Groundhopping journeys

 This was a bonus game for me, with time to kill in Dublin after Athlone the night before and hours until my flight home. I took the 73 bus up to Drunmil post office and walked it to Pearse Park, about 10 minutes, I was there in good time 1530 for a 1700 kick off. However the trip from Athlone to Dublin was eventful with the train braking down in the middle of nowhere and taking us back to Newbridge. There was a small admission charge of 5 euros, no merchandise but what an excellent little ground, there was good toilet facilities and a canteen that sold snacks, crisps, chocolate etc and hot and cold drinks. The club have some sort of partnership with fellow Dublin club Shamrock Rovers and also Robbie Keane is involved there with him starting his career at Crumlin and now running an academy of his own. The opposition were Salthill Devon FC all the way from Galway, believe me it's a long way so fair play to them. There were probably around 60 people in attendance on this late Saturda...

 Back in Ireland for the second time in a week, this time I was in the Irish Midlands in the pretty town of Athlone. Built either side of a river, the town boasts two big shopping centres along with a high street lined with cafes and pubs, a castle and two big hotels, Sheraton and Radisson. Athlone is an hour and 20 away from Dublin on the train to Galway. The ground is 2km walk from the town centre so a fair enough way, you first come to the hurling stadium, then some tennis courts and an indoor sports centre and the football ground is just behind there. It's unusual in that it only consists of one stand, albeit a big one holding 5000. The opposition today were Cork City, the perennial yo yo club who are sure to get promoted back to the Premier this season. Managed by ex Celtic midfielder Barry Robson they are far better than anything else in the first division. Sadly for me star winger Cathal O Sullivan has left Cork to sign for Preston, the lad was a joy to watch when I did Cork...