Sport
Men’s team should take note of women’s passionate rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann
Sadly, the Irish women’s football team looked a little disjointed in their defeat to Wales on Tuesday night, but they were at least singing from the same hymn sheet immediately before kick-off.
Linked together arm in arm, all 11 starters – five of whom were born and raised in foreign lands – belted out Amhrán na bhFiann in unison and with great gusto. It was clear from their passionate rendition and the expressions on their faces that they were delighted to be there representing Ireland on the international stage.
This shouldn’t really be noteworthy. After all, singing the anthem is standard practice for international football teams all over the world.
However, one notable exception to the rule is the Irish men’s team. Some members of the current squad do not sing The Soldier’s Song, instead remaining straight-faced and silent while their teammates and supporters join in. As a fan, I have to say it’s not something I like to see.
It should go without saying but this is obviously nothing like American football players kneeling during The Star-Spangled Banner or a person from the UK choosing not to sing God Save the King. If someone refuses to acknowledge their country’s anthem due to their personal or political beliefs or to highlight a societal issue, more power to them. I think that’s admirable and should be respected.
But that’s not what’s going on with the Irish soccer team. Certain players are simply not participating, perhaps because they don’t know the words in the case of the England-born lads, or because they’re choosing not to sing in the case of the native Irish lads.
Being too patriotic can be a bad thing in the real world, especially if it bleeds into nationalism, but what is international football if not a stage for patriotism? We have our guys. You have your guys. Send them over here and we’ll see who’s best. It’s an exercise in flag waving and showing the world how proud you are of your team and, ultimately, the place you come from.
The whole thing is a show and the anthems are probably the most visceral and emotive part of the pageantry. Frankly, I find it a bit weird that some of the players are opting out. If nothing else, taking part would be a really easy PR win. In fact, if I was an adviser to the manager Heimir Hallgrímsson I’d pull him aside and say, “Come here, do you know what the fans would love…”
If he doesn’t want to learn it, fair enough. He’s Icelandic, not Irish, and, unlike the English media, I wouldn’t consider it an act of treason if he declined. (Good luck to England's new German manager Thomas Tuchel, by the way. He will be doing well to get out of there uncrucified.)
Everyone in Heimir’s squad is Irish, though, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask for the Ireland-born players to sing the anthem, or for the England-born players to learn 11 lines of a song, even if the language is foreign to them. We’re not asking them to master the modh coinníollach. A child can learn Amhrán na bhFiann having little or no command of Irish – we all did it. And so did Courtney Brosnan (born and raised in the USA), Caitlin Hayes (England), Anna Patten (England), Ruesha Littlejohn (Scotland) and Kyra Carusa (USA).
I’m sure the boys who don’t sing the anthem are all proud Irishmen beneath their cold, emotionless glares. I just think it would be no harm if they expressed that pride through the medium of song like the rest of us.
Sport
Jack O’Connor’s Kerry squad is looking deeper and stronger (but the proof will be in the eating)
As we reach the midway point of the 2025 season, Adam Moynihan takes a close look at Kerry’s strength in depth
As the Kerry players, management team and backroom staff huddled together for a photo with the Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup in front of the Hogan Stand, one of the photographers raised his fist in the air, trying to illicit something resembling a celebratory scene. No joy.
Victory over Mayo had been secured in convincing enough fashion but winning the league has never been grounds for buoyant celebrations as far as Kerry are concerned. Retaining Division 1 status and unearthing some new talent is generally enough to tick the springtime box ahead of the serious business of the championship. Once that has been achieved, anything else is gravy.
Going by the disappointing loss to Armagh in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, the need for new blood was especially great heading into the 2025 season. The team faded badly down the stretch and into extra time against the Orchard County with overdependence on core players glaringly obvious. It wasn’t the only reason they lost but Kerry simply didn’t get enough from their supporting cast on the day.
With that in mind, Jack O’Connor knew he had to work on the depth of his squad during this league campaign, and you’d have to say he made a pretty good fist of it.
Starting in goal, the situation here is clear with Shane Murphy providing back-up to Shane Ryan.
Moving out the field, in recent years Kerry have generally gone with Jason Foley at full back, Tom O’Sullivan at left corner back, and one of Paul Murphy or Graham O’Sullivan at right corner back.
After making his debut in the league in 2024, Damien Bourke has emerged as a genuine right corner back alternative with some strong performances that have vastly enhanced his reputation. Not many Kerry players came out of the Dublin defeat with extra credit to their name but Bourke was brave and tenacious, bursting out of defence and using the ball wisely. He was replaced as a starter by the experienced Murphy in later rounds but the Tralee man capped his league with a goal off the bench against Galway in Salthill.
Dylan Casey also got extended game time in the absence of Tom O’Sullivan and he acquitted himself professionally. He has a solid head on his shoulders and you get the impression that Jack O’Connor would now be comfortable throwing him into any given situation without hesitation.
The versatile Graham O’Sullivan is also an option at corner back and it looks like he’ll need to slot in somewhere other than his natural position of half back as Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Gavin White are nailed on starters at 5 and 7. O’Sullivan lined out at half forward against Galway and Mayo, underlining his flexibility and importance to the team.
There could be a changing of the guard taking place at centre back with Mike Breen seemingly shaking off the injury woes that have held back his progress with Kerry to date. With regular number 6 Tadhg Morley unavailable for selection for most of the league, Breen slotted seamlessly into that crucial central role, and he looked really confident against Mayo on Sunday. As things stand, Morley will be doing well to displace Breen but either way Kerry should have two good centre back options heading into the summer months.
Midfield has been a head scratcher for Kerry for a number of years but in Diarmuid O’Connor and Joe O’Connor they appear to have found a winning combination. Diarmuid was playing the best football of his career up to his injury against Armagh in Round 6 so getting his shoulder right for championship is of paramount importance to Kerry’s chances.
Joe is a guaranteed starter too but his assured display at wing forward against Armagh was interesting in that it opens the door for a third midfielder to start. Seán O’Brien and Barry Dan O’Sullivan both applied themselves admirably when called upon in the league and the manager should feel like he can trust them more now than he did 12 months ago.
Joe O’Connor’s arrival as a half forward candidate has improved Kerry’s options to the extent that it’s difficult to predict how they will line out from 10 to 12 in the Munster Championship. Micheál Burns has done quite well upon his reintroduction to the team after being dropped from the panel in 2024, and Paudie Clifford is looking sharp at centre forward. Tony Brosnan and Dylan Geaney are options along this line too, although Dylan has been operating as a withdrawn inside forward to date – a role Tony is also capable of playing.
Of course, Seánie O’Shea will have to fit in somewhere in this department when he fully recuperates from his knee ligament injury, so it will be interesting to see how Jack O’Connor works this conundrum out. File under ‘good problems’.
Dara Moynihan is still recovering from a hip injury and has not yet featured in 2025. He would naturally be an option at 10 if he can get back up to speed. Meanwhile, Darragh Lyne, Ruairí Murphy and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich all featured at half forward in the league.
David Clifford and Paul Geaney will play at 13 and 14 with Dylan Geaney in pole position to start at 15 on the back of a really good run of form, perhaps excepting the league final in which he was relatively quiet. Tony Brosnan is a prime candidate to challenge Dylan for that spot; the Dr Crokes player has kicked some fantastic scores in each of his last three appearances as a substitute.
As for out-and-out inside forwards, Conor Geaney and Killian Spillane are likely to be used as impact subs.
All told Kerry do appear to have better depth than they had last year, particularly with the emergence of second season players like Bourke, O’Brien and Dylan Geaney as legitimate options, and with Breen beginning to fulfil his potential. Burns’ comeback and Joe O’Connor’s newfound ability to play the 12 position also help.
As always, though, the proof will be in the eating. We will have to wait for the suffocating heat of do-or-die championship matches to find out if this squad is as deep and dependable as it looks on paper.
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