A year on from the famous tour around Ireland, which engulfed a nation as one of the country’s most famous sons herded a crowd of players and supporters alike around the Emerald Isle, Sunderland, along with Roy Keane, Niall Quinn and his Drumaville Consortium, returned for part two.
This year’s events were supposed to bring the team to play Shamrock Rovers FC in their adopted home of Tolka Park (due to stadium renovations), as well as Athlone Town in the Midlands of Ireland. The game against Rovers was unfortunately abandoned due to horrendous rain that arrived on the Irish shores hours before kick-off.
This made the ‘tour’ a one-game affair, as Keane brought his team to play Athlone Town just weeks before the season opener with Liverpool FC. The choice of Athlone for the game offered particular homage to one of the Drumaville Consortium members - Pat Beirne - who is a local man from the area, along with being a huge fan of ‘The Town’ as they are more fondly known as.
A crowd of 4,500 fans arrived at Athlone Towns stadium, Lissywollen with many of these arriving from overseas to watch the game. In terms of entertainment, they certainly weren’t disappointed with Keane naming a strong starting eleven that included some of the many Irish internationals that were on the clubs books.
Liam Miller and Anthony Stokes were included, while Daryl Murphy was named among the substitutes. New signings from Tottenham Hotspurs, Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque, also featured along with English International Kieran Richardson in midfield.
ATHLONE, IRELAND - AUGUST 7: Pascal Chimbonda of Sunderland goes for the ball during the friendly soccer match between Sunderland and Athlone Town on August 7, 2008 in Athlone, Ireland. (Photo by Patrick Bolger/Getty Images)
ATHLONE, IRELAND - AUGUST 7: Pascal Chimbonda of Sunderland goes for the ball during the friendly soccer match between Sunderland and Athlone Town on August 7, 2008 in Athlone, Ireland. (Photo by Patrick Bolger/Getty Images)
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For the game itself, it was an absolute hammering for the home side, who were nowhere near the standard required to make it a competitive contest. New signing El Hadji Diouf was amongst the scorers in what was probably one of the few impressive things that he did as a Sunderland player.
Richardson opened the scoring after three minutes with Michael Chopra, who had been linked with a move away from the Stadium of Light, then grabbed a brace on 11 and 64 minutes before Grant Leadbitter fired in a fourth on 76 minutes. Diouf got in on the act two minutes from time with a 20-yarder, and there was still enough time for Daryl Murphy to intercept a backpass for number six.
Whilst the game itself may not have been a contest, the whole occasion pleased the town and the Drumaville Consortium, who were spreading the gospel of Sunderland AFC to towns across the country.
ATHLONE, IRELAND - AUGUST 7: Steed Malbranque of Sunderland and Jim Sheridan of Athlone Town in action during the pre-season friendly match between Sunderland and Athlone Town on August 7, 2008 in Athlone, Ireland. (Photo by Patrick Bolger/Getty Images)
ATHLONE, IRELAND - AUGUST 7: Steed Malbranque of Sunderland and Jim Sheridan of Athlone Town in action during the pre-season friendly match between Sunderland and Athlone Town on August 7, 2008 in Athlone, Ireland. (Photo by Patrick Bolger/Getty Images)
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The aforementioned Beirne and Niall Quinn spoke of their delight at how the whole day panned out for them.
“I’m delighted everyone enjoyed themselves and the occasion. It was a most wonderful occasion for Athlone and I’m very pleased with how it went,’ said Beirne.
Quinn said: *“Pat Beirne is absolutely nuts about Athlone Town and his dream was to be part of Drumaville, get Sunderland into the Premier League and bring them to Athlone as a Premier League club.*”
Athlone Town: Ciaran Kelly (Richie Fitzgibbon 46); Ian Rossiter (Niall Scullion 57), Nigel Keady (Robbie Hamm 46). Jim Sheridan (Des Hope 46), Philip Reilly (Darren Young 63); Colm Jinks (Anthony Hayes 63), Joey Maloney (Declan Fallon 57), Carmine Russo, Jason McCartney (Eric Lavine 46); Johnny Mernagh (Noel McGee 46), Ian Coffey.
Sunderland: Darren Ward (Marton Fulop 57); Dean Whitehead, Michael Liddle, Liam Miller (Grant Leadbitter 46), Pascal Chimbonda (Collins 85); Danny Higginbottom, Carlos Edwards, Kieran Richardson (Daryl Murphy 57), Steed Melbranque (El Hadji Diouf 74); Michael Chopra, Anthony Stokes.
Sub not used: Teemu Tainio.