Rebels Piked

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.