Legends roll up to honour late star Liam
THERE will be a record attendance for a soccer match in Cork this afternoon when a host of stars roll back the years in tribute to Liam Miller at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
An occasion of poignant celebration following the 36-year-old’s death from cancer in February of this year, 45,000 supporters are set to descend on the GAA venue to watch a Manchester United XI take on a Republic of Ireland/Celtic select squad.
Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Andy Cole, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville are just some of the Old Trafford heroes under the stewardship of player-manager Roy Keane. The doyen of the modern day Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, had been pencilled in for a return to the dugout before his own health issues forced him to withdraw on medical advice.
Bryan Robson, now a club ambassador, will be an official representative while, in the green and white corner, current Ireland boss Martin O’Neill will have the likes of Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Richard Dunne, Stylian Petrov and John Hartson at his disposal.
For soccer fans in this country, it is like the golden triumvirate on show — United, Celtic and Ireland greats all in tow to honour a former teammate from the small west Cork village of Ovens.
It is a heartening show of support for Miller’s young family — wife Claire and children Kory, Leo and Belle — with Marymount Hospice and other local charities also in line to benefit.
Miller’s talents allowed him to spread his professional wings far and wide, over three continents, but it is his connection to two clubs that have such a hold on affections in this country which makes this an even more special occasion.
It is why tickets have been sold out for weeks and the reason the organising committee worked so diligently in conjunction with the GAA to ensure the benefit game took place in an arena within his own county that befits Miller’s standing.
One of those on that panel is Graham Barrett, a former teammate of Miller at underage level with Ireland, and in an interview over the weekend he explained how his role over the last few months allowed him to take his mind off a tragedy he is still coming to terms with.
‘I’ve said this to a couple of people; in many ways, it’s been helpful for me. It’s helped me to focus on something, it’s helped me to grieve. Liam was a great guy, one of the best, and I’m very lucky to have had such a good friend. He became like a brother to me. Hopefully we can do him proud,’ Barrett said.
The earlier controversy regarding the use of Páirc Uí Chaoimh has long since blown over and will merely be a footnote in a much bigger, historic chapter in Cork soccer folklore.
Currently, despite a plethora of attractive challenge games as well as international fixtures taking place (Ireland v Hungary at the Mardyke in 1939, Spain’s visit in 1985 and the most recent friendly against Belarus at Turner’s Cross as a send-off for Euro 2016), the record attendance for a game in the county is 27,000 for the League of Ireland meeting between the now defunct Cork Hibs and Waterford in 1972.
Flower Lodge (Páirc Uí Rinn today) hosted that 3-2 victory for the visitors but today the result is of no concern. It will be an opportunity to honour the memory of a young man whose life was ended so prematurely while attempting to provide some solace and comfort to his bereft family and friends.
It is also a chance for those old teammates, who endured and enjoyed so much together but have perhaps lost touch, to reminisce.
It seems apt that so many of those players who were there for Miller’s competitive United debut will be in Cork today.
In August 2004, he came off the bench for United as they struggled away to Dinamo Bucharest in what was proving to be very testing Champions League qualifier. With the tie level at 1-1, Miller’s drilled cross was turned in for an own goal and United were off the hook.
John O’Shea was the first to congratulate him with a bear hug before Keane grabbed him and patted him on the cheek. Scholes, Giggs, Neville and Alan Smith were also quick on the scene with congratulations and today they will be just a handful of people at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for what is shaping up to be a historic celebration of Liam Miller’s life. CELTIC/REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: David Forde, Stephen Carr, Kevin Kilbane, Richard Dunne, Kenny Cunningham, Keith Andrews, Kevin Doyle, Stephen McPhail, Andy Reid, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Colin Healy, Shaun Maloney, Paul Lambert, John Hartson, Stylian Petrov, Stephen Kelly, Ian Harte, Johan Mjalby. UNITED LEGENDS SQUAD: Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Denis Irwin, David May, Louis Saha, Rio Ferdinand, Quinton Fortune, Andy Cole, Michael Clegg, Mikael Silvestre, Kevin Pilkington, Dion Dublin, Roy Carroll, Gary Neville, Alan Smith, John O’Shea, Wes Brown. LIVE ON TV: Virgin Media Three (Coverage starts 2pm, kick-off 3pm).