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FOUR DAYS, THREE GAMES
by Brian de Salvo
ExtraTime.ie, Ireland
Oct 13 2011
Brian de Salvo has been watching the drama unfold, from Shamrock
Rovers playing fast and loose with the Airtricity title to Ireland
getting their hands on a European play off place.
What're you doing here?" grinned Pat Devlin. Since it was Mr Devlin
who rekindled my interest in Irish soccer a decade ago you might
argue he was implicated in my promotion from the press area.
"Here" was the President's Box at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday and
I was present on "diplomatic" business. In researching my Sweeper
column for the programme I had contacted Ohan Yergainharson the
Honorary Consul for Armenia only to discover he didn't have a ticket
for the European Qualifier. With a disregard for protocol that Mick
Wallace would have admired I immediately appointed myself "honorary"
FAI liaison officer, obtained tickets for the Consul and his admirable
Irish wife Yvonne and, while I was at it, procured one for myself.
At the match I was soon an "honorary" member of the Armenian contingent
headed by H. E. Ambassador Karine Kazimian, a lady whose diminutive
size is complemented by an effervescent personality. The Armenians
were in remarkably good spirits considering that the turning point
of the match was the sending off of their goalkeeper for a handling
offence he may not have committed.
The on pitch drama aside, a visit to the impressive Aviva stadium
on a vibrant match day is a memorable event. I thought back to old
internationals in Dalymount with kids risking life and limb jumping
up and down on the corrugated iron roof at the shed end. I was in
Phibsborough last Saturday, housed in the comfort of the modern
Jody stand to watch Bohemians coast to victory against a UCD team
that had won their last three games on the trot, the first against
Bohs. This time their collective inexperience betrayed them; they had
no inspirational presence to match Bohs skipper Owen Heary although
it was youngsters Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy and Chris Forrester who
captured the limelight usually the preserve of the Students. With
everything that has gone on at Dalymount in recent times you have to
admire Pat Fenlon who has proved successful in hard times as well as
good and, incidentally, contributed an excellent assessment of the
international side's performance in the Irish Times. By which I mean
his opinions matched my own, of course, but if he penned the piece
himself his writing skills are also impressive!
On Sunday afternoon I was at Bray where a packed house saw an
interesting encounter. I love the atmosphere at domestic football.
Prior to the game I encounter Damian Richardson and we engage in a
mutual admiration society in praise of the Pats keeper Gary Rogers.
Such a commanding figure, I say, and now so agile for a big man.
Credit to his goalkeeping coach Brian O'Shea, whose talents we have
recently lost to the USA I believe. Rogers brings no baggage into the
dressing room, adds Damian. True. I once called him Pat by mistake
immediately after Pats had lost 2-0 and he still spoke to me!
Time for a quick word with Jim Magilton, who is politeness personified
considering it's close to kick off. Shamrock Rovers start as though
they know they are the best club in the country but Wanderers rally
in the second half to equalise and you begin to wonder from the Hoops
response whether they realise that the title is up for grabs here.
Eventually Sheppard rounds off a performance to match his lime green
dayglo boots with a last gasp winner and Sligo's Paul Cook makes for
the car park. It's frustrating for Bray too but the whole thing is
put into perspective when a small child runs on to greet home keeper
Darren Quigley as he leaves the arena. The experience of Irish football
is more enriching than the game itself but what is often not credited
is the excellence of the match entertainment at its core.
http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/6874/
From: A. Papazian
by Brian de Salvo
ExtraTime.ie, Ireland
Oct 13 2011
Brian de Salvo has been watching the drama unfold, from Shamrock
Rovers playing fast and loose with the Airtricity title to Ireland
getting their hands on a European play off place.
What're you doing here?" grinned Pat Devlin. Since it was Mr Devlin
who rekindled my interest in Irish soccer a decade ago you might
argue he was implicated in my promotion from the press area.
"Here" was the President's Box at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday and
I was present on "diplomatic" business. In researching my Sweeper
column for the programme I had contacted Ohan Yergainharson the
Honorary Consul for Armenia only to discover he didn't have a ticket
for the European Qualifier. With a disregard for protocol that Mick
Wallace would have admired I immediately appointed myself "honorary"
FAI liaison officer, obtained tickets for the Consul and his admirable
Irish wife Yvonne and, while I was at it, procured one for myself.
At the match I was soon an "honorary" member of the Armenian contingent
headed by H. E. Ambassador Karine Kazimian, a lady whose diminutive
size is complemented by an effervescent personality. The Armenians
were in remarkably good spirits considering that the turning point
of the match was the sending off of their goalkeeper for a handling
offence he may not have committed.
The on pitch drama aside, a visit to the impressive Aviva stadium
on a vibrant match day is a memorable event. I thought back to old
internationals in Dalymount with kids risking life and limb jumping
up and down on the corrugated iron roof at the shed end. I was in
Phibsborough last Saturday, housed in the comfort of the modern
Jody stand to watch Bohemians coast to victory against a UCD team
that had won their last three games on the trot, the first against
Bohs. This time their collective inexperience betrayed them; they had
no inspirational presence to match Bohs skipper Owen Heary although
it was youngsters Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy and Chris Forrester who
captured the limelight usually the preserve of the Students. With
everything that has gone on at Dalymount in recent times you have to
admire Pat Fenlon who has proved successful in hard times as well as
good and, incidentally, contributed an excellent assessment of the
international side's performance in the Irish Times. By which I mean
his opinions matched my own, of course, but if he penned the piece
himself his writing skills are also impressive!
On Sunday afternoon I was at Bray where a packed house saw an
interesting encounter. I love the atmosphere at domestic football.
Prior to the game I encounter Damian Richardson and we engage in a
mutual admiration society in praise of the Pats keeper Gary Rogers.
Such a commanding figure, I say, and now so agile for a big man.
Credit to his goalkeeping coach Brian O'Shea, whose talents we have
recently lost to the USA I believe. Rogers brings no baggage into the
dressing room, adds Damian. True. I once called him Pat by mistake
immediately after Pats had lost 2-0 and he still spoke to me!
Time for a quick word with Jim Magilton, who is politeness personified
considering it's close to kick off. Shamrock Rovers start as though
they know they are the best club in the country but Wanderers rally
in the second half to equalise and you begin to wonder from the Hoops
response whether they realise that the title is up for grabs here.
Eventually Sheppard rounds off a performance to match his lime green
dayglo boots with a last gasp winner and Sligo's Paul Cook makes for
the car park. It's frustrating for Bray too but the whole thing is
put into perspective when a small child runs on to greet home keeper
Darren Quigley as he leaves the arena. The experience of Irish football
is more enriching than the game itself but what is often not credited
is the excellence of the match entertainment at its core.
http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/6874/
From: A. Papazian