Will Mayo TD be called to serve the sport he loves?

by Caoimhín Rowland

Mayo soccer fans still have a little over two years before they can attend Umbro Park, Milebush to witness a senior Mayo FC side take to the field in the third tier of the League of Ireland.

But inspiration can be found in the progress of Kerry FC in only in its second season of existence.

Their start has been remarkable, no longer the minnows at the foot of the second tier and the furore and excitement over Bohemians fans scrambling to attend the unique FAI Cup away-day in Mounthawke Park proves the demand for football outside the confines of the M50 is as important for the growth of this nation’s most popular and played game than is mentioned.

Unless of course you’re Thomas Byrne, the Minister for Sport, who has clearly been feeling the heat from vocal League of Ireland football lobbyists, who are demanding a larger slice of the pie, indeed even RTÉ has come in for some deserved criticism for their shunning of Irish football.

His comments rung hollow to a footballing faithful as the sentiments boiled down to “they don’t know how good they have it.”

Last Thursday week, St. Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers played in European cup competitions against Greek and Turkish sides, St. Pats earned a hard-fought scoreless draw against the side invented and created by Turkish despot, Reccip Tyyip Erdogan, while Rovers went down by a respectable 4-0 margin in their “free-hit” in the Europa League against PAOK of Thessaloniki.

Neither game was shown on the national broadcaster, a disgrace and a farce are two words not strong enough to describe the evident disdain indicative of a snobby elite in Irish media who turn their noses up at the domestic game while flaunt about the scintillating city breaks and footballing atmospheres found in Barcelona, Dortmund or Manchester.

Heimir Hallgrimmson met the baying masses last week too, the headline grabbing statement was his desire to unearth a “b****rd” to fight for the shirt and make life for the opposition unpleasant when playing Ireland.

Under Kenny, Ireland appeared pleasant, polite and passive in pursuit of dominating possession stats.

Instead the Icelander prefers to master 5 out of 10 “superpowers” such as set-pieces and pressing ahead of “semi-mastering” all 10.

He has form guiding Iceland to shock wins and advancing their cause late into international tournaments, a fact missing in Irish football life since the 2002 World Cup.

Hypothetically, if that does ever happen in the coming years, whatever Minister for Sport in situ will be all over it, the national broadcaster will be bursting at the seams denoting pride from each parish on this isle is on show, but for now, when Irish football is looking up at rock-bottom they are nowhere to be seen.

Irish football does need a b****rd, hopefully it’s not Jayson Molumby, then we’ll more often than not play with 10 men after the first 30 seconds, or if League One James McClean is preferred, even if he stays on the pitch for the full 90 Ireland will still be playing with a reduced complement.

I’d wager the b¨¨¨¨rd is needed in the boardroom, a table pounder, a man like no other who strikes fear into the spines of spreadsheet soldiers.

A character with political experience and a true grá for the game, not just a love of the Premier League, they’re ten-a-penny, but a man from the junior game, from a rural area perhaps.

Enter Michael Ring, a talented striker in his day, he littered these pages in the past with his performances for his beloved Covies.

In January 1971 when the now soon to be retired TD scored the winner against Castlebar Celtic, he was still a mere teenager.

Irish football has spent too long looking for a messiah, we’ve no time for an evangelist, football isn’t pickleball.

It’s already the most widely played sport, the barriers to entry are minimal and it’s open to all ages, abilities and backgrounds this the reason why it’s the lingua franca of the world.

In a more diverse, multicultural Ireland, which this current crop of upcoming Irish footballing talent represents, sport is the greatest tool for inclusion and integration.

Ringer, football needs you, if not now when?

Imagine the scenes of Bohemian’s FC football hipsters singing tunes to Westport’s finest as he masterminds millions in funding to renovate Dalymount Park, the adulation awarded to the former auctioneer, when Finn Harps get their updated arena in Ballybofey after a true champion of the sport takes the helm and the sight of an Irish football team back in a major tournament, distracting the masses from mundanity of everyday life, in his youth while thumping hat-tricks in at the weekend around grounds in Mayo he spent the midweek delivering bread.

If Castlebar man David Courrell as Interim CEO of the FAI doesn’t make the call for the greatest thing since sliced pan then it’s the association’s loss and maybe Mayo’s gain.

Ring is entering a new era, but he won’t be pulling away totally to recline on a Mediterranean yacht, soccer needs him and Mayo FC, as they embark on their voyage, could do no better than the former Minister for Sport being involved in some capacity.

Umbro Park may have to move further west than Milebush to make him keen but in the long-run, it’ll be worth it.