Derry City's historic Celtic Park success had more than one winner......
Over 7,000 fans were in Find Insurance Celtic Park on Friday night to witness the first soccer ball kicked at the Lone Moore Road venue in over 80 years. It was a night to remember and one which can be built on by not just Derry City writes MICHAEL WILSON…...
As far as first impressions go, Friday night in Find Insurance Celtic Park was impressive: on and off the field.
Derry City's historic 1-0 victory over League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers was a superb all round occasion, an event to match everything the Brandywell club must've hoped for and a night when the success wasn't exclusive to the Candy Stripes.
Turning from Westland Street on to the Lone Moor Road about 6.30pm, it was already apparent something special was in the Derry air. Cars more abandoned than parked tried to sneak a spot close by but it was the sheer numbers of red and white shirts soaking up the atmosphere that grabbed the attention. It was almost more Ulster Championship than League of Ireland.
Choosing to park at the Brandywell and make my way up through the home crowd afforded time to eavesdrop on a few excited conversations and more than one went like this:
Fan 1: "Ever been in Celtic Park before?
Fan 2: "No, never and I only live (insert any short distance) away. Don't really have a clue what it's like.
Fan 3: "I've been in before, even played there once or twice, but not since I was 9 or 10. No idea what it'll be like."
That conversation - or a version of it - was being had by plenty of City fans up and down the Lone Moore Road in the minutes prior to 8pm but I also caught another conversation on the way out when a couple of fans who obviously knew each other met. It went something like this....
Fan 1: "Some result, delighted to beat that lot...... (Note: Conversation may have been sanitised slightly!)
Fan 2: "Aye, they did well, Clarke was class. Great night. Celtic Park a good spot for it....
Fan 3: "Aye, some crowd and some atmosphere, loved it. I'll be back. (laughing)
I'd say that opinion wasn't an isolated one as Derry GAA also emerged from the history-making evening with immense credit, credit which can be built on among a city population often accused of indifference toward Gaelic Games.
This was a new audience taking in Celtic Park and they were impressed; hopefully impressed enough to venture back and experience the venue on a championship day.
The blossoming relationship between Derry City and Derry GAA has been mutually beneficial with Friday the latest evidence of a superb working relationship. Both parties should be applauded for it.
Derry City made the most of their unique opportunity and may have inadvertently handed Derry GAA a few ideas on enhancing their own big days in ‘The Park’. The 'Pint & Pie' stand went down a treat, as did the accompanying social area for fans to mingle, chat and even take in a bit of match if they were lucky enough to get the terraced spot next to the scoreboard.
The giant tifos too were a lovely touch, ensuring club legends Mark Farren and Ryan McBride were very much part of the day. Very classy.
From a selfish press point of view, I already knew Celtic Park boasted some of the best facilities in the country but now the Derry City press corps know it too, with special mention for an exceptional buffet selection from City PRO Lawrence Moore, one I will be raising with his Derry GAA counterpart Chris Keenan.... (Just kidding Chris!)
Even the weather played its part with the spring sunshine allowing the terrace to be packed and helping create the wonderful atmosphere which almost every City player interviewed mentioned afterwards.
I was back in Celtic Park on Saturday for the Christy Ring Cup tie between Johnny McGarvey's Derry and Donegal and you'd never have known 7,104 had visited barely 14 hours previously. That was another home win and another excellent display from the team in red and white.
History had been made, history that can be built on....... for Derry City and Derry GAA.