A few years ago, a Bantry friend nonchalantly pointed at the full moon as we hurtled towards his hometown and predicted a night of violence, destruction and half-eaten chicken suppers.

MARK TEIXEIRA and Hideki Matsui shook the New York Yankees from their slumber and sent the World Series to tonight’s third game in Philadelphia tied at 1-1.

NO LONGER the loveable losers that last year became the first US sports franchise to lose 10,000 games, the Philadelphia Phillies can put away their symbols of futility.

Chase Utley homered and Cole Hamels pitched seven strong innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the World Series.