President's Cup provides curtain raiser for the football season

President Michael D Higgins is a man who is passionate about his country, his job and also his football. Even after a busy week of official engagements, the 75-year-old is often to be seen on a Friday night at a League of Ireland ground somewhere around the country.

The President is currently in the midst of a hectic overseas trip representing Ireland in Latin America. His stops have included Peru, Colombia and, these past few days, Cuba.

While he will no doubt be honoured this Friday to give the keynote address to Society for Irish Latin American Studies at the University of Havana, part of him would likely still wish to be in Turner’s Cross on Friday to present the trophy to the winning captain of the President’s Cup.

The competition, which the President has put his name to, provides the curtain raiser for the League of Ireland season this Friday when SSE Airtricity League Champions Dundalk travel to play FAI Cup holders Cork City at Turner’s Cross (kick-off 7.30pm).

With his own travel arrangements in mind, President Higgins recently welcomed both the managers and captains from Cork City and Dundalk to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet him ahead of the match.

Managers Stephen Kenny and John Caulfield, along with captains Stephen O'Donnell and John Dunleavy, went to the Phoenix Park to meet Ireland’s most-distinguished League of Ireland fan.

@CorkCityFC and @DundalkFC invited to meet @PresidentIRL ahead of President's Cup. More: https://t.co/YssH3UzuL7pic.twitter.com/5x3gfzQRbJ

— FAIreland (@FAIreland) February 15, 2017

Before he took up the highest office in the land, Higgins was President of Galway United and was a member of the board at the club. He also remembers well the “wonderful” Galway win in the 1991 FAI Cup win when he was Mayor of the city.

Last season President Higgins was in Cork to hand the trophy to John Dunleavy when City defeated Dundalk in last year’s President’s Cup. While this time around he will be in Cuba on official business, he explained in an interview with FAI TV that “it will be reported to me how it all goes.”

He added: "It is always a very interesting game between Dundalk and Cork City, and I was always look forward to it.

"Dundalk have defeated Cork City in the league last season and of course, Cork City beat Dundalk in the FAI Cup, and on it goes. They’re two great teams who are playing to a very high standard."

On his return to Ireland, no doubt we will see the President at a League ground in the very near future.

“The league is where I really have a strong feeling,” he said.

"When I go to games, whether it’s out in Tallaght, Dalymount or even Galway, I know people from different generations whose families have supported football.

"I think something must be done to make sure the clubs keep the connection to the local community."