John Fallon: All-Ireland Olympic element a notable deficit in football

Noonan the latest St Pat's tyro to attract European suitors and LOITV does Sligo nor FAI any favours in fallout from flashpoint.

WE’VE DONE IT: Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is embraced by team-mates Naomi Girma and Casey Krueger after the United States edged out Germany 1-0 in yesterday’s Olympics semi-final in Lyon. Picture: Olivier Chassignole/Getty Images

WATCHING from afar, football being played at the Olympic Games should evoke memories for Ireland and facilitate pondering about the future.

Lest we not forget that it was at the Olympiad exactly a century ago that Ireland’s first-ever men’s international was played under the name of the Irish Free State.