Monday, February 7, 2011

Rugby and Refugee's!

For the first time in over 15 years, we were off to Musgrave Park to watch City play. Shamrock Rovers were the visitors this time, and with a team made up of mainly trialists, it would be interesting to see how City fared.

After a bit of drama, and fears that I might miss the game, I made it out to Muzzer. A wet, windy, nasty night welcomed me in the gate. A €10 admission fee a bit cheeky for a pre-season game with a team full of trialists if you ask me (Which you didn't, but it's my blog so I'll write what I want!) The romantic dreams of terrace nostalgia were put on hold, as we took our place in the stand amongst the frankly horrid conditions.

The wind killed off the game as a spectacle, as both teams started nervously in the unfamiliar surroundings. City were having the lions share of possession though, and although not quite as outstanding, midfielder Ryan Gyaki was industrious, hassling, harrying, and generally upsetting the Premier League holders. His partner in the middle of the pitch, Gearóid Morrissey was working just as hard, and impressing once again. The Mahon native had an early shot that almost caught out Rovers netminder Alan Mannus with the wind.

Soon City nerves were frayed, as last years Player of the Season Graham Cummins came off with what appeared to be an ankle injury, Graham himself confirmed that he'd be fine for the start of the season though. The players trudged on in the intrepid conditions, and both sides fired warning shots, but any semblance of sexy football was nowhere to be seen on a pitch where the punt and rush tactic is normality.

The Leesiders took the lead just before the break, a quite frankly atrocious tackle by ex-City player Billy Dennehy on ex-Rovers defender and City legend Danny Murphy led to a free kick down the left hand side. The deep cross held up in the stiff breeze, and eventually fell to the feet of prospective signing Vincent Escudé-Candau at the back post, who stuck the ball away into the opposite corner. Cue taunts at the Rovers faithful 'Champions League, yer havin' a laugh!'

Half time came and we all went off to the pub to try and stay warm! The facilities that were provided by the Dolphin bar were good, if a little cramped given the crowd size. Still though, a warm room and a pint were welcome on a night that reminded us why Summer Soccer is the way to go if we're to grow as a league.

So came the second half, as we braved ourselves to take to the terrace! Our joy of leading was short lived though. A seemingly innocious cross was spilled badly by Romanian 'keeper Mihai Lasc, and Gary McCabe needed no second invitation, powering the ball into the bottom of the City net. From there the FAI Cup runners-up from last year took control, and Lasc was left rooted to his spot about 10 minutes after the first Rovers goal. Patrick Kavanagh curling a 30 yard shot beyond the weak Lasc.

Rovers had a number of chances to kill off the game, stopped with varying degrees of success by the 22-year-old shotstopper, as City rode out the last 20 minutes on the seat of their pants. Chants of 'We're playing with a team of refugees' (To the tune of Yellow Submarine) provided a light-hearted take on the influx of foreigners to City.

Eventually the full time whistle was blown and it was out of Musgrave as soon as possible to find shelter! Chips, bus, home; after what was an eventful enough game despite the weather. Next up for City is a tricky away game against Waterford United in the Munster Senior Cup, the first time the Rebel Army will be able to properly judge where they stand in comparison to their main division rivals.

While for me, Friday week will be the next game. Home to Sligo Rovers, again at Musgrave, in another friendly which will most likely see another host of 'refugee's' take to the stage wearing the colours of Cork City Football Club.

Ciao Per Ora,
Kev

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