Brian Quigley
Well it couldn’t go on forever. The Wanderers train finally got derailed on Friday last in Ballybofey. It was a big ask, to travel such a long distance and get something from the game against a resurgent Finn Harps fighting to keep their heads out of the shark-infested relegation waters.
I’ve been fearing a sting like this year’s 2 losses away to Harps for a long time. They were devastated to lose the 1999 FAI Cup final to us after 2 replays, and we have been apart in league divisions for most of the interim. Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Wanderers have a chance to get the train back on track quickly. They face St Patrick’s Athletic this Friday at the Carlisle Grounds and after a trip to Tallaght Stadium to face Shamrock Rovers for the final time this term they close out their 2016 campaign at home against Cork City on October 28.
A top-half finish is still on the table, hopefully we can grab it with both hands. Psychologically it would be the best possible pre-season boost for 2017.
Wanderers nearly did get a draw last Friday. Their heads didn’t drop even at 2 down. They still believed, they still battled. Getting one back was a lifeline. A late penalty claim, if given, would have sealed a remarkable comeback.
As if defeat wasn’t bad enough there was the news during the week that Mick Cooke is in a legal dispute with the club over the unpaid part of his contract, and also some negative reaction to reports of plans to have sports other than soccer played at the Carlisle.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Wanderers ground-share with say, Rugby League Ireland. Throw in the odd rock gig there too if it generates revenue.
I know when Rochdale AFC went ground-share with the Rochdale Hornets [the local rugby league outfit] they both started to benefit in terms of improved support, financial performance and most-importantly, on-the-pitch achievement. This just my opinion on a hypothetical situation.
As for the Cooke thing, that will play out in due course, and both parties need to be respected as they work through the process. Let’s not forget that it was Mick who saved us last year.
Speaking of Rochdale, they saved my weekend for me. The 3-0 home win over Southend United [without Matty Lund’s services, he made the bench for Northern Ireland’s 4-0 win over San Marino] made it five league wins on the bounce, emulating Bray’s recent achievement.
As it is early in the League One campaign that sequence of wins has lifted Dale from the foot of the table to a play-off spot. That’s the good thing about following teams in multiple jurisdictions.
Like a good bookmaker you can lay off disappointment. I was due some, after 3 successive weekends of double success.
It’s autumn now and it is also the autumn of our SSE Airtricity League Premier season. Time to start thinking about my vote for Player of the Year.
Always something that causes me a few sleepless nights – you’d hate to make the wrong decision on something so important.
The excellent run that Wanderers went on from June certainly put a good few names in the frame for this year’s accolade.
I simply cannot tolerate the travel to Donegal thing being used as an excuse.