Crusaders seize the prize from the hands of the Big Boys and claim the All Ireland title! Great victory for the little fella! What a match! Like any good drama it started quietly, but eventually built up to a crescendo with many twists and turns along the way. Full credit to both teams for creating such a fascinating spectacle. The Derry assistant manager graciously conceded that the Crues were worthy winners and I feel he was right. Im also aware that some in the Derry camp feel that their team did not always play to the level of their abilities. The Seaview men certainly created many more chances and perhaps should have finished it in the 90 minutes. Coates seems to be reinventing himself as a striker though there was a bit of controversy surrounding one of his goals. The Derry goalie, Doherty, made some phenomenal saves! I was surprised at the fitness level of the Crues players. For part timers they certainly lasted well and at times seemed to have a fitness edge over the full timers of Derry. Both teams played some neat football at times, Derry with some fine close passing moves and the Crues with some great defence splitting balls and spirited runs. I was rather disappointed at the size of the crowd, though it looked a bit bigger than 4,000 to me. Those who stayed away missed, not only some pulsating entertainment, but also a great chance to see a lot of what is best in local football. It proved once again that local football can entertain if given a chance. I was also not happy with the media coverage which was to say the least scanty. I believe this competition is important. I see it as having a lot of potential. What a pity the FAI and IFA can not find a way of attaching a Euro place sweetener to it. Full credit to Setanta for organising it, but it really has to be marketed a bit better if it is to have a healthy future. Setanta, the players and clubs did their bit, but we do need a few spin men and smoothers to sell it more. I guess the current economic situation does not help. Anyway, full credit to all concerned and lets hope next year's Setanta is as entertaining! Congratulations Crusaders, hard luck Derry!
posted on 14/5/12
Congratulations Reiver. Well deserved and should have won it in 90 minutes.
It was great listening to the rants of Felix on Setanta who was foaming at the mouth by the end of the game.
Heard it was some party down on the Shore Road Saturday night
My Crues mates were still texting me at 2am - blootered.
posted on 15/5/12
The Infidel Crusaders have cast a long shadow over all our land, but deservedly so. Beating very good teams along the way , they deserve the title All Ireland Champs, and the few bob that goes with it. I echo Reiver's thoughts re the potential for this competition.
Not to mention being one of the most talented bunch of session musicians, that song they did with Joe Cocker is truly something special. Well done Crues !
posted on 15/5/12
Crusaders deserve some credit here. They are a small team that have a loyal support and in the unfair world that is the IFA they stand little chance of ever winning anything....so kudo's Crues
posted on 15/5/12
There seem to be two REIVERs on here, though one is misspelt. The above comment is NOT mine though I agree with it entirely.
posted on 15/5/12
Returning to my point of the media letting local football down, on a day which the Crusaders' manager described as the most important in the club's history the "leading" newspaper in NI, the Belfast Telegraph could NOT manage a single article on the match! What a disgrace! For your information the match was covered, as far as I can make out, in the following media: The Irish Times; Irish Independent; RTE; UTV; Belfast Newsletter; Derry Journal. Despite it being two teams from NI in the final, the media in the Republic seems to have been more supportive of local football than our own scribes! Cant see a big rugby or GAA match getting the same shoddy treatment! Pull your socks up Belfast Telgraph!