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.