Give it a lash Jack

At the beginning of September, I took to my usual spot at the green in our estate where our kids play their daily hotly contested football games against their neighbours and friends. As the children knocked lumps out of each other, I had my therapeutic evening news round up with some of the other parents. To my utter shock I was informed by Coventry City’s number one fan that Ireland was due to play France in a Euro qualifier in less than an hour’s ’time.

I have to say I was a bit disappointed in myself that I had totally forgotten about what should have been a momentous occasion playing one of the best teams in the world with arguable the best player in Kylian Mbappé. None of the ten plus children who were mostly togged out in Liverpool jerseys on the green seemed in the slightest bit concerned or even aware that the game was taking place. There was obviously no chat in school about it that day. It’s certainly a huge change in focus from the ‘Give it a lash Jack’ days and it got me thinking about what my mindset was with regards to the Irish soccer team when I was the same age as the next Mo Salahs on the green in front of me.

My grá for the Irish soccer team began at a young age when they took part in Euro 88. Unlike most it wasn’t the famous Houghton goal against England which captured my imagination. On Wednesday, June 15th ,1988 Ronnie Whelan met a throw in from big Mick McCarthy with a volley from the edge of the box which flew into the top right corner of the USSR net. From that moment on I was hooked on the Irish soccer team, and it was all Ireland, Ireland, Republic of Ireland rev it up and here we go!

We all know the incredible scenes that followed with Italia 90. How lucky were we as Irish people to be alive to witness Bonner’s save, O’Leary’s penalty followed by cars with fans and tri-colours beeping on our streets in celebration. It was one of the rare occasions which brough every family member together, all huddled around a small television screen roaring in unison for our men in green to win. Unfortunately, it all ended in heartbreak as Toto Schillaci hit the back of the next for the Italians to send us home. It did however capture the imagination of a generation and the Irish soccer team became the nation’s favourite.

Obviously, other incredible moments have occurred throughout the years like McAteer’s goal against the Dutch at Lansdowne Road, Keane’s belter against the Germans in the 2002 World cup, Shane Longs winner against the Germans at the Aviva and Robbie Brady’s winner against the Italians at Euro 2016 to name a few.

Unfortunately for the generation of children between 5 and 12 years of age who play every evening on estate greens, they just haven’t had that special Irish soccer moment to capture their imaginations and make it the focal point of talk in schools. 

Let’s hope in the not-too-distant future the International set up will see someone with a bit more personality steer the ship who can make us believe. Let’s hope that someone like the talented Evan Ferguson can create a special moment which will result in children across our nation wearing the green jersey with pride as they show off their hero’s name etched across the back.

I’m convinced that we just need that special Ole Ole Ole moment to reignite that fire, put’em under pressure and to make us believe again. Give it a lash lads, rev it up and here we go.