The Way the Tide Has Turned
By Northside Red
The 98/99 season is now over. Come August It will have been a dream to National League fans and a nightmare to Shels Fans. I am still convinced that if Tony McCarthy's Gaelic Football antics hadn’t have occurred against the Rangers, We might have ended up winning the League. Why do I say the League, McCarthy's confidence went after that night, he made 3 major mistakes in the final minutes of the 3 games, left us with 3 points instead of 9.
Going back 12 months thought, and the agony of May 1st in Oriel Kip, left everyone deeply down for the trip back home. On that trip I remember hearing RTE Radio, telling me the "most dramatic night of League of Ireland Football had just occurred". That Shels 1 point away from completing the 1st half of the double had failed to get the point required. Arch Rivals St.Pats had stole their 3rd Championship of the 90's. Pat Dolan was thanking everyone from Noel O'Reilly to the Scumbags that fill the Stadium of Shite every 2nd week. We are the Champions of Ireland he claimed.
Unknown to everyone concerned the manager of Shels and Pats would no longer hold their positions 12 months later. Dolan bought the Scum from Inchihcore and Damien Richardson left a disappointed Shels, to manage the LSL team CYM Terenure and work for TV3 on Thursday nights. Although the league didn’t go down to the wire, this season, the same hype surrounding the league finale wasn’t there. On The trip to Oriel, FM104 were previewing the two games every half hour, The Evening Hearld's back page carried the story of Dolan upping the pressure on the Drumcondra team. RTE were broadcasting the Shels game live with updates from Killkenny.
This year a different story, RTE were no were to be seen. The manager of St.Scum a very quiet man and the manager of Cork a hardened Munster man who would never be an MC at a comedy show. This has lead me to believe can the league survive with out 2 big PR men. Dolan now working behind the scenes to make Pats a Champions League team, is not on the TV as much as he used to be. Shels manager has a great knowledge of the game as well as 2 League medals and could have a 3rd this time next year, but for hyping a game up he lacks the funny accent and would rather kick a Pats fan then tell him how to play ball.
Who could these two men be then, Well Damo has now became Scumbag Richardson, joining the homeless in Santry. The other, I reckon is Bohs boss Roddy Collins, left with a kip and some players when Joe McGrath left, they were propping up the other 11 in the league. When Roddy gets his own players into Bohs they could well be a decent team, God forbid they win anything, then we'll have Roddy preach in a Dolan way of how the Phibsboro scum could win Champions League.
So as the 1999 close season begins for the teams, Shels enter their pre-season training 6 weeks before everyone else. Why the Intertoto cup, you never know a run in the Intertoto could bring back their confidence that deserted the reds 12 months, also if we can get threw three round an away trip in London or even TURIN may await.
There will be a lot of changes when the league rollercoaster starts all over again. Shels with the best keeper in the League, Steve Williams and the return of God himself Gary Haylock will offer a lot more since last year. Add to this the capture of Neil Ogden will strengthen the reds midfield. Although I know very little about the 4 new Dutch lads and Mark Williams from Shrewsbury, this will give Shels a stronger panel of players. I also heard a rumor that current Irish U-18 international James Reddy of Killkenny City is about to sign adds to a Reds team who could well win the championship with the return of Nutsy Fenlon and the brilliant James Keddy. Expect the departures of Alan Gough and Dessie Baker as no surprise and possibly Tony Sheridan departure to Belgium to come during the next 3 months.
Looking around at the rest of League Home Farm/Everton are now Home Farm/Fingal, Bohs with no Kiwis this year, have finally started work on the Main Stand of delapatated park. They have signed a 6 foot center forward and the Welsh leagues answer to Ryan Giggs, I believe that if he gives Owen Heery any trouble adding to that, rumor is 37 year old Paul Whelan has joined from Scumrock Rovers. Bohs wont have the terrible start of last season and with a lot more respect for Collins and having a FAS funded Youth team might just win something, Not to get Bohs fans hopes up though, I expect to be celebrating their 22nd Birthday early in the year 2000. Damien Judas might add Dessie Baker to the Hoops ranks and will have strengthened the Rovers team consistent performances even though they will be a long way off Europe placings next season. Dundalk could possibly extent their exile in Division 1 with the appointment of Joe McGrath as manager. Bray Wanderers should stroll back into the premier next season followed by Longford Town??. Into the west new boys Galway might keep their heads above water and don’t be shocked if former Celtic legend Paul McStay becomes Sligo's new manager. 3 teams will challenge for the title Shelbourne, Patricks and Cork, with Harps a step above Rovers and Bohs. Drogeheda will make a quick return, with Sligo and Galway slogging it out for a premier place.
So the Reds preseason begins on the 3rd of JUNE against the Irish Junior team. Europe beckons on the 20th of July and the Super Cup might just end up in Tolka's Trophy cabinet as well. Into Europe we go then a new look team, a good goalie, a striker who knows where the goal a strong spin and to the team and maybe even
The 199 Intertoto Cup Final
Juventus 0-1 Shelbourne
Well stranger thinks have happened.
Northside Red