Ford FAI Cup Final

29th Nov 2007

Cork City Vs Longford :: Do it for the Shed
FAI FORD Cup final Preview

Sure its yourself.

As regards the top senior sides it hasn't been the best year for silverware on Leeside. The hurlers were knocked out early by Waterford, the footballers came up second best in the All Ireland final and Cork City's fourth place in the eircom league, all contributed to an unusually mediocre year for Cork sport.

There is light however at the end of the sporting tunnel for 2007 as Cork City take on Longford Town at the RDS in the Ford FAI Cup this Sunday. And there's a lot at stake.

Longford are a side that are often referred to as "cup specialists". This is a polite way of saying they are an awful team, serial failures who drum up a few poxy goals in the cup every year.

They're a bit like your bubbly old aunt who wins €15 on her Sunday morning scratch card once a year. She's happy out with the odd win and doesn't mind that she's investing far more than she's winning. She survives on the long term desire for occasional euphoria.

That might be how it works in the sporting world to the north of our borders but in Cork we like euphoria to be an everyday feeling and this year the supply has been a little less forthcoming than usual. On Sunday afternoon however, it's likely that Corkonians will have their oxygen of superiority restored.

Reynolds from Roscommon. Its the closest to a famous Longfordonian we could get.

DISPOSSESSED
Rebel GAA fans might bemoan the departure of Cork stars Michael Shields, Setanta and his brother Aisaike to Australian Rules football but set aside some sympathy for the Turners Cross faithful who have had to watch stars like Alan Bennett, Shane Long and Kevin Doyle be winched, often mid-season, from their grasp the minute City start making designs on the summit of the Eircom League.

The frustration of losing top players to foreign leagues compounds any brewing antipathy towards those Corkonians who dedicate themselves solely to the blinding lights of the English Premiership.

As the biggest league in the world, the glitz and glamour of our neighbour's product attracts players and fans from all over the world. The great thing about City supporters is that they rarely show any bad feelings towards players who "take the boat".

It is well understood that the English league attracts the best of the best and no right minded Corkonian would begrudge a Cork player a chance to leave his stamp on world football.

In fact, Corkonians get a right kick out of seeing former City players and Corkonians like Stephen Ireland and The Boy making headlines in newspapers and on TV channels overseas. It provides fine fuel for that eternal fire of pride that burns in the heart of every Corkman.

THE SHED DIED FOR THIS
Anyone, regardless of their origin who has seen the fantastic documentary by Ed Godsell on The Shed will understand the affection the club's fans have for their city, their team and their stadium.

This is what makes Sunday's game so earth shatteringly important. It has been two years since the last Eircom League title was brought home to Turner's Cross - fittingly on the last night of The Shed.

New City Jersey for the cup final. photo: Mick Ring

The old ramshackle iron girders and their corrugated metal roof were ripped down with the purpose of turning the stadium into an internationally compliant all-seater venue (not that anyone in the new Shed spends much time sitting down) designed to maximise crowd capacities on big European nights.

The big assumption was that the club would be making journeys overseas every year and that Cork's place at the fringes of European football were virtually guaranteed. Despite the top form of Leon McSweeney, Liam Kearney and Dan Murray in 2007, the extent of exotic footballing destinations for next year looks as bleak as "Derry City".

Finishing behind Drogheda, St. Pats and Bohemians means no Champions League qualifiers for 2008 but a win on Sunday will bring the welcome consolation of UEFA cup football.

King Leon

THE PRIDE OF LEESIDE
It's interesting how English premiership fans bemoan the lack of passion and commitment "their" players and managers show to their chosen club. When these professionals exhibit untold wealth they have little cause for motivation beyond contract fulfilment.

The ingredient, rarely seen in the UK, that gives a club like Cork City such a thumping heart beat is that the player base is still overwhelmingly local. From there on it's Cork versus the Rest of the World and whether you were born here or have chosen to live here, by default you are part of it. The passion and commitment is deep rooted, far beyond the shallow concerns of TV rights, merchandising and sponsorship deals elsewhere.

This is a massively important game for Cork, in a year that has ended in a scarcity of silverware, the avoidable resignation of Billy Morgan and the prospect of GAA players being forced to go on strike.

As we creep towards Christmas, we, the Cork sporting public need something to keep the words "Bah Humbug!" from our lips and inspiration for the great things to come in 2008.

Gwan the Rebel Army!

The FAI FORD Cup final is live from the RDS, Dublin on RTE this Sunday at 3.30pm.