Of course Ocho Rios and Kingston are like chalk and cheese, but Sabina Park is where all the main World Cup action is centered, and for at least three days the bar staff at the Sunset Jamaica Grande will have a chance to catch their breath. Maybe even an extra night given that the management of the Ireland team is throwing a St. Paddy’s Day party after the Pakistan game.
Now that sounds a bit like going to a wine and cheese party in the Markets at the height of the Troubles, and certainly if you miss your coach, don’t depend on a regular bus service from Sabina Park to Ocho Rios as most of the drivers will be rolling in rum at the cricket. Jamaican fans love their cricket and just like us Irish, they will want to watch the matches not work!
Historic Sabina Park holds a host of great cricketing memories including England’s massive 849 in 1930, centuries each for the three Ws in 1953, Australia’s 758 for 8 dec. in 1955 when five batsmen scored centuries, and of course that world record innings of 365 not out from Garry Sobers in 1957/8 against Pakistan. The ground has been renovated for World Cup but that hasn’t taken away the spectacular backdrop of the Blue Mountains nor the famous ‘Mound’ party area below the massive scoreboard.
Kingston is no ordinary city and certainly not the place to go for a stroll in the evening after the game, or to crash a few Red Stripes at a nearby bar. Best advice here for the celebrating Irish is a swift return north to Ocho Rios and a warning telephone call to the bar staff at the Sunset Grande to brace themselves!
And if we win all three matches then perhaps history will repeat itself and a few of the Blarney Army will end up ‘marooned’ at beautiful Ocho Rios where heaven spills into the sea 24 hours a day, hangovers or not!
