What’s in a name?

WE won’t forget the name in a hurry: Artmedia Bratislava.

Artmedia? Bad enough to be well-beaten in Europe but to be hammered by a team which sounds like football’s answer to Macnas, well, it’s no wonder that wee Gordon Strachan declared himself to be in such a state of shock afterwards that he confessed he couldn’t speak coherently. Not that we’re always sure when he does.

As word of the rout filtered through to the press box in Tolka Park, the thought struck that on European nights in the long ago, it was more likely to be Scottish hacks who would be getting word of some terrible beating inflicted on their Celtic cousins. So, much as we might sympathise with the Bhoys, all credit to Shelbourne for another competitive performance in Europe.

Wednesday was different too in that, perhaps for the first time in Ireland, a club from the continent found itself cheered on by a couple of thousand supporters. Fans wearing Steaua shirts and waving the red, yellow and blue national flag turned the Ballybough End into a good-natured riot of noise and colour, as Dublin’s Romanian community turned out in numbers to welcome the men from the home country.

The Irish national side has grown used to finding support among the green diaspora on its travels around the world, so it was nice to see the process in reverse at Tolka Park, as football did its bit to promote the many virtues of multiculturalism.

Very PC, you may say, but then the anti-PC backlash is often nothing more than a fig leaf for old-fashioned prejudice. And, sure, you heard one or two local boneheads in the ground guffawing into their sleeves about begging and sales of the Big Issues, but I reckon the majority of the 9,000 crowd would happily acknowledge how much the Irish-Romanian contingent contributed to an atmosphere befitting a big European night.

Football against racism? Without any self-conscious fanfare, Wednesday at Tolka did its bit.

As a game, it wasn’t the greatest ever seen at the old venue by the river, but in taking a scoreless draw with them to Bucharest, Shels at least have a lifeline to cling to in the second leg. Though perhaps not a whole lot more. Having played second fiddle for most of the first half, Steaua effortlessly went up through the gears after the restart, and it was Shels who were made to look like the away side, as the visitors repeatedly pressed them back with the pace and precision of their passing. Still, a terrific defensive performance and if Shelbourne could somehow nick an early away goal next week, it would be the turn of the Romanian champions to feel the heat at home.

Logic may suggest a Steaua win but rest assured that Gordon Strachan would give anything to be in Pat Fenlon’s shoes at this stage of the European campaign.

We shouldn’t forget either that the week that was in it wasn’t all bad for followers of the green and white hoops. Following a successful Examinership process which was approved by the High Court on Thursday, Shamrock Rovers have been cleared to forge ahead as a fans-owned club, on a sound financial footing and with, at long last, realistic plans for a new home in Tallaght. Some who have felt the hot breath of the tax collector on their necks may feel aggrieved at a deal which will see the Revenue collect only €40,000 from an outstanding debt of €1.5m. But quite apart from the fact that the Revenue would have seen nothing from the liquidation of Rovers, only the most hard-hearted could possibly discern anything of benefit in the prospect of the one of the country’s most famous sporting institutions going to the wall for the sins of the past.

The supporters who will take over the running of the club have also taken on a heavy responsibility. Traditionally, chairmen and owners have been driven to distraction by what they consider to be the unrealistic demands of supporters who know the value of everything and the price of nothing. The Shamrock Rovers 400 Club has already put its money where its mouth is in bankrolling the Hoops through the club’s darkest days.

For that, they deserve the respect and thanks of everyone who loves the game in Ireland. But now the really hard work begins, as a novel experiment in Irish football is put into action. Many will be watching with interest to see if, as they so often claim, the fans really do know best.

Good luck to them.

Finally, the quote of the week is an exchange between a journalist and the ever reliable ‘Arry Redknapp who, by the sound of things, has already ‘ad it up to ‘ere with speculation about the nature of Clive Woodward’s role as Technical Director at Southampton.

Harry: “If we’re not careful, it will end up like a circus all season with people asking “What’s Clive doing? What’s ‘Arry saying?”

Hack: “So what is Woodward’s role then?”

Harry: “I’m not sure, you’ll have to ask Clive.”

Technical Director? With a name like that, I reckon they should put him in charge of Artmedia. And, for wee Gordon’s sake, preferably before the second leg.