Accrington Stanley midfielder Sam Finley was not the first footballer in England to direct "abusive or insulting language" at Paul McShane based on his nationality.

And it may be optimistic to assume that, with an eight-game ban and a fine of £850 imposed by the FA on Finley for what he said to McShane on the field in January, "'f*** off back to your caravan you p****', it will be the last time an Irishman has to endure that.

A statement by Finley's club, in reference to an incident at the Accrington-Rochdale game, said he "admitted using abusive or insulting language" and that his comment "included a reference to nationality".

But the punishment meted out to Finley by the FA, not so long after the same body sanctioned one club (Barnsley) for failing to deal with sectarian abuse directed at another Irishman (James McClean) is at last a sign that English football authorities have recognised how serious the matter is. It's just such a huge pity that they have taken their time.

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Neither McShane, his club nor the PFA have commented but those familiar with the case feel that the incident was not McShane's first encounter with such comments but was instead "the last straw".

Finley has paid a price, though whether it's high enough to be a deterrent for others remains to be seen. This abuse won't just disappear overnight.

Of course it's not just Irish footballers who have suffered due to their nationality while playing in Britain.

Dubliner Paul McGee was a top-flight footballer at Wimbledon in the late '80s but stardom wasn't a shield.

"It was hard to be an Irishman in London," he recalled. "You'd get stick in training on a Monday after a bomb in the West End over the weekend."

If a team-mate can make someone feel deeply uneasy, it can only have been much rougher when it came to opposing players or fans.

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Richard Dunne recalled how some Chelsea fans would shout "potato" at him at Stamford Bridge. Now, in 2020, McShane has done Irish footballers a favour by calling out Finley.