This series of “Great Days and Nights in Ireland” was intended to inspire people to get up off their arses and head down to their local club some night by showing how good it could be, especially those magical European nights. But given the week that we are in, and in particular given the response to Dundalk’s fantastic run last season, let’s have a look at the night in Serbia that first brought an Irish club to that next level – a place in the group stages of a European competition.
The first leg in Tallaght did not go particularly well with Rovers needing a late Gary McCabe equaliser to peg Partizan at 1-1. I’ve little memories of the match other than the usual technical ability of the opposition, but while it was a late goal, a defeat would never have been a fair outcome here.
Onto Belgrade and it seemed unlikely that Rovers could take that next step. Partizan’s resources would surely show. And Volkov got the breakthrough for the Serbs on 35 minutes with a header. Nothing so far had given any indication that Rovers would bounce back in the manner they did. And then after the break, one of the finest goals in Irish UEFA history – in terms of quality yes but moreso because of what it meant – was slammed in by Pat Sullivan, etching his name forever into Rovers folklore.
It was one of those ‘jump out of your seat’ moments. I was in Devitt’s pub on Camden Street, a fine pub you’ll agree, although I haven’t been in since its recent makeover. I, being a very pushy Hoop, had managed to drag a few football loving mates out, including one Bohs fan and also a friend who was home for a few weeks from New Zealand. And when this hit the back of the net, the lot of us erupted, even the Bohs fan who quickly realised her heresy and sat back down politely. Another friend was listening to Off the Ball on Newstalk at the time at home and immediately grabbed his bike and crossed town to meet us to see the rest of the match. (Ah the days of midweek scoops, living in town, no kids…)
More drink was taken. By extra-time it was getting a bit blurry. And then, believe it or not, our fine pub turned into a trad session. Now I know the place well on the Friday nights when they have the sessions upstairs, but this was Thursday and they were having it downstairs. For fucks sake. The TV is muted, and we have to hush for the ballads. Ah Jaysus….
Extra time. A young lady starts sweetly singing alone in the corner. A hush descends on the pub. A few Americans are loving this wonderful picture postcard view of Ireland while the rest of us respect the moment. “FUCKING PENALTYYYYYYY!!!!!”. Sheppard is bundled over by the keeper. I get extremely animated and extremely stared-at. I do not care one iota. I like Devitt’s but I’ll risk a barring if they give me the next few minutes. Stephen O’Donnell slots it home. Again we erupt. The shakes then start and they last right up to the final whistle. I struggle outside to light my cigarette. I text the friends who couldn’t make it – “the domestic game’s Italia 90” I write with unfettered hyperbole. Screw it. We’re there. An incredible night. Eventually I calm down after one or two more pints – beautiful, wonderful pints – you know the ones – the post-match ones where you’re bloody parched and your heart is still jumping out of your chest. You take a deep breath and you start to imagine what’s to come and where will this take us…
Then in the group stages there was Ricer in White Hart Lane. For just a few minutes anything was possible…
Good luck to all the Irish teams in Europe this week. We should, all of us, put the weekly rivalries to one side and support whoever is playing and keeping the flag flying across the continent. I love this part of the season. I love the fact that not even one month on from the Ronaldo and Bale megastar show in Cardiff where the weekly wage bill could buy and sell the entire leagues of some of this weeks competitors, some remote outpost in the north Atlantic will host my team from Tallaght and that Derry, a city of 90,000 will send a team to Herning, a town of less than 50,000 in Jutland. As Alesandro Del Piero of Juventus said on his arrival in Tallaght for a Europa League game in 2010, this is pure football.
Thursday looks as follows:
Levadia Tallinn (EST) v Cork @ 16:30
Midtjylland (DEN) v Derry @ 19:00
Stjarnan (ICE) v Rovers @ 20:15
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Full highlights of the above game in Belgrade in what I presume is Serbian:
A Yard of Grass 