Save Chip 9-2 AIB XI 07/05/05
(Match report by PT)It was a strange day all round for Save Chip in Belfield last Saturday. The sun was shining, the surface was perfect and 15 players showed up to a match. But of course it wouldn’t be Save Chip without ringers and 7 of the hardy souls turned up for the Furry testimonial against AIB.
Looking around the Save Chip XI it was filled with stalwarts of years gone by - Eamon Walsh, Brian Horgan, Paddy Thornton, Mick Dempsey, James Carroll all filled their jerseys with pride while a special mention must go to Stevie O’Connor for making a one day round trip to Cork to play in the game. With this crew supplemented by one time chip players: Fintan, Pat, Aidan and Conor, chip faced down the might of AIB led by ex-Chip 'star' David Kearns.
The game started as expected with AIB taking the lead early on due to some slack Chip defending but the one thing you have to say about this Chip side is that they are used to being behind and a battling performance typified by James 'Hammer' Carroll in midfield and the goal scoring prowess of Pat Costello up front meant that Chip went in at the break 3-1 ahead.
Stirred by an emotional speech delivered by Mick Dempsey at half time - during which he said: 'We just have to do it for David Sheils, are all those wonderful hours spent together with the hoover going to be thrown away now?' Those who were there during 'Hoovergate' welled up and promised to do it for Sheils and the hoover while those there to make up the numbers merely sighed and trotted back into position for the second half.
Roll on, roll off substitutions were used to good effect in the second half with the Chip XI suffering under the unusual pristine surroundings. Eamonn harked back to days gone past 'Lads do ye remember the evening I scored that goal and jumped into the biggest lump of mucky shit I could find - Jaysus, those were the days.'
Unfortunately he chose an inopportune moment to day dream as a rare shot from the ranks of AIB snuck in over his head prompting questions about brown envelopes and free pints for the Chip deputy keeper. However it was elementary at that stage with save chip 6-2 ahead. With so many scorers it was hard to keep count but I think we can safely say that old reliables Mick and James came up with the goods on more than one occasion.
Finally the moment arrived, the crowd rose to their feet as legendary striker Mick Dempsey was replaced by one time full-back now superstar striker Brian Horgan. Many questioned the tactical change by left back Paddy Thornton, (Who incidentally registered a legal throw in - not that anybody notices the good ones - bastards), however it immediately paid dividends when a pinpoint cross from potential man of the match candidate Stevie was met by a salmon like leap by the aforementioned Mr. Horgan to plant a header into the net. Ever the professional Horgan ran into the net to get the ball as 7-2 was never going to be good enough for him.
A slalom run and deft finish by Enda Costello near the end seemed to be the icing on the cake yet there was one more twist in the tail. Chips sustained pressure, forced one final corner from AIB, the patented short corner move (i.e. making a bollox of the corner) worked a treat as the ball found its way through to Brian Horgan he looked up and saw Paddy on the goal line ready to score his first Save Chip goal; however, the greed which typifies all good strikers took hold as Horgan slipped the ball under the keeper into the net to the delight of all Chippers and to a chorus of Boos from Paddy's supporters camped behind the goal.
9-2 it finished with a record Save Chip goal haul in the bag and the Martin Furlong Memorial Cup presented to Eamon on behalf of Save Chip.
Hopefully this will be the first of many Chip reunions and I think it is an apt way to finish with a line from a previous match report:
"As it was, Furry spoke of love and laughter, of wine and of women and all was good once more"
FURRY R.I.P.
Last updated 20/05/05