Far-flung fans keep flags flying

THE All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Cork and Dublin will captivate fans far beyond Croke Park.

Over 3,000 miles away, in the Central African Republic of Chad, Irish members of an United Nations peacekeeping mission will be keeping their county flags flying.

The Irish contingent is lead by Brigadier General Ger Aherne, who currently lives in Kiltoom in Roscommon but is a Rebel at heart and captained Cork to an All-Ireland MFC title in 1972.

Alongside him will be Jim Gavin, who featured on the Dublin team that last lifted the Sam Maguire Cup in 1995 and who managed Dublin to All-Ireland U21 glory over Donegal by 1-10 to 1-8 in May.

Efforts to get a live television transmission of tomorrow’s game proved fruitless, and thus Aherne and Gavin will rely on Mícheál O Muircheartaigh’s commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 to keep them abreast of proceedings.