(Don't worry, I'll explain the title!!)
Alas readers, I shunned my club a week ago, to attend some sort of box social happening on at the same time, and after one hell of a party and a soaking (and freezing) night up in Galway I'm glad to report I seemed to have made the right choice!
So following that apparently abysmal performance in the completely un-sheltered Fahy's Field we were looking to make back lost points against Limerick, a side fancied for promotion this sea
son, and a side to whom we lost on both occasions we hosted them last season. Revenge was needed.Looking at the gate on the way in it seemed that another big crowd was due, and as I made may way into an unusually full Shed I knew that City had to start well to harness the power of said extra numbers. An awkward time of translation between new French signing Vincent Escudé-Canadu and another City fan (5th Year French baby!) served as my awkward turtle/tree/dead fox moment of the day before the game ensued. With the Lims being both local and promotion rivals, and throw into that the intoxicating cocktail of ('junkee') 'keeper Barry Ryan, the atmosphere was set to be electric!
The game started slowly, with an under-strength Limerick suffocating the Rebel Army and quietening the home support who were boisterous at kick-off time. Limerick front man Peter Hynes had an early shot that never really tested Mark McNulty in the City net, but that really was the highlight of the action during a stale opening 15 minutes.
The game burst into life in the 18th minute though, when débutant Derek O'Brien showed City fans what's to come. The ex-Galway winger sprinted down the left wing
, skinned Lims right back Garbhan Broughall, cut inside, and sent a thunderous effort across Ryan's body, which the shotstopper could only get a foot onto, and the ball looped into the net. The previously slumbering City fans woke with a jolt (myself included!!) and made sure their dominance was known 'One team in Munster, there's only one team in Munster!' After that the game settled down once again, and despite both teams best efforts, goalmouth action was limited at best, neither Ryan nor McNulty under serious pressure at any point.Half time came, and out stepped Dave 'Barack Obama' Alton to try and win himself a 42" plasma screen TV by hitting the crossbar from the edge of the box. Needless to say; under a chorus of jeers and abuse, the man who seems to win every competition did just that, expertly chipping the ball onto what can only be described as the top of the post. Enjoy the TV lad!
With that out of the way it was time for the second half, and it was then the fans really got going! Ryan stepped out in front of the City faithful, soaking up his usual abuse, and then the still un-named City 'Cheetah' mascot did his best to help matters by snorting the goal-line (and thus putting him down in City folklore) as another hated 'keeper endured his 45 minutes in front of the Shed!
O'Brien pulled up soon after the break, but that didn't stop Tommy Dunne's team seizing the early momentum, with Gearóid Morrissey and Davin O'Neill both missing relatively simple efforts to double their side's advantage. First, a cross into the box found the ball at Morrissey's feet, the Mahon native unable to convert a chance that seemed sim
pler to score. Then O'Neill (who had a poor game by anyone's standards) rose to meet an inch-perfect Vinny Sullivan cross, but could only balloon his header over the bar and into the stand.Ryan started to lose his patience, and proceeded to engage with some words with one member of the City faithful, riling up an already electric home support (especially one fella who seemed to have a Barry Ryan vendetta, at one point talking about crabs in his bag or something (yes that's the title explination!)). As the football deteriorated the crowd just seemed to be getting louder and louder; but they had their hearts in their mouths less than 10 minutes from time. A retreating City were caught on the counter, and Jeffery Judge had a glorious chance to steal a point from the game, but he sent his close-range header agonizingly wide.
So last week's dejected (and wet) City faithful were this week delighted (and dry!) and it seems that if Tommy Dunne's men can find some consistency, promotion is a very attainable target.
A mention also goes to David O'Leary (Pictured with Shane Duggan), former classmate, football friend (yes I said it!) and all 'round top man, who was playing with Limerick on the night.
Next week I won't be bunking off an away trip, and a slightly belated (but possibly bumper) edition from Athlone will be up!
Till then,
Kev
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