People often see that when you are about to die then life appears like slow motion. Well it was like that for me for that penalty. Hands were held, fingers crossed, prayers muttered and curses uttered as O'Flynn advanced towards the ball, hit it, Gough went down and....and...and..... he's saved it, he's saved it, has he saved it? yeah, he's saved it. The instant was endless and then dissolved to unabashed joy amongst the City fans, as the home support collapsed in shocked disbelief.
At this the vocal support increased once again as we got the feeling that it could be one of those nights and we were going to get a draw. There was now less than a quarter of an hour left and we felt that we would at least get the chance to have a pop at them in the Brandywell next week. Gary, shattered with chasing all night long was withdrawn for Darren McCready, with Friars pushed up alongside Liam. Another heavy challenge by Cork led to a free kick on the halfway line. Eddie McCallion launched it forward and it broke to Friars. His first attempt was blocked and then….he hit it again and it flew past Devine and into the back of the net. We weren’t sure if it was in or wide but Friars baring his torso confirmed our fervent hoped
If events before that had sent us into a frenzy, the goal caused mass hysteria amongst the supporters. I can remember jumping up and down on the seat and then the seat breaking as I went mental and nearly killed myself. Premature suicide attempt survived we continued to celebrate madly. The camera was nearly dropped several times but managed to avoid destruction as we all lept about like Duracell bunnies. With all that was happening we barely had time to acknowledge Liam Coyle as he was replaced.
It was now countdown time. Watches were being consulted with every increasing frustration as time seems to slow down. Cork, flattened by the blow attempted to rally and may have had a shout for another penalty but Byrne appeared not to see Paddy McLaughlin’s shirt pulling. Doc and Martyn continued to break down Cork moves as time ticked on. Jamie’s introduction injected fresh blood up front and he caused the tiring Cork defence a few problems. This eased the pressure on our back four who didn’t allow their concentration to slip.
Referee Byrne decided to liven up the proceedings with a few Cork frees on the edge of the box to keep our collective blood pressure at unhealthy levels. Such was the tension was that we failed to hear or comprehend that Ciaran Martyn had been given the man of the match award. Congratulations to Ciaran but surely it should have been either Paddy McLaughlin or Sean Hargan. Both were outstanding and drew out the sting of many a Cork move before it reached fruitition. The declaration that there were to be four minutes caused a few palpitations but it was within our grasp- we could hold on for four minutes, surely. Four minutes passed slowly as Cork threw everything at us while their supporters drifted off home. And then it was over.
It was over, five and a half minutes of injury time had elapsed but it was over. We were there, we were in the Cup Final. The heartache of last year was consigned to the dustbin while Alan Gough was installed in immortality. The players, matching our feelings rushed towards us, ecstatic with what has to go down as one of the best results in many a year. We had gone to Cork an won. We had come a long way since the Drogheda game in the second round when the doomsayers were predicting that it could be the end of the season.
The players delight was obvious particularly Liam Coyle and Alan Gough. Alan who had come in for some stick earlier in the season was justifiably delighted and he was nearly in tears with emotion. The same was true of Liam Coyle who as he reaches the twilight of his career knows how rare nights like this are. Waves of emotions became waves of people as we scrambled to reached the playing surface and enjoy the moment. The players continued to rejoice with the supporters while Kevin Mahon talked to Trevor Welsh of TV3.
Jim Roddy was also there and received the congratulations of everyone. Of all the fans and faces I remember, it is Tommy Gallagher that I remember the most. Removing his City shirt and holding it aloft he looked like a man who had discovered the Holy Grail. Everyone celebrated the occasion in their own way, James “Absolute Disgrace” O’Toole was sitting, savouring it quietly while madness reigned all around. Phone calls and texts were composed to those that couldn’t make the trip telling it that Richie and Jobby weren’t lying and that we had in fact beaten Cork.
We stood and sang on for three quarters of an hour, long after the home support had gone, leaving only when the floodlights were turned off. Then it was into the Horseshoe to wet dried and cracked throats, and to soak up the magical atmosphere. Pints were taken outside to wait for the players.
They emerged in groups of twos and three, all to a heroes welcome. The “Sean Friars is better than Crowe” song getting its umpteen airing as the man of hour came into view. Alan Gough received a tremendous roar from the faithful fans for his crucial denial of O’Flynn. Then it was time to head back to the hotel, a shower and a shave and out to really celebrate the night.
Everyone will have their own stories of what they did that night and some may not be for public airing but I am sure that everyone had a great night(apart from those ****er bouncers but that is another matter). The last thing I can remember is in the hotel at about four in the morning trying to teach some West Indians and a Russian the Sean Friars song while the other fans staying in our hotel collapsed in that state of drunken laughter.
“My mother always told me- there’ll be days like this”
Well that is the things about occasions such as Friday night, we are lucky to be able have nights like that. Armchair fans will never experience the buzz of nights like that and it is their own loss. Prior to it, many great days and nights have been had while following the City but I think that we might just have a new winner. Many who didn’t make it will have regrets now but all I know is that I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
Roll on Halloween.
Candystripes Online
Bookmarks