GAA and only GAA? What would you say to that person, honestly?

[@animalcol1]

greetingsiamross excellent point. And the lack of a response is telling.

[@alfiebennett3983]

we are limrick nanana

[@equi3]

Football is about entertainment. I have attended league of ireland games on a Friday night and there is almost zero entertainment with very poor quality players who can not play football in the right way hoofing the ball up the field from defence. Why would you go and see that every week in a shed.

[@jackcoughlan5882]

equi3 why not whats wrong with going to a match and watch from a shed not everything has to be ultra fancy and modern

[@shanelawler6]

I support shamrock rovers & real Madrid

[@shaunscouse8509]

A lot of Irish fans go to home and away Liverpool games fair play to them makin more of an effort then me I wouldn't pay 45 quid a game f ck that 1200 1500 hundread for a season ticket fuckin joke a wouldn't get a ticket any way because a live 10 mins away from the ground the club knows I won't by the merchandise and be ripped off the out of Towners get priority over tickets

[@josephm8292]

The bald guy in the middle has Stellar wisdom!.

[@jamesslattery530]

Most of the city of Liverpool are Irish so like Liverpool have the most support from Ireland then any other club

[@gomey70]

What's the fact that Liverpool played a B team got to do with anything? We go to support the team in red, the club, not the players. I don't care who played, I was still glad to go support my club and it was still a better standard than watching some LOI drivel.

[@vidiveniviciDCLXVI]

WoW what a tool that Dermot is. Why not arrest people for supporting non Irish teams.

[@CR19917]

Besiktas1903cArsi Not to mention the fact that Liverpool typically were an anti-Irish, Loyalist club

[@izdatsumcp]

@@Besiktas1903cArsi They should? Fuck off.

[@youngdolo8]

Well I'm from Roscommon, so who the fuck do I support?

[@patrickglennon6834]

Galway or sligo

[@davidpryle3935]

Athlone Town, obviously.

[@greglyons2526]

Sparta Prague

[@jakesullivan8339]

Why would I watch league of Ireland ffs

[@ANDCFC95]

This aged very well

[@union_keyblade5087]

How so

[@thehonestduke6053]

This Liverpool team of reserves who, according to the muppet with the beard, everyone is morons for watching, hammered Shamrock Rovers, one of the best teams in Ireland. People want to watch quality and regardless of who's playing for Liverpool they're far better than anything Ireland has to offer. These LOI teams don't even have half decent Irish players

[@dlbia9569]

As me brother once said to me while we were watching a documentary on dundalk FC "Dermot Keely, he's a typical League of Ireland hardman"😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@horsehorse4034]

I was at that game in a liverpool fan and I'm from iteland and i don't support irish teams because their shit

[@kathleenwatkins4889]

StAcKy _99 cmon the town

[@davidhayes8245]

I'm a Liverpool fan and it's great to watch brilliant football on telly and occasionally get over to a game, but I also primarily support Dundalk, and the feeling I get supporting Dundalk is like no other, you feel true rivalry, the feeling of pride in your club and your town. I will forever thank my father for taking me to games when I was younger when there might of only been 500 people at it in the lashing rain, because seeing where they are now is amazing. If you ask me you are missing out

[@Jake47699]

cillian kennelly so are Liverpool

[@daraghrichards3207]

Don't understand why you support an English team if God save the Queen was played would you jeer it

[@jackcoughlan5882]

No doubt you have never actually been to an loi game and are just judging it off what fifa says

[@prodigiii712]

Would your drive a shitty Irish car that always breaks down and cost the same of would you rather drive a Japanese car?

[@seanbonella]

and sadlier has played for who????? he's won what?????? overpaid media jobber

[@kevinlally9583]

Shamrock rovers are shit

[@kieranw9450]

league of ireland is some hape of shite and its not even a league OF IRELAND its just clubs from dublin and a hand few from the rest of ireland

[@swaglad9728]

The league is shite Let's be real

[@johnbkeane85]

What is the beard on about. I went to support Liverpool and knew it would be the reserves but I was happy with that as it gave me the opportunity to see them in the flesh. I was hoping the title would be there but that wasn't too be.