On this date

There were lots and lots of sore heads on this forum!

FAO CCFC U/17 Manager.

I was in Bishopstown yesterday for your game.

In the second half you went out of your way to humilate a young member of your squad. Having introduced the lad at half time you substituted him after a mere 15 minutes , ostensibly as a punishment for his part in the concession of a goal.

You are the manager of an under-age sports team. As such, your role is to nurture and encorage the young players in your care and assist them in their development so that they reach adulthood fully eqipped to play the game at whatecver level is appropriate to their ability.

Your actions yesterday run counter to those aims.

I don't know the lad in question but to any one sitting in the stand it was clear that you thought you were making some sort of statement with this decision. I understand that, in the dressing rom afterwards, you singled the lad out for some further "treatment". I have no idea what qualifications you have for this position but, if you consider this to be what constitutes good team management
then it is no surprise that your team produced that display yesterday.

Your team were a shables yesterday, particularly in the second half and your tinkering with the team only made things worse. When you are looking to attribute the blame for this you should desist from the bully boy tactics you employed and, maybe, look a little bit closer to home!

Intimidation in the DF

The Echo will shortly be running this exclusive following the disgraceful stewarding of the DF for the Setanta final.

It seems that, due to the restriction on tickets, a number of City fans, myself included, were accomodated in the DF stand VERY CLOSE TO SOME RABID GLENTORAN FANS!

To say that we felt cowed and intimidated would be an understatement. These booted and suited fans took over the bank of seats around the tunnel and insisted, throughout the game, on conversing in soft northern tones which were entirely unintelligible to us.

Their demeanour, particularly during the second half, was one of stony faced menace - and it just got worse when Dan scored. Their level of tut-tutting when Kearney took off his shirt was the most intimidating piece of fan behaviour i have witnessed at the Cross.

The nadir came when Glentoran made some substiutions- they insisted in actually applauding their substituted players as they left the field - a gesture which I am certain was made with the sole intention of intimidating our gallant minority of City fans who were forced to share the stand with them.

I understand ( from a "source") that their second half behaviour may well be connected to their half time consumption of copious amounts of tea. Fair enough - but, since when has drink been accepted as an excuse?

I accept that there will always be a bit of banter and good natured joshing between opposing sets of fans but the antics of these pin striped yobbos went beyond the acceptable.

I blame Milo!

The Holly Bough

If ever there was a Cork institution, this must be it.

I see it's out again a full eight weeks before Christmas but, what harm?

Is there any comparable publication anywhere else?

MNS

Disgraceful effort last night.

Not a mention of Saturday night from the Dublincentric panel.

I can understand them not having footage to show but not a mention, not a word of congtatulations.

The biggest game on the island at the weekend not even worth acknowledging.

I suppose any positive mention of CCFC would have stuck in the thug Collins' throat!