Soccer Scene Shearer silenced, Sheringham shines as United take Cup

By Dermot Clarke

How could you possibly feel sorry for Roy Keane? Two Sundays back, the United skipper lifted the Premier League trophy at Old Trafford. A week later he walks up the hallowed Wembley steps to collect the F.A. Cup from the trophy’s lookalike, Prince Charles. We won’t talk about the events in between, but you would think that Roy has lived out every schoolboy’s dream in the last 10 days, would you not?

Well, we all know that that’s not the full story. This evening at Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium, Keane will be absent as his Manchester United team go in search of the third and most important leg of their now two-thirds-complete treble. His booking in the semifinal having disqualified him from appearing on the big day. On Saturday an early tangle with Gary Speed had the brilliant Corkman limping in hope for 6 minutes before he had to resign himself to the fact that his F.A. Cup day was over. He would hobble over and sit beside his fellow Leesider, Denis Irwin, himself suspended for the big day for a harsh sending off at Liverpool. They must have been thinking, "What did the people of Cork ever do on anybody?"

So what would Teddy Sheringham have said if you walked up to him as he sat glumly on the bench and said, "Don’t worry, Teddy, United will win, 2-0, you’ll score one, make the other, and win the Man of the Match award?" Teddy, it was, who replaced Keane, and within two minutes of his entrance he put United in front. Sheringham, after some intricate footwork, laid the ball off to Paul Scholes and ran for the return. It was a return he didn’t look like receiving as Scholes shaped to shoot at goal. The shaping, though, was but a piece of clever deception as Scholes played an excellent little through ball back to the substitute, who slid it home under the body of Harper in the Newcastle goal.

United went on to dominate the rest of the half. Newcastle had a couple of chances, but they were either dealt with comfortably by Schmeichel or Ketsbaia fell en route to forcing Schmeichel into having to deal with them. Halftime: 1-0 to United.

It was a different Newcastle that took the field in the second half. Duncan Ferguson entered the fray and it seemed to boost the Geordies. Duncan didn’t start because the old hernia is playing up again, but Gullit hoped that he might wreak some ‘rial havoc on the Stam-less Untied defense. It seemed to be working until United virtually buried the game with a second goal in the 53rd minute. This time Sheringham repaid Scholes, when after some good work by Solskj’r, Teddy received the ball and stabbed it back with perfect pace to the on-running Scholes who cracked it low into the far corner with Harper stranded.

I wondered at Gullit’s omission of Shay Given before the game. I’m not saying that he might have won the game for Newcastle had he played, nor am I saying that he would have saved either of the two goals, but I do think that the Donegalman would have made a better effort at keeping the ball in play on both occasions. I also think that if I was having doubts about who to play between the sticks in a Wembley Cup final, I would have opted for Given on pedigree alone.

Newcastle had a chance to pull one back shortly after United made it two. Ketsbaia rounded Schmeichel on the edge of the box, but his shot hit the outside of the post and it was really over after that.

Carnival stuff endued. Ferguson took the gamble of bringing in Dwight Yorke for Andy Cole on 60 and he almost scored shortly thereafter, just failing to keep a headed Giggs cross low enough. Sheringham’s delightful chip deserved better than a scuffed crossbar. Beckham, Johnson and Giggs all went close as United turned on the style and, in truth, when the final whistle came, it was more for Newcastle than for United. An embarrassment saver more than anything. The United players danced on the field as their skipper hobbled over. They did it without him on Saturday, can they do it tonight? I think so, but it will be a lot tougher.

Bray Wanderers clinch

Bray Wanderers finally clinched the FAI Cup in the second replay. Again a goal down, when Jonathan Speak fired Harps ahead after 12 minutes. Bray finally came through with two goals from 20-year-old Jason Byrne. Byrne was making his first appearance since January, when he broke an ankle against Sligo. He is the cousin of another bright young star — Robbie Keane.

When Byrne scored the second it was the first occasion that the seasiders had been in front in the final. Pat Devlin’s men seem to know how to hold the lead though and having got there they stayed there, and the heartbreak of relegation was forgotten for a little while as the Cup was brought back to Wicklow.

Staying with the League of Ireland for a moment, Damien Richardson is to be the new Shamrock Rovers manager. Richardson was a Glenmalure hero in the good old days at Milltown. He will take over from Mick Byrne next season. Good to see you back, Dayo.

Striker-happy Houllier

There’s a fair chance that if Gerard Houllier’s sink was blocked he would plug in the stopper and see if that might solve the problem. If the great Liverpudlian union leader Jim Larkin were alive today and coached Liverpool, we wouldn’t see as many strikers at the club as there are at present. But at least now Houllier seems to be concentrating on the back four and goalkeeping areas. Happy in the knowledge that seven strikers and 14 midfielders should be enough to carry his team through next season.

Hoddle muddle

Spare a thought for poor old Glenn Hoddle. This time last year he was preparing the England team for the World Cup. A mere 12 months later he is being branded an adulterer, having been sacked as England coach in the interim. Hoddle, a devout Christian, was divorced by his wife in January, who also called him an adulterer, so there must be some truth in it.

The latest accuser, millionaire developer Jeff Shean, was granted a divorce from his wife, Vanessa, who had been having an affair with Hoddle. Hoddle’s belief in reincarnation was partly responsible for his being axed by England, after he claimed disabled people were paying for the sins of an earlier life. Hoddle himself won’t be in too healthy a state next time round, should there be any truth to his tenets.

Celtic vs. Rangers

Just a reminder, Celtic play Rangers next Saturday in the Scottish FA Cup Final. Rangers are seeking the treble. Celtic must win or else the faithful will have to endure yet another summer of discontent as the second class soccer citizens of Glasgow. I’ll let the heart rule the head again — 2-1 to Celtic.

May 26-June 1, 1999