Both Dundalk and Linfield already knew that Malta Hibernians were waiting for the winners of the preliminary round tie. Jim McLaughlin was hoping for a least a 2 goal cushion before the trip to Valetta for the second leg as Malta Hibs grassless rock hard home pitch gives them a big advantage. In recent years both Real Madrid and Manchester United had gone there and failed to score. It was not going to be easy as Hibs had 5 Maltese internationals in their team. Tommy McConville remembered being in a similar situation with Waterford United in 1972 when they lost to Ommonia Nicosia 2-1. “If we play our own game and don’t go out with silly allusions about being vastly superior to the opposition then we will do well”. The Malta Hibernians manager, a priest named Fr Hilary, said “to lose 1-0 would be a good result as our pitch won’t be popular with Dundalk. It’s not popular with us either but we are used to it”.
The match itself was totally dominated by Dundalk. Malta Hibernian were a physically weak side and should have been torn apart but their luck held throughout. Dundalk were so superior that some commentators claimed that Malta Hibernians were the weakest side ever to play a League of Ireland side in Europe. Dundalk’s star players were the two full backs Martin Lawlor and Tommy McConville and it was from both of them that most of Dundalk’s attacks stemmed from. In the 38th minute after a superb run Sean Byrne beat two defenders at the by-line and hit a cross that had the Maltese international keeper, Borello, floundering. Hilary Carlyle was given an easy tap in. It should have been two after 50 minutes after Borello mis-kicked his clearance straight at Flanagan who attempted to chip the keeper from 50 yards. Borello recovered magnificently to tip the ball over the bar. After 62 minutes Martin Lawlor crossed from the left following a strong run was met by Liam Devine who hammered it home from 6 yards. Try as they might Dundalk could not get a third goal. After 76 minutes Cathal Muckian saw his header disallowed. Right at the death Dermot Keely saw his thundering shot cleared off the line and Paddy Dunning’s header skimmed the crossbar.
Jim McLaughlin was pleased enough after the match. “Another would have been nice. They packed the defence and just kicked the ball anywhere”
| 2nd Leg 26th September 1979 Valetta |
Dundalk became the first Irish team to go three rounds in European Competition after holding out to scrape home 2-1 on aggregate. With the pitch even worse than predicted and the high temperatures giving the home side a big advantage Dundalk were extremely relieved to hear the final whistle. Jim McLaughlin’s pre match claims that Dundalk were going to attack from the offset appeared to be a slight gesture of gamesmanship as they concentrated on defence for the entire 90 minutes. The hero was undoubtedly Richie Blackmore who pulled off several fine saves throughout the match despite the rough tactics of the Maltese forwards which included having fists thrown at him. As well as the pitch the Greek officials seemed to have a loose understanding of the off-side laws.
The only goal of the match was scored by Chris Velia just after the half time break. Dundalk then played everyone behind the ball and survived incessant Maltese pressure. After the game Jim McLaughlin stated “They dictated the game. They were a different team. In the 2nd half the heat and conditions got the better of us”.
The Dundalk Democrat found an interesting way of summing up the 90 minutes. “It was like playing marbles in the grass against a grasshopper, because the grasshopper would have been playing at home and who else could play marbles in grass.” Fantastic.
