Gripping tale of two cities

[A face]

Gripping tale of two cities


The friendly rivalry between Cork City and Derry City has framed the summer football season. On Friday night the teams go head to head in a final showdown that will decide the Eircom League title. Michael Foley traces the stories that link two communities steeped in football tradition and with everything to play for

A Friday night three weeks ago in the Horseshoe Inn on the Curragh Road in Cork city, and the bar is crammed with beery, happy locals. Across the road in Turner’s Cross Cork City have just clinched a breathlessly dramatic place in the FAI Cup final with a penalty deep into injury-time to beat Derry City.

Stephen O’Flynn was born up the road in Mallow and transferred from Cork to Derry early in the season, but on his return he upended Neale Fenn inside the box. His form for Derry had been superb. The irony was too cruel, too heartless to dwell on. Instead, inside the Horseshoe, the locals are taking in the magnitude of it all. Shelbourne are charging up behind Cork in the league and Derry remain on their tail, but the Double is still on.


Read more at www.timesonline.co.uk (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-1869592,00.html)

[Speranza]

Superb article. As big Gerry said if we are going to lose the league we couldn't lose it to any better club. May the best team win and the love-in continue!:)

[A face]

Superb article. As big Gerry said if we are going to lose the league we couldn't lose it to any better club. May the best team win and the love-in continue!:)

Great article to be fair ..... we all give out spades when they are sh!te so only right now !!

[Dr.Nightdub]

One of the best articles on the League I've read in a while.

In a way, it's a shame the match is on next Friday, as many fans of other clubs who would otherwise be glued to the box will miss out on seeing it.

[bluemovie]

True. I was thinking the same. It would have been great if they switched it to Saturday. Will just have to rely on text updates from Cork. They lose out on a huge chunk of the TV audience by showing games at the same time as the rest of us are at our own matches. That's why Sky have Sunday Premiership live games. I usually set the video for the Fiday night games, but it would be better, in general, if they were on Saturdays...or even make Thursday night Live Football night. It would kick off the weekend, doesn't clash with anything (unless you count Boro/Bolton UEFA Cup) and would only mean travelling to away games once or twice a season on an admittedly-awkward Thursday.

[Strabane_Harp]

they way the league is goin, u couldnt wish for a better finish (pity for us harps fans all the same)

the people up in belfast are even talkin about it

there were more people watchin derry v pats than england argentina yesterday!

[ccfcgirl]

Brilliant article. Well worth a read .

[Ruairi]

there were more people watchin derry v pats than england argentina yesterday!

i was in the local yesterday watchin derry and the barstoolers demanded that the england game be put on.. my mate responded by singing god save the queen at them...

[thejollyrodger]

very good read indeed

[Maz]

i was in the local yesterday watchin derry and the barstoolers demanded that the england game be put on.. my mate responded by singing god save the queen at them...
Did they still change it to the england game?

Superb article, excellent

[TonyD]

i was in the local yesterday watchin derry and the barstoolers demanded that the england game be put on.. my mate responded by singing god save the queen at them...

:D :D I like it. I hope they were suitably chastened.

On the league finish, isn't it set up just beautifully ? Cork with home advantage, but then that's balanced out I think by the fact that Derry only need one point. Impossible to call, but I have a sneaking feeling Derry might just do it. I agree witrh the earlier point about other fans missing out on the live coverage. I'll be at Pats v Longford, and will probably tape Cork v Derry, but it's unlikely I'll be able to avoid the score.