We’ve been here before…
VIDEO: The real reason the UK media keeps claiming Irish people as British https://t.co/wBV72qq9Xg
— JOE.ie (@JOEdotie) September 8, 2016
There may be spurious claims for Michael, Saoirse and Lenny. We can just about live with that.
But Dundalk? Leave off.
Stephen Kenny’s men battled back from 1-0 and with only 10 men to secure a fantastic draw away to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
It appeared to be a Europa League mission impossible for Dundalk but no-one told the likes of Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland or Ciaran Kilduff, who nodded home a late, late equaliser.
Post-match, Alkmaar manager John van den Brom had nothing but respect for how the Irish champions played, and earned a point. He did seem to forget Dundalk were actually Irish or, rather, that the Republic of Ireland is no longer under British rule. Van den Brom said:
“I was not surprised. They’re not a typical British team.
“They try to play football. In the first half, they were better than AZ with their short combinations and they had more of the ball than us.
“The only time we were better was after the goal and against 10 men.”
This has happened to Irish sides before – Martin O’Neill’s side got the ‘British football’ label during Euro 2016 – but it doesn’t stop from sticking in our collective craw.
Dundalk will be sure to give Alkmaar the most Irish of welcomes when both sides meet again, later this year.
Stephen Rochford chats with Colm Parkinson on The GAA Hour, heated Lee Keegan debate, and Barry Cahill is outnumbered by Mayo backers. Subscribe here on iTunes.
