FOOTBALL: WHERE WERE EU?

SHELBOURNE veteran Stephen Geoghegan can understand how frustrated eircom League fans must feel after more European misery for Irish clubs this week.

Both Derry and Shels made the tamest of exists from the UEFA Cup on Thursday - the Candystripes were crushed 5-1 on aggregate by 10- man Omonia Nicosia while Shels crashes 4-2 overall to Slovenia's NK Olimpija Ljubljana following an error-prone display.

But the 33-year-old striker, who has possibly played his last European game, claims some fans have a cheek to complain.

He said: "Just 3,500 turned out for our game at Tolka Park. I was honestly expecting 7 or 8,000.

"Credit to the fans who were there, but where were the missing four or five thousand? That is what I would like to know.

"The benefits of summer soccer won't be seen for a few more years and in the meantime it costs a lot of money to keep a full-time squad of players like we have here.

"If the fans stay away how can clubs survive financially? Gate receipts are an important source of revenue for Irish clubs.

"A number of teams have taken the plunge and gone full-time but some of the fans still have a part-time mentality it seems. Believe me we need their support."

While Irish clubs continue to play catch-up on their European counterparts Geoghegan believes eircom League sides are paying the price for failing to keep up with the times.

He added: "Once upon a time Rosenborg were just an ordinary run- of-the-mill team like ourselves.

"But all of the Norwegian teams went full-time 10 or 15 years ago. We're over a decade behind most of the rest of Europe in that respect.

"So how can people expect results to suddenly improve overnight?

"The fruits of Rosenborg's success are there for all to see. Look how well they do in Europe. I know they missed out on the Champions League group stages this year (They lost 1-0 to top Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna), but that is unusual for them."

Geoghegan also appreciates that the players have to accept the flak as well for the failure of Irish clubs to make any real impact in Europe.

He said: "We didn't go with the flow and we keep getting punished for it.

"My playing days are almost over and I'm not selfishly motivated when I say the switch to full-time should have taken place a long time ago. It's too late for me - I'm nearly finished now - but it's a bit dispiriting for the rest of the lads. They have inherited this situation."

Ljubljana's first goal came courtesy of an unfortunate deflection off Kevin Doherty while their second and third was down to schoolboy errors.

Captain Owen Heary said: "They were there for the taking, and we weren't up to the job. They're no world beaters and still we weren't up to scratch.i

Geoghegan, who is planning to hang up his boots at the end of the season, added: "We had chances - at home and away - and we didn't punish them as much as we should have.

"But, hopefully, in time results right across the board will improve. It's not just about Shels or Derry doing well in Europe. It's about Irish teams doing well. We're in this together and it reflects badly on everyone if the results are not what they should be."

Ljubljana's reward for beating Shelbourne is a meeting with Liverpool in the first round proper.

All Shelbourne have for their efforts are thoughts of what might have been.

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