League of Ireland Cup success in 1987 made Cork City and the fans fall in love with football again 

IT'S 36 years since Cork City won their first trophy by defeating Shamrock Rovers 1-0 in the League of Ireland Cup final at Turner’s Cross.

The Rebel Army were just three years old when they welcomed one of the most storied clubs in the country to Leeside in October 1987.

The Hoops were at the start of a season that would accumulate in them winning a third consecutive league and cup double, and a Kieran Myers goal stopped their attempt at going for the treble in front of 5,000 fans.

City’s victory marked the first time that a team from Leeside had lifted a major trophy since Cork Celtic won the league in 1974.

The League of Ireland Cup success was also an important marker in the off the pitch development of the Rebel Army, something that coincided with one of the darkest periods in the city’s history.

It’s well known that Cork’s economy collapsed over the closure of Dunlops and Fords, and the resulting depression swallowed the 1980s. That led to sport becoming a release valve for people as they looked to avoid the endless conversations about signing on and emigrating to England.

The 1984 All-Ireland final was one of those days that made everyone forget and the same thing happened when Cork lifted Sam Maguire in 1989. 

The Rebel Army’s victory over Shamrock Rovers is wedged in between those two landmark days, a quiet occasion in the grand scheme of things.

Yet, to those present at Turner’s Cross, it was a true sight to behold. 

Something special was born when the disenfranchised youth of Cork watched their new local team beat one of the most established sides in the country.

The Sultan of Ping FC’s Morty McCarthy was one of those in the stands, and he told The Echo in 2020 about the significance of the result.

“I think there was a real identity crisis in Cork,” he talked about the state the city leading up to the game.

“We were a heavy industry city and then suddenly everything went. That caused an economic crisis.

"I think at the time, unemployment was at 25% which was really, really high. 

"One thing to remember that is good about times of unemployment is that creativity thrives.

“Rents in Cork were very cheap and it was easy to get a band space. A lot of people were out of work and a band gave them something to do.

"A lot of people involved in bands would also drink in the Liberty Bar on South Main Street. 

"They were all big football fans and there was nothing to do on Sundays apart from mass so we used to all meet our mates on a Sunday in the Shed.” 

They gathered together on the afternoon of October 21st 1987 to watch a City team take on Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland Cup final. 

Eamonn O’Keeffe was player manager at the time, and he was full of confidence during the build-up to kick-off.

"We need to keep our concentration and discipline today and if we play as well as we did in the first half against Bohemians then I see no reason why we cannot take Rovers,” he said.

“They have been having a rough ride of it lately and they may come unstuck again in Cork. 

"They are far more experienced than us but the loss of Pat Byrne is a blow to them."

City lined up as follows for the League of Ireland Cup final against Shamrock Rovers: Kelly; Neiland, Healy, Murphy, Long, Bowdren, Barry, O’Keeffe, Freyne, Caulfield, Myers.

They played a scrappy game that opened with Paul Kelly reacting to deny Shamrock Rovers’ Paul Doolin a goal. 

City responded by creating three chances, and the best of those was a header that John Caulfield put narrowly wide.

The Rebel Army picked themselves up after the break through Dave Barry hunting the ball down and playing Caulfield into space. 

The striker crossed into the area and Paul Bowdren failed to get a touch at the back post.

City were rewarded for their persistence when Myers guided in a cross in the 77th minute. 

That sparked ‘tremendous scenes’ as the supporters inside Turner’s Cross began to fall for Cork City, something which created a lasting legacy according to McCarthy.

“That was the first time that they got a young following,” he said.

“Previously to that it was all older guys who supported Hibs or Celtic. 

"Those were older guys that were going along. Suddenly my generation had football to go to.

“Like, I followed City from when they first started in 1984. In the first three or four years, there were four or five hundred people going to games. 

"Suddenly there were loads of guys like me who were 17 or 18 and they could go to games on their own.” 

The Rebel Army finished off that season by winning the Munster Senior Cup for the first time. 

That joined the League of Ireland Cup as the two pieces of silverware that created the next generation of football fans on Leeside.