Dundalk FC :: History

Dundalk's reward for winning their first league championship was a European Cup encounter with Swiss champions FC Zurich. The Zurich side was marshalled by the German International Klaus Sturmer and also featured top Swiss internationals Leimgruber and Peter Von Burg. Also on the side is (at the time of writing) present Switzerland manager Kobi Kuhn and wingers Martinelli and Meyer.
Due to the lack of floodlights at Oriel Park, the match was scheduled for Dalymount Park. Due to clash of kits, Dundalk were required to play in a red and white kit borrowed from local junior side "Arsenal". Joey Donnelly's side also received a blow when right half-back Leo O'Reilly was taken to hospital following the previous match against Drogheda United. O'Reilly had previous European experience with Limerick in 1960 when he lined up against another Swiss side, Young Boys of Berne. O'Reilly was replaced in the starting line-up by the veteran Tommy Rowe. Stan Pownall also lost out to the recalled Billy Kennedy on the left wing. Dermot Cross, rested against Drogheda, was also recalled to the line-up at inside forward.

Unfortunately for Dundalk, the team seemed to freeze on the big occasion in Dalymount in front of 25,000 spectators. Dundalk enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to threaten the Zurich defence. The visitors had three chances and scored each time to go back to Switzerland with what appeared to be a safe lead.
The local and national press praised Dundalk for a brave performance against the more experienced Swiss team. Tommy Rowe was singled out as the best player on the pitch with the enthusiastic Mick Dalton also earning great reviews. However, the strikers were well shackled by what the Irish Times described as "the toughest tackling ever seen at Dalymount for some seasons".
Dundalk started off at breakneck speed. Francie Callan almost connected with a free-kick early on but there as a distinct lack of ideas in Dundalk's attempts to carve open the visitors defence. Zurich went in front after 16 minutes when Feller headed home Meyer's cross. A turning point occured two minutes later when Callan was fouled by Leimgrubber but the referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box rather than a penalty. Dalton attempted two long range efforts and Cross forced Schley into a save from a close range header after 26 minutes. Von Burg tested Barron after 34 minutes and was lucky just before the break when Meyer broke through but shot wide after rounding the keeper.
In the second half, Dalton again tried his luck from distance and Callan shot over the bar from 20 yards. After 58 minutes, Von Burg's powerful effort made it 2-0 despite the best efforts of Barron. Zurich made it 3-0 when Feller gained possession after some indecision in the Dundalk penalty area and his shot rebounded off Patsy McKeown and past Barron.
Dundalk: Barron, Murphy, McKeown, Rowe, Lyons, Dalton, McArdle, Callan, Hasty, Cross, Kennedy.
Zurich: Schley, Stahlin, Stierli, Leimgrubber, Brodmann, Szabo, Feller, Martinelli, Von Burg, Sturmer, Meyer.

By the time came to travel to Zurich, Timmy Lyons had suffered a wrist injury and Patsy McKeown was moved to cover. Dundalk were given no chance of producing any kind of positive result. However, they gave the Swiss Champions an almighty shock in one of the greatest performances by an Irish club in Europe. Despite being unable to claw back the three goal defecit from the first leg Dundalk became the first Irish side to win a match in the European Cup. It could have been even better. With 70 minutes on the clock, Dundalk were 2-0 up and had the Swiss Champions on the back foot. Jimmy Hasty, who had the game of his life, produced a wonderful striker that beat Schley but rebounded off the crossbar to safety. If it had ended in the net Dundalk would have been 20 minutes away from forcing a play-off.
Dundalk started very well and surprised the hosts with some firm tackling and quick breaking attacks. John Murphy and Patsy McKeown took no prisoners. After 20 minutes, Dundalk made the breakthrough when Jimmy Hasty collected from a rebound and slipped the ball past Schley. This goal gave Dundalk a huge boost of confidence and they soon had Zurich pinned back into their own half. After 57 minutes Hasty scored a superb goal to make it 2-0. Picking the ball up outside the box Hasty nutmegged the Swiss defender before flashing the ball past the keeper. Hasty then produced another moment of magic to strike the crossbar.
This was not just the Jimmy Hasty show. Christy Barron performed brilliantly and kept the home side out until the 78th minute. It was only then that Zurich made the tie safe when Meyer scored from close range. This was one of the great Dundalk performances. The Dundalk Democrat summed it up well: "Mark the significance of this feat, because it is history making which goes to the credit of Dundalk. Let us exult in it, shout about it from the rooftops, and rub it in where it needs to be rubbed".

Zurich: Schley, Staechlin, Stierli, Leimgrubber, Brodmann, Saba, Feller, Mertinelli, Von Burg, Kuhn, Meyer
Dundalk: Barron, Murphy, McKeown, Rowe, O'Reilly, Dalton, Kennedy, Callan, Hasty, Cross, Pownall