Thursday, October 25, 2007

Quinn’s Equaliser Against the Dutch – Italia 90

‘Twas a second half of tension,
Fingers gnawed in apprehension,
Chances far too few to mention,
Holland still maintained their lead.
Was this where our World Cup ended?
Not the way that we intended,
Though we bravely had defended,
Scoring was a vital need.

Though the minute hand was ticking,
Jack was to the game plan sticking,
Play’n’ the way that we were kicking,
Pressurise and keep it tight.
Packie sent a kick-out flying,
Way up, altitude-defying,
With the Dutch defenders trying
Hard to judge it’s soaring flight.

Cas and Quinn were watching, lurking,
Both so honest and hard-working,
Never once their duties shirking,
As the leather orb did fall.
And with Tony set for pouncing,
Van Aarle tried to stop it bouncing,
Most inelegantly flouncing,
Swung a leg and kicked the ball.

Towards the goal, he lobbed it deeper,
Past the startled orange sweeper,
Near the waiting, watchful keeper,
By chance, perhaps, or by design.
Van Breukelen though did misjudge it,
Unusually for him did fudge it,
Inadvertently did nudge it,
Sideways ‘cross the six yard line.

Dutch defenders were still dreaming,
Irish fans were roaring, screaming,
In came mighty Quinner steaming,
Sliding in to reach it first.
And, as the ball with great elation
Bulged the net in celebration,
The total Irish population,
Hollered as if fit to burst.

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