Tony Leen: When the cigar smoke clears, CBC will still be wondering, how?

A pungent whiff hung over Musgrave Park, that sense of high drama and derring-do when it mattered most – in a Cup semi-final’s short minutes

THRILLER: PBC players erupt with joy at the final whistle in Musgrave Park. Picture: Laszlo Geczo, Inpho

The waft of festival chips and curry was unmistakable, as were the bellicose terrace anthems and the sight of shirtless, paint-daubed eccentrics. Like infidels at an Istanbul derby, students from Pres and Christians were restricted to far ends of the main stand at Musgrave Park, sharing only stares and growls. ‘Is that a library over there?’ 

Between them was a slice of nostalgia, old boys from Pres and Christians in fawn overcoats and leather gloves rekindling old wars and truces. Whatever they may have lost in pace and agility, some had lost little in voice as they egged on school saplings.