Shane Duffy

Not since Alan Kernaghan ;) In fairness I think he was always going to declare for us-North were just chancing their arm by naming in a squad so he had to declare his decision today.

But he captained our u-18s,do you not think its bad practice to constantly pursue players developed by our youth system,because you percieve they should rightfully play for republic.

What good does it do community relations if the Freestate taps all the Fenians leaving the North with the Prods.As usual the Freestate ignores the big picture for short term advantage.

He's a catholic so therefore he was always going to play for the republic.Any catholic who plays for the north,no matter how good they are only seem to get constant abuse from the bigoted minority.So until that changes any decent Catholic player is always going to choose the republic over northern ireland.

Do not want this to turn into usual sectarian nonsense,just want to know what any republic football fan honestly thinks of this.

The jigger,read my post above,dont play sectarian card to justify it.

Sorry the jigger thats simply not true-it certainly was true in the recent past but heh lets move on-the problem is the Freestate sticks its sectarian size 10s into it and we are back to square one with a protestant football team for a protestant people.

I think it really is up to the player who he want's to play for.I can understand how ye are annoyed as he is a quality player and football in the north is never going to progress as long as this keeps happening.I have watched him closely as i am an Everton fan and i think he is a quality defender,so i am delighted he has chose to play for us.

There is nil sectarianism at Windsor nowadays,ref.Niall Mcginn + Pat Mccourt.Sectarianism now used by F.A.I to recruit players through this practice.
Time for F.I.F.A to act now.

The Jigger,you seem to understand my argument,this is scandalous how it happens so often.

If the shoe was on the other foot i would be just as angry as you are.

Northern Ireland fan for 30+ years,this p****s me off more than anything in football at moment.

Also Marc Wilson. Included in our squad today played underage for Norn Iron.
The jiggers point is fair. The Windsor Park crowd is probably the main contributory factor but personally, I think it`s well out of order. Very little loyalty in any walk of life anymore.

nothing to do with tapping. all about where he comes from and where they want him to play.

:D
pleasing thread

What dont they just make one Irish team so if there is no more secetarism involved and everyone seems to get along fine?

Think it just shows that the IFA have still a lot more to do to appeal to the nationalist community in the north. For a start it would be a significant gesture and would show they are really serious in representing both communities if they were to remove their insistance on playing' god save the queen' before matches.

too much thought boys. if he played for a championship or league one he may may have stayed. big club easy call. 80000 croker(55000 new stad) or 16000 windsor? earlier post re. mcginn and mccourt _ celtic players

Preferred him in boyzone.

Keith Duffy ^^^

lol. Too easy. GAWA.

Sure sure...

If Shane Duffy views himself as Irish and wants to play for the Republic then it is his decision and he has the right to make that decision.

You are being disingenious if you think this is creating sectarian tensions given the historic behavior of a small, but very vocal, selection of Northern Irish fans and the suits in the IFA. I'd be all for an all ireland team. Why not? But I'm also all for any person born in the counties who wishes to play for the republic.

all northern irish players can claim irish citizenship and then declare for the republic

so the ifa can't prepare properly at all without the threat of their players going south

hence if they cant beat them, they should.....thats right folks join them

combine the teams and have an all ireland team- FIFA would be delighted. We could play most big games in dublin and play the smaller games re lichenstein et and friendlies in belfast until windor park or the maze stadium is upgraded

if the northern rugby lads(all protestants) can play for a united ireland team why not the soccer

most sports organistinations in this country are all ireland orgs so lets get soccer the same


then all we need to do is get rid of the blasted sterling and the border will no longer exist...muhahhahaa

rubbish d b . giggs father was a rugby league player an english so giggs could of qualified through him to play for england had he chosen.