The Saint (Vol. 32 No. 7)

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Irish Programme Club

Programme of the Year

2019 2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 07 •

St Patrick’s Athletic Dundalk Friday 09 October • Kick Off: 7.45pm • Richmond Park, Inchicore, Dublin 8.

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St Patrick’s Athletic Manager:

Alan Mathews

Manager:

Head Coach: Stephen O’Donnell

Fáilte Tá áthas orainn fáilte a chur roimh mbainistíocht, imreoirí agus lucht tacaíochta Chlub Pheile Dún Dealgan go Phairc Richmond anocht.

Welcome We are pleased to welcome the management, players and supporters of Dundalk Football Club to Richmond Park tonight.

Filippo Giovagnoli

Asst Manager: Giuseppe Rossi

GK o

26 Brendan Clarke

Dundalk

1 Gary Rogers

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2 Rory Feely

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o

2 Sean Gannon

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3 Ian Bermingham (C)

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3 Brian Gartland (C)

D

o

4 Dan Ward

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o

4 Sean Hoare

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5 Lee Desmond

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5 Chris Shields

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6 Jamie Lennon

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6 Jordan Flores

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7 Robbie Benson

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7 Michael Duffy

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8 Darragh Markey

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8 John Mountney

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9 Martin Rennie

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9 Patrick Hoban

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12 Georgie Kelly

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10 Greg Sloggett

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14 Luke McNally

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11 Patrick McEleney

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15 Billy King

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o

12 Andrew Quinn

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16 Jay McClelland

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14 Dane Massey

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17 Simon Madden

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15 Darragh Leahy

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19 Chris Forrester

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16 Sean Murray

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20 Shane Griffin

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17 Nathan Oduwa

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22 James Doona

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18 Will Patching

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23 Jordan Gibson

M

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19 Val Adedokun

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24 David Titov

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20 Aaron McCarey

GK o

25 Conor Kearns

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21 Daniel Cleary

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27 Cian Hughes

M

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22 Stefan Čolović

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28 Glory Nzingo

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23 Cameron Dummigan

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30 Paul Cleary

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24 Jamie Wynne

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32 Cian Kelly

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25 Mark Hanratty

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34 Ben McCormack

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27 Daniel Kelly

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35 Darragh Burns

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29 David McMillan

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37 Daniel Dobbin

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30 Jimmy Corcoran

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38 Kian Corbally

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44 Andy Boyle

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45 Joshua Gatt

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/stpatsfc stpatsfc /stpatsfc

Match Officials

/stpatsfctv

Referee

Assistant 1

Assistant 2

4th Official

info@stpatsfc.com stpatsfc.com

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Half-Time

Full-Time

MOTM

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

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Editorial Ruairi Kavanagh @stpatsprogramme

Good evening, Welcome to your virtual programme for tonight's encounter with the champions, Dundalk, in what is our penultimate home game of the year in this most surreal of seasons.

When I last wrote we had gone six games without a goal, and obviously a win but tonight we have added four to our tally and two wins have put us right in the mix for European football. What a boon that would be in 2020, to have both the challenge, and financial bonus, of European football to look forward to in the summer of 2021. That may seem a long time away now, but it is understandable for us to dream of what the summer of 2021 might look like. A summer night on the terraces watching the Saints, a beer with your pals after would be nice wouldn't it!

We have a tough game tonight though, with points on the table that will be vital in any effort to make that European dream a reality. With the future of sport at such a precarious crossroads in the country, any economic liferaft needs to be seized urgently. Let's all think positive and support our team, and I believe significantly better times may not be far away at all.

Stay safe and stick together, Ruairi Kavanagh Editor

Contents 7

The Dugout

22

Community

11

Dodge’s Data

34

A View from Afar

16

Opposition Watch

36

Pats from the Past

Programme Production Editor Ruairi Kavanagh

Design Joe O’Rourke

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

Photography Sportsfile & Inpho 3

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Light Up Your Nights

SSE Airtricity League

#LightUpYourNights

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President’s Welcome Tom O’Mahony @tomsaintpats

Good evening and welcome to this week's "virtual" programme for the visit of the league champions.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB 125 Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8, Ireland Tel: +353 1 454 6332

This season has been the ultimate

Park in July, and I fully expect us to

rollercoaster, and nothing better

do so again tonight, so an

epitomizes this than the experience

interesting game is in prospect.

of Dundalk. It's less than two months since their underwhelming

We've had something of a roller-

form, culminating in a very poor

coaster ourselves. I feel that our 3-0

performance against Slovenian

defeat in Waterford in early

opposition in the Champions League,

September was the lowest point of

led to the departure of the

our season, but since then we have

management team and must have

steadily improved. 8 points, with

had many supporters writing off the

only one goal conceded. is a decent

season. And yet... in the blink of an

haul from 4 games, and we have put

eye they find themselves, for the

ourselves right back in contention

second time in their history,

for European qualification. However,

achieving the Holy Grail of European

our remaining games are all

Group Stage qualification and the

immensely challenging. After

huge financial windfall that goes

tonight we travel to Finn Harps, who

with it. It is some turnaround, and

are fighting doggedly for survival,

on behalf of St Pats I want to

then finish with games against the

congratulate the club and everyone

two teams who have disputed this

connected with it - players,

year's title. It will be very tough, but

management, Board, supporters - on

last week's performance in Cork

their achievement.

gives hope that we are coming good at just the right time.

It would be nice to think that in tonight's game they may have one eye on the upcoming European

We'll be a lot wiser at 9.35 tonight!

Enjoy the game!

fixtures but I know that they will be far too professional for that.

Nonetheless, we performed well against them when we drew in Oriel

Tom O'Mahony President St Patrick's Athletic FC

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

Fax: +353 1 454 6211 For media enquiries, please email press@stpatsfc.com Opening Hours: 9.30am-5pm (Mon-Fri).

See our facebook page for additional opening hours on match days.

HONOURS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 1951/52, 1954/55, 1955/56, 1989/90, 1995/96, 1997/98, 1998/99, 2001/02, 2013 FAI CUP 1958/59, 1960/61, 2014 LEAGUE CUP 2000/01, 2003, 2015, 2016 PRESIDENT'S CUP 2014 LEINSTER SENIOR CUP 1947/48, 1982/83, 1986/87, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1999/2000, 2011, 2014, 2019 LEAGUE OF IRELAND SHIELD 1959/60 FAI SUPER CUP 1999 DUBLIN CITY CUP 1953/54, 1955/56, 1975/76 LFA PRESIDENT'S CUP 1952/53, 1953/54, 1955/56, 1971/72, 1990/91, 1996/97 FAI INTERMEDIATE CUP 1947/48, 1948/49, 1952/53 (Reserves) FAI JUNIOR CUP 1940/41 FAI YOUTH CUP 1944/45

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Pitchside Sponsors We would like to thank the following who have sponsored the club for the 2020 season...

Sam Bone

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2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

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The Dugout Stephen O’Donnell and Alan Mathews

The last two results have ensured that we go into this evening’s game against Dundalk in good spirits.

It is always nice to come away from a game with the result that your performance deserves, and I feel as though that was certainly the case against Shelbourne and Cork City. Last weekend, in particular, the 2-1 scoreline did not reflect how dominant we were at Turners Cross. On another occasion, we would have scored a few more.

The team has been performing well for a number of weeks, not just the past fortnight. Prior to the last two games, the players gave strong accounts of themselves in scoreless draws against Derry City and Sligo Rovers. Against Sligo, in particular, we hit the woodwork a couple of times and were unlucky not to take all three points.

We all know that football is a results-driven business. That statement, in itself, is as clichéd as they come. But it's a cliché because it's true. The problem with placing such an all-ornothing value on results is that the importance of a good performance can sometimes be overlooked. I say this because our performance against Waterford five weeks ago was a good one.

We enjoyed the majority of possession that evening and had

the best chances, but came away on the wrong end of a harsh scoreline. Sometimes that just happens in football, but the players didn't let it get them down. They continued to work hard in training and the last four games have very much reflected that, both in terms of the performance and the result.

Opponents in this league don't come much tougher than Dundalk, but we relish the opportunity of coming up against such a strong side this evening. Before going any further, I would like to welcome Filippo Giovagnoli, his players and everybody connected with Dundalk to Richmond Park.

Filippo and his players come into this game on a high after securing qualification to the group stage of the Europa League. It's a magnificent achievement and I extend my congratulations to all at my former club.

We won't be reading much into Dundalk's recent matches against Shamrock Rovers and Finn Harps.

Their prime focus in recent weeks has been on making progress in Europe and it was probably to be expected that their league form would be affected. The Europa League won't be back on their radar for a couple of weeks and we have prepared for an extremely tough match against a full-strength side.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

I try to sign off on all of my programme articles with a word of acknowledgement to the supporters. Sometimes it may seem like these sentiments are similar in successive home games.

If that's how it seems, it's because my feelings on the issue has remained the same throughout.

The same goes for the players, who have sorely missed the fans since the season restarted.

It is surreal witnessing games being played in empty grounds.

Equally, we appreciate just how tough this is for the fans. Earlier this week, there was talk that restrictions were going to be cranked up to another full-on nationwide lockdown. That didn't materialise, but it is quite clear that we are some time away from a situation where two or threethousand spectators will be permitted back into Richmond Park. That is a major downer for everyone. However, as professionals, myself, the players and the staff must put that disappointment to one side.

We go in search of a victory today and you – the supporters – are our primary motivation. We know that you are supporting us from your homes, and we very much appreciate it.

Enjoy the game, Stephen O’Donnell

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Oh My Word!

Ronan O’Flaherty @ronanoflaherty

This has been a year sparse on joyous moments, but the odd ray of light has found its way through the tiny cracks in the darkness.

It was during the league match between St Pat's and Shelbourne, which took place here at Richmond Park 13 days ago, that we witnessed one of the most uplifting moments of the Irish sporting year. Everything about Chris Forrester's goal that sent the Saints on their way to victory in the Dublin derby was special.

Everything.

ulated Chris on his Goal of the Month contender, the cameraman appeared to lose focus, momentarily fixing his gaze on the apartments behind the Shed End. But he knew exactly what he was doing. A split second later, as our eyes scaled the front wall of the residential complex, the bright-red hue of a flare from an apartment balcony came into view.

From his initial control of the ball to the execution of an unstoppable thunderbolt that flew into the top corner from 30 yards, it was a moment for fans of good football to savour. Chris scored these kinds of goals, and generally sprinkled stardust all over the pitch, at regular intervals during his first spell with Pat's. His second coming hasn't quite reached those levels yet, but the goal against Shelbourne was a timely reminder of the wizardry in his feet.

This was a celebration of much more than a goal. It was a triumph of the human spirit during hard times. As the pyrotechnic burned into the Inchicore sky, the sparks that spewed from its core told their own stories. They spoke of how, even though we can't attend games, it doesn’t mean we can’t be there in spirit. And even though we can't witness goals in the flesh, it doesn't mean we can't celebrate them as if we were there on the terraces.

However, it wasn't just the spectacular nature of the goal that made the moment so special – it was the manner in which it was celebrated outside the stadium. Not too far outside, mind. As teammates congrat-

To the ears of a zealot, the shrill sound of a full-time whistle is an alarm-of-sorts that signals the end of escapism and the return of real life. Nothing screams real life in 2020 quite like the sight of a politician giving the lowdown

8

on the latest restrictions. Micheál Martin was that soldier on Monday. The Taoiseach captured yours truly's attention by uttering the melodic words of the St Patrick's Athletic motto – Ní neart go cur le chéile – when delivering his bleak state-of-thenation address.

This is a virtuous motto that ought not to be used frivolously.

It suits St Patrick’s Athletic perfectly. Here is a football club that has come through great turmoil and hardship in its 91 years. Only for displays of unity among concerned supporters down through the generations, it would no longer be in existence.

One suspects Micheál Martin chose these words in the knowledge that people are tired of hearing “we’re all in this together”. In saying "ní neart go cur le chéile" – no strength without unity – one concludes that the sentiment was intended to remain the same, although in a more subtle, palatable way.

Only, it's not palatable at all.

There is a distinct lack of unity across the board in the fight against Covid. It's little wonder,

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

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too, considering just how bad an example has been set by some of our highest office holders.

People in positions of power must lead by example. It is an unwritten rule of their employment. Politicians are the obvious example here. Elected representatives are given their power by the people and, as soon as they let the people down with a breach of trust, there should be consequences.

Often, however, there are no consequences. We are a laidback nation in that regard. But 2020 has tested our resolve like no other year in living memory.

The Government-imposed restrictions were being rigidly adhered to by the vast majority.

And then 'Golfgate' changed everything.

In late August, while you and I continued to keep our distance from parents, siblings and friends, the upper echelons of Irish society congregated for an Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Clifden, Co Galway. At a time when indoor gatherings had been reduced to six people, the golf society dinner was attended by

81. They didn't just break the rules; they laughed in the face of those who had been adhering to them.

Once those in political office flouted the rules, widespread slippage was inevitable across all areas of Irish life. Including sport.

Gold star for League of Ireland clubs, who have been consistent from the start, doing all that is necessary and more to ensure games are played. Protocols have been followed to the letter, both on and off the pitch. The same cannot be said for other codes.

Images and video footage of GAA supporters all but breathing down each other's necks has prompted an understandable reaction from Irish football supporters: imagine the public reaction if that was us.

In order for this half-season to reach a conclusion, Irish football clubs must continue to set the standard for adherence. We continue to stay apart.

Dundalk's qualification for the Europa League group stages is hugely impressive, perhaps only

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

surpassed by Sam Bennett's exploits in the Tour de France, in terms of Irish sporting achievements in 2020. After securing their place at an empty Aviva Stadium, they could have been forgiven for marching down the main street in Louth, arm in arm with supporters.

There is no escaping the ugly spectre of sporting inequality which exists in this country. It is in evidence when grants are handed out. It is evidenced by the presence (and absence) of major political players at finals in Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium. It is in evidence by the sheer lack of will, at central level, to acknowledge the importance of Irish football clubs to their local community and the ethos of volunteerism at the heart of these clubs.

This has been the way of things since time immemorial. Yet we carry on, emboldened by our sense of unity.

Ní neart go cur le chéile.

Ronan O'Flaherty

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Dodge’s Data

@seidodge

League Record v Dundalk HOME GAMES

W

AWAY GAMES

24 31

D

L

H

A

TOTAL GAMES

33

75

75

20

20

57 51

150

22

GOALS

42

GOALS

121

102

73

GOALS

116

194

218

Last 10 Games v Dundalk 30/04/18

06/07/18

03/09/18

05/10/18

01/04/19

05/04/19

24/05/19

27/09/19

25/10/19

31/07/20

Oriel Park

Richmond Park

Richmond Park

Oriel Park

Richmond Park

Richmond Park

Oriel Park

Richmond Park

Oriel Park

Oriel Park

1-0

1-0

(AET)

W

1-1 0-5

1-3

League

League

1-1 1-2

Leinster Cup

League

League Cup

League

0-1

0-1

0-4

League

League

League

D L

League

ON THIS DAY - 9th October 1983

League

Shamrock Rovers

H

Richmond Park

0-4

1988

League

Waterford United

A

Kilcohan Park

4-1

2009

League

Dundalk

A

Oriel Park

0-0

2010

League

Bohemians

H

Richmond Park

0-1

2015

League

Bohemians

A

Dalymount Park

0-2

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

Fenlon 2, McDonnell, D Byrne.

Report - pg 13 Report - pg 15

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OUR GAME IS ON THE BALL

UMBRO TEAMWEAR

TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT UMBRO.IE OR CONTACT RICHY ON 086 0317672

Untitled-8 1

11/02/2020 12:14

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OCTOBER

09 1988

Opel League of Ireland Premier Division Kilcohan Park, Waterford.

WATERFORD UNITED 1 ST PATRICK'S ATH 4 Irish Independent, Mon 10 October 1988.

PAT’S MASTERS ALL FIVE goals in this Premier Division clash between Waterford United and St. Patrick's Athletic in Kilcohan Park yesterday came in a hectic last 30 minute spell which was all the more surprising as there was nothing before that to suggest that a goalburst was about to erupt.

Both sides served up some neat football with a highly interesting midfield struggle the only feature in a scoreless first 60 minutes of play.

Without taking from St. Pat's deserved win a bumbling Waterford United defence was the major contributing factor to the downfall of the home side.

It was Waterford however who went ahead on the hour only for St. Pats to reply quickly and with a vengeance. Vinny McCarthy displayed all his polished skills to give Waterford a slight edge so it was no more than the home side deserved when they took the lead.

A Paul Masterson throw on the left was collected

by Mark Jones and the latter, who was a thorn in the side of the visiting

defence all afternoon, beat two St. Pat's players before firing low to the net from thc edge of the area.

The reply from St. Pat's was immediate as Waterford's defence buckled in alarming fashion. Kevin Kelly fumbled in the area to provide Pat Fenlon with possession after 63 minutes and he gave the Waterford keeper, Martin Quinlivan, no chance from six yards.

Three minutes later Mick Wright headed on a Fenlon corner from the right and provided John McDonnell with a chance to head St. Pats into the lead. With 15 minutes remaining Quinlivan and two other Waterford defenders rose at the near post to another Fenlon corner but the ball eluded them all and finished up in the back of

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

11/02/2020 12:14

the net lo put Pats two up.

Two minutes from the end Quinlivan failed to hold a shot from Derek Gough and a delighted Damien Byrne was on hand to give St. Pat's a handsome winning margin.

WATERFORD UNITED Quinlivan, Kelly, Bollard.

Wright, Power, Madigan (M), Jones, Madigan (P), Ashburn. McCarthy, Masterson.

Subs: Burns for Madigan (P) (70 mins), Halloran for Madigan (M) (77 mins).

ST PAT’S ATH Foran, Fleming. Moodv, McDonnell. Byrne, Gaffney, O'DriscolI, Treacy, Gough, Fenlon, Ennis.

REFEREE Nr. J. Purcell (Dublin).

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Friends of St Pats We recently launched our new Friends of St Patrick's Athletic page on our website to help promote businesses of our partners, supporters as well as local businesses.

This dedicated page is a directory of services for friends and local businesses of the Club and we are offering businesses in the local area as well as all supporters the chance to feature on this section of our website FREE OF CHARGE. The aim in launching Friends of St Patrick's Athletic to fans and local businesses is to try to help to increase our fans interactions with these businesses and vice versa. It is now more important than ever to support those close to us, we are extremely grateful to those sponsors and partners who have supported us in this unprecedented time. We also feel it is extremely important to support local business, we always encourage our fans to support those who support us and now is the time to broaden this support.

Benefits of joining Exposure for your business through stpatsfc.com (over 20 million hits per year).

Opportunities to interact and contribute to one of the largest community programmes in Dublin.

Discounts and offers for further advertising opportunities around the club.

First 30 Businesses that sign up will have their logo displayed on the Friends of St Pat's pitchside board for the 2021 Season.

Entry to a free draw for a half page advert in The Saint Matchday Magazine (One Business per edition).

Digital Newsletter with club updates, members of Friends of St Pats information, community work updates and ways of how we can work better together.

No Cost to Becoming a Friend of St Patrick's Athletic 2020/21 Free of Charge for local Businesses and Supporters Send your details including Business Name, Brief Description of Business, Contact Name, Contact Number, Email and Address to karl.stafford@stpatsfc.com

https://www.stpatsfc.com/business_directory.php 14

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

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OCTOBER

09 2009

League of Ireland Premier Division Oriel Park, Dundalk.

DUNDALK 0 ST PATRICK'S ATH 0 Irish Independent, Sat 10 October 2009.

ST PAT’S EARN PRECIOUS POINT IN BID TO AVOID RELEGATION PLAY-OFF THE stark reality is that these are uncertain times for St Patrick’s Athletic so they were content to divide the spoils with Dundalk on a nippy night at Oriel Park.

St Pat’s absorbed a passionate Dundalk start and the Dubliners could have nicked a winner, but a precious point was still added to the account as they seek to avoid a dreaded relegation play-off.

DUNDALK Cherrie; Shaun Kelly, Heary, Burns, Simon Kelly (McGinlay, 62); McKinley, Collins (Mulvenna, 46), Turner, McGowan; Rowe, Mansaram (Coburn, 90).

Dundalk were earnest in the opening quarter as Chris Turner and Michael McGowan had longrange efforts repelled.

ST PAT’S ATH Clarke; Maher, Lynch, Gavin, Stevens; Guy, O'Connor, Byrne, Dempsey, B Ryan; Quigley.

Still as the half evolved Pat’s three-man central midfield of Gary Dempsey, Stuart Byrne, and Gareth O’Connor were bothering the locals.

REFEREE A Kelly (Cork).

St Pat’s failed to take their sole chance of the half when Ryan Guy dragged a right-footed shot wide in the 44th minute.

The Saints probed after the restart as Mark Quigley, Dempsey, and Bobby Ryan went close for the improving visitors.

MAHON FOR ALL SEASONS: Pete Mahon took charge of his fourth game for The Saints in his second spell in charge.

Referee Alan Kelly did wave away a Dundalk penalty claim in the 73rd minute when Jason Gavin, under pressure from sub Tiernan Mulvenna, appeared to handle in the area.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

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Opposition Watch James Fenton @fentonjames16

HOW IS 2020 GOING SO FAR? It depends on which way you look at it.

While Dundalk's indifferent league form means they won't be retaining the Premier Division title they've won five out of the last six years, there is one major reason to be cheerful.

The Lilywhites have reached the group stage of the Europa League for the second time in five years and can now look forward to an autumn filled with clashes against Premier League giants Arsenal, Rapid Wien of Austria and FK Molde of Norway.

Back on the domestic front, things aren't exactly rosy. Dundalk have lost four times during the condensed season and lie in sixth place in the table at the time of writing, a point behind Saints. However, the club's European exploits mean that they have games in hand which could see them climb the table and ensure additional continental football in 2021.

They also have an FAI Cup quarter-final against Bohemians to look forward to.

ONE TO WATCH The fact that Dundalk have gone so far into the Europa League means that their first choice squad members have often been sacrificed in Premier Division games. This makes their starting XI difficult to predict and with their opening group game against Molde on the horizon, tonight will probably be no different.

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If he does start, keep an eye out for former Wigan Athletic man Jordan Flores. The midfielder has scored some high profile goals this season, including an outstanding volley against Shamrock Rovers which attracted widespread attention on social media.

IN THE DUGOUT When Filippo Giovagnoli arrived at Oriel Park in August, many in Irish football circles greeted the news with the words 'Filippo who?"

Since then, the Italian has steered the club into the Europa League group stages and appears set to be offered the head coach role on a permanent basis.

Giovagnoli has previously been technical director at AC Milan's Junior Camps before moving to New York where he worked at Metropolitan Oval Academy.

OUR RECENT RECORD AGAINST THE VISITORS In July, our gaffer Stephen O'Donnell saw his side secure a 1-1 draw away to the club which he captained with much esteem until he retired as a player in 2019.

Our last league win against The Lilywhites was a 1-0 victory in April 2019, before we lost to them three times as they marched towards last season's league title.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

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Dundalk Honours LEAGUE OF IRELAND: 14 1932/33, 1962/63, 1966/67, 1975/76, 1978/79, 1981/82, 1987/88, 1990/91, 1994/95, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019.

FIRST DIVISION: 2 2000/01, 2008.

FAI CUP: 11 1942, 1949, 1952, 1958, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1988, 2002, 2015, 2018 LEAGUE CUP: 7 1978, 1981, 1987, 1990, 2014, 2017, 2019.

Records Filippo Giovagnoli

BIGGEST LEAGUE WIN: 9-0 vs Jacobs, 1932 (home). vs Shelbourne, 1980 (home).

BIGGEST LEAGUE DEFEAT: 1-9 vs Limerick, 1944 (away).

BIGGEST EUROPEAN WIN: 4-0 vs Fram, 1981 (home).

BIGGEST EUROPEAN DEFEAT: 0-10 vs Liverpool, 1969 (away).

BEST OFFENSIVE LEAGUE SEASON: 64 1930-31.

BEST DEFENSIVE LEAGUE SEASON: 13 1979-08.

TOP SCORER IN A SEASON (ALL COMPS): 43 Joe Sayers - 1935-36.

TOP SCORER IN A SEASON (LEAGUE): 29 Patrick Hoban - 2018.

MOST GOALS IN A GAME: 5 Joe Sayers vs Bohemians, League Shield, 1936-36.

Jordan Flores 2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCES: 30,417 v Legia Warsaw, 2016 (Aviva Stadium).

18,000 v Tottenham Hotspur, 1981 (Oriel Park).

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Pensive Points Jimmy Edwards @jimmyedwards41

Good Evening All, Welcome to Filippo Giovagnoli and all the

have won both games by a lot more goals

players and staff of Dundalk FC. I'd like to

such was the one sided performances in

start by congratulating all at Dundalk on

both games.

their marvellous achievement of making the group stages of the Europa league for

It's clear to see the style Stephen wants the

the second time in five years.

team to play and even in some of the games we lost I feel we were the better

I was both delighted and proud watching

team for long periods in the games but got

the draw and seeing a team from our

done by combination of bad luck and not

league in the pots with a lot of famous big

taking our chances.

name teams and for Dundalk to draw out Arsenal is the stuff of dreams for the

We are still in with a chance of qualifying

players.

for Europe so lets hope we can get enough points from the remaining 4 games to get

It's just a shame that the supporters will

3rd or 4th.

miss out on a trip to the Emirates and the other stadiums in Austria and Norway. I'm

I'd like to wish Dan Ward and Martin

sure the majority of the leagues fans will

Rennie the best of luck as they have left

be rooting for you lads and hoping you can

the club and headed home to England and

pick up some points along the way but

Scotland respectively.

enjoy every minute and best of luck specially to ex Saints Sean Gannon, Sean

Here's hoping for a Pat's win.

Hoare, Dave McMillan and Gary Rogers.

Enjoy the game, On to the Super Saints now and it's great

Up the Saints!

to be coming into this game on the back of

Jimmy

two wins in a row against Shelbourne at home (2-0) and then Cork away (1-2) I have to say the scoreline in both games does not reflect the performances as we could

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WWW.MIG.IE

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The 1980’s Dermot Looney @dlooney

Success Returns The first half of the 1980’s saw various experiments with League format and rules, amongst them trials with three points for a win (not introduced permanently until the mid 90’s) and four points for away wins. The League of Ireland was split into a Premier Division and First Division for 1985-86. The previous season almost saw Pat’s relegated at the first opportunity; only a late rally with three wins in their final three games saw relegation averted by a single point. The Saints never looked back – in the 35 seasons since, Patrick’s are the only Premier Division team to have avoided relegation and the relegation/promotion playoff.

The eighties began with midtable League finishes similar to the decade before. 1981-82 gave Richmond regulars something to shout about.

Manager Charlie Walker signed 21-year Paul McGrath from junior club Dalkey United. “The Black Pearl of Inchicore” went on to excel for the Saints in various positions as the season continued, netting four times in 31 overall appearances. His talents didn’t go unnoticed. He won the second-ever PFAI Player of the Year Award and earned a transfer to Manchester United which put him on the path to legendary status. The move to Old Trafford reportedly saved St Pat’s three separate times; firstly due to the transfer fee, then the receipts from the friendly game at Dalymount against Man United agreed as part of the deal, and finally the bonus received on McGrath’s first Irish cap against Italy in 1985.

Walker’s time in charge finished in 1984 with only the 1982-83 Leinster Senior Cup to his name. His two replacements, Eoin Hand and Jimmy Jackson, barely lasted a season each with little to celebrate.

Enter Brian Kerr. The Drimnagh man had followed the Saints since childhood and had significant experience as an assistant manager and coach at

Shelbourne, Home Farm and Drogheda, as well as Liam Touhy’s Irish youth setup. But he hadn’t managed a team by himself. If it was a gamble by the Pat’s board, they surely hit the jackpot.

Indeed, Kerr’s ten-year reign began with a trophy – the 1986-87 Leinster Senior Cup. A fifth place League finish that season was the highest in almost twenty years. Better was to come. 1987-88, Kerr’s first full season in charge, saw an almost entirely new team featuring the likes of Pat Kelch, Maurice O’Driscoll, Dave Henderson, Paddy Dillon, Mark Ennis, Mick Moody, Damien Byrne, Curtis Fleming, John Treacy, John McDonnell and Pat Fenlon. Kerr combined experienced League of Ireland pros with hungry and talented youngsters in a well-organised side. It all came down to the final game of the season in Oriel Park with Dundalk just one point ahead. Paddy Dillon was sent off in a “Hand of God” incident and the game finished 1-1, with Dundalk sealing the Championship by a point.

Pat’s returned to Europe with a first round UEFA Cup exit to Hearts in 1988-89, a season which saw a fourth place finish in the League. Boosted by more astute Kerr signings like Joe Lawless and a young Paul Osam, 1989-90 saw a Leinster Senior Cup win, but that season is most fondly remembered for Pat’s first title in 34 years. Mark Ennis finished League top scorer – the first Pat’s player since Shay Gibbons – as Pat’s won two games within 24 hours, the first v UCD, and the second in United Park, Drogheda, to seal the title.

Sweet as it was, victory was tinged with a little homesickness. Pat’s had left Richmond Park at the end of the previous season with plans to spend one season Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium while the old ground was renovated. But they barely made it back.

Honours League of Ireland Premier Division Champions: 1989-90 Leinster Senior Cup: 3 (1982-83, 1986-87, 1989-90)

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Community Dave Morrissey @dave_pats

Bank of Ireland Begin Together Awards – Results Announced Overall Local Business and Community Response Initiative (Special Covid Response Award) On Tuesday morning it was announced that St Patrick’s Athletic, alongside Frontline Make Change, the Dublin South City Partnership, and the Kilmainham Inchicore Network had claimed the runner up prize in the nationwide category of Local Business and Community Response to Covid-19 initiative. Whilst disappointed not to win the overall prize, I would like to congratulate the town of Tramore for their outstanding entry and subsequent success. For ourselves as a club, it is great to receive recognition for our commitment to supporting our local community.

The club is an asset to the Inchicore area and must strive to play as active a role in local affairs as possible – providing that our involvement benefits the people living locally and the essential service providers that operate here. We must never assume that we have an inherent knowledge of how we can benefit groups or individuals and must always seek to understand how we are perceived from those outside of our supporter base. Whilst we have been here for almost a century, we continue to have much to learn. We need to be alert of the shifting demography of our catchment area and the socio-economic factors that accompany that shift. For example, we must consider the short to medium term consequences of Covid-19 on our community, which groups will it affect the most and what role (if any) can we play in supporting them?

We all want our games to the focal point of the local community on Friday nights but there is an

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everchanging bigger picture – the absence of live games actually serves as an opportunity to truly reflect on our values and composition and how our message is conveyed to Inchicore, Dublin 8, Dublin 10, Dublin 12, and beyond. As areas develop (or redevelop) institutions like football clubs can play a key role in preserving the traditions and values of an area – this should never be too far from our thoughts. It gives me great pride that the judge’s referenced (comments below) the volunteer commitment of St Patrick’s Athletic – volunteerism is a theme we can continue to develop through our community programmes which in turn would contribute positively to community cohesion – one such example of how we can promote positive values.

I am writing this two and a half years into my time (as an employee) and I feel we have much more to do to increase our relevance to the community having only really scratched the surface of what we can achieve together. When I look around the League of Ireland at the moment at this hugely significant juncture in our history, I see a clear opportunity for the FAI and clubs to work together to make sure our long standing clubs, full of local history and tradition, tell their stories more convincingly and listen attentively to those living and working on our doorsteps.

See comments opposite from the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Awards judging panel …

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Inchicore and Kilmainham’s wonderful ‘Food Project’ gave the judges the opportunity to hear excellent, seamless and passionate presentations.

They also heard the voices of the beneficiaries of the project.

The judges saw this initiative as an excellent example of a social engagement project.

The project demonstrated Ní Neart Go Cur Le Chéile with wonderful commitment, planning, and resourcing, as well as generous food donations and a great spirit of entrepreneurship.

The judges were impressed by the project’s legacy which includes food poverty research, a befriending service, and an intercultural football project.

The judges made a point of acknowledging the volunteer commitment of St Patrick’s Athletic for their role in responding to Covid-19.

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2014 FAI CUP FINAL SUBBUTEO PRINTS This artwork depicts the starting XI plus Liam Buckley on that historic day in Lansdowne Road in 2014.

â‚Ź20

High quality GiclĂŠe art print.

Professionally printed on 250gsm stock.

Available in A3 Portrait.

Delivered in quality poster tube ready to be framed on arrival.

Contact info@stpatsfc.com to get your copy.

Frame not included.

Limited Edition

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Patron Saints This scheme is a special and unique initiative aimed at ALL St Patrick’s Athletic fans...

The main aim is to aid the long-term development of this great football club.

We firmly believe for any LOI Club to be successful, it needs the fans to play a huge part. As it’s your club, we are urging all fans, where possible, to join the scheme today.

For the past few years the Patron Saints have run: • The St Patrick’s Athletic Awards Night • Santa Claus visit to Richmond • The Hano Cup These were all fundraised through Golden Goals, raffles and innovative events such as snail racing.

Projects the Patron Saints have contribute to: • Emmet Road Mural • U19s Team Kit • Heart Monitoring Equipment • Media Room Renovation • West Stand Repairs • Club Shop • Grounds Keeping Equipment • Strength and Conditioning Equipment.

Benefits of joining the Patron Saints: • Badge & Membership Card • Priority access to Match tickets • Voting rights on what projects Patron Saints funds will go on • Twice yearly meeting with club officials

• Discounts on most Patron run events • Free annual raffle for player signed jersey sponsored by the Patron Saints • Free annual raffle for a set of signed programmes of the season

TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP GOLD MEMBERSHIP

€10 per week | €40 per month | €480 per year

SILVER MEMBERSHIP

€5 per week | €20 per month | €240 per year

BRONZE MEMBERSHIP

€5 per week | €60 per year

For more information or to sign up: email stpatssc@gmail.com, go to facebook.com/spafcpatronsaints or pop by the Patron Saints desk in the club shop on match nights.

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Jimmy Hasty Sean Creedon

Dundalk has been the top club in the League of Ireland in recent seasons, winning the Premier Division in five of the last six seasons and three years ago they became the first Irish club to gain a point in the Europa League group stages.

Back in the sixties the County Louth club also made history when they became the first League of Ireland club to win a game in the European Cup. After losing the first leg of their European Cup preliminary round tie 3-0 to FC Zurich at Dalymount Park in September 1963, nobody gave the ‘The Town’ much hope as they headed for Zurich for the second leg on September 25.

But goals from Dermot Cross and Jimmy Hasty saw Dundalk pull of a shock 2-1 win. At two-nil, Hasty hit the post and then Zurich got a late goal which saw the Swiss club progress to the first round 4-2 on aggregate.

Cross was a Dubliner, who joined Dundalk in 1962, while Hasty was from Belfast. He joined the club in 1960 thanks to the promptings of club chairman Jim Malone.

Malone told the Dundalk board he had discovered an exciting talent, a centre-forward who was scoring goals for fun with Newry Town.

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The player’s name was Jimmy Hasty.

Another board member spoke up. He had heard of Hasty, heard something fanciful, that the striker had only one arm. Malone conceded this was true, Hasty had only one arm, but he insisted that Dundalk should sign him.

The board did not often say ‘no’ to its chairman but did so back then. We are not, Malone was told, in the business of signing freaks. Malone then revealed he had in fact already signed the player with a personal cheque.

On November 20, 1960 Hasty made his debut in a 2-2 draw against Cork Celtic at Oriel Park. There was huge interest in the new player from across the border and Hasty didn’t disappoint, with a great performance.

John Murphy captained that Dundalk team in the early sixties and has fond memories of his former colleague from Belfast.

John, who celebrated his 82nd birthday last May, still works as a match analyst for Dundalk FM

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Radio Station. He said: “Jimmy scored one and brought gasps of astonishment for his football skills. His ability to ghost past defenders was greeted with disbelief. He wasn’t just a goal scorer, he was the general of every attack, holding up the ball and setting up perfect passes for his colleagues.” ‘‘Jimmy was a big man, just over six foot and people were amazed at his balance. He could use the stump of his arm to lean on players and referees wouldn’t see it. He could score with both feet, was a brilliant header of the ball, everything a striker needed.’’ ‘‘The novelty of seeing a man with just one arm play soccer at the top level meant huge crowds wherever Dundalk played that first season,’’ added John.

An injury free 1963-64 season saw Jimmy score 35 goals including 18 in the League, sharing the title of top scorer with Eddie Bailham of Shamrock Rovers and Johnny Kingston of Cork Hibernians. Jimmy’s overall record for Dundalk was 103 goals in 170 games.

Over his last two seasons at Oriel Park Jimmy was rarely fully match fit and, lacking support, the goals dried up. He was released at the end of 1965-66 and joined neighbours Drogheda for one season.

Jimmy, who was born in Sailertown, in the Belfast dockland area in 1936, lost his arm in an accident when he was 14, on his first day working at the seafront mill.

The teenager showed remarkable resilience to overcome his disability and quickly recovered his balance back on the pitch playing for St Joseph’s in the Down and Connor League. He left the junior ranks for Islandmagee and then moved to Newry Town who at time played in the Irish League ‘B’ division.

‘The Troubles’ were erupting when Jimmy returned to Belfast in the late sixties, but he made a new life: married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret, had two sons, Paul and Martin, and got a job with a bookmakers.

On October 11, 1974 Hasty then aged 38, was walking his usual route to work, down Brougham Street when he was shot dead. It was a sectarian murder attributed to the Protestant Action Group; Hasty was victim number 1,209 of ‘The Troubles.’

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Squad Sponsorship 2020 1 Brian Maher

2 Rory Feely

SMcN Consulting 4 Dan Ward

3 Ian Bermingham

The Clock

Bill Duggan

5 Lee Desmond Will Morgan

7 Robbie Benson

8 Darragh Markey

The Malt House 10 Ronan Hale Kevin Roche

Tommy Keyes 9 Martin Rennie

The Clock

Sean Foley

11 Dean Clarke

14 Luke McNally

Sweeney Family

15 Billy King

6 Jamie Lennon

16 Jay McClelland

The Malt House 17 Simon Madden

St Patrick’s Athletic Supporters Group

Cian Menton 18 Jake Walker

19 Chris Forrester

O’Callaghan Family 21 Paul Cleary

Mtiscot.land 22 James Doona

Brian Bramhall 26 Brendan Clarke Conro Services 35 Darragh Burns Thompson Solicitors

Joan Stapleton 27 Cian Hughes

20 Shane Griffin Daragh O’Halloran 25 Conor Kearns Dalton Family 34 Ben McCormack

Lauren O’Reilly

Conor O’Toole

Stephen O’Donnell

Patrick Cregg

The Patron Saints

Daragh O’Toole

Pat Jennings

Alan Mathews

Zoe O’Reilly

Grace O’Reilly

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Robbie Brunton Stephen Bennett

@stebenn15

As we battle the effects of Covid-19 and all that it brings, it's fair to say that every community has lost somebody dear to it.

The League of Ireland community is no different. Amid the focus on the ravaging qualities of this pandemic, there are, however, other tragedies that have taken our minds away from coronavirus.

The recent passing of former League of Ireland player, Robbie Brunton, is one such moment.

Robbie passed away a couple of weeks ago after a battle with cancer and the tributes that followed showed the amount of respect and high esteem in which he was held by all LOI clubs, players and supporters.

That he passed away at the young age of 47 and leaves a young family behind him, only heightens the sense of devastation felt by those who knew him, played alongside him, coached and managed him and watched him in action.

Perhaps the loosest connection to this club - apart from the fact that Robbie played many times in Richmond Park for

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today's opponents Dundalk, Bohemians and Sligo Rovers - is that he came through the Belvedere schoolboys academy, like so many of the club's young crop of players in the U13s, U15s, U17, U19s and the senior team.

Belvedere's track record of producing top players is exceptional, and Robbie Brunton was one such success story.

Having won many top schoolboy honours with Belvedere, Robbie - like so many before and after him went to seek his footballing fortune in England, signing an apprenticeship with Stoke City in 1991.

With the percentage of young Irish stars who try their luck across the water ridiculously low, Robbie made the decision to return home, and this is where the Robbie Brunton that LOI fans will most identify with first emerged.

in 1994 and quickly established himself as one of the best fullbacks in the league.

At the Showgrounds, he lost two FAI Cup semi-finals and a League Cup final, all to Shelbourne. However, his performances gained him personal recognition as the club's Player of the Year in first season and also selection for the Bord Gais League of Ireland All Stars team.

The Dubliner was also nominated for the League of Ireland's young player of the year award, losing out to Cork City's flying winger Billy Woods.

Following the expiry of his contract in 1996, Brunton moved even further north, and out of the League of Ireland altogether, signing a deal with Irish League club Coleraine.

There he helped the club to a second place finish while also claiming his first winner's medal in senior football, an Ulster Cup.

Robbie signed for Sligo Rovers

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After only a season with Coleraine, Robbie was on the move again - this time to reigning League of Ireland champions Derry City.

St Pat's players and fans will remember Brunton well. He was a no-nonsense full-back who gave little if nothing away, and the discipline bred into him at Belvo stood him in good stead throughout his career.

The move to the Brandywell didn't work out as he had planned, with Derry losing their championship crown to St Pat's and Brunton missing ten weeks of the season with a knee injury.

He finally arrived back to play in Dublin the following season, Bohemians being the lucky recipients of the stylish right-full.

After two seasons at Dalymount, he was again thwarted in his efforts to win an FAI Cup, beaten in the 2000 final once again by Shelbourne after a replay at Dalymount.

Brunton moved again that summer to Kilkenny City and saw further League of Ireland service at Dundalk, before moving up north once again to Newry Town and Cliftonville.

Brunton remained close to Bohemians after retirement and took his sons to watch the Gypsies at Dalymount Park where he once starred himself.

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The outpouring of grief from his former clubs alone tells us of the void left for a husband, a father, a son and a footballer who contributed so richly to the League of Ireland.

Robbie Brunton - September 1973 - October 2020 Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

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It’s Quiz Time!

Answers on Page 42

1

Which club knocked Dundalk out of the Europa league in 2019?

6

Which current Premier League ground hosted a World Cup Semi Final?

2

Which two Saints won the PFAI player of the year award in the last decade?

7

Which European club did Sadio Mane first play for?

3

When did Dundalk first do the league and FAI cup double?

8

Who is Ireland's leading goalscorer at a European championship tournament?

4

Name the three players that started the Euro 88 win over England who never played for Ireland under Eoin Hand?

9

In which Spanish city would you find the Estadio Benito Villamarin?

10 5

Who did Marcelo Bielsa replace as manager of Leeds?

Which three 'Town's' have played in the Premier League?

Inchicore’s Newest Firm Proudly Supporting Inchicore’s Red Army CALL OR EMAIL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

10a Grattan Crescent, Inchicore, Dublin 8 Tel: +353 1 2150185 Email: info@thompsonsolicitors.ie

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A View from Afar Ian Templeman

@iantemplemanloi

“Good times are a reminder and a reward for dealing with the difficult and challenging times we all go through. The trick is to celebrate the good times in advance of the difficult times. Always remember, good times await you after the difficult times pass…”

That quote comes from a book by James A. Murphy, called “The Waves of Life: Quotes and Daily Meditations”.

Murphy is an American lecturer in the field of human behaviour and self-development, and the book itself is a collection of quotes, accompanied by a daily meditation and thought provoking questions and pointers for those who need guidance as they reflect on their lives. I’ve always liked having a browse through that sort of thing, and although these lifestyle gurus can be guilty of a fair amount of guff at times, Murphy is one of the better and more interesting ones. The book is a good light read, and worth checking out if you are looking for something a bit different to browse through and dip in and out of.

In his introduction to the book, Murphy says: “At times, the waves of our lives are calm, such as when we are living our daily existence. At other times, the waves can be stormy, powerful and very challenging to us”.

I don’t think many would disagree that 2020 has been a year when our collective waves have been challenging, some worse than others, so Murphy hits the nail on the head there. Indeed, for many “daily existence” has been anything like as calm in 2020 as is suggested either. It’s maybe not been life changing or defining in the scheme of things but difficult all the same. For every one of us, life as we know it has been shaken and rocked in a way it never has before, and it is in those moments we need a bit of positivity to help withstand the turbulence.

At a time where spirits may be weakening as our lives continue being affected and influenced by factors beyond our control, now more than ever we

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should take time out to reflect on good times.

Many, probably most of us, won’t reflect back on 2020 with any great fondness in years to come, but if the pandemic has done one thing for us, it has made us realise that we took for granted many enjoyable moments, experiences and pastimes that we can’t recreate at the moment.

This might be a slightly off the wall way to lead into a current football story, but I use it as an introduction to congratulate the players and management of Dundalk for their achievement in reaching the Europa League group stages. More than that, though, I’d like to thank them for giving me some fine European footballing moments to enjoy in the past few weeks, and also to look forward to in the coming weeks. As a League of Ireland fan, I am delighted that they have progressed to the group stages again, it’s been great following their campaign up to now, and I am really looking forward to the six upcoming group games.

Now, I do get that not everyone who follows a League of Ireland club shares the same opinion as I do, a non-Dundalk supporter celebrating their success. You only needed to look on Twitter on the night of the game against KI to see that support for the Lilywhites around the country from fans of other clubs was not universal, and Dave Donnelly wrote an excellent piece for Extratime.ie outlining the arguments for and against supporting a club that isn’t your own representing the League of Ireland in Europe.

But I’m not just a St Patrick’s Athletic supporter, I am a League of Ireland supporter who covers the league for a UK-based newspaper The Irish Post, so I have more reason than most outsiders to have kept really close to Dundalk’s campaign up to now.

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Austrian Bundesliga respectively, looks like a decent draw to me, and with several seasoned European campaigners in the ranks, I do fancy the Lilywhites’ chances of picking up a few points.

At a time when there is plenty of opportunity to read depressing news or contemplate an uncertain future and the possibility we will live our lives differently to how we are used to living, there has never been a greater need for some feelgood news.

And for that reason, I reckon we should all be grateful to Dundalk, as their six game European campaign gives us a welcome additional distraction in the next couple of months, while we grapple with whatever the “new normal” is going to be in our daily routines.

It’s not been that easy at times, but thanks to a betting website I watched the Sherriff game in full, and for the KI game I couldn’t find any coverage over here in the UK, but a combination of Twitter updates and replays, combined with an excellent radio commentary from LM FM – as an aside, I thanked them at the time on Twitter, but I take the chance to say again thanks and well done to Adrian Taaffe and Darius Kierans for great coverage – I was able to keep tabs on the game as it unfolded. And now, there are six more intriguing games in the group stages to come, and I don’t have the hassle of wondering if and how I will able to watch them, thanks to the wonders of BT Sport over here.

As a European draw goes, I think Dundalk have the best of both worlds, with a big name as first seed and two teams from the other pots who would appear to come into the “it could have been worse” category. The glamour of two games against Arsenal, coupled with games against Molde and Rapid Vienna, who at the time of writing this are fourth in the Norwegian Eliteserien and fifth in the

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It might be that you would rather focus on your own club than someone else’s, and if that’s the case, that’s fair enough. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But speaking personally, 2020 is not a year that I will look back on as being my “best of times” year, so I am not going to pass up the chance of being able to hook into someone else’s good times.

For that reason, I hope the players, officials and supporters of Dundalk will forgive me for jumping on their bandwagon over the next few weeks. I’m looking forward to reading the match previews, all the chat on social media in the build up and during the games, watching how they rotate the squad in league games, checking the form of their opponents, and on match nights joining them from afar on their European adventure.

And for everyone associated with the club, the events over the coming weeks will mean that in years to come, they will be able to look back at 2020, and will be able to remember there were good times.

Good luck guys.

Ian Templeman

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Stephen Bennett @stebenn15

Harp FAI Cup 1st Round Irish Independent - Sunday 11 March, 1990 Tom Cryan

ST PATRICK'S ATH 1 DUNDALK 0 LIFE in football continues to be sweet for Damien Byrne despite the passage of time.

A vital central defender in St. Patrick's Athletic's surge to the head of affairs in the Opel Premier League, the 35-year-old revived memories of his stint at Drogheda where he once headed the scoring honours, by shooting down Dundalk with the only goal of a disappointing FAI Harp Lager Cup tie at Harold's Cross yesterday.

It was no more than St. Pats deserved, at least on their second-half display, when Byrne popped up in support of the attack in the 84th minute. John McDonnell curled a free from the right into the area, it was beaten away by a defender, but only to Byrne.

The Athletic captain was some 15 yards out but struck a perfect shot that was never going anywhere but wide of Alan O'Neill and into the far corner.

It wrapped up the "Man of the Match" award for Byrne and gave St. Pats their first-ever Blue Riband victory over Dundalk in 13 ties

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CLEARED: St. Pat’s Curtis Fleming, manages to head the ball away despite the attention of Paul Newe (Dundalk) at Harold’s Cross.

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minutes into thc second half when that man Damien Byrne swept the ball across thc Dundalk goal.

Ennis fired over from less than five yards and held his head in anguish.

Gino Lawless and Jim McColI spoiled their positive contributions for Dundalk by earning second-half yellow cards in a game that was generally goodtempered.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC Henderson; Fleming, Kelch, McDonnell, Byrne, Traccy, O'Connor, Moody, Lawless, Ennis, Osam.

SHELBOURNE O'Neill; Lawless, Lawlor, McNulty, Coll, Cleary, Murray, Mackey, Eviston, Cousins, Newe.

CRUNCH TACKLE: Dundalk’s Tom McNulty tackles St. Pat’s captain and goal hero Damien Byrne at Harold’s Cross.

dating back to 1952. It also sent their supporters in a large crowd wild with delight. Alas, a tiny minority of the substantial Dundalk support marred the occasion subsequently.

At the final whistle, as players on both sides shook hands, a few remarkably young idiots, some sporting Dundalk colours, other tarnishing the tradition of green and white hoops, scuffled not just with stewards but police. A firm hand and patience quelled an episode that had no place in yesterday's proceedings.

This was not a match over which any supporter was entitled to get over-excited. A strong wind blowing straight down the pitch made conditions extremely difficult but that hardly excused

some very poor patches.

REFEREE A. O'Sullivan (Cork).

GATE RECEIPTS £5,640.

As early as the 10th minute Dundalk's Paul Newe volleyed a shot off the bar with Dave Henderson beaten. Subsequently in the opening half Dundalk's effort to harness the wind were abject.

Indeed, two of the best chances fellto St. Pats and both were initiated by Joe Lawless. Paul Osam headed his cross too high in the 38th minute and, just before the interval, Lawless set Mark Ennis up for what would have been a marvellous goal.

A deft pass inside was swept up by Ennis on the run but his fiercelyhit shot was just wide.

Ennis should also have scored 15

37

09Oct20-Dundalk-01_A5 09/10/2020 23:49 Page 38

ION PRINT IT D E D E IT IM UR L TO ORDER YO C.COM F S T A P T S @ O ACT INF PLEASE CONT

09Oct20-Dundalk-01_A5 09/10/2020 23:49 Page 39

The 1990’s Dermot Looney @dlooney

Turmoil & Triumph Despite the League title in 1989-90, all was not well.

The Harold’s Cross exile continued as Richmond Park became a grazing ground for sheep rather than a renovated modern stadium. Financial issues came to a head in the summer of 1992 when the club was hours away from bankruptcy, only to be saved by a last-minute injection of £82,000 raised by investors and fans.

By then much of the League-winning team had been scattered to the four winds. Pat’s had finished a creditable third in the League in 1990-91, as well as winning the Leinster Senior Cup and LFA President’s Cup. 1991-92 saw a seventh place finish with a weakened side, while 1992-93 and 1993-94 saw an experimental Top Six/Bottom Six split in the League, with Pat’s in the lower section on both occasions.

By then, however, Pat’s were back at home in Richmond Park. The exile hadn’t been easy. Con Houlihan wrote that despite Harold’s Cross being “hardly three miles away, [the Pat’s] supporters were not happy. The local people were not friendly, the drink didn't taste right, the weather was colder.”

The return came against Shelbourne in December 1993 with a new Main Stand (later to be expanded) renovations to the Inchicore End and the flattening of the pitch – the old 6’3’’ slope was no more.

Patrick’s were thriving off the field too, with explayer Pat Dolan spearheading commercial drives resulting in significant investment in the club including new Chairman Tim O’Flaherty. Kerr’s squad expanded to include Eddie Gormley, Paul “Soupy” Campbell, Liam Buckley, Brian Morrisroe and Ricky O’Flaherty. At the end of the 95-96 season, Pat’s travelled to Oriel Park to exorcise the ghosts of eight years previous. Falling behind 1-0, Pat’s recovered with a Ricky O’Flaherty header and a Soupy Campbell free-kick to lift the Championship

trophy. It was the Saints’ fifth League of Ireland title but, remarkably, the first which had come playing at home in Richmond Park.

Kerr’s team fell just short of a double, losing to Shelbourne in a notorious FAI Cup final replay. Kerr left midway through the 1996-97 season to take up a post as technical director of the FAI, with chief executive Pat Dolan a surprise appointment as manager. The Saints finished in fifth place that season but key signings including youth internationals Colin Hawkins and Trevor Molloy saw Pat’s in a dogfight with old rivals Shelbourne for the 1997-98 League title.

More in hope than expectation, thousands of Pat’s fans travelled to Buckley Park in Kilkenny for the last game of the season. Shels needed only a draw away to Dundalk to seal the title but, remarkably, lost 2-1. With word passing through to Kilkenny, up stepped Pat’s captain Eddie Gormley to score a deflected goal ten minutes from time, giving Pat’s a 2-1 win and their seventh League championship.

Similar was to follow in 1998-99 as Pat’s, now managed by Liam Buckley, and Cork City quickly emerged from the pack. Pat’s defeated Cork on all three occasions and went on to beat Bray Wanderers in the final game of the season to win the title for the first time at Richmond Park. 19992000 saw wins in the FAI Super Cup and Leinster Senior Cup, and a mediocre sixth place League finish but, without doubt, Pat’s were clearly Ireland’s team of the nineties.

With so much League success, European football featured heavily in the nineties. All four ties saw defeats but there were creditable displays against Celtic and Slovan Bratislava, along with a 5-1 loss to Dinamo Bucharest and a 10-0 mauling from Zimbru of Moldova.

Honours League of Ireland Premier Division Champions: 3 (1995-96, 1997-98, 1998-99) Leinster Senior Cup: 2 (1990-91, 1999-2000) LFA President’s Cup: 2 (1990-91, 1996-97) FAI Super Cup: 1999-2000

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

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09Oct20-Dundalk-01_A5 09/10/2020 23:49 Page 41

Player Apps & Goals 2020 Up to and including Cork City game on Saturday 3rd October.

26 Brendan Clarke

GK

LEAGUE

TOTAL

FAI CUP

Pld

Gls

Pld

Gls

Pld

Gls

13

0

0

0

13

0

2 Rory Feely

D

12

0

1

0

13

0

3 Ian Bermingham (C)

D

6+2s

0

1

0

7+2s

0

4 Dan Ward

D

4+2s

0

1

0

5+2s

0

5 Lee Desmond

D

12+1s

0

0

0

12+1s

0

6 Jamie Lennon

M

10+2s

0

1

0

11+2s

0

7 Robbie Benson

M

11

1

1s

0

11+1s

1

8 Darragh Markey

M

1+7s

0

1

0

2+7s

0

9 Martin Rennie

F

2+7s

0

1

0

3+7s

0

12 Georgie Kelly

F

8

2

1s

0

8+1s

2

14 Luke McNally

D

13

0

1

0

14

0

15 Billy King

M

8+2s

1

0

0

8+2s

1

16 Jay McClelland

M

5+6s

0

1

0

6+6s

0

17 Simon Madden

D

0

0

0

0

0

0

19 Chris Forrester

M

11+1s

1

1s

0

11+2s

1

20 Shane Griffin

D

9

0

0

0

9

0

22 James Doona

F

1+5s

0

1s

0

1+6s

0

23 Jordan Gibson

F

8+2s

0

1

0

9+2s

0

24 David Titov

D

5

0

1

0

6

0

25 Conor Kearns

GK

0

0

1

0

1

0

27 Cian Hughes

M

0

0

0

0

0

0

28 Glory Nzingo

M

0

0

0

0

0

0

30 Paul Cleary

D

0

0

0

0

0

0

32 Cian Kelly

D

0

0

0

0

0

0

34 Ben McCormack

M

0

0

0

0

0

0

35 Darragh Burns

M

1s

0

0

0

1s

0

37 Daniel Dobbin

D

0

0

0

0

0

0

38 Kian Corbally

M

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

Own Goals For 12 Ollie Younger

D

10 Ronan Hale

F

11 Dean Clarke

F

19 Jake Walker

F

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

41

09Oct20-Dundalk-01_A5 09/10/2020 23:49 Page 42

2020 Fixtures, Results & Lineouts Date

Opposition

Venue Comp Score

Fri 14 Feb

Waterford

Home Series 1

0-1

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

Desmond

McNally

D Clarke

Lennon

Be

Fri 21 Feb

Sligo Rovers

Away Series 2

2-0

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

Desmond

McNally

Younger

Benson

Fo

Fri 28 Feb

Shelbourne

Away Series 4

0-1

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

Desmond

McNally

McClelland

Markey

Fo

Fri 06 Mar

Cork City

Home Series 5

1-0

Clarke

Younger

Griffin

Desmond

McNally

McClelland

Ward

Fo

Fri 31 July

Dundalk

Away Series 6

1-1

Clarke

Feely

McNally

Desmond

Lennon

Titov

Ward

Fo

Mon 03 Aug Derry City

Home Series 3

0-1

Clarke

Feely

McNally

Desmond

Titov

Lennon

Ward

G

Fri 07 Aug

Finn Harps

Home Series 7

2-0

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

McNally

Titov

Lennon

Forrester

G

Mon 10 Aug Finn Harps

Away FAI Cup

0-1

Kearns

Feely

Bermingham

McNally

Titov

Lennon

Markey

W

Sun 16 Aug Shamrock Rovers Home Series 8

0-0

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

McNally

Titov

Desmond

Lennon

G

Sat 22 Aug Bohemians

Away Series 9

0-2

Clarke

Feely

Bermingham

McNally

Desmond

Lennon

King

Be

Fri 04 Sep

Away Series 10

0-3

Clarke

Feely

Griffin

McNally

Desmond

Lennon

King

Be

Sun 12 Sep Sligo Rovers

Home Series 11

0-0

Clarke

Feely

Griffin

McNally

Desmond

Lennon

King

Be

Fri 18 Sep

Away Series 12

0-0

Clarke

Feely

Grifin

McNally

Desmond

Lennon

King

Be

Sat 26 Sep Shelbourne

Home Series 13

2-0

Clarke

Feely

Grifin

McNally

Desmond

Markey

McClelland

Be

Sat 03 Oct

Cork City

Away Series 14

2-1

Clarke

Feely

Grifin

McNally

Desmond

Lennon

McClelland

Be

Fri 09 Oct

Dundalk

Home Series 15

0-1

Sat 17 Oct

Finn Harps

Away Series 16

0-1

Fri 23 Oct

Shamrock Rovers

Away Series 17

0-1

Fri 30 Oct

Bohemians

Home Series 18

0-1

42

Waterford

Derry City

First XI

1

Quiz Time!

Questions on Page 33

1

Slovan Bratislava.

2

Killian Brennan, Christy Fagan.

3

1978/79.

4

John Aldridge, Ray Houghton, Chris Morris.

5

Paul Heckingbottom.

6

Goodison Park.

7

FC Metz.

8

Robbie Brady.

9

Seville.

10

Ipswich, Huddersfield, Swindon.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

09Oct20-Dundalk-01_A5 09/10/2020 23:50 Page 43

League

FAI Cup

1st Sub 2nd Sub 3rd Sub

4th Sub

5th Sub

* Own Goal For

1 Goals Scored P Penalty OG Own Goal

Yellow Card

Red Card

Substitutes Benson

King

McClelland

Rennie

Forrester

Hale

Doona

Ward

Younger

Walker

Kearns

King

Hale

Doona

D Clarke

Lennon

Rennie

Ward

Griffin

McClelland

Kearns

Forrester

King

D Clarke

Hale

Doona

Rennie

Walker

Ward

Lennon

Griffin

Kearns

Forrester

King

1

Rennie

D Clarke

Lennon

Doona

Bermingham

Markey

Hale

Walker

Kearns

Forrester

Benson

1

Griffin

Gibson

McClelland

Rennie

Markey

Bermingham

McCormack

Burns

Kearns

Griffin

Benson

Kelly

Gibson

McClelland

Forrester

Rennie

Markey

Burns

Burns

Kearns

Griffin

Benson

Kelly

McClelland

Ward

Desmond

Markey

Gibson

Rennie

Burns

Kearns

Ward

Gibson

Rennie

McClelland

Kelly

Forrester

Benson

Doona

Cleary

Burns

Clarke

Griffin

Benson

Forrester

Kelly

Ward

King

Gibson

Markey

McClelland

Cleary

Kearns

Benson

Gibson

Forrester

Kelly

McClelland

Doona

Markey

Rennie

McClelland

Cleary

Kearns

Benson

Gibson

Ward

Kelly

McClelland

Doona

Markey

Rennie

Bermingham

Titov

Kearns

Benson

Gibson

Forrester

Kelly

McClelland

Bermingham

Markey

Titov

Ward

Rennie

Kearns

Benson

Gibson

Forrester

Kelly

Markey

McClelland

Rennie

Bermingham

Ward

Burns

Kearns

d

Benson

Gibson

Forrester

Kelly

Burns

McCormack

Rennie

Bermingham

Doona

Titov

Kearns

d

Benson

Gibson

Kelly

King

Markey

McCormack

Bermingham

Doona

Titov

Kearns

Forrester

1

1

1

2

Forrester

1

Premier League Table Club

P

WON

W

D

L

1 Shamrock Rvs 14 12

2

2 Bohemians

14 10

3 Waterford

14

4 St Pat’s Ath 5 Sligo Rovers

GF

GA

GD

PTS

0 38

7

31

38

0

4

18

9

9

30

6

2

6

16 20

-4

20

14

5

4

5

10 11

-1

19

15

6

1

8

15 21

-6

19

6 Dundalk

12

5

3

4

20 18

2

18

7 Derry City

14

4

4

6

14 13

1

16

8 Shelbourne

14

3

4

7

11 18

-7

13

9 Finn Harps

14

2

5

7

9

20 -11

11

10 Cork City

13

2

3

8

8

22 -14

9

DREW

LOST

Last 5 Games

Includes Games on Sunday 4th October.

2020 Season • Vol. 32 • No. 7 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk

43

09Oct20-Dundalk-01_A5 09/10/2020 23:50 Page 44

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