It was very much a family day as Shamrock moms and children enjoyed the barbeque. Friends of the club also get in there and kick some ball. The club’s committee arrived early, set the tables and got the grills going. As the players rolled into the park a couple of coaches began to surface.
However, there were a few no-shows and it did seem that the numbers are fewer than previous years. Some members said that the damp, overcast weather didn’t help, and that some of the lads were working. Tommy McPhillips put those excuses down to “evolution.”
With a grin on his face, Big Tom togged out for Eltin Coleman’s team as they set out to defend the title.
It wasn’t to be this time around. Two-nil across the board in all three games stopped Coleman and his troops from winning the trophy for the third year running. The title went to the Kingdom, a team visiting from Kerry.
“It’s time to hang up the boots,” McPhillips said.
The competitive Coleman, a member for over 20 years, took some time to accept his team were not up to par.
“You can’t expect to win games if you give possession away that easy,” said the momentarily disappointed Coleman. “These young fellas — you can teach them nothing,” he added, laughing.
Paul “Jagger” Woods, the team captain, responded, “There’s over 200 years of experience in the side.” The defeats were rapidly forgotten as the banter shifted gears when retired Shamrock player Robbie Kilbane joined the table.
“I finally got that back operation,” Kilbane said. “The doctor told me absolutely no football. Then he knocked my dream to do a marathon. My last request for golfing got the OK. I thought I was back after my first 18 holes, but I overdid it on the driving range and now I have to do the stretches first thing in the morning.”
Coleman commented: “We have lost the gifted winger, but he hasn’t lost the gift of the gab.”
As McPhillips, Kilbane and Jagger moved from the table to watch the new generation of Shamrocks battle out the playoffs, all they could do was talk about the soccer.
Irish football was the topic of conversation, with Roy Keane getting quite a few minutes. “Watching the way Keane corrected his players at the recent Celtic-Manchester Uunited game in Philly was intense,” Jagger remarked.
“It sure looks like he’ll go into management,” said McPhillips.
Jagger replied: “While I don’t agree with what he did at the World Cup — the only people who backed him up after his walk-out were from Cork and Manchester United — he has managed to get back on the right side of the public.”
Said McPhillips: “That’s down to Keane’s smart business lawyer, who told the Corkman where he was at in his football career. Keane has made the right moves to put all that behind him.”
Added Kilbane: “It’s hard to believe that many Irish have not moved on since that day and still harp on about one of the best players Ireland has produced. We are a very critical nation when it comes to sports.”
McPhillips again: “It’s the players who make a career out of playing and never really reach their potential who get away scot free when it comes to criticism. The best examples in the game are United’s Neville brothers and, for Ireland, it’s Ian Harte and Gary Kelly. But for the life of me I can’t understand how Kevin Kilbane continues to get his game for Everton and his country. Keane did shake up Ireland’s FA — forgetting to bring balls to the World Cup was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I hope it moves Irish football on from the day when Mick Robinson claimed that the worst thing he ever did in his career was to declare his Irishness to play for the green and white jersey.”
As the conversation slipped into the possibility of Shelbourne sneaking an away goal against Deportivo after their 0-0 draw in Lansdowne Road, Nolan’s five-a-side closed in on the final games with the guts of the Shamrock players dominating the field of play.
Sitting away from the field relaxing under the trees was ex-Shels player John Keogh. Based in Florida, Keogh is in New York on business and was invited to the tournament by the Shamrocks.
“It’s fantastic to see Shels going to Deportivo with a chance,” he said. “But, realistically, they could get thumped 3- or 4-0. If they do get that sneaky goal, who knows? Shels have taken their club to a professional level, which is great for Irish football. Imagine them playing against Juventus and the like. It’s incredible to think that. But they have to get past Deportivo, who got to the CL playoffs last year.
“I keep an eye on the football back home. The summer football is working. Players are no longer playing in mud up to their knees. The fields are obviously much better and the standard has improved. We are going in the right direction. If Shels get beaten, they are still in the UEFA cup. It’s a nice money-spinner for the club, which is always helpful for the future.”
The Shamrocks have done it again. They have managed to hold yet another five-a-side tournament. They are the epitome of survival. Year after year they get their teams out there. And last season was the finest example of keeping the ship afloat when Paul Wilson and Eltin Coleman took the team over during the season and avoided relegation.
There was some talk about the fact that no first-team head coach is in place for the upcoming season. Usually this would cause a major concern for most clubs. Not for the Shamrocks. There is always a sense that things will work out. The tournament on Sunday saw the nucleus of the club come together and get the ball rolling. Yet another year in the making as the crew board ship.