SEAN MOLLOY,
Sir, - Brendan Menton's comments in recent days are both disheartening and revealing. The Keane affair regrettably happened and, for all sides, was "resolved" when Keane and McCarthy agreed to disagree before the World Cup games began. The World Cup is now over for Ireland, and when asked about Roy Keane's future involvement and a possibility of a reconciliation Mr Menton again appeared to slam the door on any such efforts.
I do not think a permanent division is in the best interests of Irish football. The Irish football family may have its tiffs, but we should aim to resolve these so they do not become permanent rifts.
Thankfully, Mr Menton has since moved quickly to "clarify" his comments in an apparent U-turn. However, this only highlights the ineptitude at the highest level of the FAI. It is easy to see from this how the Keane affair was allowed to escalate, and the efforts at a resolution were mismanaged.
I hope every effort will be made to ensure we repair any rifts in the Irish football family. And may I suggest that we resurrect an out-dated tenet, for an out-dated organisation: "FAI officials should be seen and not heard". - Yours, etc.,
SEAN MOLLOY, Cornelscourt, Dublin 18.
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Sir, - I am a "young one" in my sixties, so when I saw that team of players on the stage in the Phoenix Park, my heart jumped!
What a crowd of handsome guys - quite the best of the World Cup. - Yours, etc.,
JEAN HANNAGEN, Glencanaig, Sutton, Dublin 13.