Dundalk 1968 Fairs Cup Campaign
Dundalk qualified for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup by finishing runners up to Shamrock Rovers in the Shield. Dundalk were confident of overcoming the Dutch team as they were a semi professional outfit like themselves. However. Utrecht had a very impressive home pedigree in Europe having beaten Standard Leige and Zaragoza and drawn with Barcelona and West Bromwich Albion in their last four European ties. Manager, Tommy Rowe, named a squad of 14 players but caused controversy by leaving out Tony O’Connell.
Dundalk suffered a severe blow after only 4 minutes when Patsy McKeown, Dundalk’s most experienced defender, suffered a broken leg. This injury was to tragically end “Tootsie” McKeown’s playing career. It got worse for Dundalk when full back, Dessie O’Reilly, was injured and played the rest of the game on the wing as a passenger. Two forward players, Gilmore and Hannigan, had to fill the defensive roles. Turlough O’Connor missed a glorious chance early on and after the two injuries left the Dundalk defence in disarray Utrecht piled on the pressure.
Goalkeeper Pat Lawless was being upset by the glare of the photographers around his goal and Tommy Rowe even protested to the officials. After 15 minutes Lawless misjudged a corner and after a scramble a combination of Lawless’s leg and Murray managed to clear the danger. Lawless was lucky on a number of other occasions before Utrecht scored after 30 minutes. Lawless missed a corner and and Van Veen turned to shoot into an empty net. Just after half time Stokes almost put Dundalk level but saw his shot well saved. After 55 minutes Utrecht hit the crossbar and a minute later Lawless made a great save to deny Van Veen. In the 58th minute Stokes made a run down the right and his cross was met by O’Connor who saw his header brilliantly saved. After 70 minutes Stokes header from Campbell’s corner hit the bar. Then on 75 minutes Dundalk equalised. An inswinging cross from the injured O’Reilly was met by a diving header by Stokes which had the keeper well beaten. From then on Dundalk shut up shop and held on for hard earned draw.
Dundalk: Lawless, O’Reilly, McKeown, Murray, Brennan, Millington, Gilmore, O’Connor, Stokes, Morrissey, Campbell.
Sub: Hannigan for McKeown.
In the run up to the 2nd Leg the Dundalk players and supporters were hopeful that at the third attempt Dundalk would qualify for the second round of a European competition. Like the previous year, there was hectic preparations for staging a European tie in Oriel Park. After all the hard work in erecting floodlights two of the pylons crashed to the ground during the January storms and were only replaced the week before this match.
The match was also to represent a fairytale return to the side for ex-Dundalk captain John Murphy. After Patsy McKeown’s injury Dundalk re-signed the man that led them to the championship in 1963. It was a big upturn in fortune for the local man as he had been released by Glenavon, ended up playing for Quay Celtic in the Dundalk summer league and failed to impress Drogheda United during a month long trial. Ironically his first game back for Dundalk was a Shield match against Drogheda who were leading the Shield table at the time. Dundalk warmed up for their big European test by winning the match 5-0.
A smaller than expected attendance of 6,000 paid gate receipts of £2,000 to witness a tense match. The Dutch team made a fine gesture before the match when they all lined up to greet Patsy McKeown and wish him well. It certainly wasn’t pretty as Utrecht played a game designed to hit Dundalk on the break. Dundalk had a scare very early when Fran Brennan challenged Van Veen in the box and the Dutch striker went down. Luckily the Scottish referee waved play on. Van Steyn came close with a 20 yard shot that went just over the bar. Then more bad luck for Dundalk. Goalkeeper Lawless was injured in a collision and had to retire. It was very fortunate that Kevin Blount, Dundalk’s first choice keeper for the past two seasons, had just that very day completed a 6 month suspension and was able to take the field. Dundalk started to take the initiative and had a number of chances before the break. Tony O’Connell, later to be voted man of the match, made a great run down the right, beat two men and blasted a shot into the side netting. Hannigan then set up Stokes but Verrips was able to save. The best chance of the first half fell to Gilmore who mistimed a free header from a Stokes cross and the ball went wide.
Extra time was agonising for the Dundalk supporters as they feared another breakaway Dutch goal or, even worse, losing the tie on a toss of a coin. O’Connell (pictured right) had the only chance of the first period when he fired his effort just wide. Three minutes into the second period Dundalk fans were celebrating a sensational goal. O’Connell took a corner kick which was cleared back out to him on the right. O’Connell’s return cross was met by Jimmy Morrissey about 20 yards out and his rocket header nearly burst the net. The Dundalk defence was able to stand firm and send Dundalk into the second round of a European competition for the first time in their history. The Dundalk team went off the field to a rousing standing ovation of the like that had never been seen before in Oriel Park.
Dundalk : Lawless, Murphy, Morrissey, Murray, Brennan, Millington, Gilmore, O’Connor, Stokes, Hannigan, O’Connell. Subs: Blount for Lawless. Turner for Gilmore.
DOS Utrecht: Verrips, Plageman, Witzand, Block, De Kufner, Niewenhuiys, Van Veen, Van Styn, Walweld, Veld. Subs: Langendyl for Van Veen
