Top 10 songs of 2011

At Number 10 it's Ghostpoet, he was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize this year and rightly so, this song Liines is from his album Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam.



Number 9 is Swedish songstress Lykke Li, her album Wounded Rhymes was one of the albums of 2011 and this for is the best song on it, called Rich Kids Blues.



Loved Number 8 the second I heard it, it's called Goldstar and is by Belfast band Cashier No 9.



At Number 7 are Pete and the Pirates who released a super album in 2011 called One Thousand Pictures, this song called Half Moon Street.



The Strokes came back in 2011 with a new album called Angles and while it didn't set the world alight for me there were a few stand out songs.
and in at Number 6 pop pickers, is Call Me Back.



Metronomy had quite a few nice tunes out this year on their album The English Riviera, this for me was by far the best, The Look at Number 5.



Number 4 appeared quite late in the year but love this song,
Daughter and Home.



Heard Number 3 first when they played it at Glastonbury and while I wasn't a huge fan of them before this I thought this was amazing.
The Horrors and Still Life



Number 2 is The Drums and Money from their difficult second album Portamento.
The kids love this one and so do I.



and finally Number 1 tune for 2011 is The Vaccines and Post Break Up Sex.
One of the most beautiful songs I've heard in manys a year.

No time to write poetry

My favourite song this week by Daughter called Home.




Here's another super choon from Pete and the Pirates.
She doesn't belong to me.

This week I've been mostly listening to........

Nice little tune from DJ Shadow with Little Dragon.



and also this little ditty by I Break Horses, called Wired.

You reap what you sow.

You reap what you sow.

We all kind of knew it would come to this day

We went in our thousands for Shelbourne away

A tremendous season, correct curtain call

The buses were filled up in no time at all

A convoy of sorts, support would be vital

We’d have taken promotion but wanted the title

Holy trinity guarded pub door command post

The father, the son and the clubs holy ghost

There redgav and dunnocks and tiktok ran rule

You can make up your own mind as to who was who

Slightly surreal but I just couldn’t tell

Would this be the gates of heaven or hell?

Into the ground, we joined our merry band

As we pretty much filled their Riverside Stand

The rest of the ground looked quite sparse to compare

As two thousand City fans gathered in prayer

Four minutes in and that roof it was lifted

Duffer slammed home, into dreamland we drifted

Then who came along and unloaded his cartridge

But that handsome young lad from the family Partridge

Though Shels were on top, we survived the critique

Chocolate wrists had been kept in the freezer all week

Them winning the league, it would sting like a thistle

We were secretly wishing “Blow the bloody whistle”

Derek ran in the corner, I couldn’t quite see

How would he cross, with his hands on his knees?

He traversed to perfection that spherical threat

 Which Graham directed right into the net

That was the point it all went to slow motion

Trepidation followed by frenzied commotion

Missing person announcement throughout the ground

The run of myself was nowhere to be found

Jumping and screaming we all did embrace

Elation as tears they just flowed down my face

The repetitive stadium announcer ignored

As onto the pitch the City fans poured

Wandering around hugging friends, hugging strangers

Despite my dear mother having warned of the dangers

Last time I hugged Moses twas in May ninety three

This time he ne’er squeezed all the life out of me

To stop off in Durrow, driver we did sweeten

For the nicest bag of chips I ever had eaten

The following morning slightly under the weather

Trying to piece the night before together

All the memories about my head they did roam

No idea of the hour or what time I got home

But I knew this is our club, that bit was vital

This Foras run club had just lifted the title

We did it, we went to Shelbourne and won 2-1 with a goal in the 94th minute.
A complete fairy tale, justification for all the hard work.

I hope this goes a little way to conveying how the evening went.
If not, then watch this.

Out of the Blue

This song came into my head this morning from absolutely nowhere.
A blast from the past and what a beautiful song.



and for my beloved Cork City as we bid to win the First Division title in Dublin tomorrow night.

The Final Push

The Final Push

What a season this has been

Defeats for us were seldom seen

And while our sheets weren’t always clean

Victories numbering eighteen

What can I do? You might say

To help our club along the way

Buy the gear, watch City play

And join our Foras trust today

Sincerest thanks go to our BOM

Who keep things running with aplomb

To each and every volunteer

Who give each week and persevere

Such positivity we transmit

Premier door, us please admit

Promotion within our remit

We’ve got a job, now go do it

If we don’t quite lift that cup

And even if we don’t go up

Some the club will bid goodbye

We’ll see whose City till they die.

Two games left of our second season as a fan run club.

A win at home to Longford tomorrow night guarantees us at least a play off and means we'll be going into our last game away to Shels needing a win for automatic promotion.

Who knows , if results go our way a final day win might even take the title.

In other news this week, a Supporters Direct project (including FORAS, our supporters trust) has been chosen to receive funding by the European Commission.

The title of the project is Improving Football Governance through Supporter Involvement and Community Ownership, more details can be found here



This weekend we'll be mostly eating Custard Creams and listening to....

Lovely mellow tune from Metronomy
It's called Everything goes my way



Another mellow one from Lanterns on the Lake called "Keep On Trying"



and in case ye thought i was going soft in my old age

Stony Grey Rod

Stony Grey Rod

O stony grey Rod of Monaghan

Don’t make us hurt and aggrieved

Or take my childs football passion

And give us your Rod deceived.

You clogged the feet of my boyhood

With Dundalk in ninety one

Had the poise and stride of Apollo

And ended our unbeaten run

Don’t fling a ditch on my vision

My Premier dream don’t pollute

O stony grey Rod of Monaghan

With your Louis Copeland tin of fruit.

Lost the long hours of pleasure

Cork City, us women and men

O can I still bear First Division

Or write with unpoisoned pen

Brandywell, Dalymount, The Showgrounds

Wherever I turn I see

Not the stony grey Rod from Monaghan

But places we’re meant to be.

With thanks to Patrick Kavanagh.

A Premier Spot

A Premier Spot

Two home defeats all in a row

More than matched our premier foe

Grand scheme of things not worth a jot

If we don’t get a premier spot

Cup Quarter Final, Pats again

Pete Mahon, the leagues comedian

Danny North, he turned and shot

But it’s all about a premier spot

Last Saturday night, scene was set

The game, few pints, our whistles wet

Whether Zayeds spotter scored or not

Our main concern, a premier spot

In Section A a crèche was made

As FOCCA Juniors learned their trade

My son mouth full of jelly tots

Shouts “Come on City, premier spot”

We've lost our last two home games, they were both cup games and both by one goal to nil against Premier Division opposition.
We were well on top for long periods in both games and have proven ourselves to be more than ready for a return.
In order to achieve this we have 5 Cup Finals left in the league and we need to win them all.
Starting with Finn Harps this Friday.

The die is cast.

The die is cast

From the island’s opposite ends

We’re just like long lost friends

We’ve both had our ups and our downs

Shared stories in copious rounds

The Lodge in March of eighty six,

Hennesseys goal, a teenage kick

Three years later, haunts like a ghost

Dave Barrys shot, came off the post

November two thousand and five

The greatest night ever alive

The Shed packed to the end of its tether

As we laughed and we cried all together

Some have our City infiltrated

Still these folks must be translated

Whatever the Sit-she-a-shun

Text message might be need to be done.

Our moment of glory converging

Can you see the pattern emerging?

We’ve won it first in eighty seven

Kieran Myers showed us heaven

Twelve years later in ninety nine

Hargies finish was so sublime

Another twelve have now since passed

The cup is ours, the die is cast.

This poem was submitted to the FAI for the League Cup Final Programme on Saturday next.

We've always had great relations with our northern friends, in fact we've even taken in a few strays over the years. Mind you we still haven't a clue what they're saying.

The picture above was taken in Derry in 2006 after the last game of the season at a time when Derry owned the trophy, here's hoping for green ribbons on Saturday night.

P.S. I've taken poetic licence in forgetting our 1996 victory in Dundalk.

Lately we are mostly listening to.....

My kids and I love this song.
They know all the words

It's Pete and the Pirates - Half Moon Street.

Chooon

I was out dancing at a disco last Friday night.
I know, I know, at my age.
But I was in the presence of some younger colleagues who said it would be a good idea.
And it was.
A fantastic night.
I haven't got home at three o'clock in the morning in a long long time.

And by God did we dance.
In fact one song had me so moved I had to ask the DJ what it was.

My legs didn't half hurt on Saturday morning.

April 19th 1992 - Land Mark

Land Mark

It was April nineteenth of the year ninety two

Unbeaten at home since McNultys miscue

Biscuits on goal with Gunther to his right

Conroy and Bannon were keeping it tight

Our very first Frenchman pre Monsieur Candau

Stefan Napiér, up the left he did plough

Midfield saw the brawn and the brains of the side

The muscle was Cotter and big Deccie Hyde

 Davey had both, he caressed that football

Jinky Gerry cast wizardly spells on us all

Morley and Caulfield they lead the front line

Before they got notions and grander designs

The Shed was packed tight, no room to be found

Kick off three o’clock, the programme a pound.

Tight enough game, we were all on a sweat

Til the ball dropped to Bannon who rattled the net

The surge to the front took us down like the wave

That appeared in the ad for Old Spice aftershave

Half an hour later, Lansdowne Road beckoned

Joy tinged with sadness when you thought for a second

That this day was a milestone, green hills faraway

As we bade our farewells to the Cross on that day

Headed off to new westerly pastures Plonk found

To a Bishopstown bog and our spanking new ground

As we play St Pats this week in the FAI Cup Quarter Final my mind wandered back to the Semi Final of 1992 also against Pats which was a land mark day for Cork City Football Club.

It was our last home game of that season and we were unbeaten at home in all competitions.
It was also to be our last home game at Turners Cross as the following season we moved out to our new home in Bishopstown.

Paul Bannon scored on the hour as we beat St Pats by 1-0.

Unbowed Though Outclassed

Unbowed though Outclassed

Outclassed

Opened up at will
A matter of time.

Given full stretch
Dunne off the line
Andrews last ditch

White shirt
Blood Red
Yellow Card
Job Dunne

Three added minutes
“Blow it up Ref.”
My nerves shot
Whistle goes.
Heart pounding.

On my knees
Deep breaths then
Comedy texts
“Russia were awful”
“How did we not score?”
“Is that the same Arshavin that plays for Arsenal?”

The most fraught and tense 90 minutes of my life, we were battered by a vastly superior Russian side.

They opened us up at will and it seemed we'd be beaten by 5 or 6.

But through a mixture of bad finishing, luck, determination, blood and guts, we kept them out.
No one greater than Richard Dunne.

Doesn't every football fan yearn for a centre half that will put their body on the line, bleed for the cause, a true Irish legend.

Cup Finals?

Cup Finals

Cup Finals are nice
Cup Finals are fun
No one thinks twice
About a day in the sun

Our aims are not this
Our aims are quite clear
One thing we can’t miss
Is promotion this year.

Graveyards are vile
Graveyards debase
Make the season worthwhile
Get us out of this place

What do we seek?
What do we require?
Look at Rovers last week
For us to aspire

So here we are sitting in 2nd place with just one defeat in 22 league games, are in the quarter finals of the FAI Cup and host Derry City on Sep 24th in the League Cup Final, all very nice but without promotion it all means nothing.

Well done to Shamrock Rovers last Thursday, 5 years ago they were in the First Division finding their feet as a fan run club just like us.
If that's doesn't motivate our players then I don't know what will.

Last Friday Night

Last Friday night

Evergreen

Silent

Sat together
As always
Silent

 Jug of Tuborg
Going down
Silent

Smiling faces
All around
Beaming

© Darren O'Keeffe

10 points adrift, we hosted the league leaders Shelbourne last Friday, they had a 100% away record and we went a goal down after 3 minutes.

Cue an amazing comeback to completely blow away Shelbourne 4-1, only for their keeper and the woodwork it would have been 8 or 9.

Picture the scene of a group of grumpy old men sitting in the pub afterwards, not speaking, cos they have nothing to be grumpy about, just drinking and above all else beaming from ear to ear.

This weeks choon

I heard this song on Paul McClunes show the other night and thought what a lovely tune.
Then he told me it was the new single from one of my favourite bands The Drums.
Top Class.

A Club Foras

A Club Foras

My annual reminder

Lads playing a blinder

There are lots still to do

With off the field too

Trojan work done already

To keep our ship steady

Some constants as we grow

Players come and they go

If you can volunteer, do

Pay your subs if they’re due

This is our club, for us

Make sure you’re on the bus

Don’t be left on the shelf

Club won’t run itself

Have a vote and your say

Join FORAS today

My annual reminder to all Cork City fans that as a fan run club we have to keep volunteering and keep supporting both vocally and financially.

FORAS is the name of our supporters trust, its an Irish word meaning development or growth and is pronounced "for-us"

This poem will appear in the League Cup Semi Final programme versus Limerick next Monday night.



Shels spells.

Shels spells.

The call it came,

When’s our next game?

 A two week break?

For goodness sake

One defeat gleaned

From our nineteen

Still slightly miffed

Ten points adrift

This is our chance

To take a stance

We’ll cast some spells

On evil Shels

Let’s take no crap

And bridge that gap

The big one this Friday, Shelbourne at home.
It's not even so much about bridging the gap but we have to keep winning.

When I Grow Up...

When I Grow Up

My sons inherent charm

Is a ball under his arm

He strikes it like a jet

Shouting “Back of the Net”

Energy we cannot shackle

He’s not afraid of a tackle

Like his dad it does enthral

Eats, sleeps and drinks football

He came up to me last week

With certainty did speak

“I know what I want to be

When I grow up you see”

I curiously inquired

At what the boy desired

"A football player" he said

Ball bouncing on his head

"Cos I’m very good you see

Although I’m only three"

My little lad bounded in from the back garden the other day and announced that when he grows up he would like to be a "football player" because "I'm very good at football"

My heart swelled with pride.

Desert Island Disciple

Desert Island Disciple

I heard about this chap last week

Got off his desert island

His fire spotted by a plane

He had started on the highland

 Joyous relief he did proclaim

Thankful but not withdrawn

When asked from whence he came

He simply uttered “Gurran”

Is there anyone you want to ring?

Asked those who had chanced upon

He inquired to just one thing

“How are City gettin’ on?”

Fifteen games without defeat

Promotion push on track

The lowly Blaahs came to compete

Took the monkey off our back

He smiled so awkward and clunky

Took a last look up at the dune

If I ever see another monkey

It’ll be a day too soon

All I've been listening to lately is Desert Island Disc podcasts from the BBC website
A fascinating show that gives an amazing insight into peoples lives.
People from every corner of every spectrum. Well worth a perusal.

Cork City had played the first 15 games of this season unbeaten until the visit of Waterford United last week when three defensive errors handed them a 3-2 victory.
To some supporters it's like the end of the world but imagine if you'd been on a desert island since the beginning of March and only just been discovered, things wouldn't look half as bad.

Gurran is short for Gurranabraher (pronounced Grawnabrawher) an area on the Northside of Cork City.

Glastonbury 2011- highlights

This was the song of the Glastonbury weekend for me.
Excellent set from The Horrors, this is the first single from their new album to be called Skying, the choon is Still Life.



The stand out performance has to be Janelle Monae, so much energy, twould give you the heart to go on.



And of course I couldn't let the weekend go by without his masters voice.

Weather Diversity

Cup Diversity

Gorgeous Friday night in June

Balmy evening, most opportune

Knockgriffin Park the scene is set

East Cork pining for Cup upset

Perfect football watching weather

The games fraternity drawn together

Jumper brought still waist entwined

Sixteen degrees at half past nine

Three days later more of the same

Another cup another game

Premier Dubs were coming down

A test to show how much we’d grown

The summer sun a distant friend

Showers, dark clouds, rain descends

Big coats and hats, umbrellas too

Fridays sun all gone, Atchoo!

We played Midleton FC below in Midleton last Friday night in the FAI Cup 3rd Round.
A glorious occassion for our East Cork neighbours and a glorious evening to boot.

We played St Patricks Athletic yesterday at Turners Cross in the League Cup Quarter Final, a mere 3 days later on what was a miserable day. Through the wind and rain.

We won both matches and progressed in both cups

Let there be light

Let there be light

FAI bulb went on

Coffers thin like chiffon

Stadium loan to pay

Tournament we’ll play

A frenzied build up

Carling Nations Cup

Decree from the powers

Back twenty four hours

Gates badly affected

Natives disaffected

MFA bulb went out

Can they make do without?

Floodlight replacement

Old bulb displacement

Long finger it stayed

Til last weeks charade

Gale force winds began

Contingency plan?

Now six thirty start

You’re breaking my heart

So the FAI make us move our home match with Mervue United from our regular Friday night slot back to Thursday because a couple of hundred miles away Northern Ireland are playing Wales.

On top of this the Munster Football Associations floodlight maintenance, the day before our match, hits a wall as gale force winds suspend work on safety grounds, meaning our 7.45pm Thursday evening kick off becomes a 6.30pm start.

Despite all these obstacles put in our way we still manage a crowd of over 1200 people but its still down on our season average of over 2000. Northern Ireland v Wales on the other hand had an attendance of 529.

The Visit

The Visit

Lilibet came to visit last week

To the capital city of Cork

Ground breaking whatever your clique

House of Lancaster, Fraser or York

               

English Market she’ll first navigate

Fresh produce of the highest repute

Founded seventeen eighty eight

Then off to Tyndall Institute

It’s a pity we weren’t at home.

You could have stayed to see City, Nil Satis.

Rejigged Donie Forde with a throne

Entry and Programme free gratis

A half time Corners Boys escort

To Horseshoe Bar could be tricky

Transporting you and your consort

For a Gin and Dubonnet with Ricky

Full time then you’d be airport bound

Our taxi man Bickle’s a surety

Be sure though and take off the crown

To get fast tracked through airport security

And as you return home with glee

Having made some new friends out of strangers

Pledge allegiance, Cork City F.C.

And leave off your promoted Park Rangers

A poem to mark the visit to Cork by Queen Elizabeth on May 20th 2011.

If only we'd been at home.

Howards Way

Howards Way

I think he knows I’m in the crowd

And not because I’ve screamed aloud

Most decisions seem bizarre

But he’s the shining star

I think he knows I’m in the crowd

Antagonistic and unbowed

Blame shouldered by Pienaar

But he’s the shining star

I think he knows I’m in the crowd

Maybe read my verse and vowed

My next foray he’d char

Cos he’s the shining star

I think he knows I’m in the crowd

My parade soaked by black rain cloud

Please take me to the bar

Cos he’s the shining star.

An excellent trip to Liverpool marred by 90 minutes of The Howard Webb Show.

A deflected Van der Vaart goal followed by an appalling penalty award did for Liverpool who didn't play particularly well, Dawson, King and Modric were excellent for Spurs.

However bad Liverpool were Mr Webb was worse. (See picture above)

The Wireless

The Wireless

Come out for a chat on Saturday

Was the invite thrown my way

A twenty four hour sports broadcast

For Simon Community, as well as fast

Mid afternoon, Ronie was the hero

Talking Italian like Robert de Niro

A tad apprehensive of wireless debut

And possible words that I need to eschew

What if we run out of things to say?

Pat Healy’ll be there so we’ll all be okay

Myself, Pat and Gerry we chatted away

About football and books, at the end of the day

Twas all very cultural, almost academic

A comfortable subject, for us twas endemic

Quite happy to do it, tis there for posterity

All to raise funds for a well worthy charity.

I was invited out to the LifeFM studios last week to take part in a football discussion and talk about my book. They were having a 24 hour Sportathon and had interviews with Dave Barry, Damien Richardson and Roy Keane amongst others. Myself and Cork City FC historian Gerry Desmond chatted about football and about the travails of printing a book. A podcast of the show can be found here.