It's in our DNA to look out for one another

Roddy hails the unique community spirit in League of Ireland

- Garry DOYLE

THERE may be a World Cup qualifier in Lisbon but the only game that matters to Roddy Collins today is a charity game in Glasnevin.

Which just about sums up why our international team is crumbling to rubble with no one caring if the mess gets cleaned up.

So, we'll come back to that issue and that team in a minute.

But before we do, Collins has a story to tell.

It's about a four-year-old girl, Rayne Judge. She's battling cancer.

Collins was told about the trauma her family is going through a month ago. "How can I help?" were the first four words he said.

He has spoken plenty since, picking up the phone to call a collection of old teammates and foot soldiers who served under him when he was first a player, then manager, of Bohs.

So today at Tolka Rovers in Dublin a charity game will take place between the old boys from Bohs and Rovers. The emphasis, Collins jokes, is on the old.

Then with a serious note he sums up why days like these are reminders of why the League of Ireland isn't a thing to be mocked.

He says: "I'm not going to be sanctimonious about this and try and play the 'look at me, I'm a great person'.

"The reality is there is a four-year-old girl fighting cancer.

"So how could I, or any of the lads, say no, when we were asked to help?

"It is in our DNA to look out for one another.

"This is what makes Ireland great as a country. And it is what makes the League of Ireland great.