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'Up Fianna Fáil, we're back!': How the party reclaimed 'Fine Gael country'

The recovery that happened wasn’t the one Fine Gael had in mind.

“IF HE THINKS he’s having a bad day today, wait for the next few weeks.”

That was a constituent’s view of what’s ahead for Enda Kenny after a poor showing for Fine Gael in the election.

The Taoiseach didn’t arrive at the Mayo count centre in Castlebar (his home turf) until after 8.30pm last night.

The first count was delayed by a couple of hours and word on the ground was Kenny wanted to be speaking to the media while the first count was called.

Screenshot 2016-02-28 at 16.59.36 Órla Ryan / TheJournal.ie Órla Ryan / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

He knew he’d be re-elected and, as one onlooker put it – given how bad a day for Fine Gael it had been – if he was pictured being lifted onto cheering people’s shoulders, “the optics wouldn’t look good”.

Despite the day’s events, Kenny seemed to be in a relatively good mood – helping rearrange journalists in the media scrum that awaited him. He was disappointed but had his game face on.

Kenny told reporters he had sympathy for the Fine Gael TDs who would lose their seats. He was philosophical, musing: “Democracy is always exciting but it is merciless when it kicks in.”

Kenny said it was “far too early” to talk about coalitions, despite the very loud Fianna Fáil-shaped elephant in the room.

When asked if he would reconsider his position as leader of Fine Gael, he didn’t directly answer, instead saying: “My position as Taoiseach and head of government, I have a duty and a responsibility to work with the decision that the people have made to provide the country with a stable government.”

Kenny’s long-time running mate Michael Ring was re-elected today – on the 9th count.

Ring, in quite the understatement, yesterday acknowledged: “It’s not the best day we’ve had.”

It was a difficult campaign. We hurt a lot of people along the way. We took very, very difficult decisions in government, and I have to say that that probably had an effect on it. It was never going to be easy.

The long-standing TD was among those who had wanted the election to take place in November, but said this was a moot point now.

“We are where we are. The people have spoken and we have to listen to the people.”

In terms of what shape a new coalition might take, Ring had this input:

Nobody knows, you’d have to be a magician to know what’s going to happen.

“I don’t know whether we can get a government or not, but I don’t think the people want another election, but so be it if it has to be, but I hope not.” 

Many had predicted it would go down to the wire between Fine Gael’s Michelle Mulherin and Fianna Fáil’s Lisa Chambers for the fourth seat, and a recount looked likely at one stage.

But, in the end, Chambers easily won out – with over 2,000 votes between them  (11,686 to 9,593). The closest rival after this was Sinn Féin’s Rose Conway-Walsh, who was eliminated on 7,853 votes in the 9th count.

Chambers (29) was elected to Mayo County Council less than two years ago. Shortly before she got the good news today one of her supporters remarked: “She’s about the same age Enda Kenny was when he started out.” (He was 24 years old when first elected to the Dáil in 1975.)

When Chambers and her running mate Dara Calleary were elected on the 10th and final count, a supporter gleefully shouted: “Up Fianna Fáil, we’re back!” as the pair were lifted onto very willing shoulders.

The writing appeared to be on the wall for Mulherin this morning, when Fine Gael’s local director of elections Brendan O’Dowd had this to say about Mulherin’s chances: It’s a very, very long shot. All the gods are with Lisa Chambers.”

The was one major recovery yesterday, but it wasn’t the one Fine Gael had constantly mentioned during the election campaign.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie today, Calleary said Micheál Martin “took this party five years ago at its darkest days and put it back on a path to recovery”.

A week is a long time in politics so perhaps five years in the wilderness of the opposition benches was enough punishment for Fianna Fáil.

Indeed, Kenny said people who would have been “ashamed” to vote for Martin’s party in 2011 came out in force on Friday.

Fianna Fáil was in buoyant mood this afternoon, with an impromptu singalong breaking out BEFORE Calleary and Chambers got the nod.

‘This is Fine Gael country’

“This is Fine Gael country,” one party supporter remarked on Saturday evening. He’s not wrong, to be fair.

The party secured four TDs here in 2011 (when it was a five-seater): Kenny, Ring, Mulherin and John O’Mahony – who failed to be elected in Galway West this time around.

Kenny has been a TD here for just over 40 years, following in the footsteps of his late father Henry, and Ring was first elected in a 1994 by-election.

Another election?

More than one person in the count centre has suggested that there’ll be another election this year or next.

A trio of people wearing Enda Kenny stickers said a Fine Gael Fianna Fáil coalition might not be the worst scenario.

“The day Sinn Féin and independents get enough seats to form a government, that’s when you’d have trouble,” one woman stated. Her companions nodded.

The ‘chaos versus stability’ argument the outgoing government put forward might not have held up nationally, but it wasn’t lost on everyone.

Meanwhile, a decades-long supporter of Fianna Fáil expressed her delight at the party’s comeback. In terms of joining forces with Fine Gael, she told us: “Can you imagine? I never thought I’d see the day.”

Read: THE WINNERS: Here are all the TDs who have been elected so far

Read: Re-elected Enda Kenny: “Democracy is always exciting – but merciless”

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    Mute Niall O'Shea
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:34 AM

    The best moment, was big jack yelling at the Combat18 scmbags to f off and go home

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    Mute Damien
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:43 AM

    @Niall O’Shea: Yer man fairly Sh&T himself when big Jack grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.

    53
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    Mute SFAnkleTapper
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    Mar 17th 2020, 12:46 PM

    @Niall O’Shea: not even close..it was watching the Gardaí baton the she ite out of them and spilling a bit of claret in the process…priceless.

    87
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    Mute wormtubes
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:38 AM

    RTE need to replace that Rosie movie tonight with something more light hearted – talk about doom and gloom.

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    Mute Shirley Hollingsworth
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:40 AM

    @wormtubes: havnt looked yea.but a could comedy is needed..

    34
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    Mute Declan B
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:57 AM

    @wormtubes: Reruns of previous World Cup / Euro Games with the RTE panel of Bill and the lads from 88,90 etc …Cmon RTE

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:16 AM

    @wormtubes: a bit of nostalgia always works wonders at a time like this

    15
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    Mute Garreth mc mahon
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:17 AM

    @wormtubes: first thing I thought of when I seen the ads about two weeks was: that’s a miserable film for st Patrick’s day, never mind what’s gone on since, I’m sure it will be good but by Jesus we do do misery really well.what I wouldn’t give for the big labowski/ life of Brian/ blazing saddles or the blues brothers

    30
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    Mute Stan Kowalskis
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:23 AM

    @wormtubes: i agree.its a very good well acted movie but christ the timing is bad.

    13
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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:28 AM

    @Stan Kowalskis: 100%especially after miseryguts Claire Byrne last night. Turned it off after 10 mins, I appreciate its times serious but she is so depressing.

    19
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    Mute Keith O Hanlon
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    Mar 17th 2020, 6:05 PM

    @wormtubes: they haven’t a clue

    2
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    Mute FrontSeatDriver
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:34 AM

    Packie saving the penalty was immense. Then up stepped big Dave!

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    Mute XvSv
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    Mar 17th 2020, 1:06 PM

    @FrontSeatDriver:
    I had the great Life’s fortune to be there in Genoa at the game that day. I was right behind the goal…I was in early 20s … but there was a elderly Man from Dublin beside us who was going to games since 1950s …he couldn’t bear to watch the penalty shoot-out and I kid you not he knelt down facing the opposite direction clutching a set of a Rosary beads …as the penalty shoot was in progress !

    Needless say the delirium that followed Packie’s save & David O’Learys winning strike …well the rest is history !

    My only small nit pick with the program .. was it never conveyed how close we came to beating the Italians ..while Schilacci scored the winning goal….Ireland had 2 or 3 great chances which were saved by Walter Zenga , one of the great all time goalkeepers !

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    Mute David Devereaux
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:43 AM

    Although we lost, the quarter final against Italy in Rome always fills me with immense pride ,it’s the night we arrived on the international stage,a few thousand Irish flags amongst a vast bank of Italians,fantastic atmosphere and occasion,they done us proud!!!

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    Mute XvSv
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    Mar 17th 2020, 1:17 PM

    @David Devereaux: yes it was an incredible night .. in the 70,000 seater stadium …. I think the Irish managed to secure 15,000 tickets on the night ….. and the Paddys out sang the the majority almost 50,000 Italians for most of the game … it was a special night …

    And afterwards the Irish crowd sang and chanted in the stadium for about 45 mins to 1 hr until Big Jack Charlton … appeared

    Of course before Big Jack came out …. the one and only Charles J Haughey ( Taoiseach ) came down on to the pitch to salute the Irish Crowd .. from memory, I don’t think he got the welcome / adulation he was expecting …. And quickly exited stage left .. :()

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    Mute Ron
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:37 AM

    Robbie Keane goal v Germany 2002

    54
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    Mute James Doherty
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:59 AM

    @Ron: you didn’t watch the documentary now did you?

    64
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    Mute Ron
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:01 AM

    @James Doherty: Correct James. My 14 day old baby might have stopped me.

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    Mute Rory Purcell
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:11 AM

    @Ron: did or didn’t?

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    Mute Joe Kennedy
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:14 AM

    @Ron: haha….Zing!! Congrats Ron….enjoy every minute of it! You will have time to watch things again at some stage, don’t worry!

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    Mute SFAnkleTapper
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    Mar 17th 2020, 12:47 PM

    @Ron: Mick MC Carthy was manager for that one.

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    Mute Mark O Brien
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    Mar 17th 2020, 3:15 PM

    @James Doherty: in fairness the question doesnt mention Jack Charlton it just says boys in green so it’s ok if that is his favorite moment!!

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    Mute James Doherty
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    Mar 17th 2020, 3:41 PM

    @Mark O Brien: “Boys in green” was the title of the documentary

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    Mute Ann Reddin
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    Mar 17th 2020, 9:23 PM

    Congratulations on your new bundle of joy.

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    Mute Noel Barnes
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:08 AM

    Was in Rome when the Italians beat us 1-nil.
    When the final whistle blew ever Irish person in the stadium stood up and sang fir about 20 mins. The locals looked on in amazement and applauded the Irish fans, we swapped scarves, jerseys and hugged. Special memory.

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    Mute Kieran Graham
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:37 AM

    Jack trying not to smile when timofte missed..

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    Mute Ríain HenC
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:50 AM

    Houghtons lob vs Italy , still remember the commentary , “Baresi , onto it comes Houghton , Rrraayyyyy Houghton” . Class Moment

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    Mute Declan Sweeney
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    Mar 17th 2020, 3:39 PM

    @Ríain HenC:

    I met Ray in person, in 2006 the FAI had their AGM in Mayo, as part of the football week as part of the AGM where they traveled around all the Mayo League clubs. On the Tuesday night they were at our club Killala FC where they opened out new Astra turf pitch. At the endd of the evening he enquired what was out normel pub but alas before he could get away he was nabed by a FAI official to get on the bus and move on to Castlebar.
    In the last game before they went to USA in 94, they played a friendly against Austria, our U12′s was ballboys, one of the lads was behind one of the goals, Casscarino came warming up at their end, his biro stopped working, Cassa ran back to the dugout and got im a new biro. Unlike another famous player at the time, he was not part of the squad for that game but was on the pitch afterwards, when the lads asked him for his autograph he walked past theem if they were not there

    2
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    Mute nicknack
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:35 AM

    Roberto baggio still in Paul McGrath’s pocket

    35
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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:57 AM

    Packies save is the defining image of italia 90 really. I feel for dave o leary a bit! Tremendous times, Houghton in New Jersey was a great moment also

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    Mute Garreth mc mahon
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:21 AM

    You’d have to be of a certain age for one of these to be your moment, you need to have lived the game as it happened to make it special, Mc Ateer against Holland in lansdowne was a great moment for me

    21
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    Mute dublindamo
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:20 AM

    Looking back both of Ray’s goals were amazing but there was a lot of game to be played so was so tense. With O’Learys penalty you knew it meant we were into the last 8

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    Mute Kendra Jackson
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    Mar 17th 2020, 12:13 PM

    Niall Quinn scoring against Holland in Italia 90.

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    Mute Rochey77
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:54 AM

    The sound of mahogany on stupid when the riot squad eventually arrived. It wasn’t in the programme exactly but I was on the south terrace that night and it was quite a thing.

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    Mute David Devereaux
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:48 AM

    Although we lost the game ,the quarter final against Italy in Rome always fills me with immense pride,it’s the night we arrived on the world stage,a few thousand Irish flags amongst a vast bank of Italians,a great atmosphere and occasion,The team done us proud on the night.

    10
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    Mute John Kenny
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    Mar 17th 2020, 2:12 PM

    My favourite moment was in The Salmon Leap Bar with all the die hard fans in Leixlip on the Wed 11th Nov 87 when Scotland beating Bulgaria that kicked off the Adventure for the county. I remember having to leave the pub as no singing or music allowed and driving up the main st beeping our car horns and people looking at us in bewilderment not having a clue what we were celebrating. Ended up in the Hitchin Post and Gaa club of all places!!

    6
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    Mute David Grey
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    Mar 17th 2020, 4:01 PM

    I have to say the Ronnie Whelan goal v USSR, I was at the match in Hannover with a couple of pals, we all missed the goal as we were just going down before we jumped up before the Mexican wave.
    Only saw it on TV after the match, was brilliant craic there

    5
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    Mute David Devereaux
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    Mar 17th 2020, 10:39 AM

    Although we lost,the quarter final in Rome against Italy always fills me with pride,it’s the night we arrived on the international stage and such a great event to be part of.The few thousand Irish flags amongst the vast bank of Italians ,a special night.They dome is proud!!!

    5
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    Mute Joe Kennedy
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:16 AM

    @David Devereaux: alright Dave we got it….quarter final v Italy!!

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    Mute David Devereaux
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:38 AM

    @Joe Kennedy: did I mention Rome?

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    Mute Joe Kennedy
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    Mar 17th 2020, 2:22 PM

    @David Devereaux: haha….think you did somewhere yeah.

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    Mute Kevin Maughan
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    Mar 17th 2020, 4:16 PM

    @David Devereaux: Whenever it says

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    Mute Kevin Maughan
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    Mar 17th 2020, 4:17 PM

    @Kevin Maughan: Whenever it says “There’s a problem posting your comment” don’t keep hitting post as it’ll keep repeating!

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    Mute Joe Kennedy
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    Mar 17th 2020, 7:46 PM

    @Kevin Maughan: and be careful not to hit the post button in the middle of

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    Mute David Devereaux
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    Mar 17th 2020, 7:59 PM

    @Kevin Maughan: I got that

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    Mute Nigel o'Neill
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    Mar 17th 2020, 11:06 AM

    Halcyon days

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Mar 17th 2020, 12:46 PM

    My Favorite moment was the police battering the shit out of the English.

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    Mute Dave McAuliffe
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    Mar 18th 2020, 10:06 AM

    Someone should reshow all the games from Euro 88 from first round to Final.
    Even the middle aged among us only have vague memories of it.

    1
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