On Friday evening at Eamonn Deacy Park Galway United's 1991 FAI Cup winning team will be honoured.
The event was postponed last year due to Covid restrictions, but the victorious players and management will be special guests at Friday's SSE Airtricity League first division encounter between Galway United and Treaty United.
A committee was formed to organise the occasion, and one of those involved John Byrne is delighted that the 1991 players and management will be acknowledged.
"It is an event that we have been unfortunately putting off and off, it was supposed to be held last year for the 30th anniversary, but we have got to it," he says.
"It is going ahead on Friday and we are looking forward to seeing a lot of old faces around the place."
The Cup success remains etched in the mind of those fortunate enough to have been in Lansdowne Road when Tommy Keane crafted an 86th minute opportunity for captain Johnny Glynn to score.
"It is the standout moment, definitely for me," Byrne says about the importance of the victory for football Corribside.
"We were complete underdogs on the day, Shamrock Rovers were the kingpins of the cup," he says. "Who will ever forget that brilliant pass from Tommy Keane to Johnny Glynn to win it."
Don Deacy, who has also carried out diligent work geting everything in order, is thrilled that the triumph is being remembered.
"We are really looking forward to it and it is great that we can honour them at last," Deacy says. "We want to make it a good day and good night for them at the Treaty game.
"We have dinner booked in the Galmont Hotel for half four, and then we are bringing them on a bus to the game."
A number of presentations will be made at Eamonn Deacy Park.
"We will bring them out at half-time, honouring them," Deacy continues. "Galway United are going to present them with a golden ticket for each player which means they will get in free to all of the Galway United matches for the rest of their lives.
"Terry O'Regan has got a photograph of the team, players, subs, and management. He is getting that framed and they are going to be presented with that too.
"Afterwards we are hoping to bring them to McGinns, just to finish off the night."
Byrne, though, accepts it will be a poignant evening too as some of those involved, Tommy Keane and Eamonn Deacy, have passed away in the intervening years.
"In fairness there was a reception in Áras an Uachtarán to mark the 25th anniversary," he says. "I don't know when I saw John Cleary last or Larry Wyse or Paul Campbell.
"I know I met John Cleary once when I was in Dublin after a cup draw, but that must be the best part of 20 years ago.
"Tommy is gone from us, Chick is gone from us, two outstanding players. I'm sure it will be a sentimental time for both of their families, I still feel it is important that we mark the occasion."
**Listen to the full interviews with John Byrne and Don Deacy on this week's 'Cian on Sport' podcast available on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
