County Clash

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.