Rep. of Ireland vs. Bosnia Herzegovina
An exercise in familiarity


The machine that is Irish soccer at the moment rolls on, thirteen games now without loss. Shane Long's 79th minute header giving the men in green the victory. In all honesty Bosnia didn't pose much of a threat. Their main attacking force- Manchester City's Edin Dzeko- was present in body but not particularly in mind. Consequently the visitor's attack was rendered largely ineffectual.

The FAI, we're told, handpicked today's opposition due to the similarities between their style of play and that of our Group C opponents Croatia. Short intricate passing in the middle of the park is the name of the game, and Ireland were to get to grips with it before departing for Eastern Europe. All in all, this was an exercise in familiarity and, in Trapatonni's terms, experimentation. So what did we learn?


James McClean had an encouraging first half. The young Sunderland winger was all gusto and plenty guile. He succeeded in delivering a number of threatening crosses, tracked back well in defence and nearly managed to sneak one effort in at the near post just before the break. The new man had arrived and set down a marker for his competitors. Meanwhile on the other flank Damien Duff gave his customary assured performance. The Fulham star looked sharp throughout and really should have opened the scoring, Ireland's two best chances of the half having fallen to him. Duff, you would imagine is a certainty to start in Gdansk on June 10. It is competition for the other wing berth that has now been blown wide open. Having started promisingly McClean's influence waned in the second period, while replacement Aiden McGeady proceeded to deposit 45 minutes of stellar wing play in his account. As McClean looked increasingly sloppy and seemed to tire in the magnificent May heat, McGeady was only getting going. The pace and trickery we have come to expect from him were apparent in abundance, but so too was his final ball. The Spartak Moscow winger has been much maligned by public and press alike in recent times, but as the player himself was at pains to point out this week; nobody contributed more assists in the qualifying campaign and again today he proved the difference. Having seen his magnificent floated cross squandered by Johnny Walters moments earlier, the winger again tricked his way into a dangerous position and lofted another cross into the area on 79 minutes which Long duly converted. Just as the game was heading towards a stalemate McGeady again proved to be the spark of inspiration that changed the game. McClean's challenge had been seen and surpassed, the Man of the Match award  secured in just 45 minutes work. Aiden will rest easy tonight. The emergence of the young pretender McClean has pushed Stephen Hunt somewhat to the periphery. Having been stripped and ready to come on, he was strangely stood down again and forced to retreat to the bench. The 'lap of honour' at the finish presented Trap with the opportunity for a word of consolation. One would imagine Hunt will start against Hungary, it may perhaps be his only start of the summer. So the race to occupy the flanks is well and truly on. For now McGeady occupies pole position.

Up front, Long will have certainly given the manager food for though with an impressive display and a well taken goal. One would imagine Doyle remains the favourite to partner Robbie Keane come crunch time but the Tipp native has been applying steady pressure of late and should not be discounted in the reckoning. Beyond that Simon Cox didn't get a run out today while Johnathon Walters turned in a performance he'd rather forget. Nonetheless the big Stoke man can provide a different focus of attack which may prove important moving  forward. One note of caution at the opposite end of the pitch would be the ease at which the Bosnian's often found space in front of the Irish back four. This particular group of players generally work very hard in denying such space to opposition players, but today were found wanting at times. 


The preparations for our first European Championships in 24 years are underway, just one more sparring partner awaits in Budapest. As a nation we pray that come full time in the Ferenc Puskas Stadion the team has been sufficiently well conditioned to avoid the knock-out punch of the heavy hitters that await.

The Magic of Munster Returns

This Sunday Limerick and Tipperary will old renew rivalries and in doing so light the touch paper under another season of Munster Championship Hurling. Power, passion, intensity, the list of superlatives is endless. The Munster Championship remains perhaps the greatest and purest contest of the age old game. Limerick will enter the game as big underdogs, Tipperary with renewed optimism of another successful campaign following a relatively arduous Spring.

In June 2007 these two counties wrote yet another epic chapter in their combined history, battling out a three game saga before the Shannonsiders eventually prevailed. No doubt the catalyst to a burgeoning love of the game in another generation of youngsters, it proved the magic of  the Munster Championship burned as brightly as ever. Now that the summer is upon us again the cool air of the National League subsides and the furnace of Championship hurling is ready to erupt once again. Since 2007 the two counties could hardly have trodden less similar paths. The concluding stanza in that particular ode to hurling remains Limerick's last victory in Munster, and their sole victory in their last 16 games in the province. Tipp meanwhile have won seven of their last eight Munster championship matches dating back to 2008 and have claimed three out of four Munster titles in that same period. Along with Kilkenny, Tipperary have elevated the game to a level thus far beyond the reach of any other county in the land. Hurling is crying out for another county to emerge as a force, yet if the Treaty have aspirations of doing so their first task is considerable indeed. Regardless, such is the magic of this competition anything is possible and their fans will travel in their droves in the eternal optimism of upsetting the old enemy.

Semple Stadium- the home of hurling- will again provide the backdrop for the intrepid players of both sides to do battle . Being amongst the some 54,000 supporters on days like this is something special. The roar of the crowd reaching a crescendo and one of the great institutions of this country shifting back into gear reawakens something innate in all that have grown up with such experiences. Come throw-in and the new season's first reacquaintance of ash, an excitement that lies dormant for most of the year will once again course through the veins of young and old, promising a prolonged campaign into the dead of summer. There is something truly primal about it. For 70 minutes the established order is up for renegotiation and only at the end is it reinstated; the dominant party having reaffirmed its position in the hierarchy or the previously subservient having risen above the odds. 

Come Sunday we will once again compel the sun to permeate the depths of hurling's greatest theatre and illuminate this most hellacious of spectacles. After all, exhibiting the early summer burn the Irish alone are assured of and the ensuing hours of discomfort is the closest most of us get to a personal mark of sufferance in allegiance to the county. So pack the ham sandwiches, prepare the flasks of tea, don your colours and once again prepare to be enveloped in the din of Semple and the supreme artistry of the action. This, is going to be special....

The Fiscal Compact Treaty
An Irish Perspective


May 31st 2012 is a date likely to resonate with generations of this country for years to come. That day the people of Ireland will be asked to either support or reject the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, or the Fiscal Compact to you and I. Unfortunately the day is fast approaching, and with 19% of the population undecided as to which way to cast their vote time is running out. The American writer Henry Adams' assertion that "during a campaign the air is full of speeches- and vice versa" has never seemed so apt. This campaign, like most others in this country, has been dogged by a litany of mistruths, political point scoring, and claim and counter-claim . To distinguish fact from fiction has been an unnecessarily arduous task. The following seeks to chart a different course and lay out the facts of the Treaty as they pertain to its key elements.

Firstly it is important to establish the budgetary changes that the Fiscal Compact will initiate if ratified. The Compact;

• introduces a lower limit of a structural deficit of 0.5% of GDP
• requires member states whose Debt:GDP ratio is greater than 60% to reduce this ratio at an average rate of 1/20th  of the deviation per annum. (i.e. if a country's Debt:GDP ratio is 80%, then the deviation from the threshold is 20% thus requiring a reduction of 1% per annum.)
• introduces the key provision that budgetary rules shall be enshrined in national law through provisions of "binding force and permanent character, preferably constitutional." (Article 3(2) )

It is prudent to note that the Fiscal Compact itself does not alter much by way of budgetary provisions as set under the 'six pack' of reforms introduced in late 2011. The key innovation is the proposal to enshrine these provisions in national law. Philip Lane, Professor at TCD notes that "domestic legal requirements are more likely to induce fiscal discipline than external rules such as the SGP, since only the domestic system can effectively hold a government to account". Given the weak fiscal governance and enforcement that checkers the history of the EU Council, Prof. Lane might just have a point.

Bunreacht na hÉireann

If ratified the Treaty will introduce a new way of measuring budget balances- the structural deficit. The introduction of the structural deficit has caused consternation amongst some commentators, but drawn high praise from others. Essentially, the structural budget makes sense. It takes into account changes in the business cycle and may therefore aid governments in implementing sustainable fiscal policies and effectively promoting macroeconomic stability through counter-cyclical measures. The problem is the structural deficit is not easily calculated, in fact no consensus exisits as to whether it can be accurately calculated at all. It seems wholly illogical and irresponsible to base facets of such an important treaty on a concept which is incapable of meaningful measurement.  Brian Lucey, Professor of Finance at TCD perhaps then put it best in stating that"we are asked to support the immeasurable in the pursuit of the unattainable." Regrettably it appears support of the structural deficit is a matter of faith and no more. 

Another topic of debate in this referendum is the access to funding that the State will have as a result of the vote. In reality, however, little time and effort need be exerted in the discussion of this issue. Should we reject the Treaty, Ireland will not have access to the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). Only those member states that ratify the Treaty will have access to these funds. Consequently, were the country to need a second bailout (as is looking increasingly likely) it is unclear as to where the money would come from. Rejecting the Treaty sets our course through uncharted waters in this regard. Alternative sources of capital have been mooted, such as simply raising funds through the market or receiving further assistance from the IMF. It seems unlikely, however, that the IMF would provide such funds, or at the very least wholly speculative that they would do so. Minister Michael Noonan has also advised the Dáil that the IMF has "indicated that it will provide funding to Ireland only as part of a European initiative". Even more unlikely is the prospect of reentering the bond markets in late 2013 at any reasonable interest rate. As recently as Wednesday (23rd May) the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) advised that rejection of the Treaty "would mean in all likelihood that it would not be possible for Ireland to re-enter the bond markets at sustainable rates".

The final bone of contention for many is the proposed introduction of a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT). Bear in mind, The Fiscal Treaty does NOT expressly include these proposals, instead it is thought that ratifying the Treaty would lead inevitably to greater fiscal unity and integration which would ease the way for the introduction of such a tax. The tax, commonly referred to as a 'Tobin tax' would apply to the sale and purchase of financial instruments, when transfer of ownership occurs, a levy must be paid. The concept is no different to say the working of a property tax. There are too schools of thought on the issue. The first, argues in the name of prudence and equity that it is high time such a tax were introduced as it would serve to curtail the highly speculative trading that initially led to the financial crisis and would also force the financial sector to contribute towards the resolution of a problem they helped create. Conversely, the Irish government is staunchly opposed to such a tax and perhaps with good reason. It is their belief that the imposition of such a tax would be catastrophic for the financial services sector in this country, in encouraging business to migrate to non-taxable areas. David Cameron has already vowed to fight the tax in defence of the City of London and refused to back the Treaty at a summit late last year as a result. The fear is that those in the IFSC will follow the path trodden by the Irish diaspora of times both past and present, in heading for the safe refuge and greener pastures of the city of London.

Dublin's International Financial Services Sector (IFSC)

Ratifying this Treaty guarantees the country access to future funding in the all too likely event of needing to access it. It seeks to encourage a degree of fiscal discipline which has been largely found wanting in the history of the State, and as such must be welcomed. Unfortunately it is likely to send the country into further decline and deeper recession, along with the other fringe nations of Europe. It is flawed in the absence of any growth agenda and seeks to impose sanctions on offending nations in the name of a concept many experts consider immeasurable. It may help herald the introduction of a tax regime whose costs and benefits have not been adequately determined and enshrines budgetary provisions in national law. The war currently being waged for the favour of the people is a tumultuous affair. One that cares for its outcome is faced with any number of conflicting views, through which they must sift in order to cast their vote with conviction rather than faith.

The edict handed down by the will of the German's is a tough pill to swallow, yet perversely it might be in the country's interests to do so given the forsaken state we find ourselves in and the prospect of even greater hardship that lies ahead should we decide not to.

The Curious Case of Chelsea Football Club

Last night, in one of the most epic- if not brilliant- finals in recent years, Chelsea finally reached their Holy Grail and became Champions of Europe. The Chelsea oligarchy has reached its ultimate justification, yet it remains dysfunctional to its core.

363 days ago Roman Abramovich relieved Carlo Ancelotti of his duties. The Italian, while presumably not short of an empathetic shoulder to cry on given his former employers trigger-happy nature, would have been allowed to feel just a little preplexed given the relative success during his two years at the club. But alas the bell had tolled for Ancelotti and in his place Andre Villas Boas was hired. Before long he too was being swiftly signalled to the exit.

While one would find it difficult to extol Villas Boas' record during his brief tenure, his mistakes were not at the core of what remains wrong with Chelsea Football Club. AVB failed trying to do the right thing. He simply went about it the wrong way. Having been authorised to undertake a transformation of the club's ageing squad he went about his business with the subtlety of of a scythe. In the process he managed to alienate senior players likely Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Alex and presumably Terry, Cech and Drogba too. Having lost control of the dressing room Villas Boas was always likely to fail. 

However, the question remains why was he needed in the first place? A manger with the wealth of experience that Ancelotti possesses is surely astute enough to recognise the ageing profile of his squad. Why was he not given the opportunity to bring about the Velvet Revolution required, rather than AVB's Storming of the Bastille. 

Robert Frost in his 1920 work ' The Road Not Taken', hindsight and a dash honesty in tow laments the consequences of his actions;

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

In time Mr. Abramovich may do likewise. 


Leaving the significant successes of the last fortnight aside, what at his football club has really changed. While 'The Old Guard' of players that form the core of the Chelsea dressing room are far from finished as a force in the Premier League or Champions League, Chelsea are still far too dependent on them. A freshening of the squad is required, just as it was 12 months ago. The Board have replaced one young, inexperienced manager with, for now at least, another. It seems perverse that a manager that has achieved so much in such a short period of time would be shown the door like those before him. Yet for once it may be the correct decision. Let us not forget a year ago Villas Boas had just completed the Treble with Porto having captured the Europa League- becoming the youngest manager ever to win a major European competition. He was the hottest property around, the flavour of the month so to speak. Only three months prior to the culmination of AVB's achievement Di Matteo was sacked by West Brom. Not one of Europe's elite clubs- West Bromwich Albion. If fifteen months ago a modest mid table club found his managerial direction to be surplus to requirements, surely any decision on his appointment as permanent manager must be taken with a note of caution. None of this is to take away from Di Matteo's achievement, he has done a stellar job. However, going forward his tenure must be properly evaluated. What has he changed?

Not much. He has reinstated key figures and more importantly key players like Lampard, he has sought to bring more out of Torres and he has created a happy dressing room. Tactically? He has stuck to the tried and tested of Chelsea going back as far as the Mourinho days; solid back five (not playing, or pressing too far up the pitch), two holding in front with Lampard providing goals from midfield, and a front four of playmaker (Mata), two wide men and a central striker. It's not rocket science, but it works, it suits this group of players and Di Matteo has been absolutely correct in returning to it. Any notions that Chelsea's reversal of fortunes has come about as a result of the manager's tactical nous are, however, misplaced. Another key consideration, is that given that his success has so evidently been built on the restoration of the Chelsea core, will he now have the desire or ability to gradually reduce their influence on the team?


Abramovich should never of sacked Ancelotti. The man is a two time European Cup winner and multiple domestic champion in Italy, he won the domestic double in his first season in England, and had crucially begun to ring the changes in the squad seeing no more use for the likes of Deco, Ballack, Cole, Belletti & Carvallho. The decision facing Ambramovich now leaves him to ponder the lessons of the past. Should he recognise and seek to refrain from his tendency to prematurely replace successful managers and hand Di Matteo the reins on a permanent basis? Or should he take heed of the most recent of lessons that choosing the young, successful, up-and-coming manager does not always represent the best option? Should he invest his faith in Di Matteo and the new manager obliges with an early season record comparable to that of his predecessor, Roman may feel more than a little empathy with Frost for the folly of his actions. A curious case indeed.