In Memoriam

IN MEMORIAM 1958 CUP WINNERS

Dundalk’s 1958 FAI Cup winning side. Niall McGahon is in the front row on the left while Tommy Kerr is second from left in the back row

The club, and indeed the local community, was saddened to hear of the passing of two members of our 1958 FAI Cup winning team last week, Niall McGahon and Tommy Kerr.

Niall was one of three locals, alongside Joe Ralph and Ken Finn, to pick up a cup winners medal after the 1-0 win over Shamrock Rovers in the final. His father was a club director for 13 seasons and medical officer for 25 and Niall’s early football years were spent in the local minor leagues with Castle Rovers and Spurs, along with junior club AOH.

After a campaign playing with UCD in the Leinster Senior League, the right-winger transferred to Dundalk at the end of the 1956-57 season, hoping to get a few tail-end Reserve games. Instead, he found himself on first-team duty, playing in the last two League games and scoring on his debut against Shelbourne at Oriel Park, shortly after his 18th birthday.

Leo McDonagh opened the 1957-58 season in his favoured right-wing spot but after two games switched to right-half, where he would remain for the rest of his Dundalk career. Niall took over on the wing and goals in each of his first three outings secured an eight-match run in the side before he lost his place to Mick Murray.

However, on the strength of his Reserve performances, he was back in March and became an ever-present to the end of that season, sharing in the glory of the club’s third FAI Cup success, contributing with a goal in the 3-0 second-round replay victory over Limerick.

Only George Toner exceeded his tally of nine goals for the season and in his two campaigns at Oriel Park he recorded an exceptional strike rate for a winger of 10 goals in just 22 first-team games.

Niall returned to play with UCD for another six seasons and enjoyed further success in the Dundalk and District League with St Patricks. His love of football, and of the club, saw him turn out regularly with the reserves until the 1966-67

The late Tommy Kerr, pictured with his wife and the FAI Cup in the Northern Star Hotel after the 1958 final

season.

An accountant with his own practice, he was also one of the leading lights in the Dundalk musical and choral scene for many years and his fine tenor voice enriched many performances, locally, nationally and internationally.

Tommy, who was a native of Drogheda, enjoyed two spells at Oriel Park and supplied Hughie Gannon with the cross for the vital goal that beat Rovers in front of 20,000 people at Dalymount Park.

A tricky winger who could play on both flanks, he had a good right-footed shot and specialised in free-kicks around the penalty box. After his debut in the 1954-55 season opener against Bohemians in the City Cup, he competed with Pa McCabe for the left-wing spot and finished the year with sole possession of the no 11 shirt.

He didn’t rejoin Dundalk until after Christmas 1957, taking the place of Mick Murray on the right-wing, and making his debut on the same occasion as Hughie Gannon. When Niall McGahon was restored to first-team duty in March and George Hoey was injured, Tommy finally started in his favourite left-wing spot, and on April 20th, 1958 was the proud winner of an FAI Cup final winner’s medal after Shamrock Rovers were defeated 1-0.

The Irish Independent stated that he ‘gave Mick Burke a troublesome afternoon and his delightfully accurate crosses were a constant source of

worry for the Rovers defence’ and he played a key role in the two decisive moments of the game. His centre resulted in the winning goal from Gannon and minutes later he conceded a penalty, missed by the usually reliable Liam Hennessy. After his Dundalk spell he returned to play with the ambitious Drogheda AFC, helping them to full League of Ireland status.

Tommy played in their historic first LOI fixture in an August City Cup match at Oriel Park when the newcomers nearly caused a huge upset, going down on a 4-3 scoreline to the League title-holders after being 3-2 ahead. They recorded their first victory on the following weekend at Flower Lodge against Cork Hibernians and Tommy scored from a penalty in the 3-1 win.

Under the management of ex-Ireland International Peter Farrell, Drogheda just avoided the re-election area. Tommy contributed three League goals and was released at the end of the season.