Disastrous trip to Cork for league game in 1990 remembered

Donegal supporters are on the road to Cork again this weekend and a few of them will remember the trip south for a league game in February 1990, which turned into a nightmare.

The league game was to be played at Pairc Ui Chaoimh but it turned out the pitch was unplayable and Cork didn’t have an alternative ground available.

Over 1,000 Donegal supporters made the journey, most of them on a special train from Sligo, staying overnight in Cork hotels.

Two weeks later more than half of them returned, again on a special train, and again Pairc Ui Chaoimh was unplayable but this time Donegal and their supporters were sent some seven or eight miles outside the city to Ballincollig and the game was played with Cork coming out on top thanks to a late rally by 2-14 to 2-10. (See short report of game at end of this story).

The late Follower, Cormac McGill, was scathing in his column of the treatment handed out to the Donegal supporters (see clip of column).

One of the Donegal players who was part of the fiasco in 1990 was midfielder Brian Murray and he says it was awful on the supporters and shouldn’t have happened.

“Imagine it’s 34 years ago. We were going well in 1990 and won Ulster that year. I think it was around the middle of February. The fact that they were All-Ireland champions and we were on the up too.

“Donegal had great support and I think there were over a 1,000 people who went to that game. It was a disaster. We (players) really felt for the supporters. It was hard earned money and people with families going down there. And then all of a sudden the question was, is it on? Is it off?

“They knew the day before that the pitch was not right, so why not go and get an alternative. I’m sure Ballincollig, out the road, was alright that weekend. I had relatives down there in Middleton and I heard that their pitch was alright.

“It was very disappointing for the people that travelled. The team and management felt for them.

“Two weeks later we were a bit deflated going down there. We were four points up and they had an eight point turnaround in the final minutes. It was no disgrace on our part. They played virtually their All-Ireland team. It was respect for us,” says Murray, who jokes that he hopes the Donegal supporters won’t be sent home this time.

Some of those who made the first trip to Cork in 1990 Picture: Michael 'Jack' O'Donnell

PAIRC UI RINN

There is a change as Saturday’s All-Ireland group game is scheduled for Pairc Ui Rinn, once called Flower Lodge and it was the home of Cork Hibs until they folded from the league. The recent book by Humphrey Kellegher gives the history of the new GAA pitch named after the famous Christy Ring.

It housed games involving some of the greatest soccer players but when  Cork Hibs went out of existence it was put on the market in 1988 by the owners, AOH (Ancient Order of Hibernians). The GAA, with cash from two Michael Jackson concerts in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, had money in the bank and purchased it and the  new pitch was officially opened in 1993, three years after the Donegal fiasco. The GAA  bids were made through two different solicitors and were kept secret until one of them was accepted because  Cork Celtic were also interested but didn’t have the money. 

It is expected that more than 1,000 Donegal supporters will make the journey again this weekend and Brian Murray can see why they are so enthusiastic.

“You win that one and you are looking at the quarter-final of an All-Ireland. From where we were last year to be in a quarter-final. Jim is putting his stamp on it and it’s great to see it.

“Even for people like me up here listening to people from Kildare, and they have their own problems, they are really, not surprised by Jim, but delighted that there is another challenge (to the Dubs and Kerrys)

“Donegal are in the mix.

“Everything else now is a bonus. Looking at that performance on Saturday, very, very impressive. Putting up  the scores and totally in control of the game, in comparison to the previous game against Tyrone.

“The allround performance was impressive and their fitness levels are unbelievable.”

The support the team is getting is something that Murray isn’t surprised about.

“We are good for that. I remember when we were going well in the late ‘80s and ‘90s until the league finals in ‘95 and ‘96.”

But it is the change in a year that has really impressed the All-Ireland winning midfielder.

“That was incredible, the turnaround in a year. People knew that things were not right last year.  People in Donegal are not stupid, they knew the man they wanted and they got him in and what he has done is just incredible.”

When put to him that one of the important parts of the Donegal dominance has been the performance of the midfield pairing, he agrees.

“Since that Derry match, 100  percent, that Donegal midfield is the best around. I know you are talking about (Brian) Fenton as being one of the best midfielders but as a pair the two Derry boys, up until that game (were the best).

“Donegal did their homework for that game. The goalkeeper was brilliant and the middle of the field wiped them out. Then last Saturday the two boys played really well again. They are two great fielders, they are full of energy, strong big fellas that can play football.

“We can win ball and plus as well, Patton in goals is a mighty plus. He can vary his kick-outs so well and it’s pinpoint stuff. He’s the nearest thing to Cluxton.

“They all are singing off the same hymn sheet and they are all doing their job the way Jim wants it. They just seem to know what they’re at.

“They’re just in their first year and they will come on more. One player I love is young Peadar Mogan, what an engine. A great man, he’s like Ryan McHugh, he can get up and get a vital score. He’s very energetic and an intelligent footballer. When we need a score, he gets up there and gets it.

“It’s great times to be a Donegal supporter and I’m very enthusiastic about the whole thing now. As far as I can see they can only get better,” said Murray, who says they are the talk of the country.

“If I go down the town here or go down to Clane GAA Club where I work as a Games Promotion Officer and anytime I go in there the talk is all about Jim McGuinness and Donegal.”

He says there is an air of confidence about them but there is no cockiness and he feels Jim McGuinness will make sure there will be no cockiness. He references the recent Ulster final win and the focus they had during the penalties.

“Did you see that? They just went up and did the job and even the boys watching it, there was no big hype there. Focus, focus, focus all the time on what you’re at. That’s him and the psychology and then he has got great guys there with him that have won All-Irelands in his backroom team,” said Murray, who is looking forward now to seeing Donegal perform again at Croke Park.

1990 National League v Cork

Cork 2-14   Donegal 2-10

Second time around, the wet Pairc Ui Chaoimh was deemed unplayable early enough for the game to be rescheduled to Ballincollig, some seven miles from Cork, and hosting a first ever intercounty game.

The Donegal support for the second trip numbered 500 and they looked to be going home victorious as they went into the final quarter with a lead of 2-9 to 1-8.

With nine minutes left Martin McHugh had replied to a John O'Driscoll point to maintain the four point advantage and they had the chance to go seven clear when Joyce McMullin had a goal chance but his effort was stopped.

But with four minutes left Shay Fahy, who was the dominant Cork player at full-forward notched his second goal and that gave Cork the impetus they needed. They quickly added three points from Larry Tompkins and Teddy  McCarthy put the final nail in the Donegal coffin.

Cork: John Kerins; Niall Cahalane, Stephen O'Brien, Jimmy Kerrigan; Michael Slocum, Conor Counihan, Tony Davis; Danny Culloty (0-1), Teddy McCarthy (0-3); Dave Barry, Larry Tompkins (0-4,4f), Tony Nation; Paul McGrath, Shay Fahy (2-3), John O'Driscoll (0-2). Subs: Barry Coffey for S O'Brien; Michael McCarthy for P McGrath.

Donegal: Gary Walsh; Matt Gallagher, Sean Bonner, Brian Tuohy; Donal Reid, Paul Carr, Martin Shovlin; Anthony Molloy, Martin Gavigan; Joyce McMullin, Brian Murray (0-1), Martin McHugh (0-6,5f); Declan Bonner (2-2), Charlie Mulgrew, James McHugh (0-1). Sub: Luke Gavigan for B Murray.

Referee: Tommy Sugrue (Kerry)