COMMENT: 'Fans shouting and roaring for the Auld Enemy' a weekend of strange disappointment in Cork

Pairc Uí Rinn, a ground once owned by the Order of Hibernians, leased out to Cork City, amongst two other soccer clubs, before being bought by Cork Co. Board back in 1989.

It went under the name of Flower Lodge, back in the day, and at one point packed the stand and the terraces as a certain George Best played on a 'pay per game' contract for Cork City, a contract that saw the Great One, line out just three times, failing to score a goal before departing, no doubt for a better offer to the United States. Saturday's Allianz Football League game against Kildare was originally fixed for Pairc Uí Chaoimh but was transferred to Uí Rinn.

We are told due to the fact the Cork GAA public do not support their footballers in sufficient numbers to justify opening their no. 1 stadium.

Strange to say the very least.

We arrived, for an overnight visit, not overly confident to say the least, much more in hope rather than confidence.

And we didn't get off to a great start, when visiting a local hostelry, close to the former soccer grounds, packed with Kildare folk who were seeking food, the odd drink as they shouted and roared on the boys in green on the box.

The place was so busy customers were soon informed all food had been sold; no glasses were available for a drink, just the plastic variety; crisps had also vanished over the counter, although the odd packet of peanuts was still available.

What a start to the day I say to myself. Little did we know it would only get worse.

Off we trotted to the former Flower Lodge as the rumour machine was in full flow as regards Kildare players who were in and who were out.

Not for the first time the rumours were groundless. And while most of us knew for at least two days what the actual starting XV would be, we held our whist, until it was confirmed officially.

A decent crowd turned-up with no shortage of Lilies, many making it at least a two-day trip. Back in the pub with no food, glasses and crisps, practically every club in Kildare was represented, noting unusual in that it has to be said, as they shouted and roared on the boys in green with one well-known traveling supporter shouting 'Come on The Lilies' every time a Kildare native popped up on the screen in green.

Anyway to the task in hand, the main task that is, as the game began spot on time as the five chimes rang out. By the time we hit four minutes we were three adrift and by the time we hit eight, we were five adrift.

This could be a long evening my colleague Richard Commins whispered into my ear. I didn't reply as The Lilies opened their account a minute later.

We were up and running and before the clock hit 12 minutes that lead had been cut back to three. Slow start, I say to myself, but now we are back firing. It didn't last long.

The boys in red hit a double, a single, another doubler, followed by another doubler, followed by another two-pointer and a single point.

13 points in it and the clock has yet to hit the twenty minute mark. Holy God I say to my colleague, we are in some sh*t here. We got one back, but they came with another doubler.

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I say to myself they have hit more two-pointers than there were packets of crisps back in the watering hole.
Suddenly though were was hope. A goal, yes, a goal.

The Kilcock man, just on after captain Kevin was forced off, with a hamstring, maybe there was a bit of hope. Kildare, who incidentally won the toss and elected to play against the wind, and I recall that we did the same against Derry in Round 3, led by four having played against a near storm, conceded two goals within a minute of the restart and it has been all downhill ever since. But this was different.

The Rebels hit us hard and often, the first goal from that Chris Óg lad, and another doubler and the lead had reached sixteen.
Painful.

Still, The Lilies hit three on the trot but so did The Rebels as they went into the dressing room leading by a dozen plus four.
And it didn't get better. Well for a long time anyway. The gap grew to nineteen before Ben of The Sash kicked a doubler followed by a single from young Moran.

Ben repeated the dose with another fine effort but The Rebels hit back with four straight bullets through the Kildare uprights.
The other Ben, of the same Sash, then get in on the doublers with a fine effort while Alex added a free. The lead? Back to a dozen. But hold it.

A penalty, a black card for their keeper, maybe, maybe, ah don't be silly talking like that I say to meself.
Up steps Alex, with just the Taoiseach's son be beat but Micheál's lad stood firm. The Lilies came again through the Naas man, Alex, saw his effort blocked, came back to his fellow club colleague Brian of the Byrnes whose effort rocketed off the crossbar. Holy God.

Jack The Lad, as in Robinson, was now in and he duly made his presence felt with a lovely finish to the Cork onion sack.
The Rebels were rocked. No. Not really.

A couple of more points cut the deficit but more importantly three more gilt-edged goals went abegging, pity Micheál did not go to The States with his auld lad as we reached the finish line, Chris Óg getting the final white for the home side. And so another a heavy defeat. Maybe The Biffos would do us a favour said one of our lads. Now we are looking for miracles I suggest, The Biffos doing The Lilies a favour, forget it. Off we go in search of a watering hole that has food, glasses and maybe the odd packed of crisps.

Another game on the box. The oval shape ball game. The hostelries were packed again, was this the usual Saturday night scene, or was it the travelling fans from the Shortgrass I say to myself. I soon found out.

Here we had in the heart of Michael Collins country, heart of The Rebel County and the fans shouting and roaring for the Auld Enemy. I cod you not.

What would the Big Fellow from Woodfield, Sam’s Cross in Cork say if he witnessed these scenes as Corkonians, along with Lilywhites, and others, roaring their heads off in support of Mr. Borthwick's side.

Still, whisper it, a late three pointer silenced the locals, the visitors and most everyone else!
Early impressions are usually best, and they were again here, even before a ball was ever kicked.