We should have guessed these two guys had previous.
Today's Irish Sun back page leads with a bizarre story about how Noel King has had aggressive encounters with Eamon Dunphy in bygone years. However, contrary to reports, King claims he didn't break Dunphy's nose.
They report that the two men at the centre of a spat over the last few days had a 'flare up' during a Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk match in the 1977-78 season, and clashed again the following year when King joined Rovers.
Referring to the first encounter, Irish Sun columnist Dermot Keely says, 'There must have been some niggle between them because, after a goal has been scored Noel punched Dunphy.'
Another source tells them there was an altercation between the pair at Rovers, which ended with Dunphy 'climbing a wire fence to get away from Noel.'
King was asked at yesterday's press conference if the rumours he had broke Dunphy's nose were true, to which he responded 'No, I didn’t break his nose. Not at all. He ran away too quick. I couldn’t catch him [laughs]. Let’s say he ran up the wall.'
The Examiner report that when asked if he had ever kicked Dunphy in training, King replied 'I didn't kick him hard enough ... That's a joke.'
Maybe this is what Eamon really was talking about when he called King a bully.
hat-tip: Irish Sun and Irish Examiner
