Dundalk FC Magazine 2020 | Issue 3 | St Patrick's Athletic

OFFICIAL DUNDALK FC MAGAZINE | ISSUE 4 - €3

DUNDALK v ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC FRIDAY, JULY 31ST 2020

KICK-OFF 7.45PM

WE’RE IN GOOD HANDS AGAIN FOR ANOTHER GREAT SEASON!

A GREAT TEAM

CLUB DIRECTORY Honorary Club President Des Casey Chairman Bill Hulsizer Vice-Chairman Michael Hughes Board Michael Hughes, Bill Hulsizer, James Baboulas, Martin Connolly, David Samhat & Fred Spencer Chief Operating Officer Martin Connolly Club Secretary Colm Murphy Finance Officer Elaine Duffy Chief Business Officer David Minto Media Content Officer Gavin McLaughlin Projects Manager Aaron Lawless Office Manager Ailish Kelly Office Admin Karen Travers, Gary Cronin Club Ambassadors Padraig McGowan, Paul Brown, Andy Connolly Licensing Officer Simon Blackmore Player Liaison Officer Des Dunleavy Community Officer Liam Burns Press Officer Darren Crawley Child Protection Officer Aoife Burns Event Controller Regina O’Hare Bar Manager Kevin Carthy PA Announcer Michael Duffy DFCTV Chris Clarke

TEAM MANAGEMENT Team Manager Vinny Perth Assistant Coach Alan Reynolds First Team Coach John Gill Goalkeeping Coach Steve Williams Strength/Conditioning Graham Norton Kit Manager Noel Walsh Doctor Dr David Connolly Physiotherapists Danny Miller & David Murphy Sports Science David Maguire Videographer Harry Taaffe, Shane Taaffe

DUNDALK FC MAGAZINE DFC Magazine Editors: Colm Murphy, Paul Dunne, Gavin McLaughlin DFC Magazine Contributors: Jim Murphy RIP, Ruth Hardy, Darren Crawley, David Farrelly, Tom O’Connor, Sean DeLoughrey Sales: Helen Myers, Jimmy Neary, Roy Mackin, Stephen Neary, Patrick O’Neill Thanks to: David Caldwell Photography: Sportsfile, Ciaran Culligan Programme of the Year 2008 (First Division) / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2019 Dedication: The 2020 DFC Magazine is dedicated to Jim Murphy.

Note: The views expressed in this magazine are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily shared by Dundalk FC. Especially The Spectator... ©2020 Dundalk FC

IN MEMORY OF THE LATE HARRY TAAFFE

IN THIS

ISSUE 4 Opening Shot

32 Get With The Programme

6 From The Dugout

38 Patrick Hoban: 100 Goals

8 RIP Harry

48 1995 League Champions

12 Community

60 2020 Player Sponsors

14 New Arrivals

62 Patreon Membership

18 John McCabe Nissan

63 The Numbers Game

20 David McMillan

64 2020 Fixtures and Stats

23 Welcome to St Pat’s

66 The Spectator

28 Retrospective

68 Injury Time: Quiz

OPENING SHOT JULY 14TH 2020, ORIEL PARK. The new normal! The Dundalk management team and substitutes socially distancing in the dug outs and main stand at Oriel Park during the friendly with Bohemians.

4

5

L

a new international manager and Stephen Kenny looks like he has taken the job at the right time.

There are lots of talented players coming through but let’s be under no illusions, we all need a hand in life. We need people to help us and the best compliment I can pay Harry is that if Irish football is successful under Stephen, he will have played a big part in that because of the way he helped myself and Stephen in 2014, 2015 and, particularly during that great European run in 2016. He was there for us, part of the inner circle of our group.

For me personally, Harry wasn’t a friend. He was a father figure, somebody who I relied on heavily. I had a successful season in my first year as manager of the club last year. Yes, my assistants on the football side of things were Ruaidhri Higgins and John Gill, supported by the

ast Tuesday afternoon, ahead of our friendly with Longford Town, I went down to Harry Taaffe’s house and had a cup of tea and a long chat with him. I spoke to him about the grass training pitch and how good it was and also about how good the main astroturf pitch was in our game against Athlone Town the evening before. That night, in the middle of the Longford game, I got the really sad news that my brother-in-law had tragically passed away at 31 years of age and a difficult week was compounded by the loss of Harry on Sunday morning. Life really does put football into perspective.

When we speak about Irish football, we speak about, hopefully, a bright future ahead. We have 6

FROM THE DUGOUT

VINNY PERTH likes of Steve Williams and the staff, but my assistant at the club was Harry Taaffe. He gave me everything I ever needed. I asked him for a grass training pitch and he said ‘I’ll give you a grass pitch’. We now have one of the finest grass pitches in the country.

Harry was very clever. Because he was on the inner circle, he knew exactly when players were coming and going and it’s no surprise that some of his best friends in football were people like Peter Cherrie, Kurtis Byrne, Gabriel Sava, Darren Meenan and Ronan Finn. When he knew they were leaving Dundalk he made sure they were okay and they had everything they needed. If he could have helped them in any way possible, he would. That was Harry, making friends and looking out for other people all of the time.

Unfortunately, the mistake Harry made was that he forgot to look after himself.

Moving onto football, part of me wants to say ‘What’s the point? Does it really matter?’.

But it does matter. Sport impacts our life so much and football, and our connection with the club’s supporters, has been badly missed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past five months we have seen many of our players try to reach out and help our community and I want to really thank them for that but over the past week we have also seen the community be there for the football club and I won’t forget that.

I wish everyone well and hope everyone stays safe in the months ahead. Although we will miss the Shed roaring us on, we certainly know our fans

Vinny Perth and the late Harry Taaffe

are there in the background supporting us.

We have a difficult time ahead. Thirteen league games is unfair and unjust and it punishes people who have done their business right over the past seven or eight years. At Dundalk, all we could do was argue our case but we have one tenth of the overall vote and we accept the decisions that have been made and we will get on with it and make no excuses.

We restart against St Patrick’s this evening and be under no illusion, our players are ready and prepared and if we were giving out awards at the club at this stage, Graham Norton would probably sweep the board for the work that he has done in getting our players so fit during lockdown and preseason. He deserves huge credit and any success we have going

7

forward will have Graham’s stamp all over it.

To finish, I want to go back to Harry. Whatever I have achieved as a football coach, so much of it has been down to him and I want to thank the Taaffe family for lending their husband and father to me over the past seven years. I will always be there to support them and I hope they know that. They may have lost a father but they now have a big brother who will always look out for them as best he can for the rest of their lives.

I don’t believe that Dundalk is in a worse place now because of Harry Taaffe’s death. I believe that Dundalk would not be in the position it is in now if it wasn’t for Harry Taaffe. He will be sorely missed by us all.

Enjoy the game.

Vinny Perth

HARRY TAAFFE TRIBUTE

RIP HARRY

The late Harry Taaffe

W

ith nine years of club service to his name, Dundalk midfielder Chris Shields is as well placed as anyone to describe the pivotal role that Harry Taaffe played behind the scenes at Oriel Park.

The club, town and local community were left stunned on Sunday when our much-loved groundsman, videographer and number one character tragically passed away, leaving an irreparable hole in the fabric of the club.

It has been a tough week for everyone, be that Harry’s family in O’Hanlon Park and his workmates 10 minutes up the road in Oriel but Shields paid a fitting tribute to a man who was held in high regard by everyone who knew him.

“Harry was more than a groundsman, security man and a videographer. He was a friend to everyone around Oriel Park,” said Shields. “If you ever needed anything, Harry was the man you’d go to. If you broke down in the area, he’d be the first person you would ring. He’d sort anything out. He was Mr Dundalk.”

Harry’s presence was, and always will be, heavily felt at Oriel Park. In many ways, he was

the heartbeat of the club, the man at the engine room who kept things ticking over.

If you looked up at the gantry you’d see him behind his camera, if you walked across the pitch you’d see him brushing the astro, if you peered out at the training ground you’d see him zipping up and down on his tractor, if you walked into the boardroom he’d usually be there, holding court.

When he caught your eye, you knew exactly what was coming. That cheeky, mischievous smile.

‘Alright son’. ‘Well Harry’ “He would lift spirits like nobody else,” said Shields. “He’d come into the canteen and you’d hear him saying: ‘Let me tell ya’, imparting his knowledge and wisdom!

“It’s like losing the side of the YDC building because he’s going to leave a big gap at this club and good luck to anyone who tries to fill it. He will be sadly missed by us all.”

Shields joined Dundalk in 2012, a year that saw the club dance dangerously with extinction. Harry played a key role in the ‘Save Our Club’ campaign that followed and it was fitting that he was there, front and centre, for the glory nights that followed.

8

Clockwise from top left: Harry and his son Shane; Harry with Chris Shields and Stephen O’Donnell in 2015; Harry and Tom, two League of Ireland legends; Harry on his trusted tractor

“He was a shining light in the dark times that we had here,” said Shields. “He was a source of much-needed comedy and any trophy that we have lifted since then, Harry was there with us. I saw a great picture of him with the FAI Cup on the pitch at the Aviva and for us, that was the norm as he was part of things.

“In 2016, he was on every European trip and he was part of everything we did that year. I know he helped Vinny and Stephen Kenny an awful lot. We’ll notice his loss when we’re in Europe because when you’re hanging around hotels, Harry was a great man to have with you.”

It’s not just the hotel lobby where Shields will feel Harry’s loss. The pair were also regularly in cahoots in the duty-free section at various airports across the continent!

“Coming home from Europe won’t be the same without him,” smiled Shields. “We used to smuggle smokes home so I’ll have to look for a new compadre to do that with me now.”

Understandably, there was a sombre mood on the training ground this week as the players continued their build-up to the restart against St Patrick’s Athletic this evening.

After five months without a competitive game of football, Friday should have been a day to look forward to but some things are much bigger than a game of football.

“Last Sunday we received news that we never ever wanted to receive and it has hit the players, staff and especially Harry’s family hard,” said Shields.

“As professionals, we have to look ahead to the game with Pat’s but it really does show that football can take a back burner at times and that there are far more important things in life.”

It’s a time for reflection but Shields knows that Harry would want nothing more than to see Dundalk lift the league title at the end of October and he promised that the players would give everything they had to retain the crown in memory of their lost comrade.

“Harry was a giver and always looked out for people so it’d be great to give something back to his memory and the Taaffe family,” said Shields. “I think we’ll all have that in the back of our minds when we go into every game that’s left. We want to do this for Harry.”

9

10

11

COMMUNITY

AUTISM AWARENESS

L-R: Gareth Doyle, Paula Dowdall (both Maria Goretti), Colleen McNally, Dundalk FC manager Vinny Perth and Paul McNally at the cheque presentation at Oriel Park.

The family of Daragh McNally were back at Oriel Park in June to present a cheque of €2,000 to the Maria Goretti Foundation, the residential respite care centre for children which is based in Lordship.

The proceeds were raised from a bucket collection that formed part of the ‘Daragh’s Day’ initiative that the club held during the first home game of the season against Derry City back on February 14th.

Aimed at celebrating Daragh’s life and raising awareness about autism, the Dundalk players proudly wore blue t-shirts during the warm-up, bearing an image of Daragh in his Dundalk FC kit, while Daragh’s brother Nathan and his father Paul raised the 2019 champions flag in front of the main stand.

Daragh’s mother, Colleen, his

two little sisters Naoise and Layla, and his support dog Lenny then joined them to release 60 blue balloons from the centre circle.

As the balloons were released, the Shed sang

‘There’s only one Daragh McNally’ while the travelling Derry City fans also made a wonderful contribution by donating to the bucket collection.

12

“Daragh’s Day is a day that we will never forget,” said Colleen. “It was Valentine’s Day but, from early that morning, Facebook turned blue instead of red to remember our little boy.

“It continued on to Oriel Park that night where so many people supported the initiative and myself, Paul, our children and our family were completely overwhelmed by the love and support shown.

“It was a night that raised so much awareness for autism and everybody came together to raise a total of €4,700 for the Maria Goretti (Daragh’s funhouse) and his school, Realt na Meara.

“Autism awareness leads to autism acceptance,” she added “and this is what myself, Paul and our family will strive to do for the rest of our lives – with Daragh guiding us all the way.”

In Memoriam Everybody at Dundalk Football Club would like to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of supporter Harry Martin who passed away before the lockdown.

Harry was a wellknown fan of the club

who regularly ran buses to away games. Our supporters marked his passing by unfurling this banner in his honour during the game with Shamrock Rovers back in February.

We also remember Lilywhites supporter Pat Nugent (bottom left) who

13

passed away in March and Noel Curtis (bottom right) who left us in June.

Pat was a regular at all of our games, both at home and abroad, while Noel was a huge Dundalk FC supporter who also folled the Republic of Ireland around the globe.

May they rest in peace.

FIRST-TEAM NEWS

NEW ARRIVALS

Alan Reynolds

The season may have come to an abrupt halt five months ago but there have still been changes to the management team and playing squad at Oriel Park.

In June, Alan Reynolds was appointed as Vinny Perth’s assistant manager, filling the role vacated by Ruaidhri Higgins, who has been named as the Republic of Ireland’s new opposition analyst.

Reynolds, who stepped down as Waterford manager after three-and-a-half years at the RSC, will also assist Jim Crawford with the Irish U21 side and he said the opportunity of working with the Lilywhites was one he couldn’t pass up.

“Dundalk is a fantastic club and I’ll be working with a fantastic group of players so it would have been hard to turn down an offer like this,” said the 46-year-old.

“I played with Vinny and we would have clashed a lot on the pitch with different teams and from a coaching point of view aswell!

“I need to adapt to becoming an assistant again and helping him and John Gill. It’s something I’m getting used to again and I’m

14

looking forward to getting stuck into the real thing of league games now.”

“Alan came in and got to know his surroundings very quickly and the lads were very impressed with him,” said Perth.

“He’s very experienced and he settled in with ease. I’d expect him to get better and better as time goes on.

“Once we got permission from Waterford to speak to him, he really impressed me. I think he is the right fit for the club and he’s proven me right so far.

Another familiar face greeted the players on their return to training in June.

American Joshua Gatt played 69 minutes in a friendly with Longford Town in February but the onset of COVID-19 put paid to his hopes of securing a contract at that stage.

The former USA international was invited to return to the club in June and will form part of Vinny Perth’s squad for the remainder of the campaign.

“An article came out about me in ESPN towards the end of my contract with Altach in Austria last year,” he explained. “I basically said

that I was still hungry and looking for an opportunity to showcase that I could still play at a high level and be successful.

“Bill Hulsizer, the chairman, got a hold of the article and Dundalk basically said: ‘Let’s give this kid a shot’.

“I came over here and took the chance. The game against Longford was the first I played in a year and it was a great feeling just to be back playing football.”

After waiting patiently to become a Dundalk player, the Gatt is determined to make an impact with the Lilywhites and earn himself a long-term deal with the SSE Airtricity League champions.

“I’m playing for the best team in Ireland who want to compete in Europe and this is a place that I could easily see myself calling home for a long period of time.

“I’d be grateful for that opportunity but I know it won’t be just given to me, it’s something that I have to earn and I want to earn.

“The only way to do that is to continue to do the things I’ve been doing all my life, work hard, believe in myself and push and strengthen my body and my mind to ensure that going forward that I have the tools to be successful.”

The onset of the pandemic wreaked havoc on the campaign - and Nathan Oduwa’s start to life in Dundalk.

Just three days after he was unveiled as a Dundalk player, the 24-year-old returned home to London as Ireland went into lockdown.

The official death toll in the UK stands at over 45,000 and Oduwa described how life in the English capital came to a standstill.

“London was quite scary, especially where I’m from in the centre of the city which is probably the busiest part of England. It was just empty, like a ghost town,” he said.

“There were no shops open and at one point I didn’t hear a car on my road. Usually, my road is full of cards. Seeing the numbers going up and up and up on the news every day, it was scary.

“At the same time I was out training. Where I live there are no public parks, it’s usually private parks and they were all closed so I had to run on the roads and do gym work outside.

“The scary part for me was not me potentially getting ill, it was me having the illness and passing it on to family members,” he added. “I just had to make sure I was safe every time I came in from a workout or whenever I went out jogging.

“Everybody is fine, thankfully. My mum works for the NHS and she’s had a test done and she’s fine and when I came back to Dundalk the players were tested and we’re all fine.

“Thank God, because it’s a scary time for the world and to be still fit and healthy is a blessing.”

Top: Nathan Oduwa. Bottom: Joshua Gatt

15

COMMUNITY PARTNER OF DUNDALK FC

Supporting You, Supporting Community DUNDALKCU.IE

16

PLAYER Q&A

PATRICK MCELENEY

DFC Mag: What club have you supported since childhood?

Patrick McEleney: I’ve always supported Celtic since I was young.

DFCM: What’s your favourite dish?

PMCE: Fillet steak.

DFCM: Who is the best player you have played with?

PMCE: Paddy McCourt for the short time that he was here a few years back.

DFCM: Who is the dirtiest player you have played against?

PMCE: Shieldsy…in training he is toebo cop.

He will understand!

DFCM: Who is your best friend at the club?

PMCE: Mickey Duffy would be my best mate,

we grew up together.

DFCM: Which teammate spends the longest in the shower?

PMCE: Dan Cleary, the big man forever loves it!

DFCM: Your all-time sporting hero?

PMCE: Lionel Messi, I haven’t seen anything like him.

DFCM: Your favourite holiday destination?

PMCE: Tenerife, I was there with the family in the off season, it’s always so warm.

DFCM: Your favourite sport outside of football?

PMCE: Golf – I am not great, but I love to play it.

DFCM: What is the best ground you have played in?

17

PMCE: Aviva Stadium or the Petrovsky Stadium in St Petersburg.

DFCM: Who is the best dressed in the squad?

PMCE: Dan Cleary loves a tracksuit, he always tries hard. Boyler tries as well to go with Dan! DFCM: Who is the worst dressed in the squad?

PMCE: Definitely Dickie – he wears a Puma tracky with flip flops!

DFCM: Who has the best music taste in the dressing room?

PMCE: Sean Murray or Jordan Flores.

DFCM: Who has the worst music taste in the dressing room?

PMCE: Physio Danny Miller, Cotton Eye Joe Stuff!!

COMMERCIAL

JOHN MCCABE NISSAN

Dundalk FC’s Andy Boyle, Vinny Perth and Darragh Leahy pictured with John McCabe and Robert McCabe from John McCabe Nissan

Dundalk FC is delighted to announce a new sponsorship agreement with local car dealership John McCabe Nissan.

The partnership will see John McCabe Nissan provide Dundalk manager Vinny Perth and chief operations officer Martin Connolly with a 201 Nissan Qashqai and Lilywhites kitman Noel Walsh with a 201 Nissan NV300 van.

Robert McCabe, the Dealer Principal at John McCabe Nissan, said: “In preparation for the pre-sale of 171 vehicles, John McCabe Nissan opened our doors on the Coe’s Road in Dundalk in late 2016.

“With the development of our showroom still underway at the time, it was a difficult period for us but the support

we received locally, from the people of Dundalk and its surrounding areas, was, and has been, phenomenal.

“We are delighted to be in a position now to support a local team and community who have given us so much support over the last four and a half years.

“We are huge believers in supporting the people and communities that support our business and are very excited about the partnership with Dundalk FC.” The John McCabe Nissan logo will be displayed on the sleeve of Dundalk’s home and away kits while the two organisations will also join together to produce engaging social media content.

David Minto, the chief business officer at Dundalk 18

FC, said he was excited by the potential of the partnership.

“I am delighted to welcome John McCabe Nissan as our new car partner. In the current climate, it’s fantastic that such a huge brand has agreed to come on board and everybody at the club is looking forward to growing this relationship over the next few seasons.”

John McCabe Nissan is a family run business with garages on Coe’s Road, Dundalk and Newgrange Business Park, Drogheda which stock a huge selection of used cars which are all serviced and prepared to the very highest standards.

For further information, visit the JohnMcCabe Nissan website at www. johnmccabemotors.ie

COMMERCIAL

JOHN MCCABE NISSAN

Dundalk manager Vinny Perth pictured with Maria McCabe from John McCabe Nissan

Dundalk kitman Noel Walsh pictured with John McCabe from John McCabe Nissan

19

20

WELCOME HOME

DAVID MCMILLAN

Alan Reynolds

A familiar - and popular - face returned to Oriel Park this week as David McMillan ended his time in the UK to re-sign for the Lilywhites.

clash with St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park.

“I’m fit and I feel good,” he said. “I tried to keep myself going with cycling and running during the lockdown so it’s just a matter of getting back in and playing football now.

“We have a massive squad and that should stand us in good stead going forward,” he added.

“Everybody has to buy into this short period of time and give it our all and, hopefully, we will be successful on a couple of fronts.”

“David fits into our group and understands our thought process,” said Dundalk manager Vinny Perth. “Bringing him back means that playing two up front becomes an option for us now.”

McMillan’s arrival came just hours after Georgie Kelly’s departure to St Patrick’s Athletic on a loan deal until the end of the season was confirmed.

The Donegal man is out of contract at Oriel Park at the end of the campaign but Perth said he was keen to retain the 23-year-old’s services.

“As a manager you never forget the people who helped you achieve your goals and I will be forever grateful for the part Georgie played for us last season,” he said.

“He just needs games. Patrick Hoban’s goalscoring record is phenomenal and any striker would find it difficult to dislodge him but Georgie is somebody we want to keep at the club and we will continue to discuss his future with him.”

The 31-year old striker spent two-and-a-half years in Scotland where he had spells at St Johnstone, Hamilton Academical and Falkirk.

Prior to that, McMillan won three SSE Airtricity League titles, an FAI Cup and two EA Sports Cup medals during a four-year spell with the Lilywhites from 2014 to 2017.

In total, he scored 74 goals in 125 appearances for the club with seven of them coming in the UEFA Champions League, a record for a League of Ireland player.

“I had such a successful time here and even when I left I followed the club every step of the way,” he told dundalkfc.com. “My parents have been regulars here since I’ve been gone so I have strong ties with the club and I’m just delighted to be back.

“There have been massive improvements at the club. There’s a new gym, new changing rooms, a video analysis room and a canteen. The current owners came in just after I left and money has been well spent.”

McMillan, who will wear the number 29 shirt, met up with some familiar faces this week and is hoping to be involved in Friday night’s televised 21

We’ve Got

Your Back!

@tpireland 22

WELCOME TO

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

AsIt’s wetwo resume the two season, St. for Patrick’s Athletic wins and defeats Stephen will be hopingrevamped that the near five month break O’Donnell’s’ St Patrick’s Athletic side will give them a new lease of life going into at the start of the 2020 SSE Airtricity League the remainder of the campaign. Managed by campaign. Dundalk supporters are fully aware of our former captain Stephen O’Donnell, the the demands that O’Donnell put on his teamSaints had a mixed start to the season with mates on the pitch, and our former skipper has two wins and two losses from their opening started the rebuilding process at Richmond Park four matches. A new look squad at Inchicore with typical enthusiasm. It’s going to take some had shown signs of promise in victories over time butand the signs positive for thedefeats future for Cork City Sligoare Rovers however the club that last won league in have 2013. been against Waterford and the Shelbourne setbacks, despite Pat’s keeping the majority of Some departures in the close season were the ball of forthe those encounters. somewhat surprising – or at least surprising

Some of theobservers. departures in the close seasonto to outside Kevin Toner departed were somewhat – or at least Kilmore Celtic insurprising the Leinster Senior League, surprising to outside KevinClifford Toner Cian Coleman joinedobservers.

Cork City, Conor departed to Kilmore Celtic in the Leinster travelled north to Derry City, David Webster Senior League, Cian Coleman joined Cork City, departed to Finn Harps, Rhys McCabe went to Conor Clifford travelled north to Derry City, Brechin City, Glen McAuley to. Bohs and Michael David Webster departed to Finn Harps, Rhys Drennan also departed the club.

McCabe went to Brechin City, Glen McAuley to. Bohs and Michael Drennan also departed Arriving was Jason McClelland and Conor the club.

Kearns from UCD, Rory Feely from Waterford,

Arriving was Jason McClelland andO’Donnell Conor Shane Griffin from Cork City while

Kearns from UCD, Roryfrom Feely from Waterford, brought in two players Scotland: Billy King Shane Griffin City while O’Donnell (Morton) and from MartinCork Rennie (Montrose).

There brought in two one players Scotland: Billy was, of course, morefrom addition that more King (Morton) and Martin Rennie (Montrose). than anything showed the ambition that exists There was, of course, one more addition that in Inchicore. Robbie Benson departed Dundalk more than anything showed the ambition that after the Unite The Union Cup after four hugely exists in Inchicore. Robbie Benson departed successful years. Another arrival to look out for is Dundalk after the Unite The Union Cup after Luke McNally who spent the 2019 season on loan four hugely successful years. Another arrival atlook Drogheda United.

McNally scored goals to out for is Luke McNally whonine spent last2019 season – a remarkable for a defender. the season on loan attotal Drogheda United.

McNally scored nine goals last season – a The season total started a 1-0 defeat at home remarkable forwith a defender.

They have to Waterford despite having again 65.9% this of possession been busy in the market summer and our 19 shots to Waterford’s 8. However, with centre forward Georgie Kelly ajoining defensive lapsemate caused them to lose team to the only his old college and Lilywhite goal. Benson Pats gotattheir first win Park on Matchday mate Richmond however2 at the Showgrounds when Ronan Haleloan and he isSligo ineligible due to the terms of the Chris Forrester scored in a 2-0 win. That was agreement. followed by a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Shels at

The Saints haven’t enjoyed their recent trips Tolka Park, a match where again possession was to Oriel Park and are without a win here since dominated. However, last Friday a Billy King goal a 2016 EA SPORTS Cup tie and in the league gave Pats another three points in a 1-0 win over it has been 2012, they will be hoping to kick Corktheir City. season and have a successful, albeit start truncated campaign.

23 19

WELCOME TO

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC MEET THE MANAGER

STEPHEN O’DONNELL

A legendO’Donnell of the league Stephen certainly of Ireland and one the can’t be accused ofof seeking the greatest everAt players pull easy option. just 33to years on a Dundalk FC shirt, Stephen of age (now Stephento left O’Donnell is 34), no stranger his role as opposition analyst challenges.

The Galway native with FC to an take up couldDundalk have chosen easier job reigns to begin career the at his St Pats as in head management, however heyear has coach on August 31st last decided to try and revitalise following the resignation of St. Patrick’s Athletic’s fortunes.

Harry Kenny. Cregg, Bringing inold his With Patrick his former team-mate ArsenalArsenal team-mate, beside him andCregg the experienced Alan Patrick as his assistant, Mathews instarted the background, he O’Donnell with a 2-1 win has assembled impressive over Finn Harps.an Since then, as management team in Dublin 8 Stephen receives his coaching and is looking to build on what badges, the experienced Alan was an extraordinary playing Mathews career. has been appointed in

Martin Rennie of St Patrick’s Athletic, right, sees his header on goal strike the crossbar during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork Park.last Friday, City at Richmond Park

24 18 16

His “Giller honours lists is incredible the Role”. and despite having a career interrupted career with injury, six O’Donnell’s was often league medals, three FAI Cups, interrupted by injury.

However, an EA SPORTS Cup, a Setanta in hisand timeofwith Dundalk won Cup course beinghe part 8 honours.

Elsewhere, he ofmajor the two Irish sides to reach the Group Stage of European won the 2008 League and Cup competition.

He has been double with Bohemians and the relentless since his return from 2011 title with Shamrock Rovers the UK in 2007. as well as the Setanta Cup in the Stephen made a total of 344 same year. appearances throughout his career, including 152 at Dundalk.

Stephen made a total of 344 appearances throughout his career, including 152 at Dundalk.

Lee Desmond, left, and Chris Forrester of St Patrick’s Athletic following celebrate last following weeks win over Cork City their win over Cork City atat Richmond Park

17 25 19

PLAYER PROFILES 2020

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 1 BRENDAN CLARKE

2 RORY FEELY

Bio: 34, Dublin, Goalkeeper ..........................................

Returned to St Pats for a second spell in 2018 having being part of the 2013 league and 2014 FAI Cup winning sides.

Also won the FAI Cup with Sligo Rovers ..........................................

Bio: 30, Dublin, LeftBack ..........................................

Has made 306 appearances for Pats since 2010. Has won one league, one FAI Cup and two League Cups in his time at Richmond Park.

..........................................

..........................................

5 LEE DESMOND

4 DAN WARD Bio: 22, South Shields, Centre-Midfield ........................................

Arrived from Spennymoor United in the National League North.

Previously with Newcastle United and Middlesbrough.

Bio: 25, Dublin, Defender/Midfield ..........................................

Versatile defensive player who joined Pats from Shelbourne in late 2014. Has made 144 apps for Pats winning two EA Sports Cups in 2015 and 2016. ..........................................

..........................................

7 ROBBIE BENSON

8 DARRAGH MARKEY Bio: 23, Cork, Midfield. ..........................................

Came from Cherry Orchard and made his Pats debut in 2015. Has now made 85 appearances and has been capped at U17 and U18 level for Ireland. ..........................................

Bio: 27, Athlone, Central Midfield. ..........................................

Won three league titles, one FAI Cup, two EA Sports, Champions Cup…. then he left us for Pats. Not bitter. Think he scored once or twice in Europe. ..........................................

10 RONAN HALE

11 DEAN CLARKE Bio: 26, Dublin, Winger ..........................................

Made his ldebut in 2011 for UCD. Moved to Limerick in 2015 before moving to Shamrock Rovers in 2016. Returned to Limerick before moving to Pats. ..........................................

Bio: 21, Belfast, Striker .........................................

Started at Crusaders and Birmingham.

Scored 7 goals during a 2018 loan spell at Derry. Returned to Crusaders in 2018 before joining Pats last August. ..........................................

XX 26

3 IAN BERMINGHAM

Bio: 23, Brussels, Right-Back. ..........................................

Right-back who signed in December after spending five seasons at Cobh Ramblers making almost 90 first team appearances.

6 JAMIE LENNON Bio: 21, Dublin, Central Midfield. ..........................................

Has made 60 appearances for St Pats since making his debut in the Leinster Cup in 2017. Has been called up for U21 duty

by Stephen Kenny. ..........................................

9 MARTIN RENNIE Bio: 25, Kirkcaldy, Striker. ..........................................

Scored 18 goals in 55 appearances for Montrose in the Scottish League. Joined St Pats in the close season. Made his debut against Waterford. ..........................................

12 OLIVER YOUNGER Bio: 20, Skipton, Defender ..........................................

Signed on loan from Burnley. Has been with the Clarets since 2008. Sent-off on his debut in Sligo

..........................................

PLAYER PROFILES 2020

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 14 LUKE MCNALLY Bio: 20, Dublin, Defender. ........................................

Began his career at Drogheda before moving to St Pats U19s. Returned to Drogheda in 2019 for a hugely successful loan spell. .........................................

17 SIMON MADDEN Bio: 31, Dublin, Right-Back ........................................

Respected defender who played with Dundalk in 2010-11.

Has made 347 appearances in his career. .........................................

20 SHANE GRIFFIN Bio: 25, Cork, Left-Back. .........................................

Joined St Pats last December after three seasons at Cork City and a previous spell at Reading. Part of the 2017 double-winning team. ..........................................

16 JASON MCCLELLAND

15 BILLY KING Bio: 25, Edinburgh, Winger. ..........................................

Signed his first professional deal with City back in early 2017 after graduating from the u17 and u19 teams after first playing for Carrigaline United. ..........................................

18 JAKE WALKER Bio: 19, Dublin, Striker ........................................

Has been with St Pats since joining the U17s in 2017. Has made 23 first team appearances including an appearance in last year’s UEL match with IFK Norrkoping. ........................................

22 JAMES DOONA Bio: 22, Dublin, Winger ........................................

Had spent a period of his youth development at St Pats, Doona joined Shamrock rovers in 2015. He made 25 appearances before moving back to St Pats in 2018. ........................................

GEORGIE KELLY Bio: 23, Donegal, Striker ..........................................

Joined St. Patrick’s Athletic on loan until end of the season.

Spent the past two years at Oriel Park, signing from UCD, winning 2 leagues and all domestic cups. Started his career at Derry City. ..........................................

XX 27

Bio: 21, Leicester, Defender ..........................................

Made his senior debut in 2015 for UCD. Made 106 apps before moving to St Pats in the close season. Made his debut against Waterford. ..........................................

19 CHRIS FORRESTER Bio: 23, Brussels, Goalkeeper. ........................................

Part of the 2013 League and 2014 FAI Cup winning sides.

Has played for Bohs, St Pats, Peterborough and Aberdeen. Returned to Pats in 2019. ........................................

25 CONOR KEARNS Bio: 21, Dublin, Goalkeeper ........................................

Made his senior debut in 2018 for UCD and made 55 appearances. Joined St Pats to challenge Brendan Clarke at the end of last season. ........................................

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

RETROSPECTIVE First Encounter 26th December 1950 Dundalk 2-1 St Pats The first match between Dundalk and St Patrick’s Athletic took place 70 years ago on St Stephen’s 1950 in the Leinster Senior Cup Final. It was an historic occasion. Not only was it the first match between the two clubs, not only did St Pats make it to the final as a Leinster Senior League team, but this was the first ever match that used a white ball in Irish football!

The star of the show was the St Pats goalkeeper, Kinsella, who made

several big saves to keep his side in the match. Pats had taken the lead in the 36th minute when Maher’s cross was headed home

by Staunton. Gilbert equalised for Dundalk early in the second half and Leo McDonagh curled the winner into the top corner from the edge of the box in the 89th minute.

Dundalk: Durkan, Ralph, Fearon, Murphy, Field, Gavin, McDonagh, Murray, Gilbert, Gallacher, McCabe.

St Pats: Kinahan, Doyle, Byrne, Murray, Cummins, Mulville, Staunton, Cassidy, Maher, White, Donnelly.

This match went one goal better. In front of the watching Glasgow Rangers manager David White, both teams produced a farcical encounter full of errors.

Both goalkeepers, Gerry Chester of Pats and Kevin Blount of Dundalk, had nightmares. Blount had something of an excuse as he was handicapped by a shoulder injury throughout and was eventually replaced with Derek Stokes moving between the sticks. By this time, Stokes had scored a hat-trick.

The scoring started after 2 minutes. Mick Millington played a throughball that Chester misjudged and attempted to intercept outside his box. The keeper slipped in the mud and Stokes was able to tap into an empty net.

Pats equalised within a minute. A 30 yard freekick from Jackie Hennessy

60s Classic 13th October 1968 St Pats 5-7 Dundalk

Walter Durkan under pressure from Maher from St Pats.

Dundalk were preparing for the Fairs Cup match with Glasgow Rangers at the time of this Shield match at Richmond Park.

Dundalk had already been involved in a goal feast seven days previously with a 7-4 win over Limerick in Oriel Park.

28 22

1968: Fran Brennan of Dundalk and Ken Halliday of St Pats in action

managed to deceive Blount. It was 2-1 to Pats after seven minutes when John Minnock crossed for Eamonn Carroll to score. Dundalk levelled after 12 minutes when Ben Hannigan split the defence and let Stokes in to score.

Dundalk took control from point and Hannigan made it 3-2 with a deflected shot after 24 minutes.

Stokes made it 4-2 with a powerful shot after Murray’s free-kick set him up. A Hennessey OG made it 5-2 before Paddy Turner scored with a delicate finish from Hannigan’s volleyed pass. There was time for another goal just before half-time when Halliday scored from the spot. Dundalk made it 7-2 when Turlough O’Connor worked a smart 1-2 with Tony O’Connell to run clear and beat Chester.

Minnock with two goals and a Noel Campbell drive in the closing stages finished the scoring.

70s Classic 14th January 1979 Dundalk 5-1 St Pats Dundalk went another step closer to the title with this resounding win over Pats 41 years ago.

Dundalk attacked straight from the kick-off and had several early chances with Pats keeper Greg Garland being kept very busy. He had just saved a Hilary Carlyle effort in the 7th minute before Carlyle collected a Martin Lawlor throw and crossed for Tommy McConville to score with a left-footed effort. Jimmy Dainty made it 2-0 after 13 minutes from the penalty spot. It was 3-0 after 24 minutes when Cathal Muckian ran through on a Leo Flanagan pass before

St Pats: Chester, Brady, Bell, Hennessy, Sheridan, O’Reilly, Dolan, N Campbell, Halliday, Minnock, Carroll.

Hilary Carlyle

squaring for Carlyle to score. Muckian got in on the act in the 36th minute when he collected a loose pass to score from a narrow angle. A Paddy Dunning own-goal pulled one back early in the 2nd half but Carlyle restored the four goal advantage on the hour mark.

Dundalk: Blackmore, McConville, Lawlor, Keely, Dunning, Flanagan, Byrne, Devine, Carlyle, Muckian, Dainty.

St Pats: Garland, Barnes, Glynn, Murphy, P Doyle, Carberry, Beardsley, Jenkins, Luke, Barrett.

Sub: Pedreschi for Beardsley.

80s Classic 13th January 1985 St Pats 3-2 Dundalk

Dundalk: Blount, Murphy, Morrissey, Murray, Brennan, Millington, Turner, O’Connor, Stokes, Hannigan, O’Connell.

Subs: A Keogh for Blount.

Cathal Muckian

29 23

A difficult season for both clubs but some respite for a Pats side that had fallen into the bottom four. St Pats opned the soring in the 13th minute when Mike Kortotkich’s pull back was side footed

Dundalk: Blackmore, Nolan, Lawlor, McConville, M Wright, B Wright, Maher, McLaughlin, Kehoe, M Murray, Cleary. Sub: L Murray for Nolan.

90s Classic 26th October 1995 Dundalk 3-2 St Pats

Billy Wright

past Richie Blackmore by Bobby Browne. Dundalk equalised through John Cleary in the 35th minute after Billy Wright knocked on Kieran Maher’s cross to allow Cleary to head home past Flynn. Martin Morrison put Pats back in charge in the 67th minute when he collected a cleareance from Tommy McConville to score from 30 yards. Man of the match Brian Delaney helped to make it 3-1 in the 77th minute when he finished off a dazzling run with a powerful shot that Blackmore could only parry into the path of Eamonn Gregg who converted. Wright made it 3-2 near the end after good work by Martin and Larry Murray.

Dundalk were unable to reach the heights of the 1994/95 season and faced a huge test on a wet Thursday night when Brian Kerr’s team, that would eventually win the title, came to Oriel Park hoping to move to the top of the table with a victory.

It looked good for the visitors when they took the lead after just two minutes. Peter Carpenter played a ball past Anto Whelan into the path of Noel Mernagh who set up Johnny Glynn to score past Eddie Van Boxtel.

After Brian Byrne went close, Dundalk levelled after 10 minutes. Stephen Kelly picked the ball up in

St Pats: Flynn, O’Reilly, Gregg, Morrison, Gavin, Braddish, Kortotkich, Carthy, Delaney, Brown, Quinn. Sub: Kelly for Carthy.

midfield and played Joe Hanrahan into the box and the winger made no mistake with a left footed effort. Dundalk took the lead after 24 minutes when Brian Byrne’s cross found Stephen Kelly who scored from close range following an error by Dave Campbell. Van Boxtel denied Martin Reilly and Campbell before Joe Gallen scored from close range after Byrne’s header came back off the crossbar. Pats made it 3-2 within a minute when Glynn headed Eddie Gormley’s corner to the net.

Dundalk: Van Boxtel, Purdy, Coady, Doohan, Napier, Whelan, Hanrahan, Long, Gallen, Kelly, Byrne.

Subs: Mick Byrne for Gallen, McNulty for Purdy.

St Pats: G Byrne, Burke, Carpenter, McDonnell, Campbell, Gormley, Osam. Mernagh, Glynn, Reilly, Morris-Roe. Subs: Campbell for Morris-Roe, Mulraney for McDonnell.

Joe Gallen

30 24

Brian Byrne

Joe Hanrahan

Brian Kerr

25 31

FROM THE ARCHIVES:

GET WITH THE PROGRAMME Dundalk v St Patrick’s Athletic, 20 March 1977

A word from our sponsors: Among the usual slew of local pubs and businesses, technology company Air Call are offering to sell or rent cutting edge mobile telephones.

The relevance: Dundalk took on St Patrick’s Athletic around St Patrick’s Day! The facts: 28 pages would have set you back 15p.

Famous names: Brian Kerr managed a Pats side includes a young Paul Osam, Mark Ennis, John Ryan, Pat Kelch and Tony O’Connor. Dundalk under Turly O’Connor feature Tom McNulty, Gino Lawless, Alan O’Neill and the typographical “Eter Hanrahan”.

The content: There’s a tons of ads but some great content from Jim McLaughlin and other contributors. The season’s programmes normally had a red cover, we can only speculate that red ink was in short supply by March.

A word from our sponsors: There are literally dozens of ads for local businesses from pubs to shops to wholesalers. In a sign of the times Carrolls cigarettes have two separate full page ads.

St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk, St Patrick’s Day 1992

Famous names: Dundalk’s line-up includes Richie Blackmore, Tommy McConville, Synan Braddish and Jackie McManus.

Pats feature English player-manager Barry Bridges, veteran Scotland international Neil Martin and a young Dermot Keely.

The relevance: St Pats are in town and it’s St Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, so what could be more relevant than the programme from the only time we played Pats on their eponymous day?

The match: Dundalk cruised to a 3-0 win (Mick Lawlor 2, Jimmy Dainty). Dundalk ended the season in fifth, a point ahead of Pats.

The content: There’s plenty of ads but a good amount of Pats content in a glossy, well presented programme.

There are obituaries for two legends of the League of Ireland, Paddy Coad and Dundalk’s Joey Donnelly.

The match: Dundalk ran out 2-0 winner (McNulty, Hanrahan), and went on to finish 4th in the league with Pats 7th, while Shels won a first league title in 30 years.

The facts: 50p buys a 16 page programme.

Wanted - Dundalk FC programmes From 1960s, 1950s and before plus Dundalk FC Tickets for European matches from 1995 back to FC Zurich in 1963.

Contact G. Cunningham - 086/2630363 or gesk.cunningham@gmail.com 26 32

OUR GAME IS ON THE BALL

UMBRO TEAMWEAR TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT UMBRO.IE OR CONTACT ALAN ON 086 7880808

PLAYED FOR BOTH:

ROBBIE BENSON One of the most accomplished midfielders of the modern era lines up against us tonight and we are no stranger to his ability. The number 7 for St Patrick’s Athletic is of course Robbie Benson who has had some wonderful nights and moments within his League of Ireland career to date.

Still only 28, the Athlone native has stories and times that any player would dream of and he has the chance to add to it over the coming years.

‘Bob’ started with his hometown club and spent three seasons learning his trade playing first team football in the midlands.

He earned a scholarship with UCD in 2010 and came out the other end with a masters in Actuarial Science after an impressive Leaving Certificate.

It wasn’t just in his studies that he was excelling but on the pitch too and joined the Students in the Premier Division where he put in a number of eye catching displays as he helped the side remain in the top flight until the end of the 2014 season and when the chance came to leave he decided to stay on which was worthwhile as he got to play in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers against Dudelange of Luxembourg and Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia in 2015 and helped the side to the promotion playoff against Finn Harps.

That was his final action as a UCD player and he moved to

Oriel Park along with Patrick McEleney in the close season ahead of the 2016 season.

That would signal the start of a wonderful journey for the midfielder as he played a pivotal role in our European odyssey and scored crucial goals against BATE Borisov in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Europa League Group Stage and of course, who could forget his thunderbolt volley against Legia Warsaw in Poland in the playoff round for the Champions League which caught global attention.

There was to be success domestically also as he was key to three league titles, an FAI Cup and two EA SPORTS Cups. He was an ever present for the most of his four seasons at the club however a leg break at the 34

beginning of the 2019 season, in the opening match in fact, left him missing the first half of the campaign however he recovered in time for the European season and the end of the league where he played a key role, including a header against Shamrock Rovers in the 3-2 win which clinched a fifth league title in six seasons and Benson’s third for himself at the club.

He left the club at the end of the 2019 season, following a goalscoring display in the Unite the Union Champions Cup and departed with an impressive CV for a new venture at Richmond Park under Stephen O’Donnell.

He returns for the first time this evening and we welcome him and thank Robbie for his contribution to the club over his four seasons and wish him all the best…but not tonight!

35

CLUB NEWS:

SUPPORTER LIAISON TEAM As part of a wide-ranging review of club operations, Dundalk Football Club are seeking interested candidates to form a new Supporter Liaison Team.

The aim of this voluntary team, that will be led by a Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO), will be to build and maintain dialogue between Dundalk supporters and the club itself.

The club will work with the SLO team to develop the roles and responsibilities of this group as the season progresses. Initially, the SLO team will be work with the club in the following areas: • Develop a forum to discuss all relevant areas affecting the club and supporters.

This will include security, travel and ticketing arrangements.

• Be able to gather feedback from supporters and identify key issues of concern.

• Assist the club in communicating important information to supporters and the local community.

• Establish and maintain communications with SLOs at other clubs.

Specific Requirements • You must be a passionate Dundalk FC supporter!

• You must have a knowledge of the club’s heritage and have your finger on the pulse of supporter opinions.

• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• At least 18 years of age.

How to register your interest E-mail slo@dundalkfc.com with a short account of why you think you are suitable candidate for this team and we will be in touch!

Supporter Liaison Team

w of club operations, Dundalk 36

37

38

PATRICK HOBAN

100..AND COUNTING! Patrick Hoban became the 44th player to join the League of Ireland’s Goalscoring 100 Club when he tucked away his second goal in Dundalk’s 4-0 win over Finn Harps back in March. Eighty-one of those goals have come for the Lilywhites - a club record - with the other 19 coming in the first division during two spells at Mervue United.

Dundalk FC Magazine’s Gavin McLaughlin sat down with the ‘Hobanator’ to go through his highlights reel. reduced the arrears by scoring a penalty in the 71st minute.

“I can’t remember it, to be honest, whether it was home or away,” said Hoban. “It was such a long time ago. I was what? 17 or 18. All I remember was that we were Monaghan’s bogey team, they hated playing against us.

“I do remember taking all of our penalties, though. Some of the older players didn’t like that but that was just my personality. I wanted the responsibility.”

The Monaghan goalkeeper on the day? A certain Aaron McCarey.

“I scored on Azza? Yes!! I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I tell him that!”

Hoban’s first goal from open play came seven minutes after the penalty but it wasn’t enough to stop Mervue from slipping to a 4-2 defeat.

Goal #1 | Monaghan United v Mervue United | September 2009

Friday, September 18th 2009 to be precise, in the less than glamorous surroundings of an Eircom League Division One clash between Monaghan United and Mervue United at Kingspan Century Park.

Mick Cooke’s Monaghan side, which contained several former Dundalk players including academy graduates Stefan McKevitt and Shane Grimes - a future teammate of Hoban - and 2008 promotion-winning captain Aidan Lynch, raced into a 3-0 lead with 67 minutes played.

Mervue manager Johnny Glynn introduced Rory Gaffney - now with Shamrock Rovers - in a bid to pull the game out of the fire and a young Hoban, making his 12th start of the season,

39

PATRICK HOBAN

100..AND COUNTING

Patrick Hoban in action against Cork City

Goal #10 | Wexford FC v Mervue United | September 2011

His third, and final goal of the 2009 campaign, came in a 1-0 win away to Kildare County two weeks later.

Goal #5 | Mervue United v Cork City | July 2010

Goal number five came on Tuesday, July 13th 2010 in front of 150 people at Terryland Park in a first division clash with a Cork City FORAS Co-op who were still reeling from the Arkaga and Tom Coughlan years.

Four minutes had elapsed when Mervue went in front. Hoban, who started the move, collected a pass from Gaffney to fire past Mark McNulty for the very first time.

“I remember that one,” said Hoban. “I played in a defensive midfield position that day. I was even receiving balls off the goalkeeper and dribbling forward trying to make things happen. We went 1-0 up early on, I scored at the far post. It was the first of many against Cork!”

The Leesiders went on to run out 4-2 winners but the goal was notable for the fact that it was Hoban’s last on Irish soil for just over a year. Four days after the defeat, he played 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss against Salthill Devon and was then on his way to Bristol City.

40

After seeing his chances of breaking into the Bristol City team hit the buffers, Hoban returned to his native Loughrea in July 2011 and backed by Glynn, he rebuilt his confidence with a run in the Mervue United team that saw him bag five goals in 13 appearances in the second half of the campaign.

After scoring in a 1-1 draw at home to Waterford on July 22nd, 2011, Hoban added three in the next four games against Salthill Devon, Cork City and Longford Town before bringing his haul to double figures on September 16th 2011 against Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park.

Leading the line in a Mervue side that contained goalkeeper Ger Hanley and midfielder John Mountney, both of whom were on their way to Oriel Park at the end of the campaign, and the gloriously named Etanda N’Kololo, Hoban scored the third and final goal in a comfortable win.

Goal #15, #16 - and a red card! | Mervue United v Longford Town | June 2012 ‘There was more drama in this game than an omnibus edition of Eastenders’. That report

Patrick Hoban in action against Cork City

from Extratime.ie’s Deniese O’Flaherty was an apt description of a nine-goal thriller between Mervue United and Longford Town at Fahy’s Field on Friday, June 29th 2012 which saw Hoban score two before being sent-off by referee Phil Caschera.

“That whole thing was a shambles,” said Hoban. “I went up for a header with a Longford player and he hit the ground. When he got up and I asked the referee how was it a foul?

Boom, yellow yard. I asked him why he was giving me a yellow card and then the red was out! We were cruising at half-time and then the referee just changed his whole mindset. It was frightening.”

Mervue took the lead in the 19th minute when Hoban tucked away a penalty and he doubled the advantage seven minutes later when he pounced to fire home after Craig Hyland could only parry an Alan Murphy effort.

The game was turned on its head when Longford Town, who started the game with former Manchester United and Newcastle

United winger Keith Gillespie on the flank, pulled two goals back after the break but Tom King restored Mervue’s two-goal cushion.

Two quickfire bookings saw Hoban dismissed for the first time in his career with 68 minutes played and King was also shown his marching orders by Caschera at a stage when Mervue were 4-3 ahead.

The nine-men did their best to hold on but Gary Shaw headed home a 90th-minute equaliser before Mark Salmon converted a lastgasp penalty to win it for the Midlanders.

“That whole thing ended up with the FAI,” said Hoban. “The referee wrote in his report that I said a lot of things to him after the game - which I couldn’t have said. I had to go up to the FAI because the talk was I was going to get a 12-match ban. What he didn’t know was that Mervue had cameras around the dressing room which proved me right.”

Lightning struck twice seven years later when Hoban scored twice against Derry City before seeing red late on in a 2-2 draw at Oriel Park.

41

Clockwise from top: Spectacular v Cork City, a pricless header in Bray, a derby winner v Drogheda

Goal #20 | Dundalk v Cork City | April 2013

Friday, April 26th, 2013 was a proud day for Hoban and a proud day for Mervue as two of their exports sank Cork City at Oriel Park. John Mountney, who arrived a year earlier under Sean McCaffrey, put Dundalk in front with 14 minutes to play and after coming on as a 69th-minute sub, Hoban headed home his first goal for the club after Keith Ward’s free-kick had come back off the bar. The Hobanator was born.

“It took me a while to get going at Dundalk,” he said. “It was a matter of getting used to the pace of the game and adapting to a full-time set-up.

“I got fitter and fitter as the season wore on and my

understanding of the game went up another level by watching videos of my play with Stephen Kenny and Vinny Perth. They showed me where I was going wrong.

“I think I started the first three games that season but I don’t think I was in the team again for almost two months.

When I got that first one against Cork, though, I went on a run.”

Goal #24 | Drogheda Utd v Dundalk | June 2013

Hoban’s first goal in a Louth Derby proved to be the winner on a June, Monday night at United Park in 2013. The maiden strike arrived in the 75th minute but it should have come earlier in the evening…

“That was the night my goal was disallowed in the first

42

half,” he said. “I managed to score from a difficult angle and the lineman said the ball was out of play despite it being two full balls in play!

“I remember the goal so well.

Stevie McDonnell broke down the play and ran forward. I peeled off their centre half and he passed the ball into me. It looked like I was going to go to the far post but I reversed it past the keeper at the near post and all he could do was stand still.”

Goal #32 | Dundalk FC v Cork City | October 2013 There may have been no league trophy to show for their efforts but there were jubilant scenes at Oriel Park on Friday, October 18th 2013 as runners-up Dundalk brought the curtain down on

That was for you! Hoban celebrates his winner against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght in 2014

a memorable home campaign with a sumptuous display of attacking football against Cork City with Hoban scoring an outstanding overhead kick in first-half stoppage time.

Mark McNulty’s goal looked safe from harm as the ball looped into the air on the edge of the 18-yard box but Hoban somehow managed to get up and guide an incredible bicycle kick past the stunned ‘keeper.

“That’s right up there with my favourite goals of them all,” said Hoban. “It was a shocking night weatherwise and we battered them.

I think it was Mark Rossiter who crossed it and the ball bounced up, miles into the air. I remember running away from goal towards the 18-yard box and I just threw myself

up for it and it went into the bottom corner. It’s one of my favourites.”

Goal #43 | Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk FC | July 2014 Hoban’s 10th goal of the title-winning 2014 season was a vital one against Shamrock Rovers on a warm, humid Sunday afternoon in Tallaght in July 2014.

Coming just three days after the Europa League win over Jeunesse D’Esche, Dundalk were flat for large periods but they got the goal they needed to leapfrog Cork City back to the top of the table in the 66th minute when Kurtis Byrne got the better of David O’Connor and his ball across the face of goal was prodded home by Hoban.

43

“Kurtis slid a great ball across the six-yard box and it was a tap-in, the kind of goal that strikers love to score,” said Hoban. “It was a massive win for us at the time.”

Goal #53 | Bray Wanderers v Dundalk FC | October 2014

If goal 43 was important, then goal 53 was priceless.

The scene? The Carlisle Grounds in Bray on a night when a biblical downpour, coupled with a ferocious wind, battered the seaside venue into near submission.

Trailing to David Cassidy’s fourth-minute opener, Hoban came up trumps for the 20th and final time that season when he darted to the near post to hammer home a Darren Meenan cross with 64

PATRICK HOBAN

100...AND COUNTING

Title-clincher: Hoban celebrates his goal against St Patrick’s Athletic in October 2018

minutes played. It secured Stephen Kenny’s side a precious point and seven nights later, Dundalk beat Cork City in front of 5,300 supporters at Oriel Park to become champions of Ireland.

“That was a vital one,” said Hoban. “Pissing rain, Darren Meenan puts in a great ball and I caught it on the half volley. It was a horrible, horrible night to be playing

football. I was asking the referee to call the game off, to be honest. If it wasn’t the second last game of the season they probably would have but we managed to dig a result out and we went on to win the league the following week. If we had lost the title that year, it would have been disastrous for us.”

Goal #56 | Dundalk v 44

Cork City | March 2018

After three years away in the UK, Hoban returned to Dundalk ahead of the 2018 season with the bit between his teeth. A couple of niggling injuries meant he started the campaign slowly but after scoring twice in an 8-0 rout over Limerick in the snow at Oriel Park, he caught fire, ending the campaign with a record 29 league goals.

Ten nights later, double winners Cork City arrived to find a Dundalk side intent on taking back their throne. Four minutes had elapsed when Mark McNulty inexplicably allowed a Ronan Murray free to spill from his grasp and Hoban gleefully accepted the gift to secure a 1-0 win.

“That was a big goal.

McNulty spilt it and I was there to tap home. I came back to Dundalk with an injury and I remember we played against Shamrock Rovers and I felt I was miles away. That Limerick game got me started and I just got stronger after that.

Everything that season just seemed to fly in.”

Goal #79 | Dundalk v St Patrick’s Athletic | October 2018

On a night of nervous anticipation at Oriel Park on Friday, October 5th 2018, Hoban became the first player to break the 25-goal mark with a last-minute equaliser against St Patrick’s Athletic that sealed the league title.

Stephen Kenny’s side found themselves trailing to Conor Clifford’s strike but Hoban sent the champagne corks popping when he latched on to Patrick McEleney’s pass to fire home and become the first player to surpass the quartercentury mark in a single Premier Division campaign.

“The build-up play to that goal was brilliant. ‘Fats’ played a great ball and Georgie Kelly made a great run off the ball to open up space for me. It was a great move. It happened in an instinct. Great memories.”

Goal #87 | Dundalk v Bohemians | April 2019

Three nights after a demoralising 2-1 loss to Sligo Rovers, their second on the spin, the pressure was really on Vinny Perth’s Dundalk when Bohemians came to Oriel Park on Monday, April

February 2020: Shels away

15th 2019.

Starting the game 13 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk really couldn’t afford any more slip-ups but a disjointed performance saw the game tick towards the fifth minute of injury time with the sides deadlocked.

Dundalk pushed one last time and when Paddy Kirk hooked Daniel Kelly down just inside the Bohs penalty area, Hoban showed remarkable composure to send James Talbot the wrong way from 12 yards to snatch all three points and set the Lilywhites off on a 34-game unbeaten run that propelled them to the league title.

“We were on the back of losing two games in a row and we didn’t play well that night,” said Hoban. “I knew I was going to score. There was no way I was missing it. I put the keeper the wrong way and it was a great relief to everyone because we were going through a tough time.

“When you’re going through a bad run of form, sometimes all you need is something like that to spark you into life and that was the beginning of that run.”

Goal #89 | Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers | April 2019 45

After moving level with the great Joey Donnelly on 69 goals with a penalty away to UCD, Hoban became Dundalk’s record league goalscorer with a trademark header against Shamrock Rovers four days later at Oriel Park on Friday, April 26th 2019.

The great Donnelly scored his first goal for the club in 1929 with his last coming in January 1943. In all, his career at Oriel spanned 16 years where he clocked up 238 league games across two spells. In comparison, Hoban set the record in just 109 league games!

“I knew of the record as I got close to it but I don’t really pay attention to things like that. It’s great to break records of players from the past because what they’ve done for the club will never be forgotten and, hopefully, when I retire I leave something behind me that some striker can aim to beat.”

Goal #100 | Finn Harps v Dundalk | March 2020

Hoban’s fine start to the 2020 campaign continued in Dundalk’s last game before the lockdown when his second goal in a 4-0 win at Finn Park took his tally to five for the season - and 100 league goals altogether.

“When you start playing football they’re the kind of targets and goals you want to reach. I’m buzzing to have got to 100 but I’m hoping there are a lot more to come,” he said.

“What helped me early on was that I had had no injuries going into pre-season. Over the past couple of seasons I’ve had niggles coming back but this year I worked hard in the off-season to come back in the right shape and it paid off. Now that we’re back, I just want to keep scoring and playing well and hopefully I can score 100 more!”

Light Up Your Nights

SSE Airtricity League

#LightUpYourNights

Tom McNulty, pictured with the League of Ireland title in 1995

48

25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

THE UNLIKELY LADS!

Twenty-five years ago, former Lilywhites captain Dermot Keely led Dundalk to their ninth League of Ireland title. We take a look back at the story of an incredible - and very unlikely - championship win.

I

Dundalk FC: League of Ireland champions 1994/95

t’s Thursday, March 31st, 1994 and the curtain is slowly closing on a season described by club historian Jim Murphy as an ‘annus horribilis’.

One hundred and fifty - yes 150 - spectators are at Oriel Park. It’s raining, it’s windy and two of the floodlights have failed but as the game with St Patrick’s Athletic is a dead rubber, nobody cares that the majority of it is played in semidarkness.

With one eye on the following season, Dundalk play a trialist by the name of Lee Robinson.

He disappeared on the dark side of the Carrick Road end in the second half and was never seen again! Oh, and Dundalk lost. David McEnroe and Martin

Nugent score either side of halftime to give Brian Kerr’s side the points.

It was a bleak end to a turbulent season. The Turlough O’Connor era ended on Sunday, October 10th 1993 after a 3-1 defeat to Monaghan United at Oriel Park. After receiving 12 applications for the job, Jim McLaughlin was the odds on favourite to return to his old stomping ground but it was his former captain, Dermot Keely, who got the narrow verdict in the boardroom. After replacing McLaughlin at Shamrock Rovers in 1986, Keely won the league and FAI Cup double in 1987 before going on to manage Sligo Rovers and Longford Town.

Keely inherited a side that 49

was lying sixth in the table and defeat in his first game - at home to Rovers - saw Dundalk slip to eighth. To make matters worse, two of the heroes of the O’Connor era, Alan O’Neil and Terry Eviston, both starred for the Hoops. Transfer funds were limited but Keely started to rebuild his squad.

Ex-Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Paul Kavanagh was banished from the team and replaced by Eddie Van Boxtel – the former Leeds United trainee who was signed as cover for O’Neill in the 1991/92 season.

The Dubliner with the Dutch name kept 11 clean sheets and conceded just 16 goals in 21 appearances in his debut campaign. It was enough to secure him the club’s Player of

Manchester United arrived at Oriel Park for Gino Lawless’s testimonial in July 1994

the Year award at the end of the campaign.

Other younger players like Trevor Donnelly, Matt Britton, Ciaran Sheehy, Tom Sullivan and Keith Long were also promoted while Keely also brought in midfielder Stephen Kelly from Longford. Few expected him to make the contribution he did. The new manager also explored the loan market for striking options and both Derek Swan and Elden De Getrouwe spent a brief spell at the club.

One tactical manoeuvre that did boost Dundalk’s attacking options came when Keely introduced central defender Mick Doohan as a substitute against Galway United in the FAI Cup. Doohan was pushed up front and scored the winner in a 4-3 win. More importantly, Keely had an effective new attacking option at his disposal.

After that defeat to Rovers, Dundalk pieced together a seven- match unbeaten but a dismal home record of just one win from their opening 11 home games meant they missed out on the top six split and with attendances falling through the floor, there was a sense of relief when the season finally ended. Eighth place was a fair reflection of a campaign to forget.

The summer of 1994 saw Keely’s rebuild gather pace with a mixture of youth and experience seemingly the order of the day. Former Chelsea defender John Coady, who enjoyed success at Shamrock Rovers and Derry City, took over at

left-back as Martin Lawlor entered his final season at the club in a central defensive role. While Doohan was an extra option, Keely had limited striking options available when Peter Hanrahan, top scorer in the 1990/91 title-winning campaign, left to join Bohemians.

Twenty-three year-old Warren Patmore, who scored for Cobh Ramblers against Dundalk in September 1993, arrived from England as the club’s only full-time professional. He was joined by 24-year-old Tony Loughlan who made two appearances for Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest before going on to have spells at Kettering Town and Lincoln City.

Patmore went on to become a Yeovil Town great and a mainstay of Match Of The Day’s early FA Cup round coverage while Loughlan has gone on to carve out a fine coaching career, working as number two to Roy Keane at Sunderland and Ipswich before assisting Sean Dyche at Watford and Burnley. Together with Trevor Donnelly and Brian Irwin, they formed Keely’s strikeforce.

The ability to attract English teams for moneyspinning pre-season fixtures was important business for League of Ireland clubs in the eighties and nineties and Dundalk fans had plenty too look forward to when it was confirmed that Sheffield Wednesday, Manchester United and Liverpool were all coming to Oriel Park.

First up was Trevor Francis’ Wednesday. Irish

50

Anto Whelan

Richie Purdy

international John Sheridan, fresh from his exploits at the World Cup in the USA, was the star attraction while England internationals Des Walker, David Hirst and Andy Sinton also featured. Wednesday won the game 3-0 in a match where Keely was able to blood his new signings.

One of them, a winger from Leinster Senior League side Glenmore Celtic, caught the eye.

While this friendly had benefits, an error by Van Boxtel – who gifted David Hirst with an easy goal – raised more questions about the goalkeeping position.

Even bigger names were on show on Saturday, July 30th 1994 when Alex Ferguson’s doublewinning Manchester United side arrived at Oriel Park as part of Gino Lawless’ testimonial celebrations. The United team that day was Peter Schmeichel, Paul Parker, Lee Sharpe, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Paul Ince, Eric Cantona, Andre Kanchelskis, Brian McClair, Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs. Roy Keane and Denis Irwin were both absent after their Word Cup exertions.

Just 20 minutes in, Dundalk were 2-0 up and in dreamland. Loughlan and Patmore got the goals and, suddenly, it looked like a partnership had been formed. Van Boxtel also did a lot to enhance his reputation by making a number of great saves.

The most notable came when he became the first goalkeeper to deny Eric Cantona from the penalty

spot.

United got back into the game through a Stephen Kelly own goal and second half goals from Ince, Hughes and Giggs settled it but Dundalk fans left the ground hopeful for the new campaign ahead. The Dundalk team that day was: Van Boxtel, Kelly, Coady, Lawlor, Doohan, McNulty, Lawless, Paul Byrne (dad of Kurtis – guesting from Glasgow Celtic), Loughlan, Patmore, Hanrahan. Subs: Britton, Brian Byrne, Irwin, Donnelly, Hall.

Patmore and Loughlan continued their form into the opening competitive match of the season when Dundalk beat Drogheda United 5-0 at United Park in the League Cup. There was a surprise before the game when it was confirmed that Keely had signed 35-year-old defender Anto Whelan, Whelan began his career in the 1970s with Bohs before making a £30,000 transfer to Manchester United.

He made two appearances at Old Trafford before moving home to gather over 300 League of Ireland appearances with Shamrock Rovers, Cork City, Bray and Shelbourne where he won the league in 1992 and FAI Cup in 1993. Despite the early concerns, he went on to become a very important member of Keely’s team, playing in all but three league games.

The Drogheda game was followed by the visit of Liverpool on August 15th, 1994. Reds

51

boss Roy Evans had his big hitters on display with David James, Rob Jones, Stig Inge Bjornebye, Steve Nicol, Jamie Redknapp, Neil Ruddock, Steve McManaman, Michael Thomas, Jan Molby, John Barnes and Robbie Fowler all playing the full 90 minutes. Liverpool took the lead through McManaman but Dundalk levelled with a fantastic goal by Brian Byrne in the 63rd minute. Michael Thomas finally got the winner for Liverpool in the closing stages.

For Dundalk, the most interesting aspect was the appearance of Jody Byrne in place of Van Boxtel at half-time.

Van Boxtel had an outstanding first-half but the arrival of Byrne demonstrated Keely’s lack of confidence in his ability.

Byrne had begun his career at Dundalk as Richie Blackmore’s understudy, making seven appearances between 1981 and 1983 before winning four titles at Shamrock Rovers and another at Shelbourne in 1992.

The competition between the two keepers was a major talking point throughout the 94/95 campaign.

By now, James Coll had also returned to action but some alarm bells were raised following a disappointing 1-1 draw with Monaghan United just three days after the Liverpool match. The optimism returned when Dundalk travelled to Strokestown Road and hammered Longford Town 6-1 in their final League Cup group game. Patmore helped himself to four goals while Joe Hanrahan grabbed the other two.

Dundalk were full of confidence when they made the trip to Dalymount Park on August 28th, 1994 for the league opener against Bohemians.

Keely opted to start with Jody Byrne in goal but injuries left him without Loughlan, Coady and Martin Lawlor. Stephen Kelly started at left-back while

Greg O’Dowd was drafted in for his first appearance in six months. He was replaced by Brian Byrne with just 15 minutes played. Unsurprisingly, it was O’Dowd’s final appearance for Dundalk until his return five years later.

Turlough O’Connor’s Bohs side, which contained familiar faces like Gino Lawless and Peter Hanrahan, made the early running but Dundalk settled and Patmore and Irwin both went close. A bumpy pitch, caused by the Sunstroke ’94 Festival which

Mick Doohan

was headlined by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers a few days earlier, made life difficult for both teams but, against the run of play, Bohs took the lead when Tommy Lawless scored from a free-kick. They doubled the lead two minutes later when a cross

by Paul Kinnard evaded Jody Byrne and hit Anto Whelan who was unable to prevent the own-goal.

Off the pitch, Dundalk’s AGM had to be adjourned because of the failure to provide financial accounts. The board were also questioned about their decision to move all home matches to Thursday nights.

Monaghan United were first up on September 1st, 1994 and with O’Dowd gone, and his replacement Brian Byrne injured, Keely handed league winner Mick Kavanagh his first 52

appearance in a Dundalk shirt since the final game of the 1991/92 season.

Deployed as a makeshift left-back, man of the match Mick Doohan still proved to be Dundalk’s most potent threat but a dogged Monaghan team that featured the likes of John Cleary, Noel Melvin, Declan Roche and Mick Byrne – who was sent off after 41 minutes, held out for a point.

A disastrous first week of the season was rounded off at Richmond Park three days later.

The performance in a 1-0 defeat was rumoured to have made Keely consider his position following the game. Dundalk failed to conjure up a single goalscoring opportunity and the manager’s latest attacking options – Trevor Donnelly and Mick Kavanagh – would never play for Dundalk again.

With one point from the opening nine available, Dundalk desperately needed a win against Cobh Ramblers on September 11th, 1994. The game was played on a Sunday afternoon because Cobh refused to travel midweek and a floodlight upgrade was also underway.

The local press were already using the words ‘relegation’ and ‘battle’ and disaster struck after just four minutes when Richie Purdy chested the ball into his own net. It looked grim at halftime but within a minute of the restart John Coady drilled a low shot past Stephen Henderson and Dundalk got a deserved winner when Patmore kept his composure to slot the ball home.

Things got better for in the weeks that followed and Keely’s system of playing three at the back system with Purdy and Coady as wing-backs gave the side balance. Another goal

by Patmore secured a 1-0 win away to Sligo where the central defensive trio of Lawlor, Whelan and Coll proved resolute while Byrne also showed his worth with a crucial late save.

The Boxer: Eddie Van Boxtel

Things didn’t go as well for Jody when Derry City arrived at Oriel for an entertaining 1-1 draw the following week. Stuart Gauld’s shot from 40 yards was trickling towards him but he somehow allowed it to slip through his hands and into the net. Luckily for Dundalk, the incredible error was equalled by his counterpart Dermot O’Neill who let Richie Purdy’s 67th-minute free-kick spin off of his chest and into the net.

Former Irish international Ken De Mange was signed in time for a 1-0 win over Shelbourne on October 6th, 1994. Purdy’s superb free-kick sealed a late win but whatever progress had been made was shattered when Shamrock Rovers ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at the RDS. Eoin Mullen scored the opening goal after 22 minutes but it was the second that summed up the afternoon.

James Coll intercepted John Toal’s attempted through ball and played an easy pass back to Jody Byrne in the Dundalk goal. Byrne attempted to clear the ball up the pitch but horribly miscued the ball and the veteran ‘keeper compounding his original error by not reacting quickly enough to prevent the ball from trickling over the line.

To his credit, Byrne made a number of good saves after the error and was powerless to prevent Karl Gannon from making it 3-0 but it

was enough to convince Keely to make a change for the following match in Cork. Van Boxtel’s performance in Bishopstown kept the scoreline down to a respectable 2-0 defeat.

The issues with the club accounts were put into more context by mid-October when it was revealed that Dundalk’s financial position was in extreme jeopardy. The mood was somewhat helped by a 2-1 win over Athlone Town thanks to goals from Stephen Kelly and Mick Doohan but it proved to be Warren Patmore’s last game for the club; the striker becoming the first victim of the club’s financial cutbacks.

Despite the turmoil that was unfolding off the pitch, Dundalk continued their slow rise away from the danger zone when Doohan was on target again in a 1-0 win over Galway United at Oriel Park. This time it was an 87th-minute winner as he got on the end of a Matt Britton corner. A League Cup win on Halloween over Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park improved the mood even more.

The most positive news came at an an extraordinary AGM on November 3rd, 1994 when unanimous backing was given to a new consortium, led by Enda McGuill. This meeting revealed that the club was totally insolvent and owed £183,048. The new shareholders were 53

prepared to take over all debts and liabilities.

Dundalk’s steady climb up the table continued with a 0-0 draw in Galway and a 2-0 win over Bohs at Oriel Park. Things were looking good. Van Boxtel was more assured in goal, Brian Byrne was fast becoming a real fan favourite with his jinking runs on the leg and, up front, Joe Hanrahan and Brian Irwin terrorised the Bohs defence all night long, combining to set up Stephen Kelly for the opening goal after 35 minutes.

The second goal was a result of Byrne outpacing Gino Lawless on the wing and sending in a cross that Hanrahan flicked on for Irwin to shoot powerfully past Dave Henderson. Incredibly, Dundalk had now climbed to third in the table behind Cork City and Shamrock Rovers with St Pat’s and Derry City also within a few points of the leaders.

The Monaghan United bogey of recent seasons was laid to rest with a comprehensive 4-0 win in Gortakeegan thanks to two goals by Ken De Mange and one each for Irwin and Hanrahan and on November 24th, 1994, Dundalk produced another sensational home performance against St Patrick’s Athletic.

Tom McNulty opened the scoring after just 38 seconds with his first goal of the season when he shot home from 10 yards after Hanrahan’s run into box caused disarray in the Pats defence. St Pats came back strongly but found Van Boxtel in tremendous form as he produced a man of the match performance.

Pat’s upped the pressure in the closing stages and O’Dowd ran the length of the pitch to join the attack for an injury time corner. The ball broke to Brian Byrne on the edge of the box but instead of blasting the ball up the pitch to safety, Byrne produced one of the greatest pieces of skill ever witnessed at Oriel Park.

Joe Hanrahan

Showing incredible control and determination, he charged down the pitch, shrugged off Peter Carpenter’s challenge on the halfway line and managed to evade rugby tackles from Tony O’Dowd and Dave Campbell to eventually apply the final touch from six yards.

The result left Dundalk level on points with Shamrock Rovers and just two points adrift of leaders Cork City but results started to dip and a 2-2 draw in Cobh was followed by a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Sligo Rovers where Stephen Kelly bagged an 87th-minute equaliser.

A resurgent Derry City, now under the stewardship of Felix Healy, were next up at the Brandywell and two Harry McCourt goals ended Dundalk’s nine-match unbeaten run. The turning point came in the 34thminute when Tom McNulty was given a straight red card. Keely 54

accused the officials of making the Scot a marked man but the plea fell on deaf ears and McNulty was handed a fivematch suspension.

With the teams at the top of the table continually taking points off each other, no one side was able to break clear of the chasing pack but Dundalk kept pace with a 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park on December 27th, 1994.

A heavily deflected efforts from Brian Byrne flashed past Alan O’Neill to give Dundalk the lead but Eoin Toal equalised and Rovers laid siege to the Dundalk goal for most of the second half.

The Lilywhites, however, held firm with the wall of Whelan, Coll and Doohan giving nothing away.

Keely’s side were up against it when Purdy was shown a red card in the 80th minute for an incident that should have also resulted in a Rovers

Brian Byrne, in action against Liverpool’s Rob Jones

penalty. Lady Luck smiled on Dundalk, though, and the teams were numerically level when Willie Burke also received his marching orders. Dundalk looked set to hold on for a hard earned draw but they mounted a late attack and when Stephen Kelly swept in a cross from the right, Doohan headed a dramatic winner past O’Neill.

There was no such luck a few days later at Tolka Park.

This time Dundalk were the better team but were left with nothing to show for it after a very unlucky 1-0 defeat. Despite enjoying the majority of the chances, a long-range shot from Alan Byrne deflected off James Coll to give Van Boxtel no chance and condemn the Lilywhites to their sixth league defeat of the campaign. Doohan

almost came to the rescue again but his shot from the edge of the area smacked off Gough’s crossbar.

Keely’s search for a striker resumed in January 1995 with the signing of Mick Byrne. The veteran striker went straight into the team for what was seen as a crunch match with Cork City at Oriel Park on January 8th and even though referee Tommy Traynor failed to give Dundalk a penalty for a clear foul on Byrne, Cork’s 3-1 win was fully deserved.

Cork, who still had a game in hand, were now two points clear of Shamrock Rovers and Derry City while Dundalk had now fallen below St Pat’s in fifth position. A resurgent Shelbourne were a further point behind but it was the Leesiders

55

who looked like champions in waiting.

Things took another twist the following week when Mick Byrne verified Keely’s decision to sign him by scoring both goals in a 2-0 win away to Athlone and the chasing pack was given hope when Cork dropped points to Galway United. Despite that, the Rebels rallied and they finished the month with silverware, beating Dundalk 2-1 on aggregate in a two-legged League Cup final.

Trouble was looming down south, however, and cracks started to appear when Damien Richardson resigned due to disagreements with the club’s board and constant problems with the new pitch at Bishopstown. Noel O’Mahony replaced him in the hottest but

L-R: Peter Withnell, Stephen Kelly and James Coll

the League Cup win proved to be the high-point of their season and within a few weeks, Shamrock Rovers had taken over top spot.

Dundalk continued to drop more league points, drawing a blank at Dalymount Park in a 0-0 draw, but they rediscovered their shooting boots, scoring six against Monaghan United in early February and five apiece in the opening rounds of the FAI Cup against Kilkenny City and St Jame’s Gate.

As their rivals continued to stumble, Dundalk made up some ground and they kept earned a valuable point at Richmond Park when Mick Byrne was on target in a 1-1 draw. It was followed up by a 1-0 win at home to Cobh Ramblers on February 19th, 1995, Stephen Kelly’s early goal propelling Keely’s side to the top of the table for the first time. Elsewhere, Cork’s decline continued with a 2-0 defeat to Derry City while Shamrock Rovers were beaten by Sligo Rovers – a result that put Lawrie Sanchez’s team firmly in the mix for honours.

The win over Cobh was Dundalk’s last in the league

for almost four weeks as the bad weather played havoc with fixtures. By the time they returned to league action, their FAI Cup dream was over with Derry City dumping the Lilywhites out at the quarterfinal stage. The only goal of the tie at Oriel Park came from another Jody Byrne error, his misplaced clearance falling kindly for Liam Coyle who chipped the ball into an empty net from 35 yards.

It looked like Dundalk’s league hopes were going the same way when they travelled to the RDS to face Shamrock Rovers on March 19th, 1995. Both teams produced such a poor game of football that it was extremely fanciful to think that either one of them could sustain a title challenge.

Dundalk took an early lead through Mick Doohan but Rovers levelled through Paul Whelan and recorded an 88thminute winner through Eoin Mullen. The one bright spark for Dundalk was the performance of debutant Peter Withnell.

With Mick Byrne injured, Keely made a surprise move to draft the Co Down All Ireland winning GAA star into a striking role.

56

The result left Dundalk in sixth place – four points behind Derry City, who had carved out a twopoint lead over Shelbourne at the top of the table. Keely’s side could not afford any more slip ups but just four days on after their disappointing show at the RDS, Dundalk blew the title race wide open again with a well-deserved 2-0 win over the Candystrips at Oriel Park.

Dundalk created chance after the chance in the first half but just couldn’t make the breakthrough. Withnell, who was guilty of several bad misses, was earmarked to be replaced but he finally found the mark just after the hour mark, burying a fierce drive past Dermot O’Neill from Doohan’s headed pass. Doohan wrapped up the points when his shot into the turf bounced just under the crossbar and the recalled Van Boxtel produced some great saves in the late stages.

It was a huge result and one that thrust Dundalk right back into the most exciting title race in many a year. After looking dead and buried, Keely’s side were now in third place, behind Shelbourne on goal difference and just a point behind Derry.

Shels, who had a game in hand, were next up at Oriel Park the following Sunday afternoon and a nervy encounter ensued with both sides keen not to lose ground.

Dundalk hit the front with one of the best goals of the season when Joe Hanrahan cut in from the right wing and struck a tremendous left-footed shot into the top corner but Shels levelled with eight minutes remaining with an acrobatic overhead kick from Vinny Arkins. Overall, a draw was a fair result but the real winners were Derry City who moved three points clear with a 5-0 win in Gortakeegan.

They had dropped out of contention since their January win at Oriel Park but Cork City still represented a considerable challenge for Dundalk at Bishopstown on Sunday, April 2nd, 1995. Not for the first time, Van Boxtel produced a man of the match display, producing fantastic saves to frustrate Dave Barry, John Caulfield and Billy Woods.

Dundalk turned the game on its head, scoring the only goal just three minutes into the second half. Joe Hanrahan was the architect as he broke up the wing before setting up Brian Byrne who finished superbly past Phil Harrington. In the final 20 minutes, Van Boxtel made further saves from Caulfield, Morley and Woods.

It was another big win but the odds on Derry City winning the title tightened even further when they beat St Patrick’s Athletic 2-0 at the Brandywell. Shelbourne’s win over Monaghan United meant that the position remained unchanged at the top of the table but Dundalk made it a three-way tie with a 1-0 win over Athlone Town on April 13th, 1995.

Stephen Kelly got the decisive goal in the 42nd minute but Dundalk fans were forced to bite their nails for prolonged periods of the second half.

Warren Patmore in action against Shelbourne

Without the suspended Anto Whelan and James Coll, Martin Lawlor was recalled for what turned out to be his 400th and final league appearance, his 569th in all. Unsurprisingly, he was sensational as a calming presence in the Dundalk defence.

By the end of that penultimate weekend, the pendulum had swung in Shelbourne’s favour.

A 2-1 win for Colin Murphy’s side against Bohemians at Dalymount Park, combined with Derry City’s shock 1-1 draw away to Cobh Ramblers, meant that Shels had a two-point lead over Derry City with just two games to play.

Dundalk sat a further point behind Derry in third place but talk of the title returning to Oriel Park wasn’t even being discussed in the media. It was looked upon as a two-horse 57

race and Derry seized the advantage again when they beat Shels 2-0 in a midweek clash at the Brandywell to go a point clear.

Keely’s side refused to throw in the towel and they moved above Shels into second place on goal difference thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds.

Peter Withnell was the hero, producing a moment of sheer magic in the 63rd minute to control a cross by Brian Byrne, swivel and strike a thundering volley high into the roof of the net past Mark McLean.

Van Boxtel also had a big say, making an incredible 73rd minute save to push Mike Small’s shot around the post and seal Dundalk’s 10th onegoal win of the campaign!

The title race was decided at three venues around the

The Dundalk players celebrate Tom McNulty’s opener against Galway United. Inset: Dermot Keely and Tommy Connolly wonder how long is left on the referee’s watch

country on Sunday, April 23rd, 1995. There were plenty of permutations. For Shelbourne to win it, they needed to beat St Pat’s by more than Dundalk could beat Galway United while also hoping that Derry City dropped points against Athlone Town at St Mel’s Park.

Dundalk needed to beat Galway by at least the same score as a Shelbourne win over St Pats, while also hoping for a Derry slip. In contrast, Derry’s task was relatively simple – beat Athlone Town and they were champions.

It seemed a formality but in the days leading up to the game, media discussion centred on the FAI’s decision to send their top brass and the trophy to St Mel’s Park for the presentation. Athlone were managed by Michael O’Connor, a double-winner with Dundalk in 1988, and he was less than impressed with some of the comments about the match being a simple coronation.

Athlone also had motivation of their own and planned to use the Derry game as important preparation for their upcoming promotion/relegation play-off with Finn Harps.

It was a day for the transistor radios on the terraces. All of the matches kicked off at 3pm but just 16 seconds later, the title race took another major turn.

Derry kicked off at St Mel’s Park and played the ball back to Paul McLaughlin. Donal Golden stuck out a foot to block his clearance and the ball rebounded into space on the right wing. Golden controlled the ball on his chest and burst into the box before producing a sublime lobbed finish over Dermot O’Neill from the edge of the box. It was a remarkable start to a remarkable afternoon.

At Oriel Park, Dundalk almost took an early lead of their own when Mick Doohan shot over the bar from the edge of the box. Then, just before Dundalk or Shelbourne fans allowed 58

themselves to get carried away, Liam Coyle produced a moment of genius to draw Derry level after 15 minutes with a sensational long-range effort.

The remainder of the match was played around the Athlone penalty area and Shane Curran, who was also the Roscommon GAA goalkeeper, made the first of a string of great saves when he threw himself to the right to push away an effort from Pascal Vaudequin.

Dundalk and Shelbourne were both on top in their respective games but they went into the dressing rooms at Oriel Park and Tolka Park respectively frustrated. With Derry back on terms in Athlone, even the most optimistic Dundalk or Shelbourne fan found it hard to believe that anything other than a Candystripes victory was on the cards.

More news filtered through from St Mel’s Park in the 52nd minute: penalty to Derry City.

It was a travesty of a decision.

Athlone defender Ray McLoughlin was tripped by Liam Coyle in the penalty area and landed on the ball but the referee adjudged him to have handled it. This only meant one thing – Stuart Gauld was surely going to score. Why wouldn’t he?

Of his 38 previous penalties, Gauld had scored 37. His solitary miss came three years earlier. It was nailed on, or so it seemed! He went low to Curran’s right but the Athlone goalkeeper reacted sharply to push away the penalty and Dundalk and Shelbourne were still in the mix. Afterwards, Curran revealed that he had been inspired by David Seaman’s penalty shootout heroics for Arsenal in their European Cup Winner’s Cup tie with Sampdoria a few days earlier.

Dundalk continued to knock on the Galway door at Oriel Park. Joe Hanrahan missed a great chance when he found himself in plenty of space in the box but his shot was well saved by Joey Power.

Soon afterwards, Power made an even better save to deny Stephen Kelly’s close range header.

Good news came through when St Patrick’s Athletic went 1-0 up at Tolka Park through Jason Byrne but as time ticked away, it looked like the afternoon was potentially turning into a nightmare scenario for Dundalk. How galling would it be to see Derry drop points only for the Lilywhites to fail and take advantage?

Keely’s side needed a break and it finally arrived with 16 minutes to go. After another corner was cleared into the Dundalk half, Van Boxtel ran 40 yards off his line to pump the ball back into the danger zone. One of the Galway defenders failed to keep his line and Tom McNulty timed his run perfectly to stay onside, knock the ball past Power and tap it into an empty net from eight yards.

Oriel Park went crazy with McNulty lifting a ball boy up in celebration and the nerves were settled with eight minutes to go when Mick Doohan angled a superb low drive past Power. Dundalk had done their job but Shelbourne were out of contention, Stephen Geoghegan’s equaliser not enough to beat Pat’s. Attention turned to St Mel’s Park.

With the match over, Dundalk supporters congregated on the pitch, wondering what was happening the midlands. LMFM’s Gerry Malone played his part by patching up RTE’s coverage of the match in St Mel’s Park to the PA system.

In truth, nobody could really hear a word of the muffled commentary but they could get the general gist. In stoppage time, a cross from Gauld was dropped by Curran but the ball was somehow cleared off the line by Rod De Khors and every Dundalk supporter! Derry continued to attack and they won a direct free-kick, right on the ‘D’.

Hearts skipped a beat at Oriel Park but Liam Coyle’s attempted chip was blocked by the

James Coll lifts ‘a trophy’ after the dramatic win over Galway United. The real one was presented to him a couple of days later at Lansdowne Road

Athlone wall and seconds later, the final whistle was blown at St Mel’s Park and Dundalk were champions of Ireland for the ninth time in the club’s history!

With the real silverware in Athlone, the 1991 league trophy that Dundalk were allowed to keep was rushed down from the boardroom for James Coll to hoist in the air. He picked up the real trophy a few days later at the Euro 96 qualifier between Ireland and Portugal at Lansdowne Road.

It was the culmination of an amazing season that saw Dundalk come back from the brink of bankruptcy to win title. Nobody gave Keely and his side a prayer but they showed great resolve and defied the media and pundits alike.

“We won the league this year with no good players. Isn’t that amazing?”, laughed Keely after the Galway game. “All along, it’s been a matter of having belief in ourselves and that is what we did again today.”

59

2020 SEASON

PLAYER SPONSORS Born: 25 Sept 81 Ex-clubs: Drogheda Utd, Dublin City, Bray Wanderers, Galway, St Patrick’s Athletic, Sligo Rovers

Away Sponsor Rós, Tim & Joe Connor

Home Sponsor Haughey’s Pharmacy

Born: 11 Jul 91 Ex-clubs: St Kevin’s Boys, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic

Home Sponsor Paddy Fitzpatrick

Born: 15 Mar 94 Ex-clubs: Castleknock Celtic, Home Farm, Shelbourne, St Patrick’s Athletic

Away Sponsor Home Sponsor Bellurgan Precision Bellurgan Precision Engineering Engineering

7 MICHAEL DUFFY

Away Sponsor Sing Li

10 GREG SLOGGETT

Home Sponsor Dean Arrowsmith

8 JOHN MOUNTNEY

Born: 04 Oct 95 Ex-clubs: Wigan Athletic, Blackpool, Chesterfield, AFC Fylde, Ostersund

Home Sponsor Padraig McGowan

Away Sponsor Aislinn & Erin Farrelly

11 PATRICK MCELENEY

Born: 28 Jul 91 Ex-clubs: Mervue Utd, Bristol City, Clevedon Town (loan), Oxford Utd, Stevenage (loan), Grimsby Town (loan), Mansfield Home Sponsor Lumper’s Bar

60

Away Sponsor Derek Pepper

Away Sponsor Gerry & Verona Lennon

14 DANE MASSEY

Born: 26 Sep 92 Ex-clubs: Sunderland, Derry City, Dundalk, Oldham Athletic

Home Sponsor Brian & Neil McQuillan

Away Sponsor James Rogers

9 PATRICK HOBAN

Born: 22 Feb 93 Ex-clubs: Kiltimagh / Knock Utd, Ballina Town, Mervue Utd

Home Sponsor Eamonn Laverty

Away Sponsor Kaylon & Sean Cunningham

6 JORDAN FLORES

Away Sponsor Derek Pepper

Home Sponsor Sing Li

Born: 03 Jul 96 Ex-clubs: UCD, Derry City

Away Sponsor Cian & Barry McMullan

Born: 04 Nov 86 Ex-clubs: Bray Wanderers, Shelbourne, Monaghan Utd, Portadown

Born: 27 Dec 90 Ex-clubs: St Francis, Bray Wanderers

Born: 28 Jul 94 Ex-clubs: Derry City, Celtic, Alloa Athletic (Loan), Dundee (loan)

Home Sponsor David & Daniel Humphries

Away Sponsor Tommy Kelly Fan Club

5 CHRIS SHIELDS

4 SEAN HOARE

Home Sponsor The McCabe Family

3 BRIAN GARTLAND

2 SEAN GANNON

1 GARY ROGERS

Born: 17 Apr 88 Ex-clubs: Bray Wanderers

Home Sponsor Cillian/Anita/ Mary/Olivia

Away Sponsor James Scully

IF YOU WISH TO SPONSOR AN AVAILABLE PLAYER, PLEASE CONTACT ORIEL PARK. EMAIL office@dundalkfc.com CALL 042 93 35894

15 DARRAGH LEAHY

16 SEAN MURRAY

Born: 15 Apr 98 Ex-clubs: Coventry City, Nuneaton Borough (loan), Bohemians

Away Sponsor Jade Taaffe

Home Sponsor Permanent TSB

18 WILL PATCHING

Home Sponsor Shane Taaffe

Away Sponsor Coffee Time

22 STEFAN COLOVIC

Away Sponsor Available

29 DAVID MCMILLAN Born: 14 Dec 88 Ex-clubs: UCD, St Patrick’s Athletic, Olympic, Sligo Rovers, St Johnstone, Hamilton Academical, Falkirk

Home Sponsor Available

Away Sponsor Available

Born: 5 Mar 96 Ex-clubs: Tottenham, Luton Town, Rangers, Colchester Utd, Peterborough, Ljubljana, Vejle, Hapoel Hadera

Home Sponsor Available

Away Sponsor Available

23 CAMERON DUMMIGAN

Away Sponsor Available

Home Sponsor Available

21 DANIEL CLEARY

Born: 14 Jan 92 Ex-clubs: Monaghan Utd, Wolverhampton Wanders, Telford, York City, Portsmouth, Bury, Ross County, Warrenpoint Town

Born: 16 April 94 Ex-clubs: Rad, Drina Zvornik, Sloboda Tuzla, Jagodina, Radnicki Pirot, Kolubara, Proleter Novi Sad

Home Sponsor Available

Away Sponsor Niall MacClancy

20 AARON MCCAREY

Born: 18 Oct 98 Ex-clubs: Man City, Notts County

Home Sponsor Oliver Dullaghan

17 NATHAN ODUWA

Born: 11 Oct 93 Ex-clubs: Watford, Wigan Athletic, Swindon Town, Colchester United, Vejle BK

Born: 9 Mar 96 Ex-clubs: Liverpool, Birmingham City, Solihull Motors (loan)

Away Sponsor The Hughes Family

Home Sponsor Derek Pepper

27 DANIEL KELLY Born: 21 May 96 Ex-clubs: Bohemian FC, Bray Wanderers, St Pats CY, Crumlin United

Born: 2 Jun 96 Ex-clubs: Burnley, Oldham Athletic, Crusaders (loan)

Away Sponsor Available

Home Sponsor Available

45 JOSHUA GATT

44 ANDY BOYLE Born: 7 Mar 91 Ex-clubs: Crumlin Utd, UCD, Shelbourne, Preston North End, Doncaster Rovers, Dundee, Ross County

Home Sponsor Highbury Concrete

Away Sponsor Brendan & Saoirse Kelly

Home Sponsor Nicky McCourt

Away Sponsor Zach Sexton

61

Born: 29 Aug 91 Ex-clubs: Rheindorf Altach, Molde, Minnesota United, Colorado Rapids, Detroit City FC

Home Sponsor Available

Away Sponsor Available

SUPPORTERS

PATREON MEMBERSHIP

In early June, Dundalk FC launched a new official membership scheme, aimed at growing and improving the relationship between the club, our supporters and the local community.

Since then, the uptake has been fantastic with over 275 members signed up thus far.

Like every business, COVID-19 has had a major, detrimental effect on the club’s plans for the year. In order to respond to the loss of match night earnings and sponsorship, we decided to introduce a high-quality membership service that we hope our fans and the local community will support.

For a monthly subscription, members will receive exclusive access to digital content on the Dundalk FC Patreon page that will bring them closer to everything

that happens at Oriel Park.

On top of that, members will also receive a host of benefits from the club and our selected community partners.

How much will it cost? €15 a month.

The fee is payable on joining and will then be charged on the first of every month. *Please note that prices exclude Patreon VAT rate of 23%.

How do I access it?

The content will be housed on the Dundalk FC Patreon page. www.patreon.com/dundalkfc What exactly do I get for my money?

Exclusive members-only digital content and a host of other benefits.

62

What are the other benefits?

Dundalk FC Membership Card and Certificate Members sign-up pack includes: – DFC Snood – DFC Scarf – DFC Personalised Mug A 10% discount in the Dundalk FC Club Shop.

Discount offers at selected community partners.

Free monthly Dundalk FC surprise.

Monthly members draw.

Monthly members newsletter.

Exclusive access to members events. *More benefits will be added when the current restrictions around COVID-19 are eased.

How do I sign up?

Simply visit: www.patreon.com/dundalkfc

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FIGURES...

THE NUMBERS GAME 4

- Four of the clubs against whom Patrick Hoban scored no longer exist in the League of Ireland any more.

Limerick FC (against whom he scored 9 times), Monaghan United (3), Salthill Devon (2) and Kildare County (1). Following his brace at Finn Park last week it just leaves Cobh Ramblers, Galway Utd, Cabinteely and Shamrock Rovers II as well as Dundalk (against whom he never played a league game as Mervue Utd and Dundalk were never in the same division during his time at the Galway based club) as the only League of Ireland sides he hasn’t yet netted against. (With thanks to James Rogers for the goal tallies).

22

- With the news that Birmingham City have retired their number 22 in honour of Jude Bellingham, it’s appropriate that we take a look at Dundalk’s recent number 22s.

Current holder of the jersey, Stefan Colovic continues the recent trend of Dundalk number 22s having spent time playing outside the LOI. The Serbian attacker has spent the majority of his career so far in his homeland. Last season, Scotsman Joe McKee, another to play in their native land before joining the Lilywhites- in

his case on a short term loan before returning to Scotland. Previous to 2019, the number 22 jersey was worn by goalkeeper Gabriel Sava who had spent time on the books of Italian giants Lazio before keeping goal for Drogheda Town, Monaghan United and Drogheda United.

24

- It’s almost 24 months since Dundalk lost a league match at Oriel Park. They safely negotiated the 2019 without a Premier Division defeat at the Carrick Road venue, their only competitive domestic defeat there was the 1-0 LSC reverse to Athlone Town courtesy of a goal from on loan Shamrock Rovers striker Dean Williams. Indeed, one has to go back to August 2018, when a last minute Dylan Watts penalty saw Shamrock Rovers snatch all three

points, in order to find a league game where the Oriel Park faithful witness their side suffer a league defeat. (Am hoping this stat still stands after the game tonight Tom - Thanks Ed.).

5,100,000

- Jordan Flores’ goal against Shamrock Rovers has hit at least five million views on the RTE clip alone.

The Dundalk number 6 scored a thunderbolt against Waterford at the RSC last season and netted another scorcher against Cork City at Oriel Park the week before his superb strike at Tallaght Stadium a few weeks ago. Ironically, the strike closest to the goal is the one for which he has received the greatest acclaim- his only competitive goal for the club scored inside the penalty area.

Jordan Flores (#6), celebrates scoring Dundalk’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium.

63

15 Darragh LEAHY

14 Dane MASSEY

14 Dane MASSEY

15 Darragh LEAHY

Brian GARTLAND Gary ROGERS Seán HOARE Seán GANNON Chris SHIELDS Brian GARTLAND Jordan FLORES Seán HOARE Michael DUFFY Chris SHIELDS John MOUNTNEY Jordan FLORES Patrick HOBAN Michael DUFFY Greg SLOGGETT John MOUNTNEY Patrick McELENEY Patrick HOBAN Dane MASSEY Greg SLOGGETT Darragh LEAHY Patrick McELENEY

11 Patrick McELENEY

Seán GANNON

3 1 4 2 5 3 6 4 7 5 8 6 9 7 10 8 11 9 14 10 15 11

10 Greg SLOGGETT 2

2020 SEASON 2020 SEASON MATCHMATCH DATA DATA

Gary ROGERS

9 Patrick HOBAN

8 John MOUNTNEY

7 Michael DUFFY

6 Jordan FLORES

TEAMSTATISTICS TEAMSTATISTICS

1

7:50 _04StPatricksAthletic60_56_57.qxp_DFC: 2020_04StPatricksAthletic60_56_57.qxp_DFC: PageMatchday 1 Matchday MagazineMagazine 28/07/2020 28/07/2020 17:50 Page 17:50 1 Page 1

Comp. Opponents Date Date H/A Comp. H/A Opponents K-O Res. K-O Res. u 7-1 tW t u u tu1 u t u u t2 u u u t1 u u u Frieu UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN COLLEGE t1 7:45 DUBLIN 7-1 W 7:45t Frit2 17HJan Frie HUNIVERSITY t2 t u u1 t1 u t t1 t1 u1 t1 Fri 17 Jan u 1-2 uL t u t u u t t t u u t t ut t u u u n t u t n u ut u CFR Cluj Friet CFR Cluj 5:00 1-2 L 5:00n Wed 22 Jan Wed N*22 JanFrie N* n 0-2uL u© n n u u u t t u u t n t u n u u t Fri 24 Jan N*t CSKA Frie Moskva CSKA Moskva 4:00 0-2 L 4:00t u© u n t u u u tn Fri 24 Jan Frie N* u u n u n©t1 u u u u u n u u un u Frie UNITED DROGHEDA UNITED 7:45 2-0 W 7:45u Thu 30 Jan Thu H 30 Jan Frie HDROGHEDA 2-0nW n© t1 un t1 n n n2 n n Mon 03 Feb MonA03 FebFrie ACrusaders Frie Crusaders 7:30 2-1 W 7:30 2-1 W n© n n© n n n2 n n2 t u 0-1 nL u n u n t n t n u n uu u u Tue 04 Feb Tue H 04 Feb Frie HLONGFORD Frie TOWN LONGFORD TOWN 7:45 0-1 L 7:45n Sun 09 Feb Sun H PRC ROVERS SHAMROCK ROVERS PP PP 09 FebPRC HSHAMROCK n 1-0 nW l n t n n© l t t n n© t n1 n n1 u l ln1 n n n u l t LGE CITY DERRY CITY 7:45 1-0 W 7:45u Fri 14 Feb Fri 14Hn Feb LGE HDERRY n 2-1 nW t n n n n© t u n u n© u n1n u u n t Fri 21 Feb LGE Shelbourne 7:45 2-1 W 7:45n Fri 21Au Feb LGE AShelbourne n1 n1 n n t tn n 3-0nW l n n n n© l t1 n u1n© t1 n1l n Mon 24 Feb Monu1 H24 FebLGE HCORKLGE CITY CORK CITY 7:45 3-0 W 7:45t t1 n1 u1 t n1 l t n nl n 2-3nL l n n n n© l t1 n n n© t1 n1n n u n Fri 28 Feb Fri 28 An Feb LGE AShamrock LGE Rovers Shamrock [RTÉ]Rovers [RTÉ] 8:00 2-3 L 8:00u n1 n u t1 n1 n 4-0nW l n n n n© l t l l n n1n© l u2 n t u2 n n1 t n Fri 06 Mar Fri 06 n1 A Mar LGE AFinn Harps LGE Finn Harps u2 8:00 4-0 W8:00 n1 n1 n1 n 1-1 uD t u n u u© u1 u u© t u1 ut u t t u t t u ut u Frie CITY DERRY CITY 7:45 1-1 D 7:45t u1 Fri 10 Jul Fri 10 Hu Jul Frie HDERRY l 4-1u1 l t Tue 14 Jul Friet BOHEMIANS t1 7:45 4-1 W 7:45u W u1u© uP u u© t uPn1 t1 n1 u t tn1 uP Tue H 14u Jul Frie HBOHEMIANS t1 u u t n t u© ut u u t n nt n u Fri 17 Jul Frieu UNITED DROGHEDA UNITED 7:30 1-0 W 7:30 n 1-0 tW Fri 17HJul Frie HDROGHEDA u© u Frie TOWN ATHLONE TOWN 7:30 4-2 W 7:30 4-2 W Mon 20 Jul MonH20 Jul Frie HATHLONE u1© u1© u1© n 2-1 nW u u u u n n n© t t n1 u n t t t t LONGFORD TOWN Tue n1 21 Jul Frie HLONGFORD Frie TOWN 7:45 2-1 W 7:45n n1n© u n1 n1 n n1 Tue 21 Jul H Fri 31 Jul Fri 31HJul LGE HSAINTLGE PATRICK’S SAINT ATHLETIC PATRICK’S [RTÉ] ATHLETIC 7:45 [RTÉ] 7:45 Fri 07 Aug Fri 07 A Aug LGE ABohemians LGE [WATCHLOI] Bohemians [WATCHLOI] 5:45 5:45 UCL [QR1 [UEFA.com] DRAW] [UEFA.com] tbd tbd Sun 09 Aug Sun -09 AugUCL -[QR1 DRAW] UCL [QR2 [UEFA.com] DRAW] [UEFA.com] tbd tbd Mon 10 Aug Mon-10 AugUCL -[QR2 DRAW] FAIC WATERFORD [R1] [R1] 7:45 7:45 Tue 11 Aug Tue H 11 Aug FAIC HWATERFORD 5:45 Fri 14 Aug Fri 14HAug LGE HWATERFORD LGE WATERFORD [WATCHLOI] [WATCHLOI] 5:45 Tue 18 Aug Tue 18 - Aug UCL -tbd [QR1] UCL tbd [QR1] tbd tbd Sat 22 Aug Sat 22 LGE Sligo Rovers [WATCHLOI] 5:00 A Aug LGE ASligo Rovers [WATCHLOI] 5:00 - AugUCL -tbd [QR2] UCL tbd [QR2] tbd tbd Tue 25 Aug Tue 25 Mon 31 Aug Mon-31 AugUCL -[QR3 DRAW] UCL [QR3 DRAW] [UEFA.com] tbd [UEFA.com] tbd A Sep LGE ADerry LGE City [RTÉ] Derry City [RTÉ] 7:45 7:45 Fri 04 Sep Fri 04 LGE SHELBOURNE [RTÉ] [RTÉ] 8:00 8:00 Fri 11 Sep Fri 11HSep LGE HSHELBOURNE Tue 15 Sep Tue 15 - Sep UCL -tbd [QR3] UCL tbd [QR3] tbd tbd 7:45 Fri 18 Sep Fri 18 A Sep LGE ACork City LGE[WATCHLOI] Cork City [WATCHLOI]7:45 FAIC tbd [R2] tbd tbd tbd FAIC -tbd [R2] tbd Fri 25 Sep Fri 25 H Sep LGE HSHAMROCK LGE ROVERS SHAMROCK [WATCHLOI] ROVERS [WATCHLOI] 7:45 7:45 LGE FINN [WATCHLOI] HARPS [WATCHLOI] 7:45 7:45 Fri 02 Oct Fri 02 H Oct LGE HFINN HARPS A Oct LGE A Saint Patrick’s LGE Saint Athletic Patrick’s [WATCHLOI] Athletic [WATCHLOI] 7:45 7:45 Fri 09 Oct Fri 09 LGE BOHEMIANS Fri 16 Oct Fri 16 HOct LGE HBOHEMIANS [WATCHLOI] [WATCHLOI] 7:45 7:45 7:45 Fri 23 Oct Fri 23 A Oct LGE AWaterford LGE [WATCHLOI] Waterford [WATCHLOI] 7:45 Fri 30 Oct Fri 30 H Oct LGE HSLIGOLGE ROVERS SLIGO [WATCHLOI] ROVERS [WATCHLOI] 7:45 7:45 Sun 15 Nov Sun -15 NovFAIC -tbd [QF] FAIC tbd [QF] tbd tbd FAIC tbd [SF] tbd tbd Sun 22 Nov Sun -22 NovFAIC -tbd [SF] FAIC tbd [F] tbd Sun 29 Nov Sun N 29 NovFAIC Ntbd [F] tbd xApps/Goals xApps/Goals H xHLGE: SSE xLGE:League x x x5/1 /2 5/2 0/0 Airtricity SSE Airtricity 5/5 League 5/0 x 5/0x x1/05/05/05/0 1/0 5/01/04/25/05/25/00/04/2 4/1 5/55/25/10/01/05/54/15/1 2/01/0 4/1 2/0 2/0 FAIC: Extra.ie FAI Cup 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 FAIC: 0/0 0/0 Extra.ie FAI Cup 0/0 0/0 0/00/0 0/0 0/00/0 0/00/0 0/00/00/00/0 0/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/0 0/00/0 0/0 0/0 UCL: UEFA Champions League 0/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 UCL: UEFA 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 Champions League 0/0 0/0 0/00/00/0 0/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/0 0/00/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 PRC: President’s 0/0 PRC: President’s 0/0 Cup 0/0 0/0 0/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/0 0/0 0/0 Cup 0/0 0/0 0/00/00/0 0/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/0 0/00/0 0/0 0/0 UUCC: Unite the 0/0 Union Champions Cup0/0 0/0 0/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 UUCC:0/0 0/0 Unite the Union Champions Cup 0/0 0/0 0/00/00/0 0/00/00/00/00/00/00/00/0 0/00/0 0/0 0/0 APPS/GOALS TOTAL(excl.

APPS/GOALS friendlies) (excl. friendlies) 5/0 5/0 1/05/05/05/0 5/01/04/25/05/25/00/04/2 5/55/25/10/01/05/54/15/1 2/01/0 4/1 2/0 /2 5/2 TOTAL0/0 5/5 5/1 1/0 4/1 2/0 �

�

�

�

� �

�

�

� �

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�� �

��

�

�

�

�

�

URANT ROMA ROMA RESTAURANT RESTAURANT

UNDALK 7 PARK 7 PARK STREET, STREET, DUNDALK DUNDALK

4928 TEL TEL 042 042 9334928 9334928 64

�

�

�

t u u

t

u n1 t

t n t t u

u1 t u t1 u

n t l t t

l l l l l l n l n

u t u n

t t n u

n l n l n n u u1

l t u t u

n

u

t t n u

u t n t u t u t

n n1 l n l n u u

t

n

t t t u

n

t t t u t n2

28 Lido LOTEFA

25 Taner DOGAN

23 Cameron SMITH

12 George KELLY

45 Joshua GATT

44 Andy BOYLE

29 David McMILLAN

27 Daniel KELLY

26

24

23 Cameron DUMMIGAN

21 Daniel CLEARY

u n

u u u u u

u1 tu

22 Stefan ČOLOVIĆ

20 Aaron McCAREY

19

17 Nathan ODUWA

t

18 Will PATCHING

16 Seán MURRAY

2020_04StPatricksAthletic60_56_57.qxp_DFC: Matchday Magazine 28/07/2020 17:50 Page 2

t t t t n

u t u u

t n

u u u u u

l l t

Standings Team Shamrock Rovers

Pld W 5 5

D 0

L 0

F 15

A 4

+/- Pts +11 15

DUNDALK Bohemians

5 5

4 3

0 0

1 2

12 6

4 3

+8 +3

12 9

St Patrick’s Athletic Shelbourne Waterford Derry City Finn Harps

4 4 4 4 4

2 2 2 1 1

0 0 0 1 1

2 2 2 2 2

3 3 3 4 2

2 4 5 4 6

+1 -1 -2 0 -4

6 6 6 4 4

Cork City

5

1

0

4

1

11

-10

3

Sligo Rovers

4

0

0

4

2

8

-6

0

Note: Data correct until Monday 27 July 2020 (11:30pm)

Fixtures Date Fri 31 Jul Sat 01 Aug Sun 02 Aug

Match Derry City v Sligo Rovers (5:45) Dundalk St Patrick’s Athletic Shelbourne v Waterford (2:00) Shamrock Rovers v Finn Harps (5:00) Cork City v Bohemians (5:00)

Note: Kick-offs are 7:45 unless otherwise stated l t t n1 l

Statistics Goals scored Total goals 51 (average: 2.32) Home goals 29 (average: 1.32) Away goals 22 (average: 1.00) Results Home wins 12 (54.5%) Draws 1 (4.6%) Away wins 9 (41.0%) Over/Under 2.5 goals Over 7 (31.8%) Under 15 (68.2%) Note: Players: Squad numbers not used in pre-season matches Starting: n / Not used: l / Player in: t / Player out: u / Captain: © Order of substitutions: 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5 and subsequent Goals: Listed by quantity (1, 2, 3, etc) Venue (H/A): N: Aviva Stadium, Dublin H*: Tallaght Stadium, Dublin

�

�

�

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

�

3/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 3/0

�

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

�

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

�

3/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 3/0

� �

1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/0

�

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

�

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

�

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

�

5/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 5/0

�

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

�

3/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 3/1

�

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

2/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 2/0

5/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 5/0

0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0

DUNDALK OIL FREEPHONE:1800 180093 93800 FREEPHONE: 8000 Heating oils - Road diesel/petrol Agri diesel - Fuel cards Lubricating oils 65

�

1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/0

Other player/venue data Fri 17 Jan: Dundalk 7-1 University College Dublin t Gabriel Sava Wed 22 Jan: Dundalk 1-2 CFR Cluj N*: Played at Oliva Nova, Spain t Gabriel Sava Fri 24 Jan: Dundalk 0-2 CSKA Moskva N*: Played at Hotel Campoamor, Spain Thu 30 Jan: Dundalk 2-0 Drogheda United t Gabriel Sava / t Mark Hanratty / t Andrew Quinn Mon 03 Feb: Crusaders 1-2 Dundalk t Mark Hanratty / t Ronan Kilkenny / t Jamie Wynne l Jamie Barry Tue 04 Feb: Dundalk 0-1 Longford Town t Mark Hanratty / t Jamie Wynne / t Val Adedokun t Gabriel Sava / t Andrew Quinn / t Ronan Kilkenny l Jamie Barry Fri 10 Jul: Dundalk 1-1 Derry City l Andrew Quinn / l Jimmy Corcoran Tue 14 Jul: Dundalk 4-1 Bohemians l Andrew Quinn / l Jimmy Corcoran Fri 17 Jul: Dundalk 1-0 Drogheda United t Andrew Quinn / l Jimmy Corcoran Mon 20 Jul: Dundalk 4-2 Athlone Town n Christian Jones (4) / n Andrew Quinn (5) / n Jarlath Jones (21) t Ronan Kilkenny (22) / t Thomas Daly (16) / t Jeff Nwodo (15) t Luke Hennessy (7) Tue 21 Jul: Dundalk 2-1 Longford Town l Jimmy Corcoran / l Andrew Quinn / l Ronan Kilkenny

EXTRA TIME:

THE SPECTATOR

Sean Gannon in action against Chris Forrester of St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park in 2014

Good evening and welcome to your gaff for tonight’s somewhat surreal match.

For most Dundalk and St Pat’s fans more accustomed to the live experience it’ll be novel watching the League of Ireland on television. It’s an opportunity for League of Ireland supporters to share the excitement of watching their team solely through the restrictive prism of television, just like fans of those ‘real’ football teams like popular Irish sides Liverpool, Celtic, Arsenal and

Barcelona.

It’ll be a pretty surreal experience for the players too, though they’ve played numerous friendlies behind closed doors and some of them previously played for UCD. Still, it’s like everything else this year- it’s just a bit crap but it’s time to get on with it.

Our last home game was just over five months ago, against Cork City.

The result that night was a comprehensive 3-0, the highlight of which was the bold Jordan Flores lashing a stunning 25-yarder into the top corner. It

66

was talked about as an early Goal of the Season contender. Four days later Flores eliminated that little beauty from the collective conscience, with a goal that’s gone more viral than COVID-19.

It may be five months ago, in an entirely different era of modern history, but THAT goal in that match was just two games ago. Though Dundalk ended up on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline in Tallaght that night it felt like the beginning of something good. It was an epic game,

“

in a decent stadium, - by 2014 standards. with a big crowd, a More bacterial than OUR LAST HOME GAME WAS JUST great standard of viral perhaps.

OVER FIVE MONTHS AGO, AGAINST football and it was Part of the problem CORK CITY. THE HIGHLIGHT OF WHICH well received in the with Forrester’s WAS THE BOLD JORDAN FLORES media and among wonderstrike though LASHING A STUNNING 25-YARDER the public. It looked is that it was at United like the League of Park, which has the INTO THE TOP CORNER. IT WAS Ireland was set up effect of rendering TALKED ABOUT AS AN EARLY GOAL for a classic season, a his opus against the OF THE SEASON CONTENDER. FOUR 36-game battle royale backdrop of a modest DAYS LATER FLORES ELIMINATED between the forces of crowd hemmed in by THAT LITTLE BEAUTY FROM THE good and evil. But then rusty corrugated iron COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE, WITH A life, and death, got in and ramshackle block GOAL THAT’S GONE MORE VIRAL the way. work. Essentially it THAN COVID-19.

That goal counted for looks like a talented little in the end but it player whacked in did (briefly) raise the a worldie in a pub profile of the league league match. There’s Drogheda. and inject Jordan Flores a compelling argument Thanks to the wonders with minor celebrity. that the international of modern technology, Depending on your point validity of Flores’ strike Googling ‘Forrester Pats of view it was the goal of would have been severely Drogheda goal’ will get the century (Didi Hamann) hampered if it came at you straight to the second or not even the best goal a near empty Carlisle best strike in League of of the match (some rather Grounds or, dare we say it, Ireland history. Forrester churlish Rovers fans). at the rustic hotchpotch applied an extraordinary The truth may just lie of Oriel Park. It’s the volley to a looping half somewhere in between. never-ending battle clearance, lashing a goal Wherever it sits in the for League of Ireland fully 40 yards over Drogs pantheon of great goals legitimacy, a high quality keeper David Ryan. It it drew The Spectator product against a low was a jaw-dropping piece back to his favourite nonquality background. An of artistry, an amazing Dundalk League of Ireland almost empty low quality combination of technique, goal- Chris Forrester’s background, for now. audacity, power and sheer 2014 meisterwerk at skill. It probably went viral

Chris Forrester scores against Drogheda United in the SSE Airtricity League match at United Park.

Photo: SaintsTV for image.

67

HALF-TIME CHALLENGE

THE QUIZ

Dundalk 1. Which two Dundalk players celebrated their birthdays earlier this week?

2. Cameron Dummigan recently spent time on loan at which NIPL side?

3. In what year did Dundalk lose 5-2 to St Patrick’s Athletic at Inchicore?

2

4. What colour was the Dundalk away jersey before black became standard in 2015?

5. In what city did Dylan Connolly score his only European goal for Dundalk?

St Patrick’s Athletic 6. Which former St Patrick’s Athletic manager signed for Vancouver Whitecaps but never played?

7. What Spanish side did Chris Fagan play with?

10

8. What car manufacturer once sponsored the St. Patrick’s Athletic jersey?

9. When did St. Patrick’s Athletic manager Stevie O’Donnell his first League of Ireland title?

10. Ryan Guy played international football for which nation?

Mixed Bag 11. Name the Irish woman who was part of the refereeing team for the Women’s World Cup Final in 2019.

12. Where is the Rose Bowl Stadium?

11

13. In what year was Stephanie Roche nominated for the Puskas Award?

14. Who is the Aston Villa manager?

15. What colour is the Borussia Dortmund home kit?

4. Blue & Yellow 5. Tallinn 6. Harry Kenny 7. Jerez Industrial 8. Nissan 9. 2008- Bohemians 10. Guam 11. Michelle O’Neill 12. California 13. 2013 14. Dean Smith 15. Black & Yellow 1. Michael Duffy & Patrick Hoban 2. Crusaders 3. 2016

13

ANSWERS 68

69

DUNDALK

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

1 GARY ROGERS

1

2 SEAN GANNON

2 RORY FEELY

3 BRIAN GARTLAND

3 IAN BERMINGHAM

4 SEAN HOARE

4 DAN WARD

5 CHRIS SHIELDS

5 LEE DESMOND

6 JORDAN FLORES

6 JAMIE LENNON

7 MICHAEL DUFFY

7 ROBBIE BENSON

8 JOHN MOUNTNEY

8 DARRAGH MARKEY

9 PATRICK HOBAN

9 MARTIN RENNIE

10 GREGORY SLOGGETT

10 RONAN HALE

11 PATRICK McELENEY

11 DEAN CLARKE

12

12 OLIVER YOUNGER

13

13

14 DANE MASSEY

14 LUKE MCNALLY

15 DARRAGH LEAHY

15 BILLY KING

16 SEAN MURRAY

16 JASON MCCLELLAND

17 NATHAN ODUWA

17 SIMON MADDEN

18 WILL PATCHING

18 JAKE WALKER

19

19 CHRIS FORRESTER

20 AARON McCAREY

20 SHANE GRIFFIN

21 DANIEL CLEARY

21

22 STEFAN COLOVIC

22 JAMES DOONA

23 CAMERON DUMMIGAN

23

24

24

25

25 CONOR KEARNS

26

26 BRENDAN CLARKE

27 DANIEL KELLY

27

28

28

29 DAVID MCMILLAN

29

30

30 PAUL CLEARY

44 ANDY BOYLE

34 BEN McCORMACK

45 JOSHUA GATT

35 DARRAGH BURNS

MANAGER VINNY PERTH

MANAGER STEPHEN O’DONNELL

BRIAN MAHER

HONOURS League of Ireland Champions (14): 1932/33, ‘62/63, ‘66/67, ‘75/76, ‘78/79, ‘81/82, ‘87/88, ‘90/91, ‘94/95, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

First Division Champions (2): 2000/01, 2008

FAI Cup Winners (11): 1942, 1949, 1952, 1958, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1988, 2002, 2015, 2018

Top Four Cup Winners (2): 1963/64, ‘66/67 League of Ireland Shield Winners (2): 1966/67, ‘71/72 League Cup Winners (7): 1977/78, ‘80/81, ‘86/87, ‘89/90, 2014, 2017, 2019

FAI President’s Cup Winners (2): 2015, 2019 Leinster Senior Cup Winners (7): 1951/52, ‘60/61, ‘70/71, ‘73/74, ‘76/77, ‘77/78, 2015 Leinster FA President’s Cup Winners (9): 1930/31, ‘51/52, ‘63/64, ‘64/65, ‘79/80, ‘80/81, ‘81/82, ‘88/89, ‘89/90 Dublin City Cup Winners (5): 1937/38, ‘42/43, ‘48/49, ‘67/68, ‘68/69

MATCH OFFICIALS

Women’s FAI Cup Winners (1): 2005

REFEREE: ROBERT HARVEY ASSISTANT REFEREE: WAYNE MCDONNELL & ROB CLARKE FOURTH OFFICIAL: DEREK TOMNEY

www.dundalkfc.com