Stephen's Ashes - Dundalk through a Russian prism

Russia's Match TV, covering the match in Tallaght, made it easy to forget that Dundalk players are a well looked after and consistently paid bunch. Thanks to the great Irish knack of talking ourselves down, the Russian commentators had adopted their best Frank McCourt tone. This from reading/hearing Irish coverage, talking to local journalists and to Dundalk players and staff.

Dundalk were handed the sympathies of a nation and nobody begrudged them their lead. In fact many Russians would have been happy to see a late equalise, such as the picture painted before and during the match.

Dundalk were almost dead, the players are mostly part-time, they've only 3 full-time staff and the town and region's troubled past is tragic. Added that the cream of Irish athletic talent gets skimmed off by Ireland's national sports, which led to a GAA discussion. And live on Russian TV began a debate on the quality of sport and character in Ireland.

I blame myself for that. Asked to give some 'colour stories' that would make for good viewing in Russia, GAA was one of five I drew up. Guinness was ruled out (Russian laws), and the Tolka-Dalymount and 1916 pieces both involved too many shots. So we were left with a Croke Park Tour (which partially covered the Rising etc) and Mulligan's Pub (as a well known 'soccer' pub didn't want to contribute).

The result were really nice pieces broadcast in Russia on Croke Park, Mulligans and lots of comment on Irish sporting prowess. Yet the commentators were clever in using this. Dundalk's players were praised for their physical strength AND intelligence. For being tough, but skillful. Ex-GAA players, including Martin O'Neill, were named and it took away the ashes from the mouth a bit. But that is history, so how are Dundalk received now?

Reaction to Zenit's narrow win was noticeable in the amount of praise Dundalk received. Dundalk walk out onto the field in Petrovsky tonight as everyone's second team in Russia. That is not an exaggeration. Zenit knew Dundalk would be tough, that they would need to play tight and not give up chances. Caution has been urged on them tonight yet again.

One notable discussion between the Russian Match TV crew and echoed in Russian media, is just how good a coach Stephen Kenny is. How he would be well worth a job in Russia, that any Premier club would be lucky to have him. Ditto for some of the Dundalk players who 'would find a place' at clubs in the Russian Premier League.

Last evening I got a call from the Minister of Sport of Ulyanovsk Oblast, and one of Russian football's movers. His words were, "Dundalk show what can be done with good planning (business) and coaching."

As Vice-President of Volga Ulyanovsk, one of Russia's very few financially responsible clubs, he has long dreamed of doing a Dundalk. This is where there is a misunderstanding evident. Yesterday, when local journalists ask with fascination about players holding down other jobs, or the Bossman's birthday, these are very important in Russia.

There is no badness being shown towards Dundalk. There is praise - for having so many Irish players, for being so open, so tough. There is sympathy: that Dundalk players have not been recognised sooner by Martin O'Neill, for the fixture schedule. And there is a bit of Irishness in the Russian reaction to Dundalk's progress and Zenit's two fixtures with the Oriel club.

As I write the UK Minister of Defence boasts that in two years his nation will be militarily strong enough to face Russia. Amnesty International's Moscow office was sealed shut (Wednesday). Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are, at various lengths, tied to the Kremlin. It's been all bad news for Russia this year with almost 2 months left in the bag. Russia is the Global Clare - consumate whipping boys.

Russian sport is at an all time low and their media did not run down Dundalk before, after or during the first match. Online there is a real buzz about an Irish team coming in. Russian sports fans admire Irish athletes (Conor McGregor is beloved) and many Dundalk fans will hear, "you Irish, you're like us Russians". And the locals need the affirmation. Just as we do when Mircea Lucescu said in Dublin and St. Petes that Dundalk do not play in a British style. We all loved it. And that is what is building with the return match.

Geopolitics has managed to turn both faces of sport on Russia. Now the World Bobseld and Skeleton Championships are under threat. Until next June the World Cup in 2018 is under threat. Having Dundalk and Ireland to focus on makes for much better news.

So, they like us and they want us to like them too. As one radio commentator told me last Friday, "A World Cup without Irish supporters is not a World Cup."

And why the local fascination with birthdays and part-timers? Birthday celebrations are a must here and it is a mark of respect to oneself and one's colleagues to lay on a spread. Crucially those colleagues have to treat you accordingly. These are major in-house events.

And that athletes can also have actual jobs, receive real education is an anathema in Russia. Add in the success Dundalk show on and off the field on an apparent shoestring, ambitious Russians yearn for such a system. Zenit know that should Gazprom leave in the morning, they go bust by lunchtime.

Our Irish tradition of An Béal Bocht (how much is the budget difference between the sides again?) has the local media secretly hoping for a Dundalk success. It is top v bottom in every sense, yet I have the feeling that Stephen Kenny is channelling his inner Frank and loving the moment. His Russian cousins will be raising pints of locally brewed Guinness should Dundalk pull off the impossible tonight.

Predictions? Locally it is a Zenit triumph – nobody has broken ranks. When the draw was made I picked this as a Dundalk point. Despite the weather, I'll stick with that.