LOI retro Features

**Redie** · 10/04/2008, 1:49 PM

The Cobh Ramblers v Sligo Rovers 1983 FAI cup semi-final epic when Cobh were non-league - there was only one division at that time - involved a total of 4 matches.

First Match - Played in Cork - 1-1 final score, Cobh went ahead in first half and were cruising until Rovers Equalised with about three minutes from full time. Good Match

Second Match - Played in Sligo - 2-2 final score, Rovers went 2 - 0 up and were really cruising but Cobh came back to level the match in the second half - Very Good Match.

Third Match - Played in Cork - 0-0 final score, Average Match.

Fourth Match - Played in Sligo - 3-2 final score, after extra time. Cobh were 2-0 up at half time. Two second half headed goals from centre-half Chris Rutherford brought the game to extra time when Gus Gilligan scored the winner. Proverbial Classic.

Rovers went on to beat Bohs in what was one of the best finals ever. It was the first time in the clubs history to win the FAI Cup.

One of my own favourite stories from Rovers' history is from the 1950's when Hungarian International Albert Straka was playing for Rovers. It was a cup semi-final in the Showgrounds and Rovers were a goal down and the game was in injury time when Rovers were awarded a penalty. Immediately the crowd invaded the pitch and surrounded the goals, the only empty patch of ground was the penalty box. Straka stepped up to take the penalty and scored and the referee had no option but blow the full time whistle as Straka was carried shoulder high off the pitch. I'm fairly sure there is a photograph of Straka stepping up to take the penalty and being surrounded by the fans.

**red bellied** · 10/04/2008, 2:32 PM

[QUOTE=Redie;917788]The Cobh Ramblers v Sligo Rovers 1983 FAI cup semi-final epic when Cobh were non-league - there was only one division at that time - involved a total of 4 matches.

First Match - Played in Cork - 1-1 final score, Cobh went ahead in first half and were cruising until Rovers Equalised with about three minutes from full time. Good Match

Second Match - Played in Sligo - 2-2 final score, Rovers went 2 - 0 up and were really cruising but Cobh came back to level the match in the second half - Very Good Match.

Third Match - Played in Cork - 0-0 final score, Average Match.

Fourth Match - Played in Sligo - 3-2 final score, after extra time. Cobh were 2-0 up at half time. Two second half headed goals from centre-half Chris Rutherford brought the game to extra time when Gus Gilligan scored the winner. Proverbial Classic.

Rovers went on to beat Bohs in what was one of the best finals ever. It was the first time in the clubs history to win the FAI Cup.

One of my own favourite stories from Rovers' history is from the 1950's when Hungarian International Albert Straka was playing for Rovers. It was a cup semi-final in the Showgrounds and Rovers were a goal down and the game was in injury time when Rovers were awarded a penalty. Immediately the crowd invaded the pitch and surrounded the goals, the only empty patch of ground was the penalty box. Straka stepped up to take the penalty and scored and the referee had no option but blow the full time whistle as Straka was carried shoulder high off the pitch. I'm fairly sure there is a photograph of Straka stepping up to take the penalty and being surrounded by the fans.[/QUOTE]

Doubt it was a semi final, probably the quarter final as most of those games would have been played at a neutral venue. Should know heard this story from the auld fellow enough times.

There is a photograph here as well.
Scroll down to Straka.

http://homepage.eircom.net/~sligorov...00a.htm#straka

During the 1954/55 season Rovers made one of their most colourful signings. Albert Straka was an Austrian international who was signed for Rovers in time for the FAI Cup campaign. The bit O' red were drawn against the other Rovers from south Dublin and the fans flocked to the Showgrounds to see the Austrian international. It was a game of high drama as Johnny Armstrong gave Rovers the lead only for Shams to fight back and go in front with goals from Hennessey and Liam Touhy, who went on to manage Ireland. Touhy's goal came with just four minutes left and it looked like Rovers were out of the cup. But Rovers won a penalty in the last minute which sent the crowd on to the pitch. It took about ten minutes for order to be restored and when it was Straka stepped up to take the penalty. The referee indicated that it was the last kick of the game and the Austrian international kept his nerve to slot the ball past O'Callaghan in the hoops goal to earn Rovers a replay. Rovers lost the replay but Straka's short spell with the bit o' red saw him find a place in the history books.

**dcfcsteve** · 11/04/2008, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by Calcio Jack

O dear, what a silly reply.... anyway one thing for sure is that I do know that I don't suffer from such an inflated ego that I'd post comments which slag off someone who's asked for help and also drop into them in a most unsubtle manner the revealation that I'd in the past written a book...

As I said IMO your post was very sad because instead like all the other respondents trying to help you felt it necessary to have a go at what DonegalCelt is trying to do, belittle his knowledge and then it seems try to impress us with your by dropping in comments about having done hard miles etc.

You know if I was an aspiring journalist looking to write articles on the LOI, I'd also come on here to see if I could get some eye-witness accounts etc... also would go to other sources like newspaper archives and for all we know DonegalCelt is also doing that... one thing for sure I would't expect someone to start critiscising me... cue your usual boring response, to which I have no intention of responding , as IMO to continue this will just bore all the other posters.

1) I haven't written a book. I am in the middle of writing one now about Irish football, and have been for two years. In that period this is only the second time I've even vaguely alluded to the fact that I am writing a book on a web forum, as I am terrified that someone will pip me to the post on the topic. Two very vague mentions in over 3,000 posts on Foot.ie across the same period. That's some egomaniac determined to let the world know about their book, eh CJ...?

Sorry to expose the inconvenient truth behind your attempt at sledging here.

2) A Rovers fan of all people should be wary of journalists trawling Irish football websites for stories. It happens all the time on the City Chat forum where half-baked story, rumour etc appears on a site one day and then is printed as facrt the next. And it's happened on foot.ie before as well. So you'll excuse me if I'm a tad alert to the possible danger of lazy/'chancer' journalists, or suspicious of fairly new posters who seem to only post looking for people to do a large part of their work for them.

3) I have since had an exchange of PM's with Doengal Celt, and must say he is a decent character who has been doing stuff on the EL for a while now. Ironically, I have a piece he wrote on DCFC framed on my office wall

Needless to say - he didn't play all hurt or get the hump like you did CJ.

4) You're keeping that taxi waiting. Doubtless the driver will claim to have been a Rovers fan in the past, so you'll get on famously.