I don’t profess to have any more than a passing interest in soccer. There are obvious differences like the ball size, little contact allowed, no contact welcomed etc etc, but one similarity between the Irish soccer game on Sunday evening versus Croatia and a typical club hurling game is that, no matter where the problems may lie on the field, the corner forward is first to be substituted. In fact Mr Trappatoni replaced the whole full forward line when it was clear, even to me, that the midfield were absent and the defence were under extreme pressure. Even the goalkeeper was in a bit of bother but the corner forwards shouldered the blame…….
Corner forward on a hurling team is the worst place to play ever. You get very limited supply of ball and when you do it is usually more appropriate to an ambidextrous giraffe – considerably over your head with the corner back imprinting a hurley handle in your back or a teeny weeny nudge or small “joult” to put you off.
But the main problem is you are always first to be called ashore and replaced if you are not having an absolute blinder or if the team is in trouble in any part of the field.
It’s not fair….