Oh how cruel ambition can be A few weeks ago we were high flying in the league, top by three points and dreaming of league success come November, but now our season is virtually over, knocked out of both cup competitions and realistically out of league contention bar an at of God. The Dundalk game was another hugely disappointing night.
I arrived early to help set up flags and the display that would take place later when the teams took to the pitch. We met a Dundalk bus on the way down and one fan showed us his break-dancing skills in the most inconvenient place, backing up angry motorists and generally causing a scene, while another tried to get his message across to the foreign Corkonian peoples, like. Ryan and I took a trip down to the St. Annes end and concluded that it was by far and away the best stand in the stadium, and possibly the country for a singing section to reside, but alas we stay in the soulless and lifeless Curragh Road End.
The teams took to the pitch and I learned about the physical strains of waving a TIFO flag, those things are heavier then they look! The team didn’t look up for it from the word go. They had lost the FAI Cup 2nd round replay in extra time in Sligo the previous Tuesday and it seemed that the forthcoming two week break were dominating their minds. There was obviously something clouding Dan Connor’s mind that night as his decision making was nothing short of appalling, that wasn’t helped by awful defending by Greg O’Halloran and Dan Murray (shock horror) and the back 5 that had been so solid during the unbeaten run was now crumbling like a flake.
It was only a matter of time before City went behind and it was a combination of poor marking and horrific goalkeeping that led to th
e Louth men’s first, a cross from the left found an unmarked Declan O’Brien, but before he could get a shot away Connor rushed off his line like a headless jackeen chicken with gloves and proceeded to give O’Brien a jumping hug, ‘Fabio’ went down like a sack of spuds and the resulting penalty was dispatched with some aplomb by Chris Turner.
Things went from bad to worse for the Leesiders when Shane Duggan’s petulance earned him a red card, he threw the ball at Thomas Heary and was soon sent walking back to the home dressing room with his tail between his legs. Then it was two, Connor once again decided to practice his 30 yard dashing techniques at the most inopportune time, once he had reached Michael Daly he pulled out and Daly showed the ex-Drogheda netminder how to keep cool under pressure when chipping the ball expertly into the far corner.
Half time and the chorus of ‘What a load of rubbish’ couldn’t have been more deserved for a team showing themselves up defensively on all to many occasions.
The second half was a completely different affair. Denis Behan was brought on at half time replacing the awful O’Halloran and injected some life into a sombre affair, and the chant of ‘Lets pretend we scored a goal’ and the resulting mayhem (Mr. O’Keefe take a bow) injected much life into a crowd that resembled a funeral procession rather then a football crowd.
Cillian Lordan gave way for Faz Kuduzovic (Cork City’s Poker Face none the less) while Alan ‘Van Persie’ O’Connor was relieved of his duties, Stephen O’Donnell taking his place. City played with much more gusto and passion, ignoring D(F)oolin’s defensive t
actics and playing the ball on the deck, which on the surface didn’t seem like the best option but clearly Dundalk didn’t like it and most importantly didn’t expect it.
Behan’s hard work came to a head when he thundered a shot into the top right hand corner from just inside the box, but at that stage there was only 8 minutes left and despite City’s best effort the late surge was once again unrewarded. But in the overall picture we didn’t deserve it (Despite what D(F)oolin said in the post-match interview) Dundalk came with a plan and our one dimensional tactics played straight into their hands. That coupled with a horrible day between the sticks for Dan Connor and in defence by O’Halloran were the reasons for yet another pitiful home performance, and result.
The only highlight of the evening was saving 5 penalties in the Curragh Road goal after the match, if only TNB was watching!!
The following day hosted Neal Horgan’s testimonial, a great player and a true gent Hoggy couldn’t have asked for a nicer day, cloudless skies and a blazing sun oversaw the best of Cork football, past and present and although the game was quite disappointing as a spectacle the day in general was a brilliant and entertaining event and a fitting tribute to a City legend for a decade and for the years to come, I personally wish Hoggy every success in his future law endeavours and who knows, some day he might line out in a City strip again?
