Queens & Country

Queens University  5  Lurgan Celtic  0

Northern Ireland Premier Intermediate League

It was Ireland time again, the six monthly jaunt via FlyBe and UlsterBus taking in the sights, sounds, football and bars of the Northern part of the emerald isle.

It has been nearly a year since I’ve been up to Derry, so a trip was long overdue to the Maiden City and once in the centre of Belfast it was onto the half hourly 212 bus to Friday’s destination. In that year, the most noticeable difference has been the commencement of a new road being built that links the two major cities in Ulster. Two years away from completion yet (at least), it will knock between twenty minutes and half an hour off the journey time, a not unsubstantial saving.

On the downside of course, the paranoid and down-trodden folk of Derry feel it will just entice more people to the provincial capital and away from the second city, probably closing the airport with it. They do think a bit like that in Derry, everyone is out to get them, rather than being a faster road to Derry, in the eyes of many, it’s actually quite the opposite, it’s a faster road to Belfast!

On a serious note, Derry has been shaken recently with the murder of journalist Lyra McKee at the hands of a New IRA gunman. Widespread condemnation of the atrocity from all sides was quickly forthcoming, but, it demonstrates that there will always be a minority that quite simply will not accept being part of the UK, and that is what it really comes down to.

I love Derry, I have done since the very time I set foot in it in 2005, and that evening was going to be my seventeenth trip to the Brandywell to see the Candystripes take on Cork City. After a meal and drinks with friends, with just over 2,500 others we saw Derry play exceptionally well to beat the Leesiders 2-0. Things are looking up for City after a few tough years, they probably won’t win the league, but they will be competitive and the crowds are definitely coming back.

A farewell to a place I like to call my second home came courtesy of the 9.30am bus to Belfast. By the time we landed just after 11am, Storm Hannah was in full swing. The rain was teeming down and with high winds it made simply stepping out of doors an uncomfortable experience. I managed to dodge my way down to Lavery’s Bar on Bradbury Place for convenience purposes as it was where I was to catch the bus to my next game.

The weather was a slight concern, and I must admit being surprised to see only one game in the province called off due to it, at Sport & Leisure Swifts, but with time on my hands and the ground only a ten minute journey away, I had plenty of back-ups if required.

I’d chosen to got to Queens University, largely because they were on course to be promoted to the second tier of football in Northern Ireland, and I’m close to having completed all of the grounds in that division. I also chose it out of convenience as well, because the only other alternative in the second tier was Dergview and that’s a right ballache on public transport!

Anyhow, the game was on, the weather seemed to be easing and I was getting stuck into the Carlsberg as the pub started to get busy with punters getting ready for the Ulster v Leinster rugby game (they had got a bus on). At just after 2pm I made a move, it was a number 8b to Upper Malone.

Having never travelled along the Malone Road, it was interesting to see the profile of the properties change once past the University, this is clearly a very middle class area of Belfast, and without doubt a sought after area to own property in.

Upper Malone is effectively the Sports Ground of Queens University, and it comprises of various grass and all weather pitches, used for all sports. The centrepiece is the two story clubhouse and dressing room complex, complete with offices, and to both the front and rear of this are full sized pitches, one for rugby and one for football, while I’m lead to understand gaelic sports are also played on the main pitches.

Both pitches have stands and are only accessible to spectators down one side, with large mesh fences protecting the area. Interestingly, the rugby pitch has floodlights, the football pitch doesn’t.

Upper Malone, or ‘The Dub’ as it is known, hasn’t been the home of Queens for that long, it was only opened in 2012, prior to that the football team played at Newforge Lane, sharing the home of the PSNI side who ply their trade (currently) in the league above Queens.

As it was trophy presentation day, the club had elected to offer free admission to all, so that was a bonus, but the weather was far from conducive to bringing a large crowd through the open gates.

I would estimate an attendance of around 75 was in place before kick off, with a sprinkling having made the journey from Lurgan. The game was fairly one sided to be honest, Ryan McCready gave them an early lead before Lorcan McIlroy grabbed a second goal. It was 3-0 just before the break when Connor Mulholland found the net.

Mulholland got his second and Queens fourth in the second period while Ciaran O’Hare got the fifth and final goal, before the celebrations began.

A very friendly club though, and all spectators were invited into the hospitality area at half time for drinks and food, during which we witnessed Peter Thompson’s (Queens Manager) Mother receive a bouquet for all of her hard work preparing the wares in the hospitality area throughout the season, a lovely touch indeed.

After the final whistle, with the sun now shining, it was back to the bus stop and down to the Lisburn Road area to find my accommodation for the night. I always like to spend a couple of hours in Ryans on the Lisburn Road on the Saturday evening for some refreshments, it’s great to be able to chill and reflect.

It's also somewhere to start thinking about the next trip, and of course, what options that new road is going to give me, to escape from Derry of course!