Good things come to those who wait. I am talking about the Guinness of course, not the first jottings for a little while. Having visited quite a few European countries to watch football it surprised even myself that I had never been across the water to Ireland. This was recently rectified with a 4-day trip to the emerald isle.
The Ryanair flights had been booked some time ago in order to take advantage of the cheapest fares and it was a little disappointing that both Dublin City and Monaghan changed their fixtures from Thursday and Sunday respectively. We still ended up with three top level games as well as three more in the Leinster Senior League however.
For the first couple of days we based ourselves in the centre of Dublin and used public transport. A one day bus pass included the journey from the airport to the centre and after checking into a pre-booked conveniently located B n’ B we had most of the day for sightseeing. Kilmainham Gaol and Trinity College are well worth visiting for those who want a spot of culture and the Guinness Brewery and Temple Bar have to be checked out for those who like a tipple. Even though the Guinness available in England is now brewed in Ireland it still tastes much better at source.
The only Thursday game available was a friendly between the Leinster Senior League’s representative team and Crumlin United’s youth team. Yes, I know it sounds pretty desperate, but it was in fact a fine game, very competitive for a friendly and nowhere near as one-sided as the 6-1 score-line would suggest. Crumlin’s new state of the art astroturf pitch was used, but there were no spectator facilities apart from a tea room shared with the boxing club. Crumlin have a renowned youth policy. Their under-17 side were all-Ireland champions last season, Robbie Keane started his career there and one of their 15-year olds has just been signed by Arsenal. Hopefully, I will remember his name if I hear it in a few years time.
Many of the locals were holding inquests on the Republic’s World Cup exit the previous night, in most cases the sorrow being lessened by a few pints of ‘the black stuff’. Drink is certainly an important part of every day life, though it was still surprising to see a main item in The national Independent newspaper headlined ‘Off-licence to close for a day’.
Friday night presented a good choice of matches. We opted for a pleasant train journey down the coast, to the end of the DART line at Bray, about 12 miles south of the city. The Carlisle grounds are right next to the station and very close to the seafront. A 5,500 capacity ground with open seating down the near side, grass banking at the near end and a fine old timber and cinder terrace under a barrel-shaped roof reminiscent of Wisbech on most of the far side.
Bray Wanderers are the Crystal Palace of Ireland, with regular promotion and relegation between the two divisions. Opponents Waterford are bottom of the table but start brightly with Rodney Jack, ex-Torquay and Crewe among others, looking dangerous. Bray hold out and score the only goal of a poor game from one of their rare chances. Admission was 12 Euros with a reasonable programme available for 2.5 euros. Attendance was estimated at about 940.
Although the Eircom League plays during the summer, travelling at this time of year produces the possibility of games in the North as well. For our Saturday double a car was definitely required. A good deal was skilfully negotiated by Martin Alsop, or “You’re the man who wants a car for half of nothing” as the woman on the rental desk put it.
Loughall is merely a little village between Armagh and Portadown in Northern Ireland. Yet they reached the Premier Division of the (Northern) Irish League in 2004 and are now enjoying their second season in the top flight. The Lakeview Park ground has a main stand with 128 seats and open terraced areas to either side, full pitch length cover opposite with a further 40 seats at the centre and a little more open terracing in front of the new changing block behind the near goal. The clubhouse is immediately outside the ground and the bar comes in most useful as there is no pub in the village.
The game with Ballymena United is very enjoyable, despite just the one goal scored form 2 yards by ‘the Villagers’. Ballymena have a lot of pressure but few clear cut chances and Loughall are clearly delighted at their victory. £6 is charged for entrance and £1.50 for a programme. The crowd is estimated at 265.
A fairly lengthy cross-country drive is necessary for the evening game back in the Republic. Longford Town have won the cup for the last two years. Opponents Shelbourne have won the league for the last two years. ‘Shels’ including a few recognisable players such as Curtis Fleming and Glen Crowe play some fine football and are 2 up in half-an-hour. Longford offer spirited resistance and for a while threaten a recovery but the visitors close the game out without further score.
Flancare Park is a couple of miles west of Longford itself and is a 4,500 capacity all-seater ground. There's a fair-sized main stand on one side and 8 or 9 rows of uncovered seating on the remaining three sides. The programme is included in the 15 euros admission charge. Attendance about 1,000.
The trip concluded with two Leinster Senior League games on the Sunday. Pegasus, the graduates club of University College Dublin played in the morning on an outside pitch at the Belfield campus where the main UCD ground is also located and only a couple of miles away Glenmore Dundrum had an afternoon game. Both matches were on very basic park type pitches but the standard of football was very good. The second game in particular was a cracker with visitors Greystones AFC leading 3-1 at half-time and 4-2 with just a few minutes to go, but Glenmore coming back to draw 4-4.
Time for a visit to the famous Johny Fox’s pub up in the mountains to the South of Dublin and a traditional Irish meal of bacon and cabbage before the flight home.