Phil Harrington is a deserving winner of the AUL Cork Soccer Legend award 

When Eamonn O’Keeffe was appointed manager of Cork City in 1988, two of his first signings had been his housemates in digs in Blackpool, England. 

One of those whose life was to be changed and rerouted by that momentous decision was Phil Harrington, whose outstanding goalkeeping skills won the acclaim of Cork supporters for more than 15 years.

Born in Bangor, Phil was signed from Caernarfon Town by Chester, where his performances with the youth and reserve teams earned him a call-up to the Wales Youth side for the 1981 European Championship.

He made his Chester first-team debut in February 1982 in a 3-1 home win over Huddersfield and went on to make 76 appearances over the next three years. 

By the end of the 1982-83 season he had established himself as first-choice goalkeeper, but an injury in the penultimate game brought his campaign to a premature end.

He recovered in time for one of his most memorable Chester performances, however, in a 1983 Milk Cup tie against Bolton. 

In the penalty shoot-out Phil saved the first three penalties to secure victory for Chester.

It was at Chester that Phil also acquired the nickname “Biscuit”, after the manager caught him munching biscuits in the dressing room before a game against Oxford.

At the end of 1984 he went on loan to Blackpool, Oxford, Burnley and Preston.

Then, in July 1988, he for Cork City, arriving from Chester via Rhyl FC. The “fab four” — Eamonn O’Keeffe, Mick Conroy, assistant manager Bill Haydock and Phil — were housemates once again, this time in Ballinhassig.

Before making his Cork City debut, Phil was on goalkeeping duty for Munster in a glamour match against Jack Charlton’s Ireland, in their final challenge before departing for Euro 88.

City acclimatised by winning the Munster and League Cups and began to make steady progress. 

Phil ended his first season with an FAI Cup runners-up medal following their narrow defeat by Derry, which nevertheless qualified City for Europe. He was on the losing side again in 1991 and the following year, when Dundalk denied City the League title at the Cross.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of Phil’s career was his immense contribution to Cork City’s first League Championship success, achieved after a three-way playoff series in 1993.

There were many personal high points too, with his performances in European competition particularly noteworthy. 

Making sure Dave Barry’s goal against Bayern would not be in vain was important, while defying Galatasaray was another memorable achievement. 

In 13 appearances against some of Europe’s best opposition, Phil conceded just 19 goals. 

That record sits perfectly alongside his remarkable 112 clean sheets from 257 games.

In his later years he was understudy to Noel Mooney and Mick Devine. 

He returned for an extended run in 1999-2000 when Mooney was injured and, in City’s second championship- winning season in 2005, deputised for Devine away to Drogheda, where he kept a vital clean sheet.

Phil was chosen as Supporters’ Player of the Year in 1989 and 1990. He played for Cobh during the 2003 season and has also been associated with several local Munster Senior League clubs, including Fermoy, Avondale and Douglas Hall.

Two very special memories will surely bring a smile to Phil’s face.

The first came in a match against St Pat’s at the Cross in 2000. 

Phil had come out of retirement to deputise for Mooney and, in one remarkable cameo, the St Pat’s striker raced unchallenged towards the City goal, drawing Phil from his lair. 

The canny keeper appeared to commit himself, only to hold back and, with a swift dive, snatch the ball from the hesitant striker’s feet.

The St Pat’s manager was so impressed that he jumped to his feet and led the applause. 

The following Monday, the renowned Billy George devoted two full columns and in the Examiner 4 lauding the save.

The second memory, from 2005, was rated so highly that it earned a full front-page Echo banner headline: “FANTASTIC EURO WIN FOR CORK CITY”, with Noel Spillane’s sub-heading reading: “Harrington, 41, is hero for Cork City.” 

Phil, then the goalkeeper coach, was an emergency signing as cover for the Cup Winners Cup match against Lithuanian side Ekranas. 

He was introduced after just 14 minutes when Mick Devine dislocated his shoulder. Phil blocked everything fired at him. 

His saves were so impressive that the home team asked how he could possibly be only a reserve.

Fate had a hand in bringing Phil to Cork almost 40 years ago and, thankfully, he is still with us.

He was inducted into the Cork City FC Hall of Fame in 2007.

Tonight, it is our turn to honour him with the Cork Soccer Legend Award.