TREBLE WINNERS LEAVE OMAGH ON CLOUD NINE
Treble winners leave Omagh on cloud nine
From Orla Bannon
TREBLE winners in town and double vision for the star-struck locals. Although they came from much further afield than Omagh to gaze up at the multi-million pound superstars on parade at last night's charity match at St Julian's Road.
A minibus from Cork and fans from Manchester United supporters clubs in England were among the 7,000 crammed into the seats and terracing of the humble city for this memorable occasion.
Manchester United deserve 110 per cent credit for the way they conducted themselves all day in Omagh.
No prima donna stuff here. The European cup holders came from an afternoon signing autographs in the Silverbirch Hotel to the ground happy to tog out in the modest changing rooms on offer.
While Chelsea's foreign legion had run last week from their luxury coach onto the pitch and straight off again, United were content to spend a little longer than the necessary 90 minutes among the locals.
Sir Alex Ferguson came out relaxed and ready for a rapturous welcome and talked to a resident man of the night Charlie Collins before heading back to the hotel for a gala dinner and overnight stop in the town.
Happy with the safety measures in place, United paraded their three trophies before the fans after the match. Typically of the effort United put into this trip, the trophies were flown over on a late flight once the museum at Old Trafford closed for the day.
It was a nice touch and one appreciated by the supporters who are unlikely to see the European Cup, FA Premiership Trophy and FA Cup all on these shores again.
The crowd weren't the only ones to get caught up in the buzz.
Charlie whetted everyone's lips announcing Jasper Blomqvist was in the starting line-up.
Unfortunately neither Jasper nor Jesper was even in the country but the fans weren't disappointed with United fielding as strong a side as could be expected.
The players seemed a bit mesmerised too, conceding a goal to Teddy Sheringham after only 27 seconds. Where was the near post defending? Oh dear.
Having held out bravely for 31 minutes against Chelsea, the going wasn't so easy last night. But with Cole, Sheringham, Neville and Irish duo Keane and Irwin on show, Omagh Town can only hope the opposition gets easier from here on in.
Five minutes later and Cole stuck out a right boot to make it 2-0. The last time poor Donegal man Paul Callahan, in goals for Omagh last night, conceded two goals that quickly was against Armagh at Clones not so long ago, but that's best forgotten.
A header from up and coming defender Michael Clegg made it three after 26 minutes before Sheringham scored hi second with a header after being set up by Cole.
This reporter had to make an enforced pit stop after about 40 minutes and missed two more from Clegg and Cole. Back just in time though to see Sheringham miss a sitter just before half-time. Tut tut!
This boy really is going to have to learn to finish in big games. There's no point scoring goals in the Nou Camp and then missing when it really matters.
It was 6-0 at half-time but hope sprang eternal for an Omagh Town fightback.
All hopes were well and truly dashed, however, after 53 minutes when midfielder Mark Nixon headed into his own net to make it 7-0 for the visitors.
Roy McCreadie made a change in goals, bringing on Eamonn Gallagher for Callahan. Having conceded eight goals against Chelsea, Gallaher was in splendid form last night making several good saves, including one from Roy Keane who roved further and further up field in the second half desperate to score in front of his adoring fans.
Sheringham resumed normal service grabbing his hat-trick in the 73rd minute before adding a fourth seven minutes from the end to make it 9-0.
On the night United managed one more than Chelsea but morel importantly won themselves a lot of admirers with the way they handled this whole occasion.
Omagh Town: P Callahan, R Boyle, E Kavanagh, S Gauld, M Kelly, S Johnston, F Wilson, M Nixon, M Donnelly, J Crilly, M McHugh. Subs: Gallagher for Callaghan (55), Doherty and Curran for Nixon and McHugh (64), Barrett for Wilson (74), Mooney for Donnelly (81) Manchester Utd: N Culkin, M Clegg, D Irwin, D May, G Neville, R Keane, J Greening, M Wilson, A Cole, T Sheringham, L Chadwick. Subs: John O'Shea and David Healy for May and Cole (half-time) Forde for Neville (61), Stewart for Chadwick (61) Welland and Notman for Greening and Wilson (61) Referee: G McKay (Strabane)
From Orla Bannon
TREBLE winners in town and double vision for the star-struck locals. Although they came from much further afield than Omagh to gaze up at the multi-million pound superstars on parade at last night's charity match at St Julian's Road.
A minibus from Cork and fans from Manchester United supporters clubs in England were among the 7,000 crammed into the seats and terracing of the humble city for this memorable occasion.
Manchester United deserve 110 per cent credit for the way they conducted themselves all day in Omagh.
No prima donna stuff here. The European cup holders came from an afternoon signing autographs in the Silverbirch Hotel to the ground happy to tog out in the modest changing rooms on offer.
While Chelsea's foreign legion had run last week from their luxury coach onto the pitch and straight off again, United were content to spend a little longer than the necessary 90 minutes among the locals.
Sir Alex Ferguson came out relaxed and ready for a rapturous welcome and talked to a resident man of the night Charlie Collins before heading back to the hotel for a gala dinner and overnight stop in the town.
Happy with the safety measures in place, United paraded their three trophies before the fans after the match. Typically of the effort United put into this trip, the trophies were flown over on a late flight once the museum at Old Trafford closed for the day.
It was a nice touch and one appreciated by the supporters who are unlikely to see the European Cup, FA Premiership Trophy and FA Cup all on these shores again.
The crowd weren't the only ones to get caught up in the buzz.
Charlie whetted everyone's lips announcing Jasper Blomqvist was in the starting line-up.
Unfortunately neither Jasper nor Jesper was even in the country but the fans weren't disappointed with United fielding as strong a side as could be expected.
The players seemed a bit mesmerised too, conceding a goal to Teddy Sheringham after only 27 seconds. Where was the near post defending? Oh dear.
Having held out bravely for 31 minutes against Chelsea, the going wasn't so easy last night. But with Cole, Sheringham, Neville and Irish duo Keane and Irwin on show, Omagh Town can only hope the opposition gets easier from here on in.
Five minutes later and Cole stuck out a right boot to make it 2-0. The last time poor Donegal man Paul Callahan, in goals for Omagh last night, conceded two goals that quickly was against Armagh at Clones not so long ago, but that's best forgotten.
A header from up and coming defender Michael Clegg made it three after 26 minutes before Sheringham scored hi second with a header after being set up by Cole.
This reporter had to make an enforced pit stop after about 40 minutes and missed two more from Clegg and Cole. Back just in time though to see Sheringham miss a sitter just before half-time. Tut tut!
This boy really is going to have to learn to finish in big games. There's no point scoring goals in the Nou Camp and then missing when it really matters.
It was 6-0 at half-time but hope sprang eternal for an Omagh Town fightback.
All hopes were well and truly dashed, however, after 53 minutes when midfielder Mark Nixon headed into his own net to make it 7-0 for the visitors.
Roy McCreadie made a change in goals, bringing on Eamonn Gallagher for Callahan. Having conceded eight goals against Chelsea, Gallaher was in splendid form last night making several good saves, including one from Roy Keane who roved further and further up field in the second half desperate to score in front of his adoring fans.
Sheringham resumed normal service grabbing his hat-trick in the 73rd minute before adding a fourth seven minutes from the end to make it 9-0.
On the night United managed one more than Chelsea but morel importantly won themselves a lot of admirers with the way they handled this whole occasion.
Omagh Town: P Callahan, R Boyle, E Kavanagh, S Gauld, M Kelly, S Johnston, F Wilson, M Nixon, M Donnelly, J Crilly, M McHugh. Subs: Gallagher for Callaghan (55), Doherty and Curran for Nixon and McHugh (64), Barrett for Wilson (74), Mooney for Donnelly (81) Manchester Utd: N Culkin, M Clegg, D Irwin, D May, G Neville, R Keane, J Greening, M Wilson, A Cole, T Sheringham, L Chadwick. Subs: John O'Shea and David Healy for May and Cole (half-time) Forde for Neville (61), Stewart for Chadwick (61) Welland and Notman for Greening and Wilson (61) Referee: G McKay (Strabane)
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0294
Published Date: 04-Aug-99
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