Seamus Murphy has a story to tell.
Seamus was recently at Wembley to see his good friend Michael Timlin gain promotion to League One when Southend United beat Wycombe Wanderers.
He wrote to us on Saturday with the full story of the day, and it’s so good – and so Irish – we had to share it.
= =
Michael Timlin, whose mum Nora comes from Barnatra, Belmullet and Michael Senior from Ballina Co. Mayo, played in the League 2 play-off final in Wembley in front of 50,ooo people recently,
By Seamus Murphy.
Not quiet Carl Froch v George Groves but epic all the same when you consider he gave away the free kick in extra time that led to the Wycombe goal.
This was devastating for my fellow friends and relatives only for Southend to equalise, mercifully, in virtually the last kick of the game.
Penalties it was. The ref flipped a coin and another twist unfolded when the penalties had to be taken in the opposition’s end but Michael bravely slotted his away in front of the Wycombe massive, a cauldron of noise, and the Southend keeper did his bit too.
Glory it was.
The week before, Michael got a terrible injury to his face playing against Stevenage – he also scored – which meant he looked more like a rugger bugger than a seasoned footballer. This made the victory and leap to League One football even sweeter.
Michael’s wedding is also coming up next Thursday, June 4th, in a castle just outside London so you could imagine how his fiancé Sorrel Hawthorn felt about the injury.
Also in the posh seats were Michael’s family from Mayo, which included his grandmother Mary Flannery who celebrates her 90th birthday in August and who incredibly made the trip to Wembley from the little village of Barnatra, Belmullet.
Just a few rows back was the extended family – myself Seamus Murphy, Belmullet and London, with the good old Johnny O’Donaghue, Belmullet passing around a drop of the rare auld stuff to keep the spirits high and make the game even more enjoyable.
Even the great Teddy Sheringham wanted a sip!
A great day that got even better when we partied in the Bobby Moore suite (thaaaank you!) and a little later in the team hotel where the stories flowed as well as the kenzy.
We spoke of the young Michael playing on the strand in Bar Na Trá and all the way to the Ireland u21s, with long stints at Swindon Town and Premier League boys Fulham only for his time to be cut short through injury.
The Belmullet man finally had his day in glory. Yes indeed, the Mayo crowd had won at a very fine stadium indeed.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
