OMENS. Good ones. Bad ones. There’s no such thing.

 I had to drive to Cork on Saturday to discover that. I must be the last person to have worked it out. All the other Sligo Rovers supporters made the discovery on Saturday morning – that’s why they didn’t need to go to Cork.

The Lone Pilgrim so to speak. I made my way to the seats opposite the main stand – it’s where we watched the last FAI Cup action at Turner’s Cross, but it was a futile gesture on this occasion.

Now for the Omens. It’s never good when you get parked right outside the away ground. And then, the programme lady was friendly – definitely attended the Anthony Kilfeather Academy for Programme Sellers – not a good omen either.

And then we had Carrigaline – they looked like Finn Harps the night Finn Harps looked like Brazil and knocked us out of the Cup on penalties (okay the League Cup, but I’m looking for bad omens here).

And then I figured out why high-FLYING Carrigaline could do us harm – the chairman’s name is Willie Walsh (are you struggling with that one).

And then I noticed that the Carrigaline manager and the referee had the same surname – not a good omen. And they had a Sean Connor in the panel (had I unearthed double jobbing?) And then (finally) the music – ‘Sweet Caroline’ through the PA (public address) – I closed my eyes and it could have been Windsor Park – is that Lawrie Sanchez I see on the sideline? ‘Good times never seemed so good O O O O Sweet Caroline’

All the bad omens – lucky for us, I thought, there’s no supporters here to see another Cup fiasco, but they’ll all be able to say ‘how bad the team played.’ And then (had to get in one more) – I had the last laugh – we won, so bring on the bad omens again and again and again (bit of Status Quo coming in here).

Appropriately, Judge got the first, Faz got one, McTiernan and Foy from a penalty, he had to get a goal as he spent most of his time in the opposition’s half – probably too tired to get back (bit unfair that) “We’re going to win the Cup”

At least we won’t have to go to Cork for the next round – there’s none of them left – bring on Shelbourne to ‘our field of dreams.’

Our Sean Connor won’t get any credit locally for this victory, but he should. It was a very impressive display by the players.

Any of you remember when Red Star visited for the European Cup in 1977 (they were in red and white stripes). We couldn’t even get a kick at the ball. They laid it off, knocked it around, kept possession, beat us 3-0.

We looked like Red Star on Saturday night (we were in red and white stripes) – we kept the ball, we knocked it around, we laid it off. It was the type of display we should have produced and we did it.

Carrigaline were not a bad team, but we made them look very ordinary. Job well done and onto the next task.

Ah! I know where you all were – Galway for the Connacht Championship. Make no mistake about it – GAA dominates the local airwaves. I tuned into Cork 96FM on the way through the Jack Lynch tunnel for a report – no soccer, but Carrigaline hurlers won a junior championship game.

Onwards – into Tipp FM country – Sport – Galtee Rovers beat Arravale Rovers in the Tipperary hurling championship and in Connacht, Galway beat Sligo, no soccer though.

I didn’t need the radio, I was there.


by Conall Collier