Global World Sport

We're still top of the league!! With an absolutetly huge match this Friday that is sure to draw the crowds this was a very important, if subdued win.

We headed off up the M8 at about a quarter past four. After more dire traffic at Mahon it was a breeze all the way up to Culahill. I must say, this is one thing that the government has actually got right, it's hugely reduced journey times and made away games so much more accessable.

The usual problem of Abbeyleix ensured we hit the M50 at about ten to 5, the worst time possible. An almost endless wave of traffic was being slowed by the inevitable roadworks that now dominate the ring road. We joined the long line of commuters heading from the capital back to the dormatory town, but thankfully at around 6 we had a chance to escape the car and take a look at the thriving metropolis that is the town of Bray.

Food was needed and at an un-named Italian chipper opposite the train station I forced down the worst 'fish and chips' I ever had. To be honest I couldn't tell the difference between the fish and the chips. Seaside food, pah! Although much entertainment was found in the antics of the taxi drivers in the station, who needs fancy pre match entertainment, all you need is a taxi rank overfilled!

Anyway, putting the fast food and taxi drivers behind us we entered the ground about an hour before kickoff. Upon arrival the ground was virtually empty but bit by bit the away end filled and once referee Tom Connolly blew for the start of the match we had the stand filled. After a bit of banter with Rico a minutes applause was held for Alan Kelly Sr. A fitting gesture to an excellent net minder and an honorary president of the Wanderers no less.

And so the game started, City have never gome out blazing this season and the trend was continued, most of the first 20 minutes were spent in the middle of the park. Denis Behan is much improved this season, fitter, faster and smarter then seasons gone by and he was the first to have a meaningful chance, his shot flashing past Chris O'Connor's post.

The Abbeyfeale native then drew first blood on 35 mins. His shot from all of 25 yards took a deflection off a Wanderers player and took one hop before nestling in the right hand corner of the net, 1-0 City, still top of the league and havin' a laugh!

Cillian Lordan tried an opportunist strike with O'Connor of his line but couldn't hit the target, Behan was again challenging the Australian native but he was upto the challenge. After the interval City were once again on top, Greg O'Halloran really have doubled the lead but his weak effort on the back post was the only blip in yet another fine display at centre back. Faz Kuduzovic drifted in and out of the game but did create two half chances, neither converted.

Colin Healy made it two in the 57th minute, after a string of passes Guntars Siligalis did the only thing of note for the night with an excellently weighted through ball, that left the ex-Celtic man one on one with O'Connor. He showed composure in abundance when cooly rounding the Bray 'keeper and sliding the ball into the empty net. 2-0 and game over. Mean while reports were coming in of two scoreless games between Bohs and Drogs, and Derry and Rovers. We were cautiously celebrating a 5 point lead, then the news of Drogs going down to 10 men made us more nervous. The announcement of 4 minutes injury time didn't improve the mood and the inevitable happened in the last minute of the game. Mark Hughes giving the Gypsies the last gasp winner. While in the Brandywell the score didn't change up until the final whistle

So the trip home was the little bit faster with the 3 points in hand and please the holy sweet Jesus Christ above if we have a club (Which is most unlikely according to sources) there is the mouth watering prospect of Bohs athome, a sell out perhaps?

Salut

What a night!

From red cards to red faces and some redmist for good measure. This game had absolutely everything!

A poor morning turned into a beautiful evening as the sun broke out over Turners Cross for the crucial top of the table clash. With the thoughts of the Revenue in the back of our minds we found our spots in the shed for what was sure to be a low scoring game. We needed at least a point to go top, albeit temporarily and with a good few of our big players injured it was a lot more complicated then it seemed.

 Prematch preparation included getting the flags together, reading the programme and being beaten to a pulp by a 7 year old (Which is now on youtube, thank you John Pittaway!)

Anyway, back to more pressing matters andwe started on the back foot. A cross in from Kevin Deery found Sammy Morrow unmarked just inside the box but Connor got down well to make a good save. His former Drogheda team-mate Faz Kuduzovic almost scored in the 15th min, Denis Behan was pulled down in the box (Which was a penalty I may add) and from the loose ball the Bosnian just shot wide.

Derry then had a golden opportunity and their best of the night by a longway. Morrow put in a good ball for Mark Farren in the six yard box and his powerful header was exquisitely tipped over the bar by the diving Dan Connor, soon winning his way back into the good books of City supporters.

They were made to pay for their miss as with 5 minutes to go in the half, a free kick from the right was headed across goal by Greg O?Halloran, and with an open goal beckoning Dan Murray headed it into the net. That sparked wild celebration in the shed. ?WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE? rang out in the chilly May air. Half time came and went and it seemed like the buzz was back in a club that could be gone by the end of the week. Things went from good to better as Mark McChrystal was sent off. Taking down Colin Healy late after a City break earned the Derry native his second yellow and a dressing down from the City faithful.

This rallied Derry, and City lacked the momentum they had in the first period. But the Foylesiders couldn?t get past a resilient City defence (Patrick Sullivan take a bow). City lost two more players to injury, Latvian international Robert Me?eckis and Kerryman Denis Behan the latest to join the waiting list for the treatment table. In theirplace came Tim Kiely and winter signing Stephen O?Donnell. Kiely was poor on the left but following the switch of sides performed brilliantly, working his socks off and helping out all over the pitch. O?Donnell also played well before he had a nighmare incident, sent off on his City début for dissent towards the linesman. Declan Hanney take a bow, typical for an LOI referee to ruin aspecial moment for a nonchalant moment.

Poor referee?s aside it was a huge win and one my personal favourites, next for the Leesiders is an away trip to ?South Dublin? outfit Bray Wanderers. Top of the League and we?re havin? a laugh!!

The night wasn?t over though, it was onto the Evergreen pub to contest the first ever FORAS quiz. A huge turnout, a generous donation*, and some great sponsorship ensured over ?3,000 was collected for safe keeping in the ongoing fight to keep our club alive. A great night was had and well done to all involved in organising, we didn?t win but on the plus side a top 10 finish was nothing to laugh at!

*Many thanks to the members of the Queens University Derry City Supporters Club who were unable to make the quiz but still donated the money for a few teams, sometimes love-ins are good things!!

What an apt title!

The week started with an important win over Galway United. United have found the going tough after losing manager Jeff Kenna and to be honest offered very little. A typical cagey opening, Doolin trying to figure the other team out. We had a few half chances with Billy Dennehy first setting up Denis Behan to head over, and then shooting wide himself. Galway really didn't look like they had much and a man I had worried about pre match, Jay O'Shea, proved to be very dissapointing.

We took the lead after around 20 minutes. A brilliant Colin Healy ball out to Fahuran Kudozovic saw the Bosnian native charge into the box and play a ball across the box that Billy Dennehy ran into the net. It was great play by Kudozovic, who started in place of Guntars Silligallis, Dennehy ending in the back of the net with the ball. As the sun set and left a beautiful flaming red sky, we sat back as per usual and just soaked up the pressure.

Half time came and went and it was only after an hour or so did the next chance come along, Denis Behan getting himself one-on-one with ex-Pats netminder Barry Ryan, butfrom a tight angle the Abbeyfeale native could only hit it straight at Ryan.

Galway were the absolute pits and apart from a few passes their attacking threat was non-existent. We had a few pot shots beforet he end but the second half was a terrible spectacle. The neutral's mightn't be best pleased but us hardcore fans will be delighted with the 3 points. After a poor start we were moving up the table slowly but surely. And the girls I brought liked it! Always very important!!

Next up was Sligo and a good crowd turned up on a bright sping evening to see the first game in the second round of matches. With one quarter of the season gone there was a small bit of reflection, but with 36 games gone this season there is plenty more to come. As regards the match I could easily say read above, but being the dedicated and hard working amateur journo that I am I'll continue. The only chance in the first 10 minutes was a flashing Billy Dennehy cross that managed to avoid all the limbs in the box and go out for a goal kick. Faz Kudozovic continued on from his good performance against Galway with a header that narrowly cleared the Sligo crossbar. Behan then shot past the post in an unusally bright period, reflecting the weather I suppose.

But then we, and the game in question were dealt a blow after Dennehy akwardly dealt with a challenge and had to be replaced, perhaps his studs catching on the baked Cross surface? Brian Cash then gave Sligo their first chance of the game when his shot whistled past Dan Connor's post. The inconsistancy of League of Ireland referee's was shown when Pat Sullivan got booked for dissent after he was victim to an awful tackle by Tribesman Owen Thorpey, Torpey was also booked for the rash tackle that ended the half. City came out for the second half a new team. Karaoke King Richard Brush was forced into action by a Behan header, then young rebel Shane Duggan missed a guilt edge chance after he fluffed his shot into Brush's hands. Colin Healy then had his shot blocked out for a corner as the pressure was bulilding up to boiling point.

With the City faithful baying for Sligo blood it was delivered 67 minutes in, a cross form Duggan found the head of a rising Kudozovic and looped into the top corner. A fantastic goal by a player that seems to be improving every time he steps onto a football pitch. The decibles being created the Shed were off the scale for the first time this season, we had finally found our voice. We were silenced 10 minutes later when Sligo had the ball in the back of the net courtesy of a Brian Cash shot into an empty net. But thankfully referee Neil Doyle was back, this time to blow for a foul on keeper Dan Connor. Phew!

Sexy football was seen at thecross for the first time at Turners Cross, when after a ball was hoofed into the crowd, one skilfull supporter showed his skills, first heading the ball up high into the air, and then powerfully heading back onto the pitch. In the words of football 'commentator' Andy Gray TAKE A BOW SON!, and so he did, to the applause of the 2,489 in attendance. Manager Paul Doolin had seen enough attacking football for one night and decided to take off a striker (Kudozovic) for a defender (Cillian Lordan) 'Killer' making his first appearence of the season.

From there the game fizzled out and with Sligo looking like a defeated team it was left for Doyle to call an end to proceedings. 8 unbeaten games on the bounce now for City and they face Wexford Youths at home in the 'EA Sports Cup' (League Cup) next Monday to try and pave their way to the Quarter Finals

Until then

Au revoir.

*Takes Deep Breath*

So what a day!! What a trip and many memories to cherish, the most amazing 10 or so minutes culminated in 3 points for the Rebel Army. We took off from the residence in the south side towards the N8, dire traffic in Mahon Point slowed down progress somewhat but once we hit the tunnel the road was clear. Sunny skies and hot weather was to accompany us the whole day and it started from the outset. Hitting the new motorway outside Mitchelstown we were making great time, first Cahir went, and then looking out the window I saw the Horse and Jockey. The flat featurless road was a shock compared to the old Dublin road but the speed made it a lot easier to take! We got off at Culahill and once we reached Abbeyleix we were confronted by a menacing line of traffic that looked neverending but 45 minutes later we were finally on our way to Portlaoise. A few troubles on the M50 were dealt with and Dundalk was reached in about 4 and a half hours.

Dundalk was a bit of a dump, it was clear that it was suffering the effects of the euro in relation to sterling and its proximity to Newry, supposedly a haven for shoppers (Or so someone told me before departure) Shopping aside the match was the main focus of our attention that night and the 'synthetic grass' was as ever a hot topic of discussion. Personally, I didn't think it was going to have much bearing on the match, Croke Park, the Emirates Stadium and Anfield amongst others use a part synthetic pitch and the technology was advanced enough to ensure it wouldn't interfere with play. But upon arrival into the stadium my mind was changed in an instant, strands of green coloured plastic were sticking out of a sea of recycled and shredded rubber tyres, it was going to have an inpact alright...

The cramped and uncomfortable stand was substituted for the cold and uncomfortable stand before proceedings got underway and as the sun dropped with the temperature, the game was just as cold. Darren Mansaram and Dan Murray exchanged chances early on but proper chances at goal were few and far between and a dissapointing game and atmosphere was thanfully ended by Declan Hanney's whistle. Dennehy had a chance which he put wide after the break but we were dealt a hammer blow by the 'King' George O'Callaghan when his ball in was well put away with a powerful Chris Turner header. It seemed that it just wasn't our day, the clear sky was now a nusance with the cold weather and icy breeze, City had chances but didn't take them and now a former hero led to our downfall 'I wanna go home, this is the worst trip I've ever been on' was being rumbled by a few on the aincent terrace.

Dennehy should have scored soon after but for a good save by Dundalk netminder Chris Bennion, it wasn;t going to happen. Another long ball was pumped forward, what is it with Doolin....but wait, Dennehy's on it! Yes, he's got it over Bennion! Shit, there's Thomas Heary, he's going to make it. No! The pitch combined with the frontspin on the ball has justy taken it over the line before heary could get to it! YEEES!!! I run down to the front towards the players, suddenly something clicks in my head. This is almost a carbon copy of the first away game against Bohs last season. I prey for the god(s) to be good this time and for Dan Connor to do everything in the realms of possibility to keep the scores level. Dennehy was in again! But he missed, dammit. That's going to come back and bite us where it hurts. I can't watch, I'm not going all the way to Dundalk and back to see us concead a late goal, surely not.

But another long ball goes in and Denis Behan outpaces Heary, i can't believe I'm seeing Denis outpace someone! But surely he's going to miss, Denis always misses one-on-one's, I close my eyes, but on re-opening them I see the ball nestling in the net. A quck check to the linesman to make 100% sure that something hasn't interrupted the joy and I leap up and down in joy, we have done it. For once we were on the right side of late goals! I look around me, people are jumping and shouting and dancing. For many this year, away trips and brought unrivalled pain and long trips home, but now here is the break.

Two late goals that remind of of why we do it, why we go the length and breadth of the country, wind, rain, sun, no matter what. Yes, it may sound cliched and yes, I haven't expierenced the pan that City have had years ago, but what I have expierenced is a special occasion, a late comeback and two super Kerrymen. What was that joke about Kerrymen being inerior to Corkmen?

An eventful day Tuesday was, starting with
flyers and ending in a 1-0 win. I headed into town at about half 12 to help
hand out flyers advertising the free game in the City centre. After a half hours
wait for the rain to clear I headed out with a stack of flyers towards the GPO
where hopefully I?d get the flyers off my hands and back into the warmth of the
club shop. Following a few rejections the stack was getting whittled down bit
by bit and as the stack was getting smaller I was handing out more flyers per
hand. A group of lads enquired as to what the fuss was all about. I told them
and gave them about 10 flyers each, getting rid of 50 flyers in the process,
big casino!!

An hour after heading out I was back in
Sullivan Quay, but there was a visible difference in the mean time. Paul had
brought back a TV crew (Trust Paul to head out with flyers and come back with a
TV crew) Filming the fly-on-the-wall documentary ?Chasing Shadows? the group
were in Cork after spending the day with Drogheda United fans. Paul and I
politely accepted to do an interview and so from just being the guy with the
flyers I turned into a TV megastar (Well, one can always fantasize!) and the
finished product will arrive late May. Something to look forward to!

We wrapped up and I headed back home with
no flyers, a new game and a release form for my work on camera. A quick spin on
NHL on the xbox and it was time to go, I wasn?t expecting much entertainment. Drogheda were clearly going to
park the bus and try to eek out a draw. Our best chance in the opening quarter
came courtesy of a Dennehy deflection in the 6 yard box, but a mixture of
athleticism and sheer luck ensured that League winning goalkeeper Steve
Williams could knock it wide. Then, just before half time we went 1-0 up. Silagallis
took a shot outside the box which Williams saved well, but after Rico?s word of
encouragement a new Denis Behan was on hand to head home. Dan Connor had an
excellent match and kept the lead in-tact just before the interval with a good
save from Robbie Farrell.

The second half was an awful affair, Connor
was alert and brave to stop John Paul-Kelly sprinting in on goal. Silagalis had
a half chance from a bad backpass about 10 minutes later but after that the cut
up rain soaked pitch made football nigh on impossible to get any sort of movegoing. The win will be taken any way it comes
though (For most of us anyway) and after 3 wins on the bounce, we?re showing
signs of a team on form. Friday is the second of our three Friday?s away in a
row (I wonder what genius came up with that?) when we make our first visit to
Tallaght stadium. Unfortunately a lack of tickets has made going impossible,
but the following Friday will be Dundalk away, from which my next blog will come from.

 Until then   

Finally, a win! After 4 games, 2 losses, one draw and 3 last minute goals 3 points are finally in the bag, mind you, it was no walk in the park. Two goals from Guntars Sillgalius took us away from the bottom of the table and bagged the first win of the season in what might be a very difficult season to come. The atmosphere was poor on the main and reflected the flatness of the previous home match against St. Pats. Any buzz generated was after a goal and soon fizzled out, this wasn’t helped by terrible drumming which either slowed the chants down to a cripplingly slow pace or just broke them up altogether. The crowd cover at the start of the game complimented with the ‘Play for the Badge’ banner created an excellent display at the start of the game in the Curragh Road End, but there wasn’t a hint of neither a crowd nor a chant 15 minutes from the start. Murmurs of discontent rung around the stands with the news of Danny Murphy’s missed wage, wages were being paid late for other members of staff, but Murphy’s situation coupled with the contract he was pushed towards has not made Coughlan many friends after his dealings with the fans favourite. With this in mind the chants of ‘One Cockney Rebel’ were to be expected before the game and the rallying cry after the game was the fans way of appreciating what the London born full back has done for the club.
The game itself was a lacklustre affair, Bray, weighed down with injuries were inevitably playing for a draw, and despite a menacing shot that whistled past Chris O’Connor and over the bar, chances were few and far between. The game sparked into life when Stephen Brennan got his marching orders for a second bookable offence after a bad tackle on Neal Horgan. The first booking was questionable, Brennan was booked for kicking the ball away after he played a through ball following the referee’s call. To be fair to Brennan it seemed to me that he never heard the whistle and to the best of my knowledge played the ball before the whistle even went, but all things considered, the challenge itself was bordering on a capital offence. We took the lead halfway through the first half when a ball was crossed in and after what we thought was a Behan miss, Sillagalius casually nodded the ball into the back of the net to give him his second tap in in as many games. Following the goal a bizarre moment of stillness occurred before we all remembered how to celebrate a score. The last home goal we scored was that magical Kearney goal that won the Setanta Cup for us. A gap of 4 months and 26 days since our last home goal, you must excuse us for being a little rusty! Half time came and went and in the 59th minute we were two up. Once again Sillagalius was the executioner, a good run through the centre led to a delicate chip over O’Connors head and this time we celebrated properly. Bodies were all over the place and the uniquely accepted man-hug was being fully employed all over the stand. I predicted a Bray goal was going to come soon after and I was correct, a ball in from a free-kick wasn’t dealt with, the ball pinged around the box before it fell to Dave Mulcahy who stuck it home. There was squeaky bum time at the end with a couple of menacing attacks from a Wanderers side with 9 men following Derek Pender’s injury, but we survived to get what could be an important three points come the end of the season.

Well what a wet blanket that was! After a solid start away to Sligo we were brought right back down to earth by what was a poor St Pats team. A good move from a set-piece led to an excellent finish by Darragh Ryan which proved to be the difference. A shit atmosphere in the Curragh Road was compounded by the shit on the pitch and what was a hugely hyped up and anticipated even for City fans turned out to be a disappointment, and surprisingly somewhat of a surprise.

  Cork City were completely flat up front, lacking talent, pace and imagination. My first impressions of Doolin are worrying. He clearly doesn?t have a grasp of the players in front of him. Why else take of Fahuran Kudozovic and bring on Behan, given the choice I would have taken off the less then impressive Guntars Sigalis and brought on Davin O?Neill. Why surely would he bring on a player that in all honesty isn?t good enough for the League of Ireland premier instead of a new signing that proved to be a revelation last season, playing well against much better teams then the Pats outfit on the pitch Friday last? There was very little of note after the Ryan goal, both sides were poor going forward and the fussy nature of ref made flowing football nigh on impossible, a scuffle that got going after an injury to Gary Rodgers inflicted by Faz got the crowd going briefly, but the next 5 minutes of play soon put an end to the buzz.

As the night got on the weather got progressively worse and perhaps that?s a small excuse for the brand of football that was played. But Doolin should be savvy enough to realise that you must adjust your tactics to fit the club that you?re in. The long ball isn?t something that City are used to and to be honest, Colin Healy and Joe Gamble looked lost in no mans land. Neither Sigalis nor Kudozovic are suited to the long ball (Perhaps why Kudozovic had so many problems after leaving Sligo) and if Doolin is a smart man he?ll find out the players strengths and play to them. Football teams can?t be dictatorships and if Doolin employs the iron fist of long ball football he might just as well pack his bags and go now.

By the way, when did fans ever start booing their own players? Dan Connor got a massive amount of abuse from so called ?supporters? Friday night. Now, I?m the first to condemn his actions and curse his name when playing for opposition teams. But following a good save from a tricky chip shot in the first half a mountain of abuse was hurled at the Waterford native for his failure to catch the ball. I was one of the very few that applauded him and yelled encouragement. Then these idiots starting shouting at me for applauding him and persisted in trying to start a heated debate during the match. During times like this I wonder who the real fans are.

On a lighter note, kudos to those who applauded Darragh Ryan after his goal and on his departure at the end of the match. He had to endure the same pay cuts as the rest of the squad last season and he was more then entitled to find a new club after he left City. I was hoping the Rebel Army would keep him but it wasn?t to be and his respect after the goal was admirable after the antics of a number of footballers over the last few years. Good luck Darragh and all the best at Pats!

Kevin Galvin

So the first competitive game of 2009 took place on a crisp Sunday afternoon back at Bishopstown. The Rebel Army were looking to get through to the quarter final of the Munster Senior Cup, a competition the Leesiders have won a staggering 16 times. Limerick outfit Pike Rovers provided the competition, as a junior side they weren?t expected to be much opposition.
But as the teams took the field there was no sight of manager Paul Doolin, U21 manager Stuart Ashton took the reigns for the day and surrounded himself it seemed with familiar faces. There were no fancy team buses or even lifts for some City players. As a matter of fact Tim Kiely called on the No. 8 city bus service to take him to the match; unfortunately he was confronted with the problem if having to discuss football with the group of plebs already on the bus. (Myself included folks!!)

Anyway back to the game and after an opening 20 minutes with very few chances. A piece of magic brought a spark to the game. After a corner from the left looped up into the air, a Rovers midfielder was soon onto it and hit the ball with venom and serious front spin which made the ball dip viciously just over the flailing arms of the keeper and under the bar. One nil and the Rovers management was jumping and whooping in delight.

Their score and joy was doubled after a free kick was given away in a dangerous position. The ball was drilled low and hard, deflected off the bottom off the wall and took a hard bounce off the bobbling pitch to slam into the left hand corner of the net. 2-0 Rovers and the ?junior? team were making their experience show. All City could muster were a few corners before a good turn of skill resulted in a low shot under the otherwise good Rovers keeper. ?Thou shallst not pass? seemed like the 11th commandment and many good chances were wasted with unnecessary over elaboration.

The cold and windy stand was substituted for the sunny pitch, and view was sacrificed for heat. Soon enough after the whistle a City chance went sailing over and so we had a ball to kick around with as well as a match to watch. Result!! The youths also picked up their performance and should have got a second when a corner was headed in and Rovers keeper took the ball into his chest, but crucially after the ball crossed the line.

Moreover he landed over the line with the ball (I was 4 yards away I hasten to add) and it was the linesman 40 yards away that decided the goal didn?t stand. But the luck was well deserved from a plucky and very well organised Pike Rovers outfit and when the full time whistle blew no one could begrudge the Limerick side the win and so City bowed out of the competition, not one of the highlights during the 25 year history Cork City Football Club.

Kevin Galvin

The first match at Turners Cross for the 2009 season was against newly reinstated Kildare County. After your typical mundane mid-term Friday and a Maths grind the gates were opened. Admission was free for all u18?s and un-employed persons and ?5 for the lucky ones who are employed. Even the promise of free football for many didn?t draw much of a crowd, maybe 150 people packed the Donie Ford stand to see what was a casual affair. County were well organised at the back and Cork City?s front line of Behan and Kudozovic found the going tough. Headers from set pieces were their only way of threatening County goalkeeper. The shot stopper had groin problems earler in the game but ignored the pain to produce a top class save around 20 minutes in. From a powerful header on the near post he, ironically decked out in a City jersey, leaped and scooped the ball one handed just over the crossbar.

That prolonged the inevitable though and from the resulting corner a goalmouth scramble ended up with the ball wedged between new signing Robert Metzekis and the post but the Latvian managed to free the ball and toe poke it into the net to give the Rebel Army a 1-0 lead. Soon it was 2 when a dangerous Colin Healy free kick was met with a powerful header from captain Dan Murray. Just before halftime there was a highly entertaining dispute across the pitch between County defender and Manager which was clearly audible in the spookily silent ground. Trouble in the camp perhaps?!

There was chopping and changing in the second half. City fans were treated to their first look at controversial signing Dan Connor and Billy Dennehy and Faz Kudozovic were taken off. Another new signing Guntars Sigalis and Setanta Cup semi-final hero Tim Kiely replaced the two. It was Sigalis that provided the only bright spark in an otherwise dull second half when he smartly converted a powerful low cross from into the bottom right hand corner to hand Cork City a good 3-0 win.

So the lights were powered off and the crowd left the only all-seater and covered stadium in the country (Just thought I?d sneakily slip that in. Croke Park eat your heart out!!) the fans seemed pleased. The team played well and there doesn?t seem to be any financial difficulties. We?ve secured our A-Licence and a juicy away tie to Sligo will be played on a Saturday which means it?s accessible to many. (Unfortunatly not yours truly)

There?s only a week and a half to the start of the season and while painful memories are being slowly forgotten, new ambition is sowing its seed, now it?s up to fate to make it grow into a pretty little trophy.

Kevin Galvin

The bus journey was?.interesting to say the least, a mixed member of society proceeded to discuss to my friend and I, he came away with the notion that I had multiple girlfriends!!! (We can all hope)

Anyway, after getting off the bus a few stops in advance of the ground we set off to the ground,. Bishopstown was an ambitious plan set out buy the club?s former owners at the start of the previous decade. They planned to turn it into a purpose built stadium, fit for hosting concerts, internationals and big club matches. But after building the original stand it all fell to pieces, the club were planning to build a bar and restaurant facility and after the club were refused a licence to sell alcohol their main source of finance was taken from under their feet. Soon plans were scrapped and all that was left was the original stand (All thanks to the one and only Plonk) now all that remains is that one stand, the wire fencing outside the pitch has been taken down so thus stand a sole arch outside the tunnel, which everyone walks through for some reason (thus are the eccentricities of League of Ireland football)

With sunny skies overhead, and the ground bitterly cold, the match got underway, it was a fairly scrappy affair, with loose tackles flying in and umpteen passes going askew. Gints Fremanis was back for his second trial spell and looked impressive, with good ball control on what was a poor surface. Brazilian (Yes you read correctly) trialist Tacio Santos didn?t impress me, his passing was poor and his tackles were mis-timed and rash, that was when he actually attempted a tackle. There were some more good signs, Finnish centre back Matthias Kullstrom looked solid at the back (Not that we have problems filling the gap) and second half sub Levi Reid played well (English centre mid)

At half time the group popped down to the shop with the idea of warming ourselves up, choclate was my preferred method, tea was another and Paul (Barry, my friend) decided to warm up with a piping hot?.Brunch??

We returned confectionary and hot drinks in hand to a scoreless game, the game had some more flow now and with the players getting used to the bumpy pitch, we decided to opt for a place in the sunlight in the second half and stood in the embankment opposite the main stand. Even with the added flow the game was still low on entertainment, and within hiatus? in the match, we sourced alternative entertainment by watching a rip-roaring game between younger City fans going on behind one of the goals. Needless to say the game was end to end stuff, which wasn?t hard to be fair because the ends had 20 yards between them.

As the game made the transition into the final phase changes were made, both goalkeepers were changed and more first team players were introduced into the match, but there was very little troubling the net minders, both only having to do minor errands between the sticks.

But with less then 2 minutes to go, a good corner was dropped in for David Grincell to powerfully head home, and the travelling support (About 4 in number) went wild and disgracefully jumped onto the pitch. (Which wasn?t difficult considering the touchline was barely visible) Referee Alan kelly blew the final whistle and their journey was worth it, they had a win away to Cork City and will no doubt now proclaim their selves themselves as ?The best team in Munster?

For the Cork International Trialist XI it was the performance more then the result that mattered, and no doubt come the start of the season, we won?t be losing to Waterford. All that was left for me was to conduct a few short interviews in the all new Bishopstown reception area which had a modern table no less!!!

After gingerly getting out of the stadium through a waterlogged field (Olympic Way eat your heart out) there were more bus eccentricities, first we had to run to catch a bus with no passengers on, and then I walked the two miles home faster then the bus could drive (Granted I had a head start). And I finally arrived back where I started from 4 and a half hours after setting out, so far so bad. Played 1, lost 1, conceded 1

Kevin Galvin