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Martin O'Neill Calls Out Shane Long's Agent For Comment Made After Germany Draw In 2014

Martin O'Neill Calls Out Shane Long's Agent For Comment Made After Germany Draw In 2014
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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If there's one thing we know about Martin O'Neill, it's that he won't simply take criticism on the chin when it is directed his way.

The 70-year old was a polarising figure during his time in charge of Ireland. While results were good for much of his tenure with the team, his style of football and approach to the game often split opinion.

O'Neill wasn't shy to defend himself in the media. He often picked fights with members of the press core, with his feud with RTÉ reported Tony O'Donoghue a prime example.

He may have left his role with Ireland over four years ago, but he hasn't forgotten much of what was said about him.

Martin O'Neill recalls Pat Dolan column from 2014

Ireland managed some big results under Martin O'Neill, with the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign providing a couple of shocks.

They would beat world champions Germany in Dublin in 2015, also managing a draw away from home the previous year thanks to a John O'Shea goal.

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Ireland were under pressure for much of that game, something that was understandable when you consider the quality of the opposition. To their credit, they managed to grind out the result and earn a point in Gelsenkirchen.

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However, some were not impressed with the team's tactics in the match.

Pat Dolan, the former League of Ireland manager and then Shane Long's agent, would write a column criticising the way Martin O'Neill had set up his side in Germany.

Despite eight years having passed since then, Martin O'Neill hasn't forgotten about it.

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In his new autobiography On Days Like These, he couldn't resist the urge to take a pop at the former St Pat's boss.

It is a magnificent achievement (to draw in Germany), and most importantly, it gives us seven out of nine points in our opening matches.

Nevertheless, apparently a draw against the world champions on their home patch hasn't satisfied every critic. Viewers back in Ireland get in touch with RTE to complain that their coverage of the game tonight has been excessively negative.

The following morning, I am somewhat taken aback to hear that an ex-manager in the League of Ireland has claimed in a newspaper column that the players got me out of jail with their last-minute equaliser. This individual is also a football agent. In fact, he is actually the agent for one of our players, Shane Long.

I wonder if Toni Kroos's agent is writing newspaper articles criticising Joachim Low.

Never one to hold a grudge is Martin.

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Ireland would go on to achieve qualification at the end of that campaign, defeating Bosnia & Herzegovina in a play-off to earn a place at Euro 2016.

SEE ALSO: Martin O'Neill Offers Withering Takedown Of Keith Andrews' Footballing Credentials

 

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