After being denied by a late equaliser against PSV Eindhoven 12 months earlier Dundalk fans could not wait for the chance to play against the cream of European football again. Hadjuk Split were by no means in the same league as PSV but they came with a very good European record and a excellent reputation. They also featured six members of the Yugoslav national side. Hadjuk Split were given a great welcome when they came to Dundalk after they agreed to play in Dundalk for the first leg despite coming out of the hat first. Dundalk fans had more reason to be worried as their league form at the start of the 77/78 campaign was very poor and they lost 2-0 at Oriel Park to Athlone three days before the big night.
Dundalk lined out with the same team that beat Limerick in the Cup Final to qualify for the competition. Split opened the game very well and it did not appear that Dundalk could hold out against the quick play for long. Split actually had the ball in the net in the first minute when Vujovic scored but luckily the linesman had his flag up. Split came forward in droves in the opening 15 minutes and the Dundalk defence found it difficult to clear the danger. Then on 16 minutes Dundalk broke when Mick Lawlor charged forward, played a 1-2 with Flanagan and then blasted the ball past Katalanic. It seemed like it was going to burst the net but to the despair of the Dundalk support it hit off the inside of the post. This near miss was the turning point as Dundalk came to life. Split were still dangerous and their captain, Surjak, hit the inside the post from a corner.
As the second half progressed Dundalk began to impose themselves more on the game. Braddish seized upon a mistake to give Flanagan a chance but his shot went narrowly wide. Both Flanagan and Braddish went close as Split seemed intent on settling for a scoreless draw. But Jim McLaughlin had other ideas. He made a great run out of defence, shrugged off a heavy challenge from a Split defender and played the ball out wide to McDowell. McDowell crossed into the area in the direction of Mick Lawlor who saw Flanagan in space behind him. Flanagan made no mistake from Lawlor’s flick on. Oriel Park erupted.
The Dundalk team that night was: Blackmore, B McConville, J McLaughlin, T McConville, McManus, Braddish, Cavanagh, McDowell, Flanagan, Lawlor, Dainty.
2nd Leg
A very unfortunate 90 minutes after a very stressful week for the club and it’s players ended Dundalk’s involvement in Europe for another two seasons. Dundalk’s woe began even before they left to travel to the airport. In previous European games Dundalk reimbursed players loss of wages. As this would have resulted in varying amounts of money being paid out this time Dundalk offered lump sums. On the previous Friday night Tommy McConville and Tony Cavanagh approached the board to have their dole money reimbursed. This was refused on the grounds that the players were already been “well done by” with the good “spending money” that they were offered. The matter was raised again in Dublin airport as the team assembled to depart for Split. There were many different versions of what actually happened but a number of players including club captain Jackie McManus and Player’s Union representative Mick Lawlor also got involved. After a lot of discussion McConville and Cavanagh agreed to travel without getting their wish. But the Club chairman Oliver Quinn informed both players that they were not welcome on the plane. The club released an official statement “Due to a serious breach of club discipline, prior to departure at Dublin airport, two players, Tommy McConville and Tony Cavanagh, did not travel”. A young Martin Lawlor got his break into the first team squad as a result. Unfortunately the ramifications were serious for a number of players. Tony Cavanagh was never to play for Dundalk again, Tommy McConville appeared to be have been “sacked” but made an apology to the club and was back playing again by November, and Jackie McManus who got caught up in the discussion in the airport played his last game for the club in Split and was transferred to Drogheda United.
It was no wonder that events on the pitch did not go to plan either. The scoreline was misleading as Dundalk had a number of good opportunites and Hadjuk Split benefited from a few moments of sheer luck. After 25 minutes Jimmy Dainty evaded two tackles and turned the ball to Braddish.
The ball was moved out to Mick Lawlor who combined with Flanagan to open up the Split defence. Lawlor’s shot beat Katanic but hit the foot of the post and was scrambled clear. 5 minutes later Split levelled the tie on aggregate. Then just before half time Dundalk had another piece of terrible luck when Flanagan’s shot was deflected away from Katanic and rebounded off the crossbar.
On 53 minutes came a moment of utter catastrophe. With Dundalk still well in the game and looking good to score an away goal Jackie McManus collected the ball outside the Dundalk penalty area. The Dundalk captain was under no pressure and could have easily cleared but decided to pass the ball back to Blackmore. Unfortunately for McManus, in what turned out to be his last game in a highly successful spell at the club, he did not notice that Blackmore had moved off his line. The Dundalk team and small travelling party watched in agony as the ball slowly bobbled over the line.
Dundalk still fought bravely. Jimmy Dainty swung over a great cross that Mick Lawlor headed narrowly wide. With 10 minutes remaining, and Dundalk only needing one goal to go ahead in the tie on away goals ,came the only goal that could not be considered lucky when Rukljac headed past Blackmore to put the tie out of Dundalk’s reach. Then on 85 minutes Dundalk’s misery was complete when Brian McConville, who had a great game, scored an OG with a diving header as he tried to clear Zungul’s cross.
The unluckiest game in Dundalk’s history.
The team that night in Split was: Blackmore, McManus, McLaughlin, B McConville, O’Brien, Mick Lawlor, Braddish, King, Dainty, McDowell, Flanagan
