Dunmanway Town XI

[Fierce]

Have we seen this?! Genius!

Kop this –Pool to take on West Cork’s best

By Sean O’Riordan

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

IT pays to think big – just ask members of a small, rural soccer club who have landed a match against Liverpool.

Dunmanway Town XI player David Hall simply called Anfield six weeks ago and asked would the men in red like to travel to west Cork for a game.

"I had my reservations when he did it. We have no association with the club and I honestly thought they’d ignore us," club manager John Buckley said.

"Now we’re just over the moon."

Liverpool won’t be sending Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres but have promised to field a squad which could include Dutch internationals Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel as well as French under-21 David Ngog and Daniel Agger.

The David v Goliath clash will take place at 2pm on August 6, but not on the Dunmanway club’s pitch. "We simply wouldn’t have the space. We’re hoping to attract up to 3,000 fans, so we will be staging the match at Maria Immaculata Community College, in Dunmanway," Mr Buckley said.

Liverpool club secretary, Ian Silvester, confirmed yesterday they had accepted the invitation and will fly into Cork the night before the game.

"In its decision to hold this game Liverpool FC, who are aware of their enormous fan base in the region, are bringing a taste of the Premier League to all their fans in west Cork," Mr Buckley said.

The club were runners up in the West Cork Premier League last season. But they won’t be able to match Liverpool’s firepower.

"We are hoping to draft in a couple of League of Ireland players so we can make a game of it. Liverpool are aware of our intention and have no problem with it," Mr Buckley said.

Tickets will cost €20 for adults and €10 for children and senior citizens.

The club, which has around 300 members, will use the money raised to further develop its pitches and purchase new equipment.

It’s unlikely that any fans will travel over from the Kop but then Liverpool needn’t worry as there are thousands of their supporters in Cork who will no doubt be clamouring for tickets.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, June 24, 2009

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/kop-this-ndashpool-to-take-on-west-corks-best--94769.html#ixzz0JMa6MuTQ&D

[Tee]

Quality!!

[MrMichael]

[billy_mac]

Brilliant. Much better than some agent organising Real Madrid against Rovers at 60 yoyo a ticket. Some neck on them langers boy!

[michelmas]

I normally wouldn't spread corkonian propaganda but there's some funny **** here

Dunmanway Town Vs Liverpool
August 6th in Dunmanway
Dunmanway have, according to the national media, landed a coup in attracting Liverpool FC to Cork on August 6th. Yes, the real Liverpool we see on de telly are coming. To Dunmanway.


Dunmanway legend David Hall (left) in action against Clon earlier this year.
Most Corkonians aren't that surprised that one of the world's biggest eleven aside clubs are about visit Leeside - after all we are the best sporting county in the world and its not that long since they lined out against a League of Ireland side in 'Flower Lodge' - now Pairc Úi Rinn.

Clearly afraid to take on a Cork City FC side, The Reds are hedging their bets by taking on Dunmanway Town FC instead. Little do they know the cute-hoor trap they've fallen into.

The story is brilliant. Small and medium size clubs around the world are desperate to attract big name teams for pre-season friendlies. Bag a match against a super-club and your fundraising is done for the year (or in Dunmanway's case for the next decade).

Patronising reports condensed the Dunmanway coup into local player David Hall simply ringing up Anfield and plamásing the Liverpudlians into coming to West Cork. You can bet there was way more to it than that. These are West Cork men - decedents of those who out-thought the British Army 90 years ago.

Being a GAA stronghold they expected no more than 3,000. Sure t'was only Liverpool. So far they've had 26,000 phone enquiries and we all know what the reception can be like down there so there's probably another 26,000 who couldn't get through.


The Schquare below in Dunmanway.
Dunmanway is the birthplace of Sam Maguire - after whom the All-Ireland Senior football title is named thereby making Dunmanway the undisputed home of football - the fifteen man version that is.

The eleven aside game however currently dominates the globe. With gargantuan competitions like the FIFA World Cup, the Champions League, Copa América and the Murphy's Stout Linnane League Cup soccer dominates like no other and is arguably bigger than God (to be fair Christy Ring wasn't that well known in Brazil).

From TV coverage you might think that rugby is now a threat to this dominance but throw around an oval ball as you travel east of the Rhine River and you'll be in Japan before people stop thinking your football has been in an accident with a large truck. Soccer wins.


Himself.
Should Liverpool walk away defeated from the Rebel County this will herald a massive victory for Cork - and without wanting to exaggerate - over the entire world of sport. A proud stronghold of Gaelic games in Cork has offered to take on a sporting superpower at its own game. We love it.

Dunmanway Town have already (and brilliantly) started the mind games in a manner that is straight from the GAA bainisteoir handbook. Chapter one: talk up the opposition like its David and Goliath, your own team has no chance, you'll turn up but will probably be beaten out the gate and the most important thing is the honour of playing the opposition whom you hugely respect. Blah blah blah.

Chapter two: talk down your own side: club manager John Buckley has claimed they will need to draft in "a few" League of Ireland players to take on the British club. A statement that will surely register the match as a casual 'kick about' on the Liverpool pre-season training calendar.

Then came our favourite quote from a man who is quickly rising up the list of PROC's top Corkonians. Acknowledging Liverpool's popularity he initially estimated that about 3,000 Cork based fans would turn up. As one would expect Dunmanway FC's own pitch would not be suitable for such a bustling sea of sporting fans so he has set his sights on a new venue.


Dirk Kuyt. Could be in for a hiding in Dunmanway.
So one might assume the club would look for something significantly bigger than his own stomping ground. Croke Park? Turners Cross? St.Coleman's Park below in Cobh? Nah!

There's nothing more endearing than witnessing the spirit of parochial loyalty. Wait for it. The club are now hoping to locate the clash at….the Mary Immaculate College in Dunmanway. The local secondary school. Legends!

If all those over-paid poncy Liverpool players thought they were going to be treated like royalty at a UEFA approved stadium so they can 'maximise their performance' on the field they have another thing coming.

While the welcome in picturesque Dunmanway will be second to none and the local club will no doubt do their utmost to keep the pre-Madonnas happy you can be sure there'll be no bling. Just plenty of craic. This is not Old Trafford, Wembly or the Bernabéu. It's Cork and way more fun!

There's a sense of 'divilment' in all of us Corkonians imagening what it might be like for Liverpool when they arrive in Dunmanway on their bus (and they'd better leave early because the traffic can be brutal on a fine day).

The thought of these young multi-millionaires, used to obsessive-attention to detail in their pre-match routines, tripping over discarded geography books as they tog off in Dunmanway's secondary school is fantastic.

So is the image of Dirk Kuyt reading Dunmanway-related graffiti on a changing room toilet door or Ryan Babel's paranoia about the pile of little leather balls and large wooden sticks, some with blood on them, in the corner of the dressing room.


Joanne's in Dunmanway. Dont mind the architecture just try the roast.
There'll be no champagne, truffles or prawn sandwiches in Dunmanway - although we recommend the roast and mash in Joanne's Restaurant if you're sticking around. In fact, gouty food snobs hoping for some sort of exclusive corporate knees-up may be run out of the town for being so full of themselves if they dare to ask for such pampering. There's a table over there selling fizzy orange and taytos - cop on to yourself!

Dunmanway is set to make a killing from the tens of thousands of soccer fans that are set to besiege the town. B&B's and hotels that were struggling to survive are booking out fast. Restaurants, publicans and other local businesses will all get a major boost from the local soccer club's guile.

The Dublin government might have pulled us into a gloomy recession but Dunmanway has decided to roll up its sleeves, work its own way out of the mess and put itself on the sporting map. And don't think their plan stops there.

While everyone makes light of one of the world's biggest clubs taking on a little club in West Cork, you can be sure that the sports-mad Corkonians due to tog out for Dunmanway against the Reds are planning a tad more than a kick about. Watch out Liverpool.

Now, where can we buy a Dunmanway Town jersey?

It is expected that tickets will go on sale on Saturday July 11th, in Cork, Clonakilty, Dunmanway and Bantry. And yes, you may have to know someone who knows someone...

[The Glove]

Thats just ace.

[Agger the Dagger]

Just heard David Hall on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning - sounds like he's really up for it tonight.

His wife's going into labour but there's only one thing on his mind LOL!

[Scratch]

So is there a game on tonight then?

[MrsB]

Rabbits, Reds and Dunmanway Town

Sean Bradbury, 6 August 2009
LFC Official Website

Not even an invasion of rabbits could halt the excitement of the Dunmanway Town manager as his team prepares to take on a Liverpool XI in Cork this afternoon.

John Buckley and his amateur West Cork Soccer League side are still pinching themselves in disbelief after the Reds accepted their
speculative offer of a pre-season friendly.

The match was briefly in doubt when rabbits began digging up the local school's Gaelic Games pitch on which it will be contested - but the
furry intruders were soon warded off by the construction of temporary seating.

Dunmanway's 2,500 population has been getting ready for the game all summer and Buckley expects a bumper crowd to be in attendance.

"The town has been painted red to welcome Liverpool and it's just given a huge boost to the area," he said.

"We normally play in a farmer's field in front of around 20 people.

"Someone might normally bring a deckchair or something to sit on, so our capacity will go from one to 7,000 for this game."

Lifelong Liverpool fan Buckley expects people to travel from far and wide for the game and is hopeful the visitors will get to see a
certain Scouser in action.

"There will be fans coming from all over Ireland, as well as from England and beyond," he said.

"We're hoping that because Steven Gerrard didn't make the pre-season trip to Asia that he'll need the match practice!

"To see him here would be a dream come true but I'm not bothered - even to be playing the reserves is a massive deal for us."

Dunmanway Town have been given special dispensation by the Irish FA to field five professional League of Ireland players against Liverpool.

Tickets for today's game, which kicks off at 2pm, were sold out minutes within minutes of being put on sale.

[michelmas]

By Fintan O’Toole, The Irish Examiner
THURSDAY, AUGUST 06, 2009

THE club’s marquee names may be in transit between Oslo and Madrid, but Liverpool reserve team manager John McMahon is still determined to put on a football spectacle in Dunmanway this afternoon.


6,000 fans will be shoehorned into Maria Immaculata College come kick-off today at 2pm and McMahon is firmly aware of the ticket frenzy that his charges arrival to West Cork has sparked. Last night McMahon spearheaded a 25-man strong party that touched down in the Inchydoney Lodge Hotel in Clonakilty and the feverish atmosphere surrounding this match was encapsulated by the crowd that gathered to greet them.

"It’s really great to receive such a welcome," remarked McMahon. "We’ve had a great welcome from the Irish people already which is nice for the lads to see and witness. We’re well aware of the big support the club has in Ireland. We’re renowned for having a big following all over the world, but I don’t think until we actually arrived in Ireland and saw the reception were the players properly aware of the crowd. It’d be nice to put on a good show for those fans now and hopefully we can do that."

McMahon is well-versed in the rich traditions of Liverpool as a football force, as his older brother Steve was a midfield general during the 80s, amassing three league titles and two FA Cup crowns. Having spent almost four years with Shrewsbury Town, John assumed the role of head of Liverpool’s reserves at the start of June. The seeds had already been sown previously regarding the club sending a Liverpool side to Dunmanway and McMahon was happy to bring the idea to fruition.

"There was already some sort of a game in place, through Gary Ablett the previous reserve team manager. When I took over, David (Hall, the Dunmanway player) then contacted myself to say the plan was in place and would we still play the game. He sold the idea to me and it just snowballed since then. It’s really nice for the younger lads to come over and see how well they’re received in Ireland."

For casual observers the side may be devoid of star quality, but some of the players at McMahon’s disposal have already made serious strides. Captain Stephen Darby has graduated to the first team last season, featuring as a late substitute against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last December, while Hungarian Krisztian Nemeth and Spaniard Daniel Pacheco Lobato have been involved with the first team in this summer’s pre-season circuit. McMahon insists that this match is a critical component of the squad’s overall development.

We’ve got a lot of young lads, so of course this is important. It’s all part of their education. To travel right, how to prepare right, playing at different venues and playing different teams. It’s a massive thing for us as staff to see how they react and adapt to it.

"This is the first time this season, we’ve been away as a group. There are a lot of new faces, both staff and players. We’ve had several games already this summer, playing the likes of Notts County, Bristol Rovers, Cambridge United and Tranmere Rovers. This is the start of a big season. For some it’s about finding their feet at reserve team level, for others it’s about pushing onto the first team squad."

The head honcho at the club will be keeping a keen eye on the progression of McMahon’s proteges.

"Rafa Benitez is always looking at games, always looking at the DVDs of games. He’s always looking for reports, he’s very serious on how the reserves are playing and doing, and the finer details of players progression. The youth setup is massive for us. Every club looks to bring through their own players and it’s the same for supporters. Obviously it saves everyone a lot of money now, if players come through."

McMahon confesses his dossier on today’s opponents is not extensive. But there’ll be no chance of complacency creeping into the Liverpool camp.

"We don’t really play against amateur teams as it’s normally professionals we’re up against. But they’ll have League of Ireland players playing so that should make it a stern enough test. We’ll treat them with respect. We’ll have our normal pre-match meeting. It’ll be the same as the setup for a Reserve Premier League game. But we’re really looking forward to it and we hope it’ll be a great spectacle."

[-V-]

After all the hype im pretty sure the irish will be dissapointed to find us fielding a complete reserve/youth team

[Matt]

After all the hype im pretty sure the irish will be dissapointed to find us fielding a complete reserve/youth team

I hope we send one or two decent players - it sounds like they've made the effort so we should too.

[Shaggy]

Can't believe we only beat them 1-0

[JohnDoe]

Don't understand what's Nemeth doing there and not in the first team squad.

[-V-]

Yet im not surprised. Pacheco has been one of our best performers in pre-season. He should be with the first team squad getting some proper action