Supporters’ Club Notes (17/09/2017)

NO REWARD

Despite serving up a main menu of swift, flowing passing football, we failed to get our due desserts in our drawn game against the students of UCD on Saturday night. It was a game we should have and could have won comfortably. But sport can be cruel as experienced first hand by former Town player, the gifted Andy Moran on Sunday. Despite clearly being the better team, we only had a Sully goal from a penalty to show for all our great efforts. Their sloppy, equalising goal came from our misadventure but that unfortunate lapse was enough for us to drop two points. Not that it matters a great deal since Waterford were crowned champions following Cobh's 3-0 hammering by Cabinteely. However Neale Fenn and everyone else want a strong finish and as stated, we played some excellent stuff but we repeatedly failed to trouble their keeper. The linesman ruled out our second goal for a harmless infringement while later those in the stand were on their feet celebrating an other second goal, which turned out to be only the side netting. It was that sort of frustrating night when the midges were feasting while we weren't hungry enough in front of goals.

WATERFORD AWAY

Friday, September 22nd was a date highlighted early on in pre season as a possible game to determine the League's outcome. But a lot of water has passed under a lot of bridges since then and already Waterford are the only team to be promoted this season. In pre season according to the so called experts, it was to be a two horse race between the Blues and us. Unfortunately our challenge failed to materialise and a poor start left us floundering at the start line. Congratulations to Waterford who'll relish the return to the top flight, for a season at least. The game kicks off at 7.45pm on Friday but realistically most Town supporters will be following the game on social media.

Our final game of the season will be Saturday October 7^th at 7.45pm when all games kick off simultaneously.

BIRTHDAY GIRL

Congrats to our hard working, diligent chairperson Avril Gilchrist who celebrated an other birthday over the week end. Right throughout the season, Avril has made great strides in providing under age teams for the half time period as well as various teams of enthusiastic ball boys and ball girls. These youngsters have helped recreate a lively atmosphere at games and particularly at the end when they go autograph hunting from their heroes. This sort of activity goes largely unseen or unheeded by many adult supporters but it's a vital cog in the club's development and helps create the supporters of the future. All you have to do is check out the joy on the faces of the young supporters on either of our two Facebook pages, Don Cowan and young Dillon is a perfect example of pure joy. So from all your young and not so young fans, a very happy season ahead Avril..we know you've already enjoyed an unforgettable week end of partying.

SLIGO SCRIBE RIP

The death has recently occurred of Séamus Finn, former editor of the Sligo Champion. As a cub reporter, he was banned by Sligo Rovers from their home turf, the Showgrounds - a unique achievement for any reporter.

Finn had felt no need to mince his words when reporting on how Sligo Rovers, a full-time profession team in 1969, got dumped out of the FAI Cup by lowly non-league side Longford Town. Rovers. When he showed up for his next assignment at the Showgrounds he was told he was no longer welcome in the pressbox.

Typically he fought back, mustering the support of the National Union of Journalists to such a degree that no reporter, local or national, would cover a Sligo Rovers game and soon the ban was lifted.

Thus yet another chapter of intrigue was added to that famous 1969 game, already well documented by our own Johnny Nevin.