Dundalk fans may well be capable of animated debate and expressing a lot of varied opinions but when I put one question to a selection of them, it was clear that on some topics at least, many strongly agree with each other.
What is your best or most outstanding memory of the 1987/88 double-winning season?
I was stationed in the Far East during the 1988 season and every Sunday I would ring back to New York to speak with my parents. The first news my Da would always have for me was the Dundalk results. I don’t know how or where he got them, but that was the way I was able to keep up to date with Dundalk’s season. I can clearly recall him going on about the Cup Final against Derry City, he was adamant it was a stonewall penalty for Dundalk no matter what anyone said. I remember thinking to myself, how would he know!
James Murtha.
For me, one of the highlights (no pun intended!) of the 1987/88 season was watching the second leg of the Cup semi-final up a tree in Richmond Park. The RTE cameras left that day before we scored our third goal.
Paul Hoey.
My most outstanding memory of the 1987/88 season has to be the night we drew with St. Pat’s to take the league title. I clearly remember after Dessie Gorman scored, my uncle Colm telling me that it was all over now, Pat’s wouldn’t score a second and Dundalk were going to be crowned champions. Obviously he was right, unusual that for a Derby County fan!!!
Michael Begley.
Best memories have to be our 0-3 win away to Pat’s in the FAI Cup semi-final and obviously the win against Derry. But, most of all I remember the celebrations in the Lilywhite Lounge, well I remember going in, but I don’t remember leaving!!
On the night after winning the cup Alan O’Neill arrived into the Lilywhite Lounge with a box of Daz washing powder. He held it up in the air and shouted “Come on the Lilywhites”, I think he was still celebrating!
John Logan.
Outstanding memory of 1987/88 season? The “Oriel Roar” against Derry. Need I say anymore?
Barry McDonnell
There are a few special moments from the 1987/88 season for me. Our great comeback from 0-2 down against Derry to beat them 3-2 in the league and then of course our Cup Final victory over them a few weeks later. My highlight would have to be Barry Kehoe’s goal against St. Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Cup semi-final.
Paul Carolan.
Being a Dundalk fan at the final whistle in the Cup semi-final against St. Pat’s was pretty special and I also remember driving through the town on the open top bus with the double-winning squad (I had been a mascot at the Cup Final).
Richie O’Connor
Our Easter Monday comeback against Derry City when we bet them 3-2 after being 2-0 down was magical. Some of the crowd had already left Oriel, thinking that Dundalk’s title challenge was over. They should have known better. It was the most amazing Dundalk victory I’ve ever seen, truly unforgettable. It was also a strong indication that our ambition to become League champions was well on target.
Kenneth Sloane
The 3-2 comeback against Derry has to be the one, from complete despair to ecstasy in the space of 12 minutes!
Sean Cotter
The cup semi-final second leg against Pats was great but it was brilliant going to Dalymount Park and beating Derry in the final. We went there as the underdogs and on the day, good luck was on our side, Larry Wyse was pushed and John Cleary stepped up and scored the penalty. It was great.
Gerry Watters.
The 3-2 comeback against Derry is my outstanding memory of the 1987/88 season. I brought my younger brother Simon to the game, it was his first Dundalk match. I was really cheesed off with us being beaten 0-2 but the comeback was amazing. What an experience for your first Dundalk game.
Wayne Mackin.
It has to be the Cup Final for me, the reaction when the penalty was scored was amazing.
Noel Rice.
Winning the FAI Cup in Dalymount was great, even though it was a poor game it was a great result and an even better trip home.
Padraig McKeown.
Winning the League against Pats in Oriel is my best memory, it was a great feeling.
Seamus Farrell.
The 3-2 victory over Derry City in the league was fantastic. What I remember is that some people had left the game cursing the Club when we were 0-2 down. Then Dundalk turned the game around and scored 3 goals in the last 10 minutes. Some of those people who had gone home thinking Dundalk were beaten and the league was gone ended up coming back to the Lilywhite Lounge to join in the celebrations!
Aidan Gaughran.
The league game against Derry is my best memory. Dessie Gorman’s header to score the winner was fantastic. I’ll never forget it. It was a pleasure to watch Dessie Gorman playing for Dundalk.
Davy English.
I’m too young to remember the 1987/88 season but all I know is the answer to that question is the league game against Derry!
Aidan Donohoe.
My best memory is of the Cup Final, everyone from Dundalk was there. It was a case of last one leaving town, turn the lights off! I missed loads of the game because I spent so much time shaking hands with all the people I knew at it. It was a very friendly final as well, the 2 sets of fans got on very well.
Aidan Walsh.
I remember the Cup Final for good and bad reasons. Security outside Dalymount Park insisted on taking the poles off the flags some of the Dundalk kids had with them and they did not do the same with Derry. Everything was set up for Derry to win that Cup, they had great support all season travelling all over the country and the FAI introduced a 2-leg semi final which had been unheard of until then. We were seen as the underdogs going into that game. It was a poor game but we won and the victory itself was sweet.
Jim McCourt.
I remember the Cup Final as my best memory of the 87/88 season. I particularly remember Harry McCue’s performance. On a TV interview for RTE’s Cup Final preview I predicted that Harry would keep the danger man Jonathan Speake quiet and that John Cleary would score for Dundalk in a 1-0 victory. Thankfully it all came true.
Brendan Conachy.
The league game against Derry on Easter Monday was great. I remember that RTE’s radio sports programme finished up at 5:00pm and the game in Oriel wasn’t over until 5:15pm. The headline before the programme ended was “Today is the day that Dundalk’s challenge for the league ended”. My mother was a great Dundalk supporter in the sense that she always followed them on the radio. When we got home that night the conversation went something like “Ah, we were beaten, the league’s over” to which I replied, “No, we weren’t beaten at all”. “Did they get a draw then?” “No, they didn’t”. “The didn’t win did they?” She couldn’t believe it.
Michael Conachy
The Cup semi-final in Richmond Park is my best memory of that season. We won 0-3 and Barry Kehoe had a great strike from outside the box, a fantastic goal.
Marty Shields
What I remember about the Cup Final was Derry had brought in some players from England especially for the game, one of them was Carlton Plummer. Larry Wyse never let him near the ball. Dundalk were viewed as the underdogs for that game but John Cleary’s penalty sealed the victory for us. I remember that someone on the bus I travelled on had managed to get Cleary’s jersey after the game.
Ronan Corrigan.
One of the things that stands out in my mind is that when it came to the Cup Final, the whole country was waiting to see Derry City win it. As far at they were concerned Dundalk could only spoil the party. Well, myself and the hundreds of other Dundalk fans in Dalymount Park on the day, were very glad to spoil that party. Winning the double that season was a great achievement for Dundalk and I don’t believe the team or the club got the credit it deserved from the media or the rest of the country. But it didn’t have any negative impact on the celebrations in Dundalk!
Brendan Sloane.
Compiled by Rachel Sloane
