Taoiseach just the ticket for Rebel with a cause

THE Reds may have won the game but in one Cork fan’s mind, Man of the Match on Sunday was a true blue Dub.

For the hero who came to the rescue of the wretched rebel was none other than big-hearted Bertie Ahern.

Bertie’s benevolence knew no bounds when he found himself with the sporting equivalent of gold-dust in his pocket after a guest due to accompany him bailed out, leaving him with a spare ticket burning a hole in his conscience.

Unable to stand the thought of a seat going to waste, the Taoiseach turned tout and positioned himself at the entrance to the oasis of privilege that is the Ard Comhairle section in Croker and whispered furtively: “yal right fer tickets?”

That was how RTÉ man Des Cahill came upon him, moments after he’d consoled a near-weeping Des Mulcahy who was outside Croke Park praying for a miracle.

After enquiring if the sports presenter was OK for tickets himself, Bertie asked if he knew any deserving case and happily handed over the precious docket once Des told him about the man on the other side of the stiles.

But Des’s delight turned to panic when he realised the ticket was for VIP territory - reserved for the Taoiseach, the President, GAA top brass and other luminaries - as DD was decked out in his People’s Republic T-shirt, Rebel Army paraphernalia and trusty rucksack.

“I had visions of a row of seats with Bertie Ahern, Mary McAleese, Sean Kelly - and DD Mulcahy,” Des told RTÉ radio yesterday.

Some quick-thinking and quicker seat shuffling got the Corkman an alternative space some rows back.

GAA spokesman Fergal McGill said he wasn’t aware of the Taoiseach’s largesse but wasn’t surprised. “He wouldn’t want to see a ticket go to waste,” he said.

He dismissed suggestions that the incident could have been a security risk or at least caused disgruntlement among the legions who wait with their tongues hanging out for a share in GAA director general Liam Mulvihill’s coveted Ard Comhairle allocation.

“Bertie always gets at least two tickets for his personal use, as well as tickets for his entourage and security personnel. It’s entirely at his discretion who he gives the ticket to. Once he’s comfortable, that’s fine with us.”

If only he’d got his hands on the tickets for the 1,000 other empty seats.