Cork fans on the road to Madrid hoping for Champions League glory

Sat, 01 Jun, 2019 - 08:30

Darragh Bermingham and Robert McNamara

HUNDREDS of Cork Liverpool and Tottenham fans have flocked to Madrid for tonight’s Champions League Final, many without tickets and long journeys behind them.

Among the Liverpool faithful will be Corkonian Chris O’Donovan, who is with seven friends in Spain.

Chris and his mates left Cork Airport at 6.05am on Friday morning bound for Palma on the island of Mallorca.

Spurs supporters Declan Donnelly and Peter McNamara at Cork Airport on their way to Madrid. Picture: David Keane.

From there, the group flew to Madrid and are preparing for tonight’s final following some amazing foresight before Liverpool’s unexpected semi-final comeback against Barcelona.

“There’s around 13 or 14 of us altogether,” said Chris speaking to The Echo before flying out on Friday.

“We were in Anfield for the Barca game and we had people ready at home to book flights to Spain for us if, by some miracle, we managed to win 4-0,” he said.

“And we did.

“I had accommodation in Madrid booked months ago just in case,” he added, laughing.

Glen native and Spurs fan Kevin Healy faced a gruelling bus trip through the night from Bordeaux to Madrid after flying to France from Dublin on Friday just to be in the Spanish capital to support his team with 10 of his friends today.

Liverpool supporters Pierce Fitzgerald, Buttevant and Declan Duggan, Charleville, at Cork Airport on their way to Madrid for the Champions League final against Spurs. Picture: David Keane.

His first priority on arriving in Spain this morning is to try and secure a ticket.

“I don't have a ticket but if I want one, I have to be in Madrid. There's no point in me being in Ireland and then getting a call from a friend saying they have sourced a ticket. As unlikely as it might be, you have to be there.

“I’m kind of toying with it over the last few days about whether I would pay crazy money like €500 because you are taking a big risk because there will be so many fakes going around. If I knew it was a legit ticket and it was over €500 I might buy it but I’d be wary to buy a ticket from a tout.”

Spurs fans Mick O'Sullivan, Aidan Power and Andrew Mulcahy at Cork Airport. Picture: David Keane.

Kevin says winning the Champions League would be the ultimate for him as a Spurs fan and one in the eye for their biggest rivals Arsenal.

“I’d consider just giving up on football if we won the trophy because nothing could top it, but I might reconsider for the next time we play Arsenal away so we could sing ‘champions of Europe’ at their fans,” he added.