Crisis-hit Cork put on a brave face

HARD to know whether to best describe this one as a homecoming or a farewell, a celebration or a wake.

Roy Keane might have been back in his home town but for how long more Turner’s Cross will be home to Cork City was a question exercising the minds of the majority of people in a crowd of 3,200 who saw Paul Doolin’s men deservedly beat Ipswich Town.

City will make in the region of €50,000 from the game and owner/chairman Tom Coughlan, who was jeered by a protesting Shed End after the match – “I wouldn’t mind if it was the San Siro,” he remarked – remains hopeful that, with now just seven days to go before the club returns to the High Court to contest a winding-up order, an 11th hour plan can still be agreed with the tax man to settle a bill of €360,000.