Sheridan
21/07/2006, 6:22 AM
...more than anything else (and I've been awake pretty much all night brooding, so forgive me if I'm a bit incoherent) is this:
"The issues affecting all eircom League clubs in terms of viability and securing a sustainable future within the league are
similar and are very much behind the rationale for the planned merger
with the FAI".
The oleaginous pr1ck couldn't resist the temptation to pimp his masterplan even as he announced that its primary objective had been attained.
Heartbreaking that it ended as abruptly as it did, but I suppose the writing on the wall was clearly legible even from the time Roddy began systematically to dismantle Giller's team. With the benefit of hindsight, it's obvious that the iron was hottest in late 2003/early 2004 (immediately after the Bray game) and we failed to exploit the opportunity. By the time Giller left the momentum had stalled fatally.
I think, in the final analysis, that allowing Dublin City to rot and stagnate irrevocably in the First Division (particularly at the behest of a slackjawed con artist like Delaney) would have been undignified and a betrayal of everything the club stood for. I personally am proud to have counted myself among those who supported their club, not out of blind chauvinism, but because they believed fervently in what it represented. It was a pleasure and privilege to know you all. The same goes for the players, none of whom ever gave us cause to doubt their dedication no matter what the odds (with the exception of that bloated blimp of a fifth columnist Kenny, of course.)
All-Time XI
Kennedy
Toccy, McGauley, Whelehan, Foy
Cottsy, Crowley, Burke, K. Brennan
O'Neill, Freeman
Subs: Horgan, Wes Byrne, McGill, Collins, Farrell
Manager: John Gill
Random selection of memories - Ringo stationed behind the Cobh dugout drowning out Dave Hill's instructions with some righteous beats, and Hillie's increasingly apoplectic reaction. A "certain element" of the home support deriding Trevor Vaughan's efforts within earshot of Rocky at 0:1 against Kilkenny in Whitehall, only for Vaughan to bludgeon an equaliser and curl in a deft free-kick 60 seconds later, causing Rocky to leap around triumphantly repeatedly roaring "F*ck the begrudgers!" and almost do himself an injury.
Keith Foy failing to consummate that epic comeback in Waterford at the RSC in Giller's last league game - a part of my soul died when his 92nd minute penatly rebounded off the post. Gary O'Neill playing the entire eircom League on his own in 2004, and more often than not emerging on top. Arriving a few minutes late for a pre-season friendly at ALSAA this January, only to find a disconsolate Stuart Malcolm trudging in the opposite direction, having been sent off for a frank exchange of fists with an opponent 90 seconds into his debut (an act for which Keely rewarded him with the captaincy.)
Three stooges in the Ivy House:
D: "If Nesovic is such a p1ss-head, why isn't he here?"
Me: "The dipso nutter's probably barred."
B (sotto voce): "He's sitting behind you."
There were glorious occasions along the way too, of course, but it's incidental things like these you invariably miss the most.
"The issues affecting all eircom League clubs in terms of viability and securing a sustainable future within the league are
similar and are very much behind the rationale for the planned merger
with the FAI".
The oleaginous pr1ck couldn't resist the temptation to pimp his masterplan even as he announced that its primary objective had been attained.
Heartbreaking that it ended as abruptly as it did, but I suppose the writing on the wall was clearly legible even from the time Roddy began systematically to dismantle Giller's team. With the benefit of hindsight, it's obvious that the iron was hottest in late 2003/early 2004 (immediately after the Bray game) and we failed to exploit the opportunity. By the time Giller left the momentum had stalled fatally.
I think, in the final analysis, that allowing Dublin City to rot and stagnate irrevocably in the First Division (particularly at the behest of a slackjawed con artist like Delaney) would have been undignified and a betrayal of everything the club stood for. I personally am proud to have counted myself among those who supported their club, not out of blind chauvinism, but because they believed fervently in what it represented. It was a pleasure and privilege to know you all. The same goes for the players, none of whom ever gave us cause to doubt their dedication no matter what the odds (with the exception of that bloated blimp of a fifth columnist Kenny, of course.)
All-Time XI
Kennedy
Toccy, McGauley, Whelehan, Foy
Cottsy, Crowley, Burke, K. Brennan
O'Neill, Freeman
Subs: Horgan, Wes Byrne, McGill, Collins, Farrell
Manager: John Gill
Random selection of memories - Ringo stationed behind the Cobh dugout drowning out Dave Hill's instructions with some righteous beats, and Hillie's increasingly apoplectic reaction. A "certain element" of the home support deriding Trevor Vaughan's efforts within earshot of Rocky at 0:1 against Kilkenny in Whitehall, only for Vaughan to bludgeon an equaliser and curl in a deft free-kick 60 seconds later, causing Rocky to leap around triumphantly repeatedly roaring "F*ck the begrudgers!" and almost do himself an injury.
Keith Foy failing to consummate that epic comeback in Waterford at the RSC in Giller's last league game - a part of my soul died when his 92nd minute penatly rebounded off the post. Gary O'Neill playing the entire eircom League on his own in 2004, and more often than not emerging on top. Arriving a few minutes late for a pre-season friendly at ALSAA this January, only to find a disconsolate Stuart Malcolm trudging in the opposite direction, having been sent off for a frank exchange of fists with an opponent 90 seconds into his debut (an act for which Keely rewarded him with the captaincy.)
Three stooges in the Ivy House:
D: "If Nesovic is such a p1ss-head, why isn't he here?"
Me: "The dipso nutter's probably barred."
B (sotto voce): "He's sitting behind you."
There were glorious occasions along the way too, of course, but it's incidental things like these you invariably miss the most.