Dunmanway warms up for big clash with the Reds

FOOTBALL’s coming home — but not the kind that Sam Maguire would have expected to capture the imagination of his home town.

Dunmanway, birthplace of the “father” of Gaelic football, has gone soccer crazy in the days leading up to the local club’s clash with giants Liverpool.

The town is expected to be decked out with flags and bunting in the colours of both sides for the August 6 match, which is a 6,800 sell-out.

Dunmanway Town XI manager John Buckley said the gates of Mary Immaculata College, the venue for the clash, will open at noon with a series of mini soccer games played by children preceding the big game’s kick off at 2pm.

Liverpool have received 288 of the 6,800 tickets. “They would have looked for more if they could have got them,” John said.

He said Liverpool are expected to announce their line-up on July 27.

“We believe they will send over some big names,” he said.

Dunmanway-based Senator Michael McCarthy has invited Liverpool hero John Aldridge over for the game. It is not yet clear if Aldridge will be able to make it as he’s on holiday in Portugal.

The senator became friends with the former Liverpool star when they appeared on Charity You’re a Star in 2006.

Aldridge won the contest with his rendition of the Lilly the Pink, a major hit for Liverpudlian band The Scaffold.

“I will be urging Liverpool to send over some big names for the game, especially for the thousands of fans who are supporting it. They have to do so for their sakes,” Mr McCarthy said. “Anyway if they don’t send over a decent side they risk a humiliating defeat.”

Speculation is mounting that the five times European Cup winners will include names like Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel in the lineup.

There’s only one sports shop in Dunmanway and it has been inundated with requests for Liverpool and Dunmanway jerseys.

Tim Buckley, who is Sportzone’s joint owner, has risen to the occasion and ordered a stock of unique mementoes.

“We’ll have flags which are half Liverpool and half Dunmanway.

“We’ve got commemorative wristbands and specially printed T-shirts made, we also have got plenty of Dunmanway replica shirts in green and white. So many people wanted them we had to put in a lot of orders,” Tim said.

His shop is also sponsoring half a dozen specially made 25ft by 3ft flags for the home fans.

Joanne’s Restaurant is the nearest eatery to the ground and the mother and daughter who run it are decking out the place in the colours of both sides and bringing in a themed menu for the day.

Among other things Phyllis Dewar and her daughter, Joanne Cars, will be serving up Carlsberg Battered Cod, Rafael Roast and Kopite Chicken Kebabs.

“We expect to be very busy and will be bringing on extra staff to cope. Obviously we’ll also be serving a lot of hotdogs and burgers,” Joanne said.

Raymond O’Brien, aged 13, has divided loyalties. He plays centre forward for the local underage soccer team, but is a keen Liverpool fan.

“Liverpool will kill us. I think they’ll win 4-0,” he said.

His friend, Evan Twomey, predicted a 3-0 win for the boys in red. But Micheál Murray, aged 14, was more confident about the home side’s prospects.

“It would be stupendous if Dunmanway won. I would give them a high chance. I think it will be 2-1 to Dunmanway,” Michael said.