By Cathal Dervan

There was a fascinating sideshow to Ireland’s second-half demolition of the US Eagles in a rather one sided rugby international at Lansdowne Road last Saturday.

A journalist of my acquaintance, a man by the name of Derek Foley who’s also known as One F In Foley, likes to have the odd flutter from time to time.

So last weekend, just minutes before kick-off in Dublin 4 the Daily Star’s rugby correspondent took his own advice from the previous day’s edition of his paper and a 50 bet.

Derek, a man who has been known to tell people ‘I’m Derek Foley and you’re not’, didn’t go down the boring road of predicting an Irish win against an American side with just four professionals in it.

He didn’t even try his hand at any of the spread bets now so popular with the betting fraternity in Ireland.

Instead Derek went for a novelty bet with his hard earned 50 Euros. He put it all on Ireland to convert every try they scored at Lansdowne – at the nice price of 8-1.

His thinking was straightforward enough. Even with nine changes from the side that had beaten South Africa a week earlier, Ireland were always going to be too strong for the Americans, they were also going to score tries against such opposition.

His decision to back the kicker, in this instance David Humphreys, was a brave one however, especially as a swirling wind blew around Lansdowne on Saturday, as it generally does.

Being a journalist said Derek couldn’t keep the news of his bet to himself. When Humphreys, making his first start in 13 games, converted the first Eric Miller try midway through the first-half a clenched fist saluted the kick.

When Humphreys successfully stepped up to the plate time and time again in the second-half the Foley cheers grew ever louder from the back row benches of the press box.

Naturally everyone else got in on the act as Ireland ran up tries number two, three, four, five and six with relative ease and Humphreys kicked each conversion right over the center of the bar.

And the slagging grew with each successful kick, so much so that all eyes turned to Foley when substitute scrum-half Peter Stringer, earning his 50th cap on the day, went over in the corner under the East Stand right on the final whistle.

We knew this was the one to test Humphreys and Foley’s ¤400 winnings. The kick, from the sideline to the Havelock Square end, clearly didn’t suit Humphreys and his right foot.

We waited for the miss. We waited to pour scorn on a colleague’s missed fortune. We waited in vain.

Cool as the chilling winter breeze, Humpreys kicked that final conversion over the bar as if it was straight in front of the posts and Foley jumped into the air with delight.

From what I can gather the man has collected his money but no, those of us who doubted him on Saturday afternoon have yet to see the color of it or even a celebratory drink. The bould David Humphreys was informed of his part in the adventure after the game and did ask – unsuccessfully - for a share of the winnings. Just for kicks like!