God I hate this man!

Mauler · Post by **Mauler** » August 31st, 2006, 2:02 pm

http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories ... si=1679217

Magners bid to putfizz into league butproblems remain

AT some stage last season, those industrious fellows at Celtic League head office were clearly so exasperated at the prospect of another season opening with the under-whelming prospect of Borders hosting Connacht in ghostly, forbidding Netherdale (as enticing a spectator event as the Poc Fada) that their Father Jack-like craving for drink reached its absolute zenith.

Having raised their hemlines unashamedly in the direction of all and sundry in recent years in their desperate attempts to raise any sponsorship, the Celtic League entity was seemingly resigned to its role as a clapped-out Leeson Street lady as the tarted-up escorts of the Premiership and European Cup wallowed in drink and TV moolah.

Magners had first mooted themselves as sponsors last season but, as Scotland's stg£23million debt threatened the future of one of its teams and the Welsh continued to contemplate an even more adulterous relationship with English, the deal was developing into a headache even more severe than that produced by the imbibing of a dozen of the prospective sponsor's finest.

Thankfully, Edinburgh Gunners have gone private and Wales eventually decided to merely retain their interest in the anachronistic Anglo-Welsh Cup so all three participating countries - Scotland, Wales and Ireland - appear to be, finally, singing from the same hymn sheet.

Yet, familiar difficulties remain.

Ireland's unmatched system for protecting their national squad precludes their international players from featuring in at least half-a-dozen games, including the first month.

Welsh clubs will have their eyes on three club prizes instead of merely two. And, to be perfect;y frank, Scotland couldn't give a fig about its three regions, an apathy which reflects poorly on the genuine enthusiasm aroused in both the Valleys and in this part of the world.

Unsporting

Also, differing interpretations about when, and to what extent, internationals should be pulled from key games is more than a distraction.

It remains grossly unfair and unsporting.

As enthusiastic first-up sponsors, and mirroring their products matured move from one-time favourite of the park drinker to favoured tipple of the thirsty golfer, Magners will hopefully not miss a trick although they will be forced to overcome unavoidable bouts of hiccups.

Too often, the competition, despite consistently producing excitement, passion and commitment appears to operate in a vacuum.

Ridiculous kick-off times - midnight finishes at Netherdale anyone? - test the patience of players, supporters and media alike.

Last season, as spring sprung, Connacht went almost two months without anyone darkening their door thanks to the quirky scheduling.

This season, all their eggs are being delivered at once as, after this weekend's unforgettable Scottish trek, they face six Friday night home games in-a-row.

Ulster, who might have expected more as champions, have been shunted to Saturday night for this week's opener (European champions Munster open the televised campaign away to Cardiff at the Arms Park).

Identity

Surely the competition should have ensured the holders earned the right to have an all-singing, all-dancing opening night?

The Guinness Premiership may remain over-hyped and only thrills when relegation issues are decided but it still a superior, clearly more intense competition - despite Magners League chairman John Hussey's well-meaning hyperbole.

More importantly, it has structure, well-defined momentum and a clearer sense of identity.

The Magners League would have doubtlessly introduced play-offs had there not been a World Cup to factor in next season.

Some of the indifference is illogical. Why don't as many Irish people watch Brian O'Driscoll, the world's greatest player, in the regular league season as in the comparatively rarer appearances in European competition?

Hang the context and appreciate the chance to watch O'Driscoll, Christian Cullen and Andrew Trimble live and in the flesh.

But, of more immediate relevance, the sponsors and organisers simply have to ensure they refrain from treating their public with the contempt that has seemingly been reserved for them in previous seasons.

There's enough of that in our lives.

We will watch with interest and it all gets going with Borders and Connacht this Friday.

Well, you've got to start the party somewhere.

David Kelly

To answer David Kellys final point, perhaps it the media got behind the ML rather than getting on its back and deriding the league it might just might encuorage more people to show up at ML games ...

Dave Cahill · Post by **Dave Cahill** » August 31st, 2006, 2:04 pm

And the article was accompanied by a picture of BOD "in front of an empty terrace in LR", not mentioning that the photo was from about 4 years ago!

Grumpy Old Man · Post by **Grumpy Old Man** » August 31st, 2006, 2:07 pm

Dave Cahill wrote:And the article was accompanied by a picture of BOD "in front of an empty terrace in LR", not mentioning that the photo was from about 4 years ago!

and that the north & south terraces were not open for those games IIRC

Munsterboy · Post by **Munsterboy** » August 31st, 2006, 2:13 pm

Yeah, I noticed that. Way to sell the tournament Dave (not you Mr. Cahill, obviously!).
What's the significance of an empty terrace in LR anyway? It's not like any team from the GP would fill that place either.
The crowds at ML games are getting quite respectable these days and would be a lot better if the press didn't keep knocking it all the time. From the tone of half the reports in the papers anybody going to their first ML game this season would be expecting to be one of a crowd of about fifty people watching the Leinster third team play the Scottish Nobodies XV on a bit of waste ground.
A bunch of knockers the lot of them.

Dave Cahill · Post by **Dave Cahill** » August 31st, 2006, 2:37 pm

Munsterboy wrote:Yeah, I noticed that. Way to sell the tournament Dave (not you Mr. Cahill, obviously!).
What's the significance of an empty terrace in LR anyway? It's not like any team from the GP would fill that place either.
The crowds at ML games are getting quite respectable these days and would be a lot better if the press didn't keep knocking it all the time. From the tone of half the reports in the papers anybody going to their first ML game this season would be expecting to be one of a crowd of about fifty people watching the Leinster third team play the Scottish Nobodies XV on a bit of waste ground.
A bunch of knockers the lot of them.

Nothing wrong with a bunch of knockers

Post by **Eve** » August 31st, 2006, 2:38 pm

Dave Cahill wrote:
Munsterboy wrote:Yeah, I noticed that. Way to sell the tournament Dave (not you Mr. Cahill, obviously!).
What's the significance of an empty terrace in LR anyway? It's not like any team from the GP would fill that place either.
The crowds at ML games are getting quite respectable these days and would be a lot better if the press didn't keep knocking it all the time. From the tone of half the reports in the papers anybody going to their first ML game this season would be expecting to be one of a crowd of about fifty people watching the Leinster third team play the Scottish Nobodies XV on a bit of waste ground.
A bunch of knockers the lot of them.
Nothing wrong with a bunch of knockers

I wondered who'd be first

Grumpy Old Man · Post by **Grumpy Old Man** » August 31st, 2006, 2:40 pm

Eve wrote:
Dave Cahill wrote:
Munsterboy wrote:Yeah, I noticed that. Way to sell the tournament Dave (not you Mr. Cahill, obviously!).
What's the significance of an empty terrace in LR anyway? It's not like any team from the GP would fill that place either.
The crowds at ML games are getting quite respectable these days and would be a lot better if the press didn't keep knocking it all the time. From the tone of half the reports in the papers anybody going to their first ML game this season would be expecting to be one of a crowd of about fifty people watching the Leinster third team play the Scottish Nobodies XV on a bit of waste ground.
A bunch of knockers the lot of them.
Nothing wrong with a bunch of knockers
I wondered who'd be first

DC always comes fir....nah, forget it

sarah_lennon · Post by **sarah_lennon** » August 31st, 2006, 2:40 pm

A bunch of knockers????? A bunch implies more than two!

Dave Cahill · Post by **Dave Cahill** » August 31st, 2006, 2:41 pm

sarah_lennon wrote:A bunch of knockers????? A bunch implies more than two!

Yes, yes it does

the_git · Post by **the_git** » August 31st, 2006, 2:47 pm

sarah_lennon wrote:A bunch of knockers????? A bunch implies more than two!

You've never seen Total Recall obviously

Colm · Post by **Colm** » August 31st, 2006, 4:22 pm

David Kelly wrote:AT some stage last season, those industrious fellows at Celtic League head office were clearly so exasperated at the prospect of another season opening with the under-whelming prospect of Borders hosting Connacht in ghostly, forbidding Netherdale (as enticing a spectator event as the Poc Fada) that their Father Jack-like craving for drink reached its absolute zenith.

David Kelly - You're a TOSSER!

The Poc Fada is an amazing event.

olaf the fat · Post by **olaf the fat** » August 31st, 2006, 5:57 pm

sorry, i lost the train of this tread

bunch of knockers wow new thread

olaf the fat · Post by **olaf the fat** » August 31st, 2006, 6:01 pm

david kelly will turn you off reading -

Beer Baron · Post by **Beer Baron** » August 31st, 2006, 6:26 pm

i never read his shite! don't understand why anyone does, he's a tw@t and a terrible journalist

sexy_rexy · Post by **sexy_rexy** » August 31st, 2006, 9:57 pm

Gerry's article in the times is much more rounded!

apple sourz · Post by **apple sourz** » August 31st, 2006, 10:00 pm

Colm wrote:
David Kelly wrote:AT some stage last season, those industrious fellows at Celtic League head office were clearly so exasperated at the prospect of another season opening with the under-whelming prospect of Borders hosting Connacht in ghostly, forbidding Netherdale (as enticing a spectator event as the Poc Fada) that their Father Jack-like craving for drink reached its absolute zenith.
David Kelly - You're a TOSSER!

The Poc Fada is an amazing event.

Was this article entitled 'How to mend fences' by David Kelly by any chance?

BlueBlue · Post by **BlueBlue** » September 4th, 2006, 12:48 pm

David kelly has replaed frono as the biggest muppet in irish rugby media. I think frano knows he is a muppet, but david kelly sees himself as the most important single entity in Irish rugby, he's even more important than the people that play the game.

To answer David Kellys final point, perhaps it the media got behind the ML rather than getting on its back and deriding the league it might just might encuorage more people to show up at ML games ...

And yes I could not agree more with the above paragraph, I got bored of the irish media running down the comp 2 years ago, and they are still at it.