Gulf in class obivious as Man Utd. thrill 'home' supporters
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THE ROLEX and Porsche brigade beat the lesser collection of Q and Qs and family bangers in the first soccer game in the new Lansdowne (oops Aviva) Road stadium but at least Wednesday's patrons saw a touch of quality, even if the contest lacked intensity.
At least Alex Ferguson acknowledged Old Trafford's Irish support and fielded a better selection than in some FA Cup ties which was appreciated by the locals, festooned in red.
The game was a celebration of soccer's return to the venue and at least the FAI didn't do an IRFU on it and throw in a bunch of young lads for that code's opening production which did nothing for the fans other than allow them to savour their surroundings.
We may mock home soccer but the league team showed some fine touches, and what about Ryan Guy's throwing technique, but the way soccer has ingrained defensive systems and bored the pants off us in South Africa, perhaps 90 minutes is too long to endure pin-ball theatrics unless Fifa tweak rules to produce a few more goals; after all isn't that the whole meaning of sport - scores.
The technical difference, sense of location, anticipation and speed of reaction, was glaring despite some entertaining home moments, and a pity the opening goal in the glossy new stadium had to be a rebound goal which Park could hardly take much credit for.
There is a sterility about the code - the World Cup and indeed Wednesday's game, which should have been pure exhibition corroborated, that there is little real entertainment value in a sport which treats players like a protected species and has about as much physical dimension as basketball.
On a scale of value for ticket prices and the rest of the expenses associated with a gullible population, soccer is close to the floor, and without enough scores to delight an expectant audience will never sate the appetites of redblooded fans.
The result was predictable; the home selection out of their league and probably happy to avoid an annihilation which Manchester United probably were not out to inflict.
Only the foolish would have expected a favourable result - just like Shamrock Rovers considerable but fruitless defiance against the Italian giants the previous week - but then what do we expect when the best of the few Irish who make the grade are exported leaving little of quality for locals to cheer.
Last word… could the Airtricity players not have been presented with jerseys bearing their names, and some mention of the occasion… a memento of a match they may never again be part of?
Oh, least I forget, a nod of appreciation to George Hamilton for not delivering the same drivelling commentary we have to endure from our GAA venues by a few who insult our sight by doing a radio broadcast which would do justice to Miceal O'M. Then sure we wouldn't know games were being played 'in Croke Park' without their reminding. Please, please RTE, do something about yer motor-mouths who insist on telling us what we can see and the scores which are in the top left corner of our screens.
Long live George.
- Paul Donaghy
