Lads, an old friend died recently. A great aul Dub. Much my senior, but always one of the "match crew" up to relatively recently. A great friend of my uncles. One of the crew who when i was a young lad i used to look up to. A man at the time in his late 30's who would go to every game, drink 10 pints, eat a bag of chips, and drink 10 more! We all know the type :) I was the Dub with the Limerick accent who these lads refused to let anyone question. I was a Dub and god help anyone who suggested otherwise! This is where the passion began, this is where the heart beat fastest, this was the formation of me as a Dublin GAA fanatic!

Unfortunately, like many an Irish man, the drink took its toll after all these years I am afraid, caught up with him and the young age of 53 it took him for good God rest him.

My question is this. In the early to mid 90's Dublin played Cork in a league game in Croker. The old Croker. I remember it well as league games in Croker were rare enough back then. Paul, the man in question took me along that day. It was a surreal experience. I was used to Croker in the sunshine, the pubs being packed, the streets jammed. On this day, the rain pissed down, the clonliffe house was two thirds empty. We stood on the Hill with about maybe 1000 other brave souls and i am almost sure we watched Dublin lose.
I was about 13/14 at the time I think.

Would anyone have any idea of the exact date of this game, and would there be any clips of it on the net available? As I say we stood on the Hill that day, and we would be easily spotted on any camera that day. I would love to see it for posterity.
The stands were open, but no way jose :) We were Hill 16 and there we stood! Lashed out of it :) Even tho Paul promised my late mother he would take me to the stand ha ha ha! When i think back now :)

If anyone can help I would really apprecaite it.

And to Paul S, Late of Smithfield and more recently Portarlington, God rest you my friend.
Up the Dubs :) RIP

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8170 - 22/03/2013 09:19:19    1353891

Sorry for your loss Liam.

Friends like that are rare enough in this life, but at least you have the memories!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5030 - 22/03/2013 09:48:59    1353904

Think I remember the game
Cork scored 2 fine goals onto the Hill
I think it may have been 94 cos as far as I can remember the cusack was a pile of rubble
Wikipedia might help

bernardmessi (Dublin) - Posts: 182 - 22/03/2013 10:31:21    1353937

Nice sentiments Liam and your friend sounded like a true GAA character.

Your story reminds me of an NFL game I attended back in the early 1980's in Coalisland, it was Tyrone V Roscommon, probably Div 2, and like yourself, there were only a few hardy souls present, and couple stray dogs as well. I remember it being played in squally hail showers and being cut to pieces in the middle of the exposed terraces, nowhere to run and nowhere to hide! Changed times indeed:o)

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 22/03/2013 10:45:45    1353949

a cork football game in croke park with a small crowd?!? don't think cork and dublin were in the same division that much in the early 90's.

probably this one

Alvin (Donegal) - Posts: 218 - 22/03/2013 10:49:56    1353952

Sorry for that man,
On the Cork v Dublin in Croker theme what was the year Cork refused to come out for extra time?I remember Barney Rock scoring a goal into the canal end with no Cork players on the pitch.

juniorbsub (Wexford) - Posts: 646 - 22/03/2013 10:56:51    1353957

Alvin that is brilliant thanks man, that has to be it sure doesnt it!

Juniorbsub, different game. That was earlier and that was a league semi final i think
this was a run of the mill league game
thanks anyways tho
Messi, sounds like you and Alvin have the same game

must use this info on youtube
Not confident tho

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8170 - 22/03/2013 11:08:34    1353971

Liamo, When you look at the rain drenched hill with a crowd of about 15,000 tomorrow (if we're lucky) , Think of your mate standing there. I know i will be thinking it. May he rest in peace. Always a shame to hear of the passing of a genuine Dublin gael

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13659 - 22/03/2013 13:02:44    1354054

Cheers Wayno
If you smell ribs and carlsberg in the air you will know he is there!!
The culchies brought sandwiches in tinfoil, we brought ribs in tinfoil, cooked that morning :)

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8170 - 22/03/2013 13:31:58    1354092