Advertisement
Callum Walsh on the Empire State Building in New York. Lina Baker/360 Promotions

'I'm not just some youngfella anymore. I feel like I'm maturing into a contender'

Callum Walsh will face Scotland’s Dean Sutherland at The Theater, Madison Square Garden, on Sunday, 16 March.

CALLUM WALSH IS at a safe remove from the wildfires ravaging his adopted hometown of Los Angeles.

“Everybody I know is safe, thank God,” says the Cork boxer. “I’ve seen a lot of videos and people’s [Instagram] stories and stuff, the photos… It’s crazy.”

But Walsh, who lives in the Hollywood area, is preparing to drive toward the smoke when he jumps on a Zoom call with The 42 on Wednesday morning local time.

Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym lies in the wrong direction, albeit still at a comfortable distance from the carnage. And Walsh has work.

The 23-year-old Cobh native, world-ranked in boxing’s light-middleweight division, will cross coasts to cooler surrounds in just over two months’ time when he again headlines at Madison Square Garden’s 5,000-capacity downstairs venue.

The 42 can confirm that Walsh [12-0, 10KOs] will face Scotland’s Dean Sutherland [19-1, 7KOs] in the main event of an Irish-stacked 360 Promotions card on the Sunday of St Patrick’s Weekend.

The bout, which will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass, will make for Walsh’s third time headlining at The Theater in 18 months. If LA is home away from home, then New York is fast becoming his home away from home away from home.

“I’m looking forward to getting back there,” Walsh says. “Every time, it’s unbelievable. The Irish crowd is growing bigger — bigger and better, you know?

“Even with my last fight in Dublin, I think I really got a feel for the level that it’s at now. I think it was just under 5,000 people at the 3Arena but it felt like 20,000 people, y’know? When I walked out and everybody was singing and the whole place was going crazy… That’s the best thing with the Irish crowd: we bring that energy and we support each other, so that’s something I hope we can keep going, and I hope people will want to come to another one.

“I know it’s expensive for people to get out to New York — and especially right after Christmas — but hopefully a lot of people can make it and we can just keep it going. And hopefully I’ll get back to Cork, then, maybe next year.”

16x9_Walsh_vs_Sutherland

Trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, promoted by Tom Loeffler and considered a passion project by UFC president Dana White, Walsh has for a long time been a headline act well ahead of schedule.

His homecoming show in Dublin saw him become only the fourth boxer in 15 years after Bernard Dunne, Katie Taylor and Matthew Macklin to carry a show at the 3Arena but whereas those three predecessors were already world-title level veterans, Walsh was entrusted with the mantle in only his 12th professional fight.

The Cork youngster is beginning to wear it well. While he acknowledges that his opponents are going to keep getting tougher, he finds the ring-walks are getting easier as he grows accustomed to being the main man in a fight promotion.

There is increasingly a muscle memory to the whole process and Walsh believes it’s beginning even to apply to his physical skills. His picturesque September knockout of Przemyslaw Runowksi — who had never previously been stopped — felt different in that Walsh barely felt it at all.

“Before the fight in Dublin, Freddie and I were actually practicing that shot out the back for probably 20 minutes,” Walsh laughs.

“When I landed that left hand, I wasn’t even thinking about it: it just happened, y’know? It was just like… I didn’t plan to land that shot, I wasn’t even thinking about anything. It just happened, purely from training. And I suppose a lot of it is being relaxed in the fight, being able to remain calm under pressure.

“I felt like that night was a a big opportunity for me to show that — that the pressure doesn’t get to me. There was a big crowd there, all eyes were on me, everyone was expecting a big performance from me and all that, and I did it.”

Walsh apologises as he adjusts his phone and moves out of earshot of the whistling African grey parrot that belongs to his girlfriend, Tabatha Ricci.

He’s definitely a long way from Cobh.

Incidentally, Walsh and Ricci have a rare relationship in that they’re both professional fighters: Brazilian Ricci, nicknamed ‘Baby Shark’, is a mixed martial arts star with the UFC, the organisation which also effectively co-promotes Walsh’s boxing career.

After Walsh’s homecoming bout in September, he was scheduled to take six months off after a busy opening chapter to his life as a prizefighter. But when your girlfriend has to make the UFC’s strawweight limit in November, downtime takes on a different complexion.

“In general, it makes life a lot easier, to be fair”, Walsh smiles, “because it’s like, if I’m not training for a fight but she is, I’m not just going to sit around and do nothing, y’know?

“I can’t just sit here and watch her train, or I’m not gonna eat shit food if she’s eating all healthy, you know what I mean?

“It’s just that thing where you’d actually feel bad about yourself, then,” Walsh laughs. “If I was just here by myself, I wouldn’t give a fuck because obviously you’re not seeing it, but when you see someone else training, eating healthy, and then you’re doing nothing and eating like shit, you’re like, ‘Alright, I need to do something about this!’

“Going back-to-back with our fights like we did in September and November is better because even if I’m not fully in training for a fight, I’m still going for a run, my meals are still clean. I mean, she cooks food and then, like, obviously I’m just gonna eat whatever’s there.”

It’s not a bad deal, all told — but does it become competitive?

“I wouldn’t use the word ‘competitive’”, Walsh smirks, “because, like… Look, I wouldn’t be happy losing a sprint to a girl who’s five-foot-one when I’m around six foot tall, for starters.

“But nah, say because I’m a faster runner, she has to run faster to keep up with me when we run together, y’know? And then, Tabatha’s a better swimmer than I am, so when we go swimming, I have to try to keep up with her.

“So, one of us is nearly always gonna be better than the other at something and if you’re training with someone like that, you have to make yourself better or you’re in for a hard time.”

Walsh’s card in March will have a distinctly green hue to it: the eagerly anticipated super-middleweight rematch between Dublin’s Tokyo Olympian Emmet Brennan [5-0, 1KO] and Kerry’s ‘Kingdom Warrior’ Kevin Cronin [9-2-1, 5KOs] will go down in The Big Apple over 10 rounds after Brennan controversially squeaked their initial eight-round bout on the undercard of Walsh’s homecoming.

Big Thomas Carty [10-0, 9KOs] will take the party to Pennsylvania Plaza, too: the Dublin heavyweight will take on Ohio’s Dajuan Calloway [10-3, 8KOs].

Tyrone’s world-title challenger Feargal McCrory [16-1, 8KOS], meanwhile, who lost out to super-featherweight champion Lamont Roach last June, will launch his comeback in his adopted hometown when he faces Brandon Leon Benitez [21-3, 9KOs].

There will also be a professional debut for Co. Down featherweight Donagh Keary, a former amateur standout whose first opponent in the paid ranks is yet to be confirmed.

Tom Loeffler’s Walsh-Sutherland show will be the cherry on top of a marquee March for Irish boxing, a month which will begin with one of the biggest domestic meetings of the modern era as Belfast welterweight Lewis Crocker [20-0, 11KOs] hosts Limerick rival Paddy Donovan [14-0, 11KOs] in a Matchroom main event at the SSE Arena.

Either man could one day cross Walsh’s radar in that they campaign only a division — or seven pounds — below him. But when Crocker and Donovan first look to blot each other’s copybooks on 1 March, Walsh says his loyalty will lie firmly with his fellow Munsterman.

“It’ll be a good fight, definitely. Really good fight,” he says. “I only know Paddy out of the two of them — I know him from when we were younger when we were coming through the amateurs and I’d know his dad and his brother Edward very well.

“I’ll be rooting for Paddy and hopefully he does the job.”

Walsh, of course, has a potentially worthy Belfast adversary at his own weight class in the shape of Caoimhín Agyarko [15-0, 7KOs].

Towards the end of 2024, rumours began to circulate of discussions between the boxers’ camps with a view to staging a fight between them at MSG in March.

“But nah, someone just made that up,” Walsh laughs. “You know that fight was never even offered to me?

“Someone just made it up, there, one day I think and it got pushed around. And I don’t know who started it but I remember seeing the rumours and asking Tom (promoter), ‘Is this happening or what’s the story?’ And no, the fight wasn’t offered to me at all.

“And sure you know me: if it had been, I’d be preparing for that fight right now.”

Instead, it will be 26-year-old Aberdeen native ‘Deadly’ Dean Sutherland, fresh off a decent derby win of his own, who will seek to derail Walsh’s ascent.

But that doesn’t factor into Walsh’s plans.

“Last year was about ‘building the brand’, getting home and getting a fight in Ireland and just, y’know, trying to show Irish people the scale of what I’m trying to do; showing people that it’s not all just internet hype,” he says.

“This year, I’m gonna be 24 — I’m not just some youngfella, now, anymore. I feel like I’m maturing into a contender.

“I just want to give this everything I have and really, by the end of the year, be a top-level fighter, become a known name around the boxing scene.

“I’m just gonna dedicate more than I have been, I’m gonna push myself harder, I’m gonna take any fight that comes my way and just hope for the big opportunities to come.

“And when it comes, I’m going to grab it with both hands and take what I believe is mine: the world title.”

Pre-sale tickets for Walsh v Sutherland are available at 2pm Irish time today, 9 January, via Ticketmaster. General sale will begin at 5pm next Monday, 13 January.

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Fahy
    Favourite Martin Fahy
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:29 PM

    I think the way MON treats Tony O’donoghue in almost every post match interview is classless, Tony asks perfectly reasonable questions, framing them as politely as possible, trying not to upset his majesty. He is treated with contempt and nastiness by MON. You could see when the camera went back to the studio how they all wanted to comment on it but have probably been told from on high not to, as Dunphy tried to bring this up previously

    691
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Byrne
    Favourite Chris Byrne
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:08 PM

    Well said. A total lack of respect for the RTÉ journalist. O’Neill is fully accountable and needs to explain his team’s awful performance and his strategy (which I doubt there is).

    317
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Connolly
    Favourite Trevor Connolly
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:19 PM

    @Martin Fahy: who cares though, its results we want not interviews

    41
    See 10 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ruaídhrí Lyttle
    Favourite Ruaídhrí Lyttle
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 2:06 AM

    A total lack of respect for RTE? GIVE RESPECT GET RESPECT. RTE are classless by nature

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:33 AM

    @Martin Fahy:
    Tony is always Mr Negative. I will never forget the attack he launched on the league of Ireland manager when he was caretaking Ireland after the team had won 3-1. Wouldn’t have done it if he had been a manager from the English league. Classless, it takes two to tango.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tensing Norgay
    Favourite Tensing Norgay
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 8:29 AM

    @Con Murphy: negative by nature? , 2 grossly over paid part time manager / slash media personalities serve up utter muck , boring ineffective muck at that and they can’t be questioned ? I mean winning muck is one thing but that that shit€ is a effrontery to every U 10 coach in the country trying coach a play it from the back, on the ground style of football . We had to resort to long ball hack-a-thon to draw with country with a ranking high enough to be a cooking temperature

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tweed Cap
    Favourite Tweed Cap
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 8:45 AM

    @Tensing Norgay:
    Well said. It’s a mystery how Roy Keane can put his name to that sh!te.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Clements
    Favourite David Clements
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 8:51 AM

    @Con Murphy: that was noel king a long time employee of the FAI. Not some league of ireland manager, many of whom could do a decent job

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Greene
    Favourite James Greene
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 9:02 AM

    @Martin Fahy: agreed. His why should I tell you comment last night was a disgrace. You should tell him because he is asking on behalf of the fans, tell him because he is asking on behalf of people who give up their time to travel to watch muck like that. People can take not winning, and take losing, no irish fan expects to win every game, but we should not be expected to accept performances and tactics like last night. And certainly not expect to see an attitude like that when quizzes about it.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ted hagan
    Favourite ted hagan
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 11:21 AM

    @Chris Byrne:
    He’s pretty thin-skinned all right

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 11:41 AM

    @Tensing Norgay:
    We have had worse results under Trapp Staunton etc, still got an away draw! Yes the team was poor but they should be 100% better in the Aviva next Tuesday night.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 11:48 AM

    @David Clements:
    You are blinded by the bright lights of the premiership,many of those managers would never get a job with an half decent continental side.
    Noel King did not deserve the condesending attitude of the RTE celebrity interviewer,I for one am glad Martin took no c**p from know it all Tony.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Kelly
    Favourite Patrick Kelly
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 2:21 PM

    @Trevor Connolly: I would have beep pissed to have spent a fortune to watch that shite.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert O'Sullivan
    Favourite Robert O'Sullivan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:11 PM

    Whatever about the result, it’s the performance that is hurting the most, made Georgia look like Brazil. I hate picking him out but Whelan was atrocious. Brady’s set pieces are very overrated, I can’t remember the last time he put a good delivery into the box (still a legend for that goal against Italy tho)

    276
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Celtic Spirit
    Favourite Celtic Spirit
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:01 PM

    @Robert O’Sullivan: Whelan is and has always been overrated. I don’t know how he makes the team

    113
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robbie Patterson
    Favourite Robbie Patterson
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:24 PM

    @Robert O’Sullivan: I was at the Bristol City villa game last Friday night I didn’t realise Whealan was on the field till half time. But O’Neill has to take the flack for this if he’s gonna play hoofball then at least play Murphy up front who’s 6’2″ long is 5’11″ at best ffs

    77
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Super Ted
    Favourite Super Ted
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:45 PM

    @Robert O’Sullivan: In fairness to Whelan, he is a good defensive midfielder with “defensive” being the operative word. He has proven his worth against good opposition and protects the back four against any team we are not expected to beat but we usually do quite well as underdogs and he has an important role during those games.

    But against teams like Georgia, he shouldn’t be starting. We need a lot more creativity in midfield to expose the weaknesses of defensively inferior opposition and that’s not Whelans game so why is he playing! I’m baffled by his selection today and it sends the wrong message to the rest of the players. Tactically inept decision making by Martin O’ Neill may very well cost us a place in the World Cup. He needs to trust his attacking players a lot more against teams like Georgia and take the game to them.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TheBluffmaster2
    Favourite TheBluffmaster2
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 4:43 AM

    @Robert O’Sullivan: you would think it was Germany we were playing Technically superior and even white jerseys

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:34 AM

    @Celtic Spirit:
    Because we don’t have anyone else.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Connolly
    Favourite Joe Connolly
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:33 PM

    Ben woodburn 17 years years of age comes on and scores, Martin O’Neill would never make that substitution. And how was Robbie Brady left on for 90 minutes tonight, dreadful performance.

    189
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ned Flanders
    Favourite Ned Flanders
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:32 AM

    @Joe Connolly: he was quite lazy for their goal.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute running man
    Favourite running man
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:28 PM

    Surely now time for Maguire?Dundalk or Cork City would sweep that Irish team aside. Totally ouplayed by Georgia ffs, say’s it all….

    167
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Norton
    Favourite John Norton
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:50 PM

    For players that train day in day out, they seem to have no technical ability on the ball and panic when in possession. This Irish performance was like a junior soccer team in action and not for time. This team would be an embarrassment at at a world cup

    168
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric Djemba-Djemba
    Favourite Eric Djemba-Djemba
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:35 PM

    Il self combust if I hear “Glenn Whelan is a good player just because he was a starer in premier league “one more time. He’s useless contributes nothing.

    162
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal O Cofaigh
    Favourite Donal O Cofaigh
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:04 PM

    Watching that game tonight I would actually prefer if they didn’t qualify because it will be a disastrous World Cup

    103
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Hartigan
    Favourite Tony Hartigan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:32 PM

    I always held Martin O’Neil in a very high regard but seen his after match interview with Tony O’Donohue tonight I really belive he does not know how to handle the simple questions put to him or how to motivate these players all I saw was arrogance

    118
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nightowl
    Favourite Nightowl
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:40 PM

    Wales won so now we have to get a result in Wales !! Fecked up – We left Wales back in with a good chance

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean @114
    Favourite Sean @114
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:42 PM

    Incredible that we sat back immediately after scoring. Georgia’s weakest line is their back four. Technically their midfield is far superior to ours, so what do we do? We put no pressure on their back four and let their midfield have the ball so that they can open us up time and time again. Painful to watch. No leadership on the pitch, O’Neill tactically clueless and players looked disinterested. Total shambles.

    128
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RMell
    Favourite RMell
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:12 PM

    How do you expect that that team to qualify? MoN has got the best out of a team that would struggle in the championship

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Fahy
    Favourite Martin Fahy
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:34 PM

    @RMell: ‘That’ team tonight are mostly Premiership players playing in better leagues than most of the Georgian players.
    How can you say MON has got the best out of the players after that ?
    And what does Roy Keane contribute apart from controversial comments and slagging off his own players in public time and time again.
    Oh I forgot, he brings out the bag of balls and bibs before training sessions

    196
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute roderick
    Favourite roderick
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:41 PM

    @RMell: o’neill would struggle managing in the championship.

    45
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adam Nuaman
    Favourite Adam Nuaman
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:57 PM

    @RMell: I’m sick of these statements. We don’t have bad players at all. It’s a rubbish excuse that has been wheeled out. O’Neill was all about Serbia having much better quality to us, like he was already looking for excuses.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robbie Patterson
    Favourite Robbie Patterson
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:26 PM

    @RMell: Give over he won’t let them play football have u seen after at Bournemouth Robbie Brady at Burnley these boys can ball

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:38 AM

    @Martin Fahy:
    Not premiership most are championship.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal Keeshan
    Favourite Cathal Keeshan
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 8:28 AM

    @Martin Fahy: you do realise that the players are very poor standard. Our premiership players will be scrapping at the bottom for survival in what is the most overrated league in the world , the rest can barely get a game with their clubs in the championship. You can’t make a silk purse from a sows ear.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Karaoke Jogger
    Favourite The Karaoke Jogger
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:46 PM

    Appalling. Tonight was the night we blew our chance of qualification. We won’t beat Serbia next Tuesday and won’t win in Wales. Goodnight Irene!

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:43 AM

    @The Karaoke Jogger:
    Thank for the total negativity. This team can play much better than this and are capable of beating both Serbia and Wales.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Karaoke Jogger
    Favourite The Karaoke Jogger
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 9:10 AM

    @Con Murphy: I’m realistic. They’re capable of one flash in the pan but not two. They can barely string three passes together and they hoof like GAA players. Ugly beyond belief.

    9
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 11:51 AM

    @The Karaoke Jogger:
    And you have to knock the GAA as well!!!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Karaoke Jogger
    Favourite The Karaoke Jogger
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:36 PM

    @Con Murphy: Of course! Don’t get me started on that shower. Enjoy the replay :-).

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve McMahon
    Favourite Steve McMahon
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:43 PM

    Headline says it all .. as for Martin o Neil’s interview . Just like how he manages.. classless

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 11:52 AM

    @Steve McMahon:
    Very unfair comment on a manager who has a poor team on the verge of qualifying.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anto Mahon
    Favourite Anto Mahon
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:41 PM

    With Wales winning tonight and a guaranteed 3 points in next match Ireland will struggle to stay second in group unless they beat Serbia which is highly unlikely.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Connolly
    Favourite Trevor Connolly
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:23 PM

    @Anto Mahon: yep , tonight may have lost it for us

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GARFARKLE
    Favourite GARFARKLE
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:40 PM

    Please, nobody ever mention Brady’s magic left foot again. He is a spoofer.

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:47 AM

    @GARFARKLE:
    You must have forgotten his previous goals and assists. Short memory.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Zossima
    Favourite Zossima
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:19 PM

    God awful all around. Management and players. Now isn’t the time for looking for answers it’s time to call it like it is and say it’s not good enough. Walters on 50 caps tonight and like a quiet little boy going along with a game plan like that. Terrible

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jim shevlin
    Favourite jim shevlin
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:08 PM

    Ronnie Whelan and Dunphy have a blind spot when it comes to Mc Clean.
    One trick pony with a bad attitude and certainly not international standard .
    This is the worst crop of Irish players for a long time .
    Coupled with that they’re led by a spoofer on a very generous salary.
    In bygone days we always had a couple of exceptional/talented players that carried us along.
    But not now.

    54
    Rons
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rons
    Favourite Rons
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 1:19 AM

    @jim shevlin: At least he cares. Should have put the header away and could have got lucky with the other chance any other day. He has passion the jersey too

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:45 AM

    @jim shevlin:
    Played badly away from home and still pulled of a draw! Can win all next 3 games.

    2
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 11:58 AM

    @jim shevlin:
    If the players are the worst ever how is the manager a “spoofer” if he has brought them to the brink of qualifying?
    McClean has been one of our best and most committed players all the way including scoreing goals. Credit where its due!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry Murphy
    Favourite Gerry Murphy
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:33 PM

    Would anyone want to see this dreadful team at a World Cup? They are useless and would be whipping boys in Russia. We just don’t have the quality needed, no point in dressing it up as anything else.. Shane Long wouldn’t score if he was there for a week against similar opposition

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Graham Palmer
    Favourite Graham Palmer
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 11:37 PM

    Stone age football

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Farrell
    Favourite Ray Farrell
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 11:48 PM

    Whatever about players being of this quality or that, its painful to watch such lacklustre performance. McLean ran himself ragged and fought like a dog for everything, how other fellas can’t bring passion and intensity for a world cup qualifier is beyond me. Sad sad stuff.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nightowl
    Favourite Nightowl
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 9:19 PM

    Worst performance ever !! And now Wales are winning ! We left back in it !

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Hartigan
    Favourite Tony Hartigan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:17 PM

    Disgraceful performance

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Walsh
    Favourite Brendan Walsh
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:31 PM

    Most of the players looked very poor. Slow and no technical skills. Georgia deserved all 3 points. A team like Ireland playing ugly brutish football has no business in the World Cup.

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Moore
    Favourite Fergal Moore
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:23 AM

    O neill thinks he knows better than everyone else. Playing out dated football. It’s rooster measuring as its finest. Won’t be in a job come november

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan O'Sullivan
    Favourite Alan O'Sullivan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 11:51 PM

    This was a really poor display tonight . A real lack of quality in the team.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute purple rain
    Favourite purple rain
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:54 PM

    This a Georgia team that had to scrap a point against Moldova.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean @114
    Favourite Sean @114
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 11:44 PM

    @purple rain: and this is an Ireland team that starts Glen Whelan and Stephen Ward. Georgia, technically, are far superior to Ireland. We tend to get carried away with media views on our abilities, RTE’s reference to the world rankings being a case in point. Georgia is a country with footballing pedigree producing a team like Dinamo Tibilisi back in the day. We produced Shamrock Rovers. This is a poor Irish team. Spirit and endeavour, without talent and tactics, will only get you so far.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iMoan Brutal
    Favourite iMoan Brutal
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 1:45 AM

    @Sean @114: But the other ONeill who s last team was Rovers is a far superior manager, doing a lot better with less of a poll of players and still able to pass the ball around. Glenn Whelan would do well to get into the Rovers team to be fair..hed do well to get into the ladies team..

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan O'Sullivan
    Favourite Alan O'Sullivan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 11:56 PM

    Serious lack of quality in this team. This has to be the worst performance for some time

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony O Neill
    Favourite Tony O Neill
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:11 AM

    They don’t deserve to go through to the world cup. Embarrassing performance. I really wanted georgia to win as they put everything they had into it.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:49 AM

    @Tony O Neill:
    Sad.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dain Flemming
    Favourite Dain Flemming
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:39 PM

    It doesn’t seem to matter who the manager is this is a typical Irish preformamce

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iMoan Brutal
    Favourite iMoan Brutal
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 1:47 AM

    @Dain Flemming: McCarthy and Kerr played a lot better football with their teams, a few bad results but at least it was watchable

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim Thethird O'Hanrahan
    Favourite Tim Thethird O'Hanrahan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 11:55 PM

    No difference between MON & Trapp! Same shite. Look at N.Ireland, they try and keep the ball on the deck and play good football. With the quality of players they have!

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal Leonard
    Favourite Cathal Leonard
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:21 AM

    Wow. For sure not their best performance but thats a very very negative lot of comments. I dont think we are giving Georga enough credit they put our guys under a lot of pressure and played very well.. we got out of there with a draw, we were lucky. Come on the lads I believe in you a lot of induvidual talent on the pitch, now we need a leader, a plan and a team.. Come on the boys in green

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iMoan Brutal
    Favourite iMoan Brutal
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 1:51 AM

    @Cathal Leonard: and a new manager!

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Hammond
    Favourite Dave Hammond
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 3:11 AM

    @Cathal Leonard: admire your positivity , but any Ireland supporters watching that know it was easily one of the worst displays at international level ever and there’s no need to try sugar coat it, the criticism is warranted , they couldn’t string a pass together , couldn’t tackle and tactically played below any league of Ireland side , hoofing wishful balls into no mans land without any thought , that Ireland were so bad and Georgia could manage 70% possession and not beat such a poor Irish set up them only shows them up for the poor side they are / Ireland were pure muck

    27
    phil
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute phil
    Favourite phil
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:32 AM

    Arter, Hendrick and Wes in a 3 man midfield would certainly add a bit of spark but you could play Kroos, Inesitia, and Modric there tonight and it wouldn’t have made a difference as the ball was hoofed up front.

    Saying that I expect a win against Serbia, this team has always preformed when up against it and public opinion against them

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal Carey
    Favourite Donal Carey
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 4:35 AM

    How anybody would travel around the world to watch Ire play is a mystery to me. I have been watching Irish soccer for many a year and you take out a bunch of the top guys like Keane, Brady Giles, over the years the rest of them could not play to save their lives very average only fit for the Irish league . So in fact they did very well for a team that does not have one superstar on the team and if these guys are making a living in the U.K. fair play to them their fooling someone.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Terry Cahill
    Favourite Terry Cahill
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 11:36 PM

    LOL ! Even with 2 managers for a national side with a couple of stars, small time stars at that , and they a produce a performance like that. It only goes to show that you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute postmanbill
    Favourite postmanbill
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:14 AM

    When are these fans going to come to there senses and stop going to watch this team playing rubbish. Shocking display played off the park. And on Tuesday if we win well be back to this ” you’ll never beat the Irish rubbish”

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:53 AM

    @postmanbill:
    With supporters like you!? Stick to the rugger!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Morizy
    Favourite Morizy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 1:22 AM

    Stopped going after the Austria game have seen absoulety no reason to go back they’re playing another sport ffs! What is that I’ve never seen anything like utter shiiite

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:04 PM

    @Morizy:
    I don’t care if they are shit.They are our shit.If I was in Dublin I would go to the game Tuesday night to support them.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Hyland
    Favourite Ray Hyland
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:00 PM

    @Martin Fahy: Tony thinks he is Walter Kronkite. What sense is any manager going to make ten minutes after a match? All this ‘I am asking on behalf of the country’ shit, load of shit. Let the lads get on with the job. I know they were shite, don’t need Tony to tell me.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Mangan
    Favourite Pat Mangan
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:26 PM

    @Ray Hyland: Completely disagree. Tony is there to be a journalist and ask serious questions. MON is there as a highly paid manager to answer for his team. …. who have just played appallingly.

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Hyland
    Favourite Ray Hyland
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:39 PM

    @Pat Mangan: Fair enough, I just don’t think it’s constructive having such heated(and yet non specific) debate in the tunnel after a game. They say the press conferences have become more important than the matches since Keane became assistant. I reckon this showbiz baby stuff has been going on much longer. O’Donoghue is abusing his position as a senior journalist. He goes for the jugular all the time without any poise or nuance. All we needed tonight was for Dunphy to call O’Neill a bully, a la Noel King. Poor little Tony.

    14
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:52 AM

    @Pat Mangan:
    Tony is also overpaid and an RTE spoofer.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:02 PM

    @Pat Mangan:
    Tony is just an RTE hack. Can also watch on Sky!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Mc Guinness
    Favourite Shane Mc Guinness
    Report
    Sep 2nd 2017, 10:06 PM

    It’s good to see Louie back all the same

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Valthebear
    Favourite Valthebear
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 8:15 AM

    Was worried about our lack of passion when I saw how few of our players bothered about even attempting to sing the national anthem. Georgian lads on other hand were belting their one out. At least Mick McCarthy used to do his best to make them sing it. Irish football has been getting away with murder as our fans have been turning up regardless, like the sing songs at 2012. But I think things might change now. No incentive to pay good money to watch that muck. And as for this lack of players thing? Nonsense. We have a huge pool of Irish qualified players all over Britain and the world along with our domestic players. Get the FAI to stop paying vast salaries to administrators and start putting in a more extensive scouting network. Lastly, we need M O Neill. Michael that is. He’s done wonders with supposedly lesser players up North.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Keegan
    Favourite Brendan Keegan
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 6:25 PM

    @Valthebear: Yes we got the wrong O Neill. But Michael did bring Rovers to Europe and they sacked him.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Lawlor
    Favourite Patrick Lawlor
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 6:14 AM

    Pure shite. A League of Ireland selection playing football would have put in a better showing then a crop of overpaid millionaire’s. Ward, Whelan, Arter, Long are very mediocre footballers and Maclean runs around like s headless chicken and is the only one with passion at least, but no skill to match fortunately. Brutal stuff and O’Neill, Keane and particularly Delaney are having a laugh with the salaries they are on.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jim shevlin
    Favourite jim shevlin
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 5:07 PM

    @Patrick Lawlor: spot on with your assessment.
    Passion is all very well but a lack of technical ability coupled with antiquated coaching methods from MON are a recipe for disaster.
    McLean does indeed run ’round like a headless chicken–chasing shadows most of the time.His aggression usually turns ugly.
    What disappoints me is the amount of analysts who think these qualities deserves man of the match accolades.
    Footballers should be judged on ability and a determination to produce on a regular basis.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Fahey
    Favourite Tom Fahey
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 6:02 AM

    No point in blaming the managers when they only have donkeys to run in the Derby. Better not to qualify and save ourselves the national embarrassment and the money which the silly fans spend following them all around Europe.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 7:56 AM

    @Tom Fahey:
    Team was poor but you are a bigger embarrassment with that attitude!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Sinclair
    Favourite Sam Sinclair
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 1:18 AM

    Some ball of shite Irish soccer is in

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute qe5000
    Favourite qe5000
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 10:47 AM

    We should have had 3 points against wales the ref disallowed a legit goal at the end were unbeaten in the group yes last night was very hard to watch i agree shocking football. We were lucky to get away with a point but still had a few clear cut chances. Home advantage on Tuesday against the Serbs and I don’t think (HOPE) we will have a stinker like that next week. World cup is still alive!!! COYBIG

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Keegan
    Favourite Brendan Keegan
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 6:22 PM

    @qe5000: You want to bet. O Neill and Keane are two idiots. 2 nil to Serbia and Wales to beat Ireland at home.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute oh i dunno
    Favourite oh i dunno
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 9:30 AM

    And they call themselves professional footballers? That was worful

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Hammond
    Favourite Dave Hammond
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 11:45 AM

    The World Cup is alive but the disappointment of real fans is palpable , because you’d wonder what the point of trying to get excited about making a finals actually all about , maybe the plastic shamrock bullshit brigade don’t care but if your a fan of Irish football and have supported the team with pride watching them unable to play a game against a poor side like Georgia is painful , that the management decided against making more changes or mixing up the tactics added to the misery of the dour game , it shows we are completely winging it and out of ideas when we defer to combating a team with 70 per cent possession with the mindless tactic of hoofing the ball away , losing possession and hitting the hopeful ball over the mid field and wishing something can happen , it was poison

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Keegan
    Favourite Brendan Keegan
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 6:19 PM

    O Neill and the traitor have as much technical ability as two maggots. This was a won in the third minute and these two idiots sat back and did nothing. They have no ideas and the home team were very unlucky. Its time to get a proper manager.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute padraig
    Favourite padraig
    Report
    Sep 4th 2017, 1:10 PM

    Whelan should never have a Irish jersey again ever time he picked we go from bad worse

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Murphy
    Favourite Con Murphy
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 12:07 PM

    I suspect many of these negative comments are from rugby supporters.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Keegan
    Favourite Brendan Keegan
    Report
    Sep 3rd 2017, 6:20 PM

    @Con Murphy: Not mine. I hate the losers at that stupid game.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel