Players deserve our gratitude, not criticism

SHAME on us as a sporting nation.

Our Irish rugby team did not win the Triple Crown at the weekend.

They did however win the Grand Slam of our torrent of criticism when they failed to make our sporting dreams come true. That criticism has been sharp and unceasing ever since. There are many elements of it which are unfair and reek of ingratitude towards a mighty band of warriors for what they have achieved. Shame on us. Our memories are far too long in relation to our political history and far too short in relation to our sporting equivalents.