Dundalk FC Magazine 2020 | Issue 12 | Rapid Wien

DUNDALK v SK RAPID WIEN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH 2020 DUBLIN ARENA | KICK-OFF 8PM

OFFICIAL DUNDALK FC MAGAZINE | ISSUE 12 | €5

CLUB DIRECTORY Honorary Club President Des Casey Chairman Bill Hulsizer Board Bill Hulsizer, James Baboulas, David Samhat and Fred Spencer Chief Operating Officer Martin Connolly 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 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 Ground Staff John Moore, David Caldwell, Jimmy Fisher and Cyril Moore PA Announcer Michael Duffy

TEAM MANAGEMENT First Team Coach Filippo Giovagnoli Assistant Coach Giuseppe Rossi First Team Manager Shane Keegan Goalkeeping Coach Steve Williams Strength/Conditioning Graham Norton Kit Manager Noel Walsh Doctor Dr David Connolly Physiotherapists Danny Miller and David Murphy Sports Science Adam Fox Videographer Shane Taaffe

DUNDALK FC MAGAZINE DFC Magazine Editors: Gavin McLaughlin and Paul Dunne DFC Magazine Contributors: Colm Murphy, Jim Murphy (RIP), Ruth Hardy, Darren Crawley, David Farrelly, Tom O’Connor, Sean De Loughry, Martyn Hindley, Padraig McGowan Sales: Helen Myers, Jimmy Neary, Roy Mackin, Stephen Neary, Patrick O’Neill Photography: Sportsfile, Ciaran Culligan, Mick Slevin (RIP) Illustrations: Shane Doyle Thanks to: Ray McManus, Stephen McCarthy (Sportsfile) 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

CONTENTS 8 From The Dugout

36 Centre Spread

11 Player Q&A

38 Retro: 1981 Part II

12 SWAI Player of the Month

46 Rapid’s Irish Record

14 Club Noticeboard

50 David McMillan: Eurostar

20 Introduction to Rapid

62 European Sponsors

22 Rapid Wien Player Profiles

65 The Numbers Game

28 UEL: State of Play

68 The Spectator

30 European Royalty

71 Injury Time: Quiz

32 Get With The Programme

72 Teams and Honours

OPENING SHOT

NOVEMBER 9TH 2020 | ORIEL PARK | DUNDALK The Dundalk players huddle as a flare is let off outside the ground prior to the final SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match of the season against Sligo Rovers. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

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

A GREAT TEAM

OUR GAME KNOWS YOUR NAME

NEO X ELITE

THE OFFICIAL MATCH BALL OF THE 2020 SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE, FEATURING BESPOKE BALLS MADE FOR EACH CLUB.

UMBRO.IE

FROM THE DUGOUT

e had an 11-day break after the Sligo game which was great because it meant we finally had time to work with the team again which is crucial. The quality of our training has been really good. The past month was really complicated but the break has regenerated us.

We have fresh legs, a lot of intensity and the data from our GPS has been good.

It gave me the same feeling that I had when I arrived in Dundalk three months ago.

I feel really positive again and I believe we are ready to perform again at a high level.

Tonight’s game with Rapid is the beginning of the second set of UEFA Europa League group games and we know that we can really compete at this level. We also understand that we cannot make mistakes and that our performance has to be really intense and

best for Dundalk. I have no problem with that and I hope that whoever comes in is the right person to help the club improve the structure and the strategy. The ‘new boss’ will probably be the connection between the board and us, a leader that will give us direction, a strategy and ideas.

In terms of football, I will have to connect RAPID WILL COME TO DUBLIN AND with him and see what RESPECT US AND THEY WILL BE the project is. I am a MORE FOCUSSED. IT IS GOING TO BE coach that works for the company and the MORE DIFFICULT THAN THE LAST company has objectives TIME BUT WE HAVE ALSO LEARNED and the owners have A LOT, WE KNOW THE OPPOSITION A objectives. We have LOT BETTER AND THAT WILL HELP US. to execute those objectives. Technically, how we do that is our also a little bit cleaner decision. Nobody tells us in terms of individual how to play or who to play, mistakes because you can get that is down to us. We will see punished in Europe at any what happens but I am looking moment. In Vienna on Match forward to it.

Day 3, we were so close to not only tying the game but Over the past few weeks, winning the game. If Greg we have held discussions with Sloggett’s header went in our players about the future. we might have been talking These talks are going well and about other things but we the club knows what we want lost in the space of just five to do. We hope that our ideas minutes. Because of that, I are the same as the players think tonight’s game will be in terms of contracts, deals, more difficult. Rapid will come money... things like that. If they to Dublin and respect us and are not, then we will need to they will be more focussed. It move forward and look for is going to be more difficult other opportunities. This is than the last time but we have football. If we tell someone also learned a lot, we know that we want them to stay, the opposition a lot better and and they want to leave, then that will help us. what can we do, but we will do whatever is in our power to A lot has been said in the keep the players we like and past couple of weeks about we hope to have some news a new ‘boss’ coming to the for you soon. club. For me, I am happy to work with someone, learn Godetevi la Partita, from someone and collaborate Filippo Giovagnoli with someone to do the

“

We had some good news last week when Sean Murray was named as the SWAI Player of the Month. When we arrived we didn’t really know anything about the players but Sean was really intense in practice, looked really exciting and really energetic. He is the kind of box to box midfielder that we like and he has done very well. He has three European goals and they have all come from the same movement, attacking the box after a nice build-up. His timing is excellent. He does it in practice and he is also doing it in the games as well. His award is well deserved and it makes myself and Giuseppe Rossi really happy when we are able to develop players and help them to perform. When you see players perform like Sean, it means you have done something right and important.

I hope that we have candidates every month for the award!

“

W

FILIPPO GIOVAGNOLI

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COMMUNITY PARTNER OF DUNDALK FC

Supporting You, Supporting Community DUNDALKCU.IE

PLAYER Q&A

GREG SLOGGETT

Greg Sloggett

DFC Mag: What club have you supported since childhood?

Greg Sloggett: Man United but I have a soft spot for Fulham as they are my Dad’s club.

DFCM: What’s your favourite dish?

GS: Spaghetti Bolognese will never be matched.

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

GS: Damien Duff. He trained with us at UCD a handful of times before his retirement.

A class act.

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

GS: Kevin Toner. He loved a

tackle!

DFCM: Which teammate spends the longest in the shower?

GS: Nathan Oduwa.

Accompanied by his toothbrush!

DFCM: Your all-time sporting hero?

GS: Too broad. I loved Xavi when he played and Steven Gerrard is also an idol.

DFCM: Your favourite holiday destination?

GS: I like variety, but a few family visits to Tenerife through the years live long in the memory.

DFCM: Your favourite sport outside of football?

GS: Tennis.

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DFCM: Who is the best dressed in the squad?

GS: I’d have to go with John Mountney.

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

GS: The Emirates.

DFCM: Who is the worst dressed in the squad?

GS: I hate to shun a fellow Meath man but Gary Rogers gets the nod here!

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

GS: Brian Gartland knows what’s good but an honorable mention must go to Danny Miller!

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SWAI PLAYER OF THE MONTH

A

SEAN MURRAY

fter hitting the goalscoring trail in October, Sean Murray was rewarded last week when he was named as the SSE Airtricity SWAI Player of the Month.

The Lilywhites midfielder was a key player for Filippo Giovagnoli’s side during the period – scoring crucial goals in Europe and in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

Sean found the target in the UEFA Europa League play-off victory over KI Klaksvik and followed that up with another brilliant header against Molde on MD1 in Tallaght.

The 27-year-old also got his name on the scoresheet during a 2-1 league win against Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell.

This is the first time that the former Ireland U21 international has claimed the prize. He pipped runner-up Mark McGinley of Finn Harps and third-placed Danny Grant of Bohemians to the gong.

It is the 49th occasion - a record - that a Dundalk player has won the monthly award, one more than Bohemians.

“I’ve only been nominated for it once before, so it’s good to be recognised,” said Murray.

“Filippo has moved around a lot more, he wants me to play higher up the pitch, and that has allowed me to have a couple of chances at goal.

“I enjoy being in that position,” he added. “When I was in England, I played in that role and I really enjoyed it.

“You can definitely get into the box even more and that has shown over the past few months. I feel like it really helps

me out as a player.”

The Lilywhites played eight games in the month of October, giving Murray ample opportunities to show what he could do.

“The schedule was obviously tough but it probably helped me to win the award,” he smiled.

“There were so many games that it was a chance for me to get goals and assists! It was a crazy month but a good one overall and now we want to end the season on a high.

“We had an 11-day gap between the final league game of the season against Sligo Rovers and the FAI Cup quarterfinal with Bohemians and that was good for everyone.

“I think we all needed a rest after the past couple of months.

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We got that and everybody is back and ready to go now for the remaining few games.”

The former Watford star came off the bench against tonight’s opponents on MD3 in Austria and he said the Lilywhites could take plenty of heart from their display in the 4-3 loss.

“I thought we were brilliant in Vienna on the night and didn’t get the result we deserved,” he said. “There were some great performances and we are confident of getting something this evening.

“We’ve played all the teams in our group now and we know what they can all do. It would be great if we could pick up some points and we believe we can certainly do that.”

CLUB NEWS

ORIEL NOTICEBOARD

HARRY’S GOT OUR BACK! Shane Taaffe and Martin Connolly (top) and Sean Hoare and Noel Walsh (bottom) pictured with a t-shirt of our late groundsman Harry Taaffe prior to the UEFA Europa League group games in London and Vienna respectively

Sophie Neary

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Alexander Lust and his wife Claire, who is originally from Bellurgan Point

ALEXANDER springs an early christmas present We were all left dejected after our 4-3 loss to Rapid Wien on MD3 but this picture of a Dundalk fan with a beaming smile on her face certainly raised our spirits.

The supporter in question is Claire Lust, nee Bellew, who is originally from Bellurgan Point just outside of Dundalk but now happily married and living in the Austrian capital with her husband Alexander and their three children.

When the draw for the UEFA Europa League group stages took place, Alexander moved quickly to secure his wife an early Christmas present in the form of two tickets for the game

with Dundalk at the Weststadion in November.

A crowd of 3,000 were in attendance for Rapid’s opening group game against Arsenal but Austria’s return to lockdown in early November rendered Alexander’s gift useless.

The Austria Wien supporter got in touch with the club to explain what had happened and Lilywhites kitman Noel Walsh came to the rescue, presenting Alexander with a signed jersey at the team hotel in Vienna.

Everybody at the club would like to send Claire and Alexander our best wishes and we hope they, and the Bellew family in Bellurgan, have a nice, peaceful Christmas.

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Bestofofluck luck Best to Dundalk FC for a

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UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

RAPID WIEN: AN INTRODUCTION the cheeky penalty that still bears his name – had pushed out Celtic before an extraordinary tie against Dynamo Dresden, where they had turned around a 3-0 loss in East Germany with a 5-0 thrashing on home soil. After that, Dynamo Moscow’s felling in the semi-final would seem rather routine.

Martyn Hindley gives an introduction to Rapid Vienna.

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f you like your European football and a bit of nostalgia, there’s a book by a chap called Steven Scragg that you should look up this Christmas.

‘A Tournament Frozen in Time’ chronicles the history of that forgotten relic known as the European Cup Winners’ Cup, a lovably random annual competition that went out with the end of the twentieth century but gives people of a certain age a warm inner glow about midweek football on the tellybox.

was ended by Everton in what was to be English club football’s penultimate act on the continent before the Heysel disaster a fortnight later triggered a five-year suspension.

When they made it back to within 90 minutes of the silver eleven years later, they would be edged out by a very different Paris Saint-Germain than we see today, but the two runs are exceptions to Austrian football’s European rule.

Rapid – managed by Otto Baric, captained by talismanic Hans Krankl and featuring Antonin Panenka, the man who won Euro ‘76 for Czechoslovakia with

Red Bull Salzburg have won seven straight Austrian Bundesliga titles but when it came to their Round of 32 tie in the UEFA Europa League last season, they

Rapid Vienna featured in two of its’ finals, runnersup in both 1985 and 1996.

Their first near miss came in Rotterdam in May 1985 when their astonishing run 20

There is no doubting that history, tradition and pedigree are of vital importance to Rapid Vienna, who will feel that another chapter can be written in their cross-border history with a few more decent results in this UEFA Europa League group.

SK Rapid: 8 May 1996

were hammered out of sight by Eintracht Frankfurt, 6-3 over the two games.

LASK LINZ emerged unscathed from the same stage but their run was soon ended when they lost the first leg in the next round 5-0 to Manchester United.

settled with a remarkable final in Berlin which Schalke had led 3-0 with half-anhour to play before being sunk by four goals in eleven minutes, including a nineminute treble from Franz Binder.

That is not to deny Rapid’s place domestically as Austrian football royalty. Whilst the modern cupboard may be bare (they haven’t won the league since 200708), the GrünWeißen (green-andwhites) have won a record 32 Austrian championships since landing the first over a century ago and also claimed the German title in 1941. That unified competition was

Recently, the club celebrated the 90th anniversary of its victory in the inaugural Mitropacup, believed by many to be the first forerunner of what became the European Cup and then, the UEFA Champions League. The club produced a special publication to mark the anniversary a fortnight ago but the club currently second in the Austrian Bundesliga likely believe that they have many more chapters to write in their European story in the very near future.

Weststadion, Vienna, Austria

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PLAYER PROFILES 2020

RAPID WIEN

Meet The Coach:

DIETMAR KÜHBAUER

(DOB: April 04, 1971).

Named in Rapid’s team of the Century in 1999 after a five-year stint with the club in the midnineties, it seemed like fate would bring ‘Don Didi’ Kühbauer back to the green-and-whites as a Head Coach.

That was duly delivered in 2018, a decade into a coaching career that had seen him lead Admira Mödling, Wolfsberger and SKN Sankt-Pölten.

As a player, he made the first of over 50 international appearances for Austria in 1992, the same year as he signed for Rapid, and would be selected in the squad for the 1998 World Cup Finals in France two years after featuring in the Cup Winners’ Cup final defeat to PSG.

1 RICHARD STREBINGER

4 MATEO BARAC

Bio: Goalkeeper, AUT, 27 ...................................

Has been the number one at the club since summer 2017 having moved to the club two seasons before on the departure of Marko Maric. Former Under-21 international had started matches with German club Werder Bremen in the past. Featured against Arsenal in the opening group stage match before being surprisingly rotated in Norway in favour of Paul Gartler. ..........................................

Bio: Defender, CRO, 26 ...................................

Croatian with international experience lines up on the leftside of central defence for Rapid, having moved into the position when Lucas Galvao switched to FC Ingolstadt in Germany. Signed for €1.3m from Osijek in his homeland, for whom he featured three years ago in a comprehensive play-off win in this competition against PSV Eindhoven in the qualification rounds. ..........................................

6 MARIO SONNLEITNER

8 MARCEL RITZMAIER

Bio: Defender, AUT, 34 ...................................

Native Styrian central defender has been on the professional scene in Austria for over a decade and a half and is rated as one of the quickest players in the league operating from the back line. Celebrating a decade with Rapid after signing on a free transfer from Sturm Graz, where he won the Austrian Cup in his last season. ...........................................

Bio: Midfielder, AUT, 27 ..................................

Left-sided midfielder previously starred for Wolfsberger but is now with Rapid Vienna on loan from Barnsley, a most unusual transfer triangle!

Ritzmaier marked his arrival with the capital club with two goals in a 5-1 Austrian Cup success over Wiener Neustadt including one strike direct from a free-kick, which ended a three-year wait for such a strike at the club. Was picked up by PSV Eindhoven as a youngster and played in their youth team but failed to establish a place and played for a string of Dutch clubs as loan addition before returning to Austria. .........................................

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PLAYER PROFILES 2020

RAPID WIEN

9 TAXIARCHIS FOUNTAS

13 THORSTEN SCHICK

14 SRDJAN GRAHOVAC

Bio: Forward, GRE, 25 ...................................

Was reunited with coach Didi Kühbauer when becoming the first recruit of a Rapid revolution in the summer of 2019, having played under his guidance at SKN St Polten. Former AEK Athens forward has already notched four goals in the league campaign so far this season and opened Rapid’s account for the season in the UEFA Europa League when he pounced on Bernd Leno’s error to make it 1-0 against Arsenal.

Has 6 caps for Greece at senior international level. .........................................

Bio: Midfielder, AUT, 30 ...................................

Right-sided midfielder signed from Young Boys Berne in 2019 having previously won the league championship with the Swiss outfit. Previous clubs include Sturm Graz and Admira Wacker. ..........................................

Bio: Midfielder, BIH, 28 ...................................

Former captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 side, Grahovac signed for Rapid in the summer of 2014 and has made himself a permanent and flexible fixture in the defensive midfield engine room, a spell only interrupted by an abridged stint in Kazakhstan with FC Astana. ..........................................

20 MAXIMILIAN HOFMANN

22 FILIP STOJKOVIC

25 PAUL GARTLER

Bio: Defender, AUT, 27 ..................................

It has been a lifelong love affair with Rapid for the central defender, who donned the green and white jersey as a young fan in the stands and went on to sign professional papers in 2013-14. Had a nightmare start on his full debut when he gave away a penalty and was sent off within 90 seconds of his debut against Sturm Graz but has since turned things around to become a favourite among the Rapid public. Scored the third goal against Dundalk on Matchday 3. ..........................................

Bio: Defender, MNE, 27 ..................................

Right-back represented Serbia at youth team level before making senior international debut for Montenegro in 2016. Came through the ranks at Red Star Belgrade but it took several loan spells in his homeland and a permanent transfer to Cukaricki for Stojkovic to build his reputation and a return to the capital. This is his second stint outside of Serbia, after a brief sojourn in Bavaria with 1860 Munich. ..........................................

Bio: Goalkeeper, AUT, 23 ...................................

Was a surprise promotion to the starting line-up in the second group stage match against Molde, despite having 170 fewer starts for the club than first-choice Strebinger at the time. The UEFA Europa League has thus given him a chance to prove his worth to the club, having extended his contract until summer 2021 at the end of last season. ..........................................

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PLAYER PROFILES 2020

RAPID WIEN

28 CHRISTOPH KNASMULLNER

29 ERCAN KARA

31 MAXIMILIAN ULLMANN

Bio: Midfielder, AUT, 28 ...................................

Another Rapid midfielder to have experience of pulling on a Barnsley shirt, Knasmüllner’s footballing travels have now gone full circle. A youngster with Austria Vienna, he left the city of his birth as a teenager to play across the border for Bayern Munich’s under-17 side. There, he progressed into the reserves and was even named in the club’s UEFA Champions League squad ten years ago but didn’t get as far as becoming a first-team regular and after a spell with Inter Milan’s youth team and several in Germany and Austria, he has been back in Vienna sporting the colours of Rapid since 2018. .........................................

Bio: Forward, AUT, 24 ...................................

4 goals to date in the Austrian Bundesliga for the striker of Turkish descent, who signed for Rapid in the summer having left SV Horn, where he had scored 13 in 16 in the second division and weighed in with three more assists to boot. ..........................................

Bio: Defender, AUT, 24 ...................................

Left-back who was a regular feature at various age-groups for Austria, joined Rapid from LASK Linz in the summer of 2019 on a three-year contract. Has featured in all three UEFA Europa League matches to date. ..........................................

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PLAYER PROFILES 2020

RAPID WIEN

32 KOHYA KITAGAWA

36 KELVIN ARASE

39 DEJAN LJUBICIC

Bio: Forward, JPN, 24 ..................................

In his second season in Vienna having left J-League outfit Shimizu S-Pulse for Europe.

An 8-time international for his native Japan, Kitagawa has found the back of the net three times so far in the Austrian Bundesliga season. ..........................................

Bio: Midfielder, AUT, 21 ..................................

Winger scored the goal on Matchday 3 that put Rapid 2-1 ahead before a frantic finale!

Born in Nigeria, Arase was given his first team debut at the tender age of 17 and is now starting to make a name for himself in the squad. ..........................................

Bio: Midfielder, AUT, 23 ...................................

The midfielder has been at the club since 2017, having also been on loan at Weiner Neustadt. Scored the equalizing goal against Dundalk (1-1) on Matchday 3. ..........................................

5 November 2020; Both teams stand for the UEFA Europa League anthem prior to the Group B match between SK Rapid Wien and Dundalk at the Weststadion in Vienna

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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 240 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.

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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

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UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

THE STATE OF PLAY Martyn Hindley gives a review of the UEFA Europa League group at the halfway stage.

T

he chance of Last32 qualification remained but there was not so much enthusiasm in the green-and-white sector of Vienna after their 4-3 UEFA Europa League victory over Dundalk FC took them to within three points of second-placed Molde.

“I’ve had better days,” said coach Dietmar Kühbauer, who understands football of a high level having been taken to France in 1998 as a

Dietmar Kühbauer

midfielder with the Austria national squad. “We made it extremely difficult for

5 November 2020; Dundalk interim head coach Filippo Giovagnoli reacts during the UEFA Europa League Group B match between SK Rapid Wien and Dundalk at the Weststadion in Vienna

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ourselves with a slow game that was too cumbersome. It was important to get three

last time out but having then capsized to a four-goal reverse on Greek soil, the 1988 European Cup winners have it all to do to stay in the competition with group stage debutants Granada four points ahead of them in top slot.

Rangers’ Colombian forward Alfredo Morelos celebrates scoring in Lisbon

points because, without that, we could have said goodbye to qualification.”

Defender Maximilian Hofmann spoke of complacency: “We imagined it would be easier and could have made it easier for ourselves. We started the way that we didn’t want to and after falling behind we were too hectic.”

club competition when they picked up this trophy in 2005 – entertain former European champions Feyenoord with the goal of staying in a section that also includes Dinamo Zagreb and rookies Wolfsberger.

Another Dutch side, PSV Eindhoven, took the lead in Thessaloniki against PAOK

After a thrilling 3-3 draw in Lisbon, Rangers and Benfica do battle in Glasgow with Group D bragging rights at stake, one of Real Sociedad, Napoli and AZ Alkmaar will be eliminated from Group F which makes matchday 4 significant and after a pasting at headquarters last time out, Celtic need to turn the tables on Sparta Prague now, with stable-mates Lille and AC Milan too far up the road if they don’t take all three points.

Leicester City can seal progress with a win in Portugal against 2011 finalists Braga but with Tottenham having tripped up in Belgium, there’s plenty still to play for as this group stage hits the turn for home.

Kühbauer has pinpointed victory in Ireland to potentially set up a winnertakes-all confrontation with Molde in the Austrian capital on December 10, meaning the pressure is on the Austrians to deliver this evening.

Heavyweights with work to do Some big names of European football still have to roll their sleeves up in order to make the postChristmas rounds of the UEFA Europa League.

CSKA Moscow – the first Russian winners of a UEFA

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates opening the scoring against Braga in Leicester

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LILYWHITES IN EUROPE

EUROPEAN ROYALTY

Rapid Wien and Everton players line up before the start of the 1985 European Cup Winners Cup final in Rotterdam. The English side won the game 3-1.

Tonight’s UEFA Europa League MD4 clash with Rapid Wien is the 14th time the Lilywhites have crossed paths with a club that has featured in one of European football’s top three competitions. Sean De Loughry takes a closer look.

T

he presence of Arsenal and Rapid Wien in Dundalk’s UEFA Europa League group highlights the rarefied company the Lilywhites are keeping in Europe these days.

Arsenal are obviously a superclub, competing in the most lucrative, high-profile league in the world but Rapid have their own impressive pedigree. Indeed, the venerable Austrian powerhouse have previously played in two European competition finals, finishing as European Cup Winners Cup runners-up twice, in 1985 and, most recently, in 1996.

Looking through the archives,

it appears that Rapid are Dundalk’s 14th European antagonist to have reached a European final. For the purpose of this article, we’re ignoring the UEFA Super Cup, various iterations of the FIFA World Club Cup and, of course, the UEFA Intertoto Cup! Dundalk’s first European opponent to play in a major final were our 1968-69 Fairs Cup conquerors, Rangers, three times European Cup Winners Cup finalists and one-time UEFA Cup finalists. That latter appearance came in 2008 the season that Dundalk won promotion from the first division - when Zenit Saint Petersburg beat the Gers in Manchester.

European football aristocracy followed the next season, when 30

Liverpool rolled into town. The Anfield side have notched up no fewer than 13 European final appearances (five European Cup, four UEFA Champions League, two UEFA Cup, one UEFA Europa League and one European Cup Winners Cup).

As we went in the seventies, Dundalk’s opponents in the 1976-77 European Cup were Dutch masters PSV Eindhoven, UEFA Cup winners the following season, and European Cup winners in 1988. The Lilywhites memorably clashed with Celtic in 1979. The Hoops were crowned European Cup winners 12 years earlier in 1967, were runners-up in 70 and were beaten by Jose Mourinho’s Porto in the 2003 UEFA Cup final.

Action from the 1997 European Cup Winners Cup final between Rapid Wien and Paris St Germain in Italy.

PSG won the game 1-0.

In the eighties, our 1980-81 UEFA Cup opponents Porto actually played a European final in Ireland, beating compatriots Braga at the Dublin Arena in the 2011 UEFA Europa League final.

That was one of five European finals for Porto. Next up for Dundalk were Spurs. The fivetime European finalists scraped past Dundalk in the 1981-82 Cup Winners Cup. Dundalk locked horns with Liverpool again in 1982 before hosting more European football royalty in the form of Ajax.

The three-in-a-row European Cup winners are one of only five clubs to have won all three major European trophies and have made 10 final appearances in all. They were too strong for Dundalk in the 1987-88

European Cup Winners Cup. The big names kept coming to Oriel Park in the 80s, with Red Star Belgrade easing past Turlough O’Connor’s Dundalk in 1988. Two seasons later they won the European Cup, beating Marseille on penalties..

1979 European Cup finalists Malmo played Dundalk - albeit at United Park in Drogheda - in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup and the 2016 UEFA Europa League group phase brought us into contact with 1981 UEFA Cup runners-up AZ Alkmaar and 2008 winners Zenit.

Last season’s UEFA Europa League opponents Slovan Bratislava were 1969 European Cup Winners Cup finalists and Arsenal have played no fewer than seven European deciders 31

(one UEFA Champions League, three European Cup Winners Cup, one Fairs Cup and two UEFA Cup), winning just two, the Fairs Cup in 1970 and the Cup Winners Cup in ‘94.

In addition, some of our former European opponents such as Zurich, Vasas, Hajduk Split and Legia Warsaw have also made it to European semifinals while we’ve also played a host of European finalists in friendlies with clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Birmingham City, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Torino and CSKA Moscow all coming up against the Lilywhites at some stage over the years.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

GET WITH THE PROGRAMME Shamrock Rovers v Rapid Wien, 1964-65 European Cup

The relevance: Rapid’s last trip to Ireland was 56 years ago, when the Austrian champions played Shamrock Rovers in the European Cup. The facts: Sixpence bought a 12 page programme.

The content: There’s plenty of advertising, some club news and a potted history of Rapid. Bizarrely a full page is given over to a squad photo of Manchester United with the description: ‘We are proud to print this picture of the Manchester United players as a souvenir of their recent visit to Dublin.’

A word from our sponsors: There’s an eclectic mix of sponsors, from Club Orange and Gold Flake cigarettes to Jennings Undertakers, Green Spot Whiskey and Penders Fireplaces.

Famous names: Rapid

included Austrian internationals Franz Wolny, Rudi Flogel, Paul Halla and Walter Glechner. Manager Robert Korner was a Rapid legend as a player and represented Austria at the 1954 World Cup. Rovers included League of Ireland royalty in Frank O’Neill, Johnny Fullan, Liam Tuohy and Pat Courtney.

The match: After a 3-0 win in Vienna, Rapid proved too strong for Rovers in front of 40,000 under the Dalymount Park floodlights. Wolny and Flogel scored second half goals to secure a 2-0 win and a 5-0 aggregate victory.

Rapid lost to Rangers in the following round.

Wettingen v Dundalk, 1989-90 European Cup Winners Cup The relevance: Waving a hand vaguely towards central Europe, we alight on a programme from a Dundalk trip to Switzerland in 1989 to play European debutants Wettingen.

The facts: Two Swiss francs bought a fabulous 32-page A4 programme.

The content: There’s club news, stats and interviews dotted among a sea of advertising. The Wettingen programme team had their finger on the League of Ireland pulse as Dundalk were profiled under the headline ‘A Team in Upheaval!’

A word from our 32

sponsors: Dozens of local businesses hopped on the Wettingen bandwagon in an almost overwhelming sea of ads.

Famous names: Wettingen midfielder Marcel Heldmann and defender Martin Rueda won caps for Switzerland.

Dundalk included Gino Lawless, James Coll, Alan O’Neill, Tom McNulty and Martin Lawlor with Roddy Collins and Tony Cousins up front.

The match: Dundalk may have fancied their chances against little known Wettingen, but were well beaten. Wettingen won 3-0 in Zurich and 2-0 in Dundalk. They played Napoli, Diego Maradona et al, in the following round.

Rangers v Dundalk, 1968-69 Fairs Cup The relevance: A look back to Dundalk’s first season in the Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League.

The facts: One shilling acquired a large-sized 12-page programme.

The content: High ad content leaves just room enough for a couple of articles, but Dundalk are well covered. There’s a page overview of Dundalk and good pen pics under the banner ‘Here are the Eire players who meet us in the second round’.

A word from our sponsors: Interestingly there’s an ad for a pub owned by Rangers’

contemporary Danish full-back Kai Johnasen, who also owned a clothes store in Odense and another pub on the Costa Del Sol! Famous names: Dundalk lined up with the likes of Derek Stokes, Paddy Turner, Tony O’Connell and Kevin Murray. Rangers included Willie Johnstone, John Greig, Swedish international Orjan Persson and a future Sir Alex Ferguson up front.

The match: Dundalk battled bravely but a couple of late goals put a harsh look on the scoreboard as the Gers ran out 6-1 winners.

Dundalk v Kispest Honved, 1991-92 European Cup 33

The relevance: We’re sticking with the central European theme, with a look back at a Hungarian date in the last season of the European Cup before its UEFA Champions League rebrand.

The facts: £1 buys a 24-page programme with first-leg hero Ricky McEvoy adorning the cover.

The content: There’s plenty of reading with articles on the forthcoming (yet to be named) UEFA Champions League and lots of club features and information. Honved are well covered with a detailed history, pen pics and full-page squad photo.

A word from our sponsors: There’s a high proportion of local sponsors. Harp Lager is prominent and also present is CCO Fuels, Byrne’s of Hill Street, Bogan Denning Insurance and Emerald Sports.

Famous names: For Honved, Istvan Vincze and Erwin Kovacs were regulars for Hungary.

Dundalk included Terry Eviston, Mick Shelley, Peter Hanrahan and Brian Irwin.

The match: After a fine 1-1 draw in Budapest, Dundalk stuttered to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home. Two first-half goals from Istvan Pisont saw Honved through to a second round showdown with Italians Sampdoria.

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RETRO: 1981 PART 2

TUSSLING WITH TOTTENHAM Following on from his article on the 1981 FAI Cup final which appeared in the Sligo Rovers programme on November 9th, Padraig McGowan looks back at Dundalk’s run in the 1981/82 European Cup Winners Cup which saw Mick Fairclough and the Lilywhites battle with Tottenham Hotspur.

T

he 1980/81 season finished on a high for Dundalk as the club won their seventh FAI Cup against Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park, and, as a result, qualified for the 1981/82 European Cup Winners Cup. The offseason, however, proved to be difficult as speculation raged that a number of high profile players were moving on to pastures new. As it turned out, Dermot O’Neill, Vinny McKenna, Synan Braddish and Mick Lawlor all left Oriel Park, but the biggest

name to move on was Dermot Keely!

After joining Dundalk from St Patrick’s Athletic in 1978, Keely went on to become a cornerstone of the Dundalk backline for three seasons and it was a real blow to supporters when he joined Glentoran ahead of the 1981/82 campaign.

It was fair to say that Dermot had become disillusioned with the League of Ireland. He said as much prior to his move north of the border, saying: “I will miss playing for Dundalk, but I won’t miss playing League of Ireland football.”

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As well as losing Keely to Glentoran, it was strongly rumoured that the Glens were also interested in signing Mick Fairclough. After losing Keely, the possibility of losing the deadliest striker in the game would only add insult to injury but, thankfully, Fairclough decided to stay at Oriel Park and signed a new contract with the Lilywhites!

The draw for the first round of the European Cup Winners Cup pitted Dundalk against Fram Reykjavik of Iceland in the first round with the first leg scheduled for the Laugardals

Stadium in Reykjavik on September 16th, 1981.

It was an unattractive draw for the club in terms of the opposition, the expense in travelling to Iceland, and the fact that Fram had seven members of the Icelandic national squad in their side.

Eamonn Gregg joined from Bohemians in preseason and slotted in at right-back, allowing Tommy McConville to move across and fill the centre half vacancy created by his good friend Keely’s departure. Dundalk drew first blood in the 35th minute when a through ball from Sean Byrne was toepoked into the net by that man Fairclough!

Fram proved to be much better in the second half and they equalised in the 65th minute when a Torfason shot deflected off Gregg and wrongfooted Dundalk goalkeeper Richie Blackmore and Steinsson got a second for the Icelanders with five minutes to go to secure a 2-1 win for the Icelandic side to protect in Ireland.

The second leg took place at Oriel two weeks later and after feeling that they had let themselves down in the first game, Dundalk were determined to make amends.

A crowd of 2,600 saw the Lilywhites get off to the best possible start when ‘Pop’

Flanagan slotted home a penalty after Barry Kehoe had been taken down by the Fram keeper with just four minutes played.

Mick Fairclough added a second in the 23rd minute, converting a header from a Sean Byrne cross, and second-half goals from Martin Lawlor and Brian Duff gave the Lilywhites a comfortable 4-0 win on the night and safe passage through to the second

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round on a 5-2 aggregate scoreline. It was a scintillating performance that saw Dundalk record their biggest European win and also stretch their unbeaten home record in Europe to seven games!

The reward was huge, a second-round clash with the aristocrats of the English game, FA Cup holders Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs qualified for the European Cup Winners Cup by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final after a replay at

Wembley Stadium the previous May, with the winning goal scored by Argentinian, Ricky Villa!

The Spurs side was packed full of household names, Ossie Ardiles, Glen Hoddle, Steve Archibald, Garth Crooks and Republic of Ireland international players Chris Hughton and Tony Galvin. While it was an extremely high profile and financially lucrative draw for Dundalk, there was also a sense of reality. In the first round, Spurs beat Ajax Amsterdam 6-1 on aggregate so Dundalk went into the tie as big underdogs!

The Spurs goalkeeper in both legs of the tie was the recently deceased Ray Clemence, who made the switch to White Hart Lane from Liverpool after

winning his third European Cup medal with the Reds against Real Madrid in Paris the previous May. This proved to be Clemence’s second visit to Oriel Park after he lined out in goal for the InterCities Fairs Cup second-leg tie at the Carrick Road venue in 40

1969. After winning the first leg at Anfield 10-0, Liverpool put four more past the Lilywhites in the return game. The less said about that tie the better, let’s just say Ray wasn’t overworked in either game!

Those two games against Dundalk were only his second and third appearances for Liverpool. By all accounts, Clemence not only had a fantastic club and international goalkeeping career, but was also regarded as a thoroughly decent man who was held in high regard by everyone! May he rest in peace!

Notwithstanding their underdog tag, the derogatory comments about Dundalk and their ‘part-time’ status in sections of the British

press served only to motivate Dundalk. “Believe it or not, even though we were ‘no-hopers’, there was a belief amongst us that we could eke out a result,” said Mick Fairclough.

“There definitely was. We firmly believed, going out onto the pitch ‘we can get a result here’.

The official attendance for the first leg at Oriel Park on October 21st was a whopping 18,000 and as it turned out the home side made it a very uncomfortable evening for their high profile visitors! Dundalk matched their opponents for the whole 90 minutes and almost made a dream start when a poor back pass from centre half Graham Roberts went wide of Clemence, allowing Hilary Carlyle to nip in but he just failed to score from a nearly impossible angle.

Fairclough saw a header from a Barry Kehoe corner headed off the line by Hughton but a few errors in the Dundalk defence at the end of the first half almost gave Spurs the lead. Garth Crooks did put the 41

Londoners in front after 63 minutes when he latched onto a through ball from Hoddle and rounded Blackmore to slot the ball into the back of the empty net.

With Tottenham in the

ascendancy, the game seemed to be up for the plucky Lilywhites but they showed real belief and with nine minutes of normal time left Martin Lawlor launched the ball into the Spurs half.

Graham Roberts was the covering defender but he misjudged the bounce and suddenly Mick Fairclough found himself in the clear.

Clemence came out to narrow the angle but Fairclough showed remarkable composure to place the ball under his body. The whole of Dundalk would have been shaken by the roars of celebration!

It was Fairclough’s third European goal in successive games and it secured a famous result. It meant that Dundalk had stretched their unbeaten European run in Oriel Park to eight games and Crooks’ goal was only the third opposition goal scored at Oriel on those

eight occasions!

Spurs were expected to steamroll the Lilywhites in the return leg at White Hart Lane on November 4th, 1981, but Dundalk, playing in an unfamiliar all-red strip, defended resolutely and allied to some great saves

by Richie Blackmore and the crossbar coming to the rescue, 42

managed to hold Tottenham at bay until the 63rd minute once again. Their goal was finally breached when an inswinging corner from Hoddle deflected off Paddy Dunning and Crooks was on hand to find the back of the net. The goal was greeted by a huge sigh of relief from the home supporters!

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As the late Jim Murphy stated in his book ‘The History of Dundalk FC’:‘ At no stage did the superior fitness of the full-time professionals threaten the part-timers and at the end, the 33,000 in attendance acknowledged the merits of the visitors’ performance. The honour of the League of Ireland and Dundalk had been proudly upheld’.

In his Irish Press match report the following day, Jimmy Meagan stated: ‘Dundalk emerged from the game with their reputation considerably enhanced thanks to the courageous defensive efforts of Tommy McConville, Paddy Dunning, Eamonn Gregg, Martin Lawlor and Richie Blackmore.’

A beaming Jim McLaughlin said afterwards: ‘I am very proud of the lads. They played marvellously and bravely and lived up to all my expectations’.

Spurs manager Keith Burkinshaw also lavished some praise on McLaughlin’s men, saying: ‘I was worried throughout the 90 minutes –

a bad bounce and we could easily have been in trouble. I felt we played well enough and deserved to win, but I have nothing but admiration for Dundalk’.

Tottenham subsequently defeated Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals of the competition before losing out to the eventual winners Barcelona at the semi-final stage.

For Fairclough and Dundalk, their season was far from over and the league championship returned to Oriel Park for the sixth time as Dundalk went on to claim the title, finishing four points ahead of Shamrock Rovers. The victory was sealed on the final day of the campaign with a 2-1 win over defending champions Athlone Town at St Mel’s Park. A huge crowd (see above) came out to welcome the team back to town.

Dundalk also started the season with silverware against the Midlanders, beating Athlone Town 4-3 on aggregate over two legs in the President’s Cup. It was something of an infamous 44

season with four points awarded for an away win, three points for a home win, two for an away draw and one point for a home draw!

Mick’s incredible return to senior football was capped off when he was named on the Republic of Ireland’s international team for their South American Tour. He was capped twice, against Chile on May 21st 1982 and also against Trinidad and Tobago nine days later. As an aside, there’s a superb RTE podcast on that tour titled ‘Guns, Goals, Cigarettes and Samba’, which is well worth a listen!

Mick spent two more seasons with Dundalk before moving back to his hometown club Drogheda in 1984. Over the course of his five seasons with the Lilywhites, he represented the club on 157 occasions, scoring 62 goals. His most memorable appearances came in 1981 with his goals very much at the heart of the club’s incredible success that year.

Take a bow, Mick!

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UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

RAPID’S IRISH RECORD After some research, we can only find three previous occasions when Rapid Vienna played against an Irish club prior to this year’s UEFA Europa League group stages. The opposition in each of those three games was Shamrock Rovers.

The first meeting between the sides took place on Shamrock Rovers’ ninegame tour of North America in 1961. On that trip, Rovers played Dukla Prague of Czechoslovakia and Petah Tikva of Israel twice as well as Red Star Belgrade of Yugoslavia, Monaco of France, Espanyol of Spain and Montreal Concordia of Canada.

The game against Rapid Vienna was played on July 19th at the Polo Grounds, New York.

Rapid won the match by three goals to one with Frank O’Neill on target for the Hoops. Holtl, Flogel and Seitl replied for the Austrians.

After winning the league in 1963/64, Rovers qualified for the following season’s European Cup where they drew Rapid in the preliminary round. The first leg match was held at the Praterstadion in Vienna on September 16th 1964 where a crowd of 42,323 saw the home side win 3-0 with Glechner (2) and Nuske the Rapid goalscorers.

The return leg was played two weeks later under the Dalymount Park floodlights.

The editorial in the match programme pulled no punches whatsoever regarding the performance of Czechoslovakian Stanislav Fencel, the referee in the first leg, stating that ‘In Vienna,

we had a man called a referee who brought gloom and misery on us!’

The programme also alludes to the friendship that exists between both clubs after their meeting in New York three years earlier, and further stated that ‘we wish it to be clearly understood that we have no fault to find with the players of Rapid, they are a great side and a fine bunch of sportsmen!’

As both clubs wear green and white, Shamrock Rovers togged out in an unfamiliar yellow kit to prevent a colour 46

clash.

A crowd of 31,649 filled Dalymount Park and secondhalf goals from Wolny and Foegel sealed a 2-0 win for the Austrians on the night and a 5-0 aggregate win over two legs.

Rapid were subsequently defeated 3-0 on aggregate in the first round proper by Glasgow Rangers.

So this evening, on what is the fifth meeting between Rapid and an Irish side, let’s hope that the Lilywhites can inflict a first Irish defeat on the Austrian giants!

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DAVID MCMILLAN

EUROSTAR! With 11 European goals to his name, David McMillan proudly sits alongside Liam Brady and Glen Crowe on the list of top Irish goalscorers in UEFA club competitions. Only Derek Dougan (12), Robbie Keane (15) and Roy Keane (15) have scored more than the Lilywhites striker who sat down with Gavin McLaughlin recently to go through his personal haul.

The first Irishman to score in Kazakhstan....

FC Shakhter Karagandy 2-1 St Patrick’s Athletic UEFA Europa League QR2 first leg | July 14th, 2011 Stadion Shakhter, Kazakhstan McMillan’s first on the continent came nine years ago in the colours of St Patrick’s Athletic, 6,545 km away to be precise!

After overcoming IBV from Iceland in the first qualifying round of the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League, Pats’ ‘reward’ was a showdown with Shakhter Karagandy with the first leg in Kazakhstan.

A gruelling 18-hour trek meant that manager Pete Mahon was feeling less than confident before the game, to say the least! “I’ll be honest,” he said, “if we can pull this one off, it will be a miracle.”

After falling behind to a Nikola Vasiljevic goal, the Shakhter defender flicking a near-post header past Gary Rogers, Pat’s rallied and 16 minutes after being introduced for Anto Murphy, McMillan bagged a vital away goal.

4 August 2011; David McMillan arrives at Tallaght Stadium before St Patrick’s Athletic’s UEFA Europa League game with Karpaty Lviv

“I think I was the first Irishman to score in Kazakhstan,” he smiled. “It was a strange trip.

We went on domestic flights and the kitman had to go and get our visas in London and he just about made it back before our second flight. We ended up staying three hours away from the ground because teams had been giving out about food poisoning on previous trips to Karagandy!”

Like xx of his other European strikes, it was scored with his head. Shakhter goalkeeper

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Aleksandr Grigorenko did well to palm Stephen Bradley’s free-kick away and when Ian Daly lifted the ball back across the face of goal, McMillan was perfectly placed to make it 1-1.

If David had not put the chance away, another McMillan certainly would have as his elder brother, Evan, was well placed on the six-yard line in anticipation of any scraps that might have fallen his way! “If I had missed it, he certainly would have let me know about it!”, said David.

Vasiljevic added a second to give Shakhter a one-goal advantage ahead of the second leg in Dublin but Pat’s produced a fine display, winning 2-0 to secure a 3-2 aggregate win.

Evan got on the scoresheet at Richmond Park, putting the Saints in front after 14 minutes before Derek Doyle, a promotion winner with Dundalk in 2008, added a second.

McMillan came off the bench again, replacing Danny North in the latter stages.

Pats’ European dream ended in the third qualifying round when they were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Karpaty Lviv from the Ukraine.

12 July 2017; David McMillan wheels away in celebration after putting Dundalk in front against Rosenborg at Oriel Park

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15 July 2015; Dundalk players celebrate David McMillan’s goal against BATE Borisov in Belarus

Serving notice BATE Borisov 2-1 Dundalk FC UEFA Champions League QR2 first leg | July 15th, 2015 Borisov Arena, Belarus Speaking in the build up to the game at the magnificent Borisov Arena, Lilywhites boss Stephen Kenny spoke of his pride at leading Dundalk back on to European football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1991 and his players did their country - and the League of Ireland - proud with an assured display full of belief and swagger.

Playing against a side containing five Belarusian internationals, Dundalk shocked the BATE crowd and McMillan’s first-half goal meant the Lilywhites made the trip home from Belarus full of confidence

ahead of the second leg at Oriel Park.

Before the game, the hardcore element of the BATE support unveiled a banner illustrating the Dundalk players on their knees. ‘You Irish will need to do more than pray’, was the translation but Kenny’s side ignored that sentiment and McMillan, who battled gamely against the BATE centre backs throughout both legs, saw an early shot blocked by Latvian defender Kaspars Dubra.

Dundalk paid the price for a momentary lapse in concentration after 10 minutes when Aleksandr Karnitski rifled a fine effort past Gary Rogers but the visitors regrouped and took control of the game, much to the frustration of the home support. ‘Forward, BATE, forward’ was their cry but it was Dundalk who posed all the questions and a gilt edged 52

chance to equalise came and went in the 19th minute.

A burst on the right allowed Richie Towell to get past Mladenovic and pick out McMillan at the far stick. His header was parried on to the post by Sergei Chernik but the Dundalk striker could only balloon the rebound over the top, much to the dismay of the travelling support behind the goal.

He fared much better in the 33rd minute. An attempted clearance by Dubra deflected off the unwitting Daryl Horgan and fell into McMillan’s path.

This time he made no mistake, placing the ball through Chernik’s legs to send the Lilywhite Army into raptures!

“It was a lucky ricochet where the ball just fell to me nicely, one on one with the keeper, and I just put it through his legs. I remember that small crowd of

13 July 2016; David McMillan steers the ball past the FH goalkeeper in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie at Oriel Park

Dundalk fans behind the goal and running over to celebrate with them.”

The hosts regained the lead four minutes later when Evgeni Yablonski’s shot took a wicked deflection off the unfortunate Chris Shields to leave Rogers flat footed and secure a 2-1 win and BATE showed all of their experience to keep Dundalk at arm’s length in the second leg, grinding out a scoreless draw at Oriel to go through to the third qualifying round.

Dundalk, and McMillan, however, had served notice…

Ice cool Dundalk FC 1-1 FH UEFA Champions League QR2

first leg | July 13th 2016 Oriel Park, Dundalk Coming off the back of successive hat tricks against Derry City and Longford Town, confidence was flowing through McMillan’s veins when FH Hafnarfjordur arrived at Oriel Park in the summer of 2016 and it certainly showed in his 66thminute opener.

After scooping a good opportunity over the top on the stroke of half time, McMillan showed fantastic composure to send the home support crazy with the breakthrough goal against the Icelandic champions.

It was the result of a fantastic counter attack on the right.

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Sean Gannon set Patrick McEleney breaking free and McMillan guided the Derryman’s cross home in superb fashion.

“We broke quickly and Patrick whipped in a great ball onto my right foot. I had a second to look at it and see where the goalkeeper’s position was. I was just concentrating on catching it properly and, thankfully, it went into the corner,” said McMillan.

It was the start of an incredible run which saw McMillan go on to top the UEFA Champions League scoring charts but he revealed that things could easily have panned out differently.

“We were in Spain for a midseason break and the plan was for Ciaran Kilduff to start the games when we came back

20 July 2016; Dundalk supporters celebrate during the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round second leg match with FH at the Kaplakrikavollur Stadium in Iceland

from that. We lost to Cork just before the break and myself and Stephen Kenny had a good discussion about things that I needed to work on.

“Ciaran scored against St Pat’s in the first game back and it looked like he was going to be the one who would be in the team but he picked up an illness and missed the Derry game.

“Luckily, I stepped in and got back-to-back hat tricks leading into the European games. It was pure luck that I was in the team for those matches.”

The hero of Hafnarfjordur FH 2-2 Dundalk FC UEFA Champions League QR2 first leg | July 20th 2016 Hafnarfjordur, Iceland That run of luck continued for McMillan and Dundalk in the second leg in Iceland a week later as his brace propelled

the Lilywhites into the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, banking the club €1.2 million in prize money.

Things didn’t look so rosy after a difficult opening quarter. FH were a different proposition to the team that played at Oriel Park and they drew first blood after 19 minutes when former Dundalk player Steven Lennon cushioned the ball nicely into the path of Sam Hewson who left Gary Rogers with no chance.

Buoyed on by a fantastic travelling support, Dundalk warmed to the task and it looked like they were about to get back on track when Italian referee Paolo Valeri pointed to the penalty spot in the 49th minute but Ronan Finn’s spot kick was pushed to safety.

The Lilywhites refused to buckle and they got their just rewards three minutes later when McMillan let fly from 30 yards, his low effort beating

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FH goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen.

“The ‘keeper certainly did me a favour on that one,” smiled McMillan.

Dundalk took the game by the scruff of the neck and the vital second arrived 10 minutes later. Dane Massey’s clipped ball down the left wing found Daryl Horgan and he bolted for the byline before looking up and picking out McMillan who crashed home his ninth goal in four games. It was also his fourth goal for Dundalk in Europe - a new club record.

There were plenty of nails bitten in the final 20 minutes as FH pushed for a way back into the game and substitute Kristjan Floki Finnbogason threw the hosts a lifeline when he nipped onto a Lennon pass to get in behind Andy Boyle and smash home with 13 minutes to play.

All eyes were then on Mr Valeri when Lennon went down under pressure from Stephen

2 August 2016; David McMillan scores Dundalk’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second leg match with BATE Borisov at Tallaght Stadium

O’Donnell in the Dundalk penalty area but the match official refused to bow to the home side’s appeals and after three agonising minutes of stoppage time the final whistle blew.

“I came off with about 15 or 20 minutes to go and it wasn’t nice,” said McMillan. “At least when you are on the pitch you don’t have time to think about all the different situations that you could end up in. When you’re on the bench it’s a hard place to be but, thankfully, we held out.”

A magical night Dundalk FC 3-0 BATE Borisov UEFA Champions League QR2 second leg | July 15th, 2015 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Mikhail Gordeychuk’s firstleg strike meant that for the second year in a row, Dundalk left Belarus knowing that they would have to overturn a one-goal deficit against BATE Borisov to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive.

Speaking beforehand, Stephen Kenny stated that a Dundalk 55

victory would send shockwaves around Europe and when the final whistle blew in Tallaght, McMillan had written himself into Lilywhites folklore with an unforgettable brace that paved the way for a glorious win.

The first came just two minutes before the break and, yet again, it was Daryl Horgan who provided the ammunition.

It looked like the little winger was outnumbered when he ran at Maksim Zhavnerchik and Aleksey Rios on the left but he checked and managed to somehow make a yard of space to deliver a cross to the far post

2 August 2016; Stephen Kenny celebrates with David McMillan after Dundalk’s UEFA Champions League win over and BATE Borisov at Tallaght Stadium

for McMillan to guide a brilliant header inside Sergey Veremko’s post.

“When Daryl cut back like that, I knew he was going to whip the ball in so I just headed for the back post. I was reaching for the ball a bit but it worked in my favour and I was able to get a good glance at it and it went in the corner.”

That goal levelled the tie at one goal apiece and the unthinkable happened 12 minutes after the restart when McMillan readjusted his body shape to head a Dane Massey centre home and spark scenes of mass hysteria on the terraces!

“Dane is still claiming it was

a cross!,” smiled McMillan. “He was galavanting in at the back post and went to smash one across; I think it was a cross shot to be fair, and I connected well with it.”

McMillan went off to a hero’s reception in the 78th minute. He was replaced by Robbie Benson and the midfielder put the seal on a magical night in the 89th minute when he calmly slotted the ball home to make grown men cry in the stands, and cap one of the greatest ever results by a League of Ireland side in European competition. Fairytale stuff.

“My second goal put us ahead in the tie but we knew that if 56

conceded we’d be out on away goals so when I watch the clips back from that game it’s Robbie’s goal and not my own that brings the biggest smile to my face,” said McMillan. “That was the moment we realised that it was game over and that we had done it!”

Record breaker Dundalk FC 1-1 Rosenborg UEFA Champions League QR2 first leg | July 12th 2017 Oriel Park, Dundalk McMillan’s goalscoring exploits in 2016 caught the attention

17 September 2020; David McMillan scores Dundalk’s goal in the the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round tie with Inter Escaldes at Estadi Comunal d’Andorra la Vella in Andorra

of scouts around the continent and one of the clubs he was linked with, Norwegian giants Rosenborg, witnessed his talents at close quarters the following summer.

A UEFA Champions League qualifying round tie that will be filed away in the ‘one that got away’ section, McMillan gave the Lilywhites the perfect start after 18 minutes when he glanced a Michael Duffy effort past the Rosenborg goalkeeper.

It took his Champions League goal return to seven, a League of Ireland record.

“I was linked with Rosenborg a little bit in the off-season but nothing came of it,” McMillan told the assembled media after the game. “To be honest, my experience of these things is that you hear something and

nothing ever happens.”

Dundalk were pegged back when towering centre-back Tore Reginisussen took advantage of some shoddy defending in first-half stoppage time to bag a priceless away goal for the visitors and Rosenborg dug deep in the return game in Trondheim, overthrowing Brian Gartland’s away goal to advance 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.

“That was a really tough tie,” said McMillan, “particularly the away game in Norway. I remember Brian scoring to put us ahead and I had a header that their goalkeeper brilliantly saved.

“That would have put us 2-0 up away from home and we were nearly thinking ‘we’ve got this’ but, unfortunately, it wasn’t 57

to be that night.

“There was great disappointment because we enjoyed the previous year so much and we felt we could get by them but they showed just how good of a side they were.

“Back then, if you didn’t win your first game you were out of everything. Now, there is a bit of a fallback when you lose but that year there was nothing and it was a killer blow.”

Back on the trail Inter Club d’Escaldes 0-1 Dundalk FC UEFA Europa League QR3 | September 17th 2020 Estadi Comunal d’Andorra la Vella, Andorra One thousand, one hundred

Top-scoring Irish players in UEFA club competitions 15: Roy Keane (IRL) 15: Robbie Keane (IRL) 12: Derek Dougan (NIR) 11: David McMillan (IRL) 11: Liam Brady (IRL) 11: Glen Crowe (IRL) 10: Steve Heighway (IRL) 10: Jason Byrne (IRL) 9: George Best (NIR) 9: Don Givens (IRL) 9: Frank Stapleton (IRL)

58

5 November 2020; David McMillan celebrates after scoring Dundalk’s second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League Group B match with SK Rapid Wien in Austria

and sixty-three days after scoring against Rosenborg, McMillan was back on the European goal trail for Dundalk, claiming the winner against Inter Club ‘d’Escaldes in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.

“Probably not,” was his answer when asked if he ever envisaged scoring a European goal for the club again after his departure from Oriel Park at the end of the 2017 season.

“It’s been a strange journey for me,” he said. “This year hasn’t gone as well as we would have liked, personally or from a club point-of-view, but Europe has been a brilliant experience.”

Goal number nine of his overall tally came in the 14th minute.

Stefan Colovic did superbly well to win the ball back in the middle of the park and play a pass to Michael Duffy and his wonderful through ball was dispatched brilliantly by McMillan.

The floodgates were expected to open after that but some wasteful finishing, followed by the ridiculous dismissal of Andy Boyle in the second half, ensured a nervy finish in Andorra.

“It was probably the only European game we’ve ever

gone into as favourites,” said McMillan.

“That probably put a little bit of extra pressure on us but we should have won the game a lot more comfortably than what we did. I feel I should have had another goal at least and we had other opportunities to put the game to bed.

“To get Andy sent off in the circumstances we did made it a bit more difficult for us but I felt we were comfortable and it was nice to be back amongst the goals in Europe.”

Oh, Vienna….

Rapid Wien 4-3 Dundalk FC UEFA Europa League Group B MD3 | November 5th 2020 Weststadion, Vienna, Austria A brace of penalties on UEFA Europa League MD3 against tonight’s opponents lifted McMillan clear of Jason Byrne and Steve Heighway, and level with Glen Crowe and Liam Brady in the list of goalscoring Irishmen in UEFA club competitions, but echoing the words from the Ultravox song, the goals meant nothing to McMillan after a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat.

“Somebody did mention the 59

number of goals to me before the Vienna game but it didn’t cross my mind until I looked at my phone afterwards and people were saying that I was equal with Glen Crowe, which is great,” he said.

“I was only on for five or 10 minutes but the lads put in a really good performance,” he said. “We stuck to our game plan and we continued to try and play as best we could, even under pressure.

“I looked at the clock after I scored the first penalty and I think it was 81 or 82 minutes.

We put ourselves in a great position but you can’t give away the goals we conceded.

“We wanted to get off the mark and put ourselves into a good position going into the final three games but it just wasn’t to be.”

Derek Dougan (12), Robbie Keane (15) and Roy Keane (15) top the list and with three group stage games remaining, McMillan still has time to plant himself at the summit.

“I’m just focussing on the next couple of games,” he smiled, “and I won’t be trying to set any records. If it happens, that’s great - but if there are any penalties I’ll certainly be putting my hand up!”

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winning penalty saves?2

Premier Division 2 play for? does Cian Coleman Who 7: Premier Division Who did Dundalk play in their final home league game 8: does Cian Coleman play for?

Who 7: Who did Dundalk play in their final home league game 8: of 2016? of 2016?

Which EPL side have agreed to sign Shamrock Rovers' 9: Which EPL side have agreed to sign Shamrock Rovers' 9: Gavin Gavin Bazunu Bazunu next next summer? summer?

2018_24Sligo60_54_55.qxp_dfc15 13.10.18 13:48 Page 2

FAI FAI Cup Cup Who scored a Goal of the Season contender for Bohemians in in their their FAI FAI Cup Cup semi-final semi-final defeat? defeat?

Bohemians Who did did UCD UCD beat beat after after extra extra time time in in the the FAI FAI Cup Cup Who quarter-finals? quarter-finals?

Which teams played in the 2014 FAI Cup Final?

Which teams played in the 2014 FAI Cup Final?

10: 11: 11: 12:

Lucky Dip! 3 City now play?

In whatDip! league do Swansea Lucky 3 managed Which Dutchman player Barnet and wore do Swansea City now play?

In what league the No1 jersey?

Which Dutchman player managed Barnet Who plays their home matches at Fir Park?and wore

the No1 jersey?

Who plays their home matches at Fir Park?

12: 13: 14: 13:

14: 15: 15:

7

7

Lucky Dip! 13: The EFL Championship / 14: Edgar Davids / 15: Motherwell 2019_14_Qarabag_60_p.indd 41

19/07/2019 21:20

FAI Cup 10: Ian Morris / 11: CIE Ranch / 12: St Patrick’s and Derry City

Lucky Dip! Premier Division 13: The EFL Championship / 14: Edgar Davids / 15: Motherwell 7: Limerick / 8: Bohemians / 9: Manchester City 64

winning penalty saves?

Premier Division does Cian Coleman play for?

Who Premier Division Who did Dundalk play in their final home league game does Cian Coleman play for?

Who Who did Dundalk in theirTHE final home league game FIGURES...

ALL ABOUT IT’Splay of 2016? of 2016?

Which EPL side have agreed to sign Shamrock Rovers' Which EPL side have agreed to sign Shamrock Rovers' Gavin Gavin Bazunu Bazunu next next summer? summer?

THE NUMBERS GAME

FAI FAI Cup Cup Who scored a Goal of the Season contender for Bohemians in in their their FAI FAI Cup Cup semi-final semi-final defeat? defeat?

Bohemians Who did did UCD UCD beat beat after after extra extra time time in in the the FAI FAI Cup Cup Who quarter-finals? quarter-finals?

Which teams played in the 2014 FAI Cup Final?

Which teams played in the 2014 FAI Cup Final?

Lucky Dip! In whatDip! league do Swansea City now play?

Lucky Which Dutchman player managed Barnet and wore do Swansea City now play?

In what league the No1 jersey?

Which Dutchman player managed Barnet Who plays their home matches at Fir Park?and wore

the No1 jersey?

Who plays their home matches at Fir Park?

The number of times Daryl Horgan played In 2016, Dundalk scored five goals in the 12 November 2020; Daryl Horgan in action for the Republic of Ireland during the International Friendly match with England at Wembley Stadium

2

5

under Stephen Kenny in a friendly game at a London venue between Dundalk’s UEFA Europa League group stage games.

In November 2016, after the FAI Cup final and before the return games against AZ Alkmaar and Maccabi Tel Aviv, Dundalk travelled to Jersey Road to face Brentford B with the Galwegian appearing as a second-half substitute.

Four years on, Daryl started on the wing as Kenny’s Republic of Ireland side were beaten 3-0

by England in a friendly at Wembley Stadium after the first set of UEFA Europa League group stage games.

UEFA Europa League group stages - two from Ciarán Kilduff, one each from Daryl Horgan and Robbie Benson with a Dasa own goal in the final game against Maccabi Tel Aviv rounding out the scoring.

In three group stage games this campaign, Dundalk have already scored four times with Arsenal the only side to keep a clean sheet so far.

Patrick Hoban, Seán Murray and David McMillan’s aforementioned strikes mean that Ludogorets are the only side to score more goals than Dundalk without picking up a group stage point thus far.

3

Twelve months after winning the Interprovincial Schoolboys competition with Leinster, Dundalk’s number 12, Andrew Quinn, is currently part of the Lilywhites’ UEFA Europa League squad.

The central defender made his senior league debut for the club in the 4-0 defeat against Shamrock Rovers earlier this season. Incidentally, the head coach for the Interprovincial success was Ian Ryan - also a central defender for 19/07/2019 Dundalk - and who, 12 years ago, won promotion to the Premier Division with the Lilywhites on that unforgettable night in Kildare.

12

Prior to scoring three goals against both Rapid Wien and KI Klaksvik in Europe this season, the last time Dundalk scored three goals in a European game was during the 2016 UEFA Champions League qualifying round victory over BATE Borisov in Tallaght.

In a strange twist of fate, David McMillan scored a brace in 2016 and again this season. His two headers against the Belarusian opponents were 2019_14_Qarabag_60_p.indd 41 instrumental in Dundalk’s qualification for the group stages while his penalty double in Vienna proved to be consolation strikes in a pulsating 4-3 defeat.

Lucky Dip! 13: The EFL Championship / 14: Edgar Davids / 15: Motherwell FAI Cup 10: Ian Morris / 11: CIE Ranch / 12: St Patrick’s and Derry City

Lucky Dip! Premier Division 13: The EFL Championship / 14: Edgar Davids / 15: Motherwell 7: Limerick / 8: Bohemians / 9: Manchester City 65

21:20

66

67

EXTRA TIME

THE SPECTATOR

W

hat a crazy season it’s been around Oriel Park. Or so it seems through the prism of my TV. The domestic season has been, shall we say, trying. The European bits, on the other hand, have been a joyous escape, a throwback to the good old days of McLaughlin, Kenny and pre-COVID and sandwiched between limp defeats against Waterford and Sligo Rovers and a draw

at Pat’s were two more heart-warming, energising, proud performances at Arsenal and Rapid Vienna.

It seems almost churlish to come away from Austria disappointed to have lost 4-3. No Irish club has ever beaten Austria opposition, and the lean, professional Austrian League is in a different orbit to the humble League of Ireland. The Austrian Bundesliga is ranked 12th in Europe, just behind Holland and

Turkey, ahead of the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia and Denmark. The League of Ireland languishes in 37th between Albania and Finland.

Indeed, Austria are ranked high enough to have two teams in the UEFA Champions League. Champions RB Salzburg started in the playoff round of the champions route - three rounds after Dundalk started against Celje - while runners-up Rapid started in the second qualifying round for 68

non-champions. After beating Lokomotiva Zagreb in Croatia, Rapid beat then lost to Gent in Belgium to parachute into the UEFA Europa League groups. Dundalk took a more circuitous route.

The Lilywhites have shown scant regard for reputations in Europe in recent times, be that BATE, Zenit, Rosenborg, Sheriff, AZ, Hajduk, Arsenal or Rapid. The Viennese game, in particular, felt like a throwback to 2016, with a swashbuckling Dundalk

traversing Europe, going toe-to-toe with European aristocracy. It was great to see Chris Shields reprise his role as the Ginger Pirlo, dominating midfield in an outstanding performance. Patrick Hoban’s bravura showing up front showed maturity and professionalism, Davey Mac moved joint top of the League of Ireland goalscorer list in European football and Nathan Oduwa showcased the sheer delightful attacking threat he can bring.

THE LEAN, PROFESSIONAL AUSTRIAN LEAGUE IS IN A DIFFERENT ORBIT TO THE HUMBLE LEAGUE OF IRELAND. THE AUSTRIAN BUNDESLIGA IS RANKED 12TH IN EUROPE, JUST BEHIND HOLLAND AND TURKEY, AHEAD OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, GREECE, CROATIA AND DENMARK. THE LEAGUE OF IRELAND LANGUISHES IN 37TH BETWEEN ALBANIA AND FINLAND.

Since the Celje disaster the European performances have been consistently strong, in stark contrast to our laboured

efforts at home.

Andorran champions Inter-Club and Faroese kingpins KI were dealt with in a professional manner, the wonderful 69

display against doughty Euro veterans Sheriff in Moldova was an absolute highlight, there was a superb 45 minutes against Molde, an impressive backfoot effort against Arsenal and a crazy slugfest in Vienna.

Dundalk’s enduring love affair with Europe continues, unabated by global pandemics or indifferent domestic form. Who’s to bet against another chapter being written in the great Dundalk in Europe history book tonight?

HALF-TIME CHALLENGE

THE QUIZ

1

7

11

Dundalk FC 1. Former Dundalk winger Daniel Kearns also played with which other League of Ireland side?

2. Which former Dundalk goalkeeper also played with UCD and represented Louth GAA at senior intercounty in their most recent Leinster final?

3. Who scored Dundalk’s last goal of the 2020 league season?

4. Where was it scored?

5. In what country did David McMillan score his first European goal for Dundalk?

SK Rapid Wien 6. Name the last two Austrians to score against Dundalk in the League of Ireland.

7. Former Rapid Wien striker Nikica Jelavic represented which two Premier League sides?

8. Rapid Wien v Austria Wien is known as the Wiener Derby. True or false?

9. Rapid Wien lost the 1996 Cup Winner’s Cup Final.

In which Belgian city was the game played?

10. How many league titles have Rapid Wien won?

Mixed Bag 11. Which club is managed by Roy Hodgson?

12. Which goalkeeper was Scotland’s recent penalty shootout hero?

13. In which city do Juventus play their home games?

14. Who were the most recent father and son combination to have both won the Premier League?

15. What nationality is former Liverpool and Ajax forward Luis Suarez?

1. Sligo Rovers | 2. Neil Gallagher | 3. Patrick Hoban | 4.

Richmond Park | 5. Borisov, Belarus | 6. Orhan Vojic and Lukas Schubert. | 7. Hull and Everton | 8. True | 9. Brussels | 10. 32 | 11. Crystal Palace | 12. David Marshall | 13. Turin | 14. Peter and Kasper Schmeichel | 15. Uruguayan

15

ANSWERS 70

71

DUNDALK

SK RAPID WIEN

1 GARY ROGERS

1

2 SEAN GANNON

4 MATEO BARAC

3 BRIAN GARTLAND

6

MARIO SONNLEITNER

4 SEAN HOARE

7

PHILIPP SCHOBESBERGER

5 CHRIS SHIELDS

8

MARCEL RITZMAIER

6 JORDAN FLORES

9

TAXIARCHIS FOUNTAS

7 MICHAEL DUFFY

13 THORSTEN SCHICK

8 JOHN MOUNTNEY

14 SRDJAN GRAHOVAC

9 PATRICK HOBAN

16 DEJAN PETROVIC

10 GREGORY SLOGGETT

17 CHRISTOPHER DIBON

11 PATRICK McELENEY

19 DENI ALAR

12 ANDREW QUINN

20 MAXIMILLIAN HOFMANN

13 MARK TRAYNOR

21 BERNHARD UNGER

14 DANE MASSEY

22 FILIP STOJKOVIC

15 DARRAGH LEAHY

23 EIRIK ANDERSEN

16 SEAN MURRAY

25 PAUL GARTLER

17 NATHAN ODUWA

28 CHRISTOPH KNASMULLER

18 WILL PATCHING

29 ERCAN KARA

19 VAL ADEDOKUN

30 LEO GREIML

20 AARON McCAREY

31 MAXIMILLIAN ULLMANN

21 DANIEL CLEARY

32 KOHYA KITAGAWA

22 STEFAN COLOVIC

33 DENIS BOSNJAK

23 CAMERON DUMMIGAN

34 PATRICK OBERMULLER

24 JAMIE WYNNE

35 MARTIN MOORMANN

25 MARK HANRATTY

36 KELVIN ARASE

27 DANIEL KELLY

37 LUKAS SULZBACHER

29 DAVID MCMILLAN

38 ADRIAN HAJDARI

30 JIMMY CORCORAN

39 DEJAN LJUBICIC

44 ANDY BOYLE

40 MELIH IBRAHIMOGLU

COACH FILIPPO GIOVAGNOLI

41 MARCO FUCHSHOFER

HONOURS

RICHARD STREBINGER

42 LION SCHUSTER 43 DRAGOLJUB SAVIC 46 PAUL GOBARA 47 DALIBOR VELIMIROVIC 48 YUSUF DEMIR

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 Women’s FAI Cup Winners (1): 2005

49 NICHOLAS WUNSCH 51 BERNHARD ZIMMERMANN 52 ELIAS FELBER COACH DIETMAR KUHBAUER

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