Four days, three games

Brian de Salvo has been watching the drama unfold, from Shamrock Rovers playing fast and loose with the Airtricity title to Ireland getting their hands on a European play off place.

What’re you doing here?” grinned Pat Devlin.   Since it was Mr Devlin who rekindled my interest in Irish soccer a decade ago you might argue he was implicated in my promotion from the press area.  

“Here” was the President’s Box at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday and I was present on “diplomatic” business.   In researching my Sweeper column for the programme I had contacted Ohan Yergainharson the Honorary Consul for Armenia only to discover he didn’t have a ticket for the European Qualifier.   With a disregard for protocol that Mick Wallace would have admired I immediately appointed myself “honorary” FAI liaison officer, obtained tickets for the Consul and his admirable Irish wife Yvonne and, while I was at it, procured one for myself.   At the match I was soon an “honorary” member of the Armenian contingent headed by H. E. Ambassador Karine Kazimian, a lady whose diminutive size is complemented by an effervescent personality.   The Armenians were in remarkably good spirits considering that the turning point of the match was the sending off of their goalkeeper for a handling offence he may not have committed.

The on pitch drama aside, a visit to the impressive Aviva stadium on a vibrant match day is a memorable event.   I thought back to old internationals in Dalymount with kids risking life and limb jumping up and down on the corrugated iron roof at the shed end.   I was in Phibsborough last Saturday, housed in the comfort of the modern Jody stand to watch Bohemians coast to victory against a UCD team that had won their last three games on the trot, the first against Bohs.   This time their collective inexperience betrayed them; they had no inspirational presence to match Bohs skipper Owen Heary although it was youngsters Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy and Chris Forrester who captured the limelight usually the preserve of the Students.   With everything that has gone on at Dalymount in recent times you have to admire Pat Fenlon who has proved successful in hard times as well as good and, incidentally, contributed an excellent assessment of the international side’s performance in the Irish Times.   By which I mean his opinions matched my own, of course, but if he penned the piece himself his writing skills are also impressive!

On Sunday afternoon I was at Bray where a packed house saw an interesting encounter.   I love the atmosphere at domestic football.   Prior to the game I encounter Damian Richardson and we engage in a mutual admiration society in praise of the Pats keeper Gary Rogers.   Such a commanding figure, I say, and now so agile for a big man.   Credit to his goalkeeping coach Brian O’Shea, whose talents we have recently lost to the USA I believe.   Rogers brings no baggage into the dressing room, adds Damian.   True.   I once called him Pat by mistake immediately after Pats had lost 2-0 and he still spoke to me!

Time for a quick word with Jim Magilton, who is politeness personified considering it’s close to kick off.   Shamrock Rovers start as though they know they are the best club in the country but Wanderers rally in the second half to equalise and you begin to wonder from the Hoops response whether they realise that the title is up for grabs here.   Eventually Sheppard rounds off a performance to match his lime green dayglo boots with a last gasp winner and Sligo’s Paul Cook makes for the car park.   It’s frustrating for Bray too but the whole thing is put into perspective when a small child runs on to greet home keeper Darren Quigley as he leaves the arena.   The experience of Irish football is more enriching than the game itself but what is often not credited is the excellence of the match entertainment at its core.