Sir, – Roy Keane is wondering why Irish fans kept singing during Ireland’s defeat against Spain in Poland on Thursday night. Maybe it’s because they didn’t want to let their team and their country down during a major international championship, Roy! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Ireland’s latest poor performance data show a widening deficit and clearly indicate that a further European bailout is necessary – this time from Uefa. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Our fans were fantastic during and at the end of the debacle that was Ireland v Spain in our second group match at Euro 2012. What a pity their singing sends the wrong message to Delaney and co in the FAI and also to Trapattoni and his team that all is well?
After all we had the quickest goal scored against us, we conceded the most goals (and that is after only two games) and we are the first team out of the competition. To make matters worse (if that is possible) we were the most boring and lack-lustre team in the competition. We need major surgery and certainly a big change in personnel before we start our World Cup campaign or there will be more embarrassment.
Of far more importance to the FAI, there will be an increasing number of empty seats at our home games if things do not change – quickly. Surely I cannot be the only one who realises we had better players on the bench; and, more worryingly, left at home? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – As a lifelong rugby supporter I must pay tribute to our wonderful football fans . . . down and out and singing their hearts out. I salute them. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – GK Chesterton best descipes those great Irish supporters in the words he wrote: “For the great Gaels of Ireland,/Are the men that God made mad/For all their wars are merry and all their songs are sad.” – Is mise,
Sir, – Regarding the Irish fans’ rousing rendition of The Fields of Athenry after their team’s abject 4-0 defeat to Spain (Sport,June 15th), I suppose you could describe Ireland’s failure to progress beyond the group stages of Euro 2012 as an unqualified success. – Yours, etc,