LIVING THE STREAM
League of Ireland has major opportunity to catch the eye
FOLLOWING months of heated debate and discussion, the League of Ireland finally makes its return this evening but not as we know it. This streamlined season will be concluded on screens and tablets, as grounds remain closed to supporters. And yet, despite the strange feel, there’s a sense that the domestic game has a real opportunity to assert itself.
The SSE Airtricity League has the stage to itself for the next few weeks. The Premier League monster in the room has gone into hibernation for six weeks. The GAA, which has ownership of any normal summer, is still tentatively finding its feet with club activity with inter-county action off in the distance. Rugby’s restart is weeks away. There are no major international sporting events. The Scottish League does begin this weekend, but does anyone really care?
With the launch of a new streaming service, LOILIVE, and the staggered kickoff times allowing supporters to watch every game, if they so desired, there is a chance to grab national attention.
The sprint finish to the league, with just 13 or 14 games depending on the club, will help in that regard, as there will be excitement generated by the fact that so much will be at stake from the moment that Derry City and Sligo Rovers kick things off this evening.
During the bickering over what form the League’s Project Restart should take, aside from the financial package, the reduced season was the major sticking point, particularly among the likes of Sligo and Cork City who now have only 14 and 13 games respectively to rescue their Premier Division status. At the crux of the decision was the wage subsidy scheme, which has recently been extended — but too late to change the complexion of the season which was agreed.
So, the season has been stripped back to 18 games and most clubs determined to look on the bright side.
‘The way we are looking at it is that we are six points off the top with 13 games left in the season,’ Keith Buckley of Bohemians explained.
‘In a normal season, we would certainly take that situation. It wouldn’t be a bad situation to be in, so that is the way we have to look at it. It just means that every single game will count, but that is the same for every club and that can only be a good thing for the league.’
On the matter of behindclosed-doors football he added: ‘It is going to be different and it has been different, in the couple of friendlies we have played. You can’t rely on the fans, the motivation has to come from within yourself but then there will be no fans there, if you make a mistake, either. It’s like when you started out playing football, when there would have been nobody at the matches.’ The first test of behind-closeddoors football will come in the opening game, as the Brandywell will be silent. Derry faced more challenges than most clubs during lockdown as the gates to their ground were locked as it is owned by the city council, meaning they had to cross the border to train in Inishowen, once it was permitted. However, despite mediocre form in their first four games back when the world was a different place, there is a bit of optimism around the Candystripes. They have recruited well in the past couple of weeks. Adam Hammill, the former Liverpool youth player, has been brought over from Scunthorpe, Northern Ireland under-21 international Jake Dunwoody has been snagged from Stoke (with a little help from James McClean) and former Cardiff City striker Ibrahim Meite joined from Crawley Town. A trio of talented players augmented by Darren Cole’s return from his cruciate injury. ‘I’m delighted with the business we have done and I think our supporters will be excited to see these lads play,’ said Derry manager Declan Devine.
Oriel Park is likely to be a sombre place for the visit of St Pat’s this evening, following the tragic passing of Harry Taaffe earlier this week.
Dundalk midfielder Chris Shields says the champions are going to use their much-loved groundsman and videographer as an inspiration for the rest of the season, as they chase Shamrock Rovers.
He said: ‘Harry was a giver and always looked out for people so it would be great to give something back to his memory and the Taaffe family.
‘I think we will all have that in the back of our minds when we go into every game that is left, We will want to do this for Harry.’
Dundalk’s pursuit of Rovers will be the central narrative of the resumption of the league. In the background is Kieran Lucid’s proposals for an All-Island League, the reality of which looms ever closer.
But for the next few weeks, with the stage clear of other distractions, this is about the League of Ireland showing that it can stand on its own. And it can grab the attention.
As RTE’s Head of Sport Declan McBennett said at the launch of the streaming service last week, there will be no excuses if the service doesn’t take off.
And there will be few excuses if the League can’t force its way into the national sporting conversation in the present environment.
Opportunity is knocking. It is up to the clubs to grasp it.