AN ABSOLUTE GENT
Quinn shares fond memories as the stars align in Cork
A RECORD crowd for a soccer match in Cork is expected at Pairc Uí Chaoimh today for a star-studded tribute to Liam Miller.
The former Republic of Ireland, Manchester United and Celtic midfielder died in February aged 36 after a short battle with cancer.
Roy Keane will manage a Manchester United XI laced with great names of the past against a combined Ireland & Celtic legends side under the care of Martin O’neill. A 45,000 sell-out is expected and that would trump the previous Leeside record set in 1972 when 27,000 saw Cork Hibs play Waterford in the League of Ireland. Former Ireland stalwart John O’shea – who helped facilitate the game after putting organisers in touch with Alex Ferguson – was yesterday added to the United line-up. A team-mate of Miller’s for club and country, O’shea won five Premier League titles, a Champions League, FA Cup and two League Cups for United between 1999 and 2011 as well as 118 caps for the Boys In Green. Other players of note added to the ticket yesterday include Miller and O’shea’s former Red Devils team-mate Wes Brown.
And ex-ireland defenders Ian Harte and Stephen Kelly plus former Celt Johan Mjalby have been drafted into O’neill’s panel.
Gary Neville is among the Old Trafford legends on show and speaking in Dublin last month, he said: “I’m not sure if we’re very good at playing any more so don’t expect too much!
“But we’ll make sure we give our all to make it as good and attractive a fixture and a day out as possible to do Liam justice.”
And Niall Quinn – who was Sunderland chairman when Miller joined the Black Cats from Manchester United in 2006 – was with many of his former Ireland team-mates this week raising money for the Liam Miller Fund with a golf event at the K Club.
He said: “No one would ever come watch us play football again so this was the best way to do it for Liam. He was an absolute gent.”
Quinn recalled Miller’s time at Sunderland and said: “He brought great energy to it all.
“I just remember a really nice young fellow, that’s the way I’ll always see him. We’ll all remember him fondly.”