February 15, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mark Jones>
Cork City lifted soccer’s FAI Cup last weekend when they edged out Shelbourne by 1-0 in a replay at Dalymount Park. Derek Coughlan scored the decisive goal 15 minutes from then end which meant that Shelbourne finished runners-up in both the League and the Cup.
The curtain came down on Paul McGrath’s marvelous career when 40,000 fans turned up at Lansdowne Road last Sunday to pay homage at the great man’s richly deserved testimonial game.
The Republic’s most capped player was given an emotional send-off as an International X1 managed by Jack Charlton beat a Republic of Ireland XI managed by Mick McCarthy by 3-2.
The modest McGrath dismissed suggestions that he was Ireland’s greatest ever player. “I think Liam Brady, Ronnie Whelan and Johnny Giles might be a bit insulted about that,” he added.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the Irish Under 16 team’s historic European championship victory, the Under 18s have now qualified for this summer’s European finals following a 2-0 win over Greece.
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