Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* /*]]>*/ /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

IF EVER A TEAM DESERVED IT….

 

Saturday, November 1^st will surely be the most important match in a turbulent season, one which began with so much promise, was filled with crisis, and could possibly end with an all-Ireland trophy at Turner’s Cross. City ended last season emphatically by winning the FAI Cup, and hopes were high for this year. Alan Mathews was brought in, and with him came the previous season’s leading scorer of the league, Dave Mooney. Georgie returned to a king’s welcome from Ipswich Town, as did Danny Murphy from Motherwell, and Pat Sullivan and Dave Mulcahy were both signed, seemingly with good City futures in front of them.  Despite exiting Europe at the first hurdle to Finnish outfit FC Haka, City were playing relatively well, and although the title looked out of reach, third place and Europe again seemed reasonable. O’Callaghan’s shock exit may have been a sign of things to come, but the squad soldiered on. Early July even saw Mathews notch his first silverware at the Cross, with City winning their 16^th Munster Senior Cup. Unfortunately, we all know what happens next. Arkaga pulled the plug on City, the debt mounted to somewhere around 800,000, and the firesale began. Mooney, the best player in the league by far and scoring goals at will to that point, sold for just 200,000 to, surprise, Reading. Rising star and Ireland U19 Dave Meyler was bought by Sunderland. Flynnie found a home at League 2 Barnet. Mulcahy refused to play and Mathews sent him packing. City legend Billy Woods recently retired due to the constraints of being a part-timer at a club that was in a financial meltdown, and because of almost no playing time under Mat, MSC aside. Colin O’Brien also couldn’t find a game and was loaned out to Cobh. But since the Arkaga disaster, subsequent administration and a ten point penalty, and now Tom Coughlan and stability, the team has developed a unity that can only be formed by going through something so hard and testing as what this club, its fans, and players have had to go through. When we though City were dead, new heroes like Lawrie Dudfield and Timmy Kiely have stepped up to show us the future is bright and the club lives on. Darren Murphy has proven himself as a capable starter at this level, Nults has shown he has the skills to be one of the better goalkeepers in the league since taking over for Mick Devine, and next season should see more action for Gareth Cambridge, Craig Duggan, Richard O’Donovan, and others in the youth set-up that has achieved much success in recent years. While it is a stark reality that the next few years may see the club with a lower budget, and maybe challenging for titles and cups will be less frequent than most City fans’ high standards demand, I urge you to enjoy today. We as City fans have experienced enormous highs and lows this year, and the fact that we have a club to cheer on is somewhat of a marvel in itself. But Europe can still be attained, and of course the Setanta Cup Final in our own stadium against Glentoran. Enjoy these next few weeks, not only because City has a chance to win some silverware and book a spot in Europe, but because truly these men and their coaching staff deserve your support in their endeavors the rest of the way, to do both their club and themselves proud. On second thought, they’ve already done both.

- Andrew McCarten (wrestler313)