Dundalk 3-2 Athlone Town
Sunday 6th February 1927 Shield Athletic Grounds
Dundalk got their first Free State Shield competition off to a good start with this win over Athlone at the Athletic Grounds on the Ramparts. Dundalk introduced a new signing in Blair, from Distillery, who made a fine debut (despite missing an open goal in the first minute!). This was also the debut of Eddie Carroll – who was to become a Dundalk legend – at outside left and who marked his debut with two of the three goals. Athlone took the lead after 15 minutes when a mistake by Thompson let in Brooks to score. After a period of intense Dundalk pressure Carroll headed home superbly to level matters before half-time. Blair caused the Athlone defence all kinds of problems and early in the second half he got his reward with a fine goal. Dundalk tried to finish Athlone off but were caught on the break for Athlone to win a penalty following a mistimed tackle. However, Murray shot wide from the spot. Carroll made it 3-1 to Dundalk after Murray failed to hold a shot from Blair. Sweeney converted a late penalty for Athlone int he final moments. Newspaper reports praised the Dundalk team. The defence of Pollock, McDermott and Norwood were singled out for particular praise while Blair, Carrooll and Bell were outstanding in attack.
Athlone Town 4-4 Dundalk Sunday January 23rd 1972 League St Mel’s Park
Athlone’s good form in the 1971/72 season continued when they held Dundalk 4-4 at a rain-sodden pitch at St Mel’s Park. The hero was local striker Tommy Barclay who scored a hat-trick including an 85th minute equaliser. Dundalk took the lead in the first minute with an opportunistic strike from Hendricks. Athlone equalised through Barclay after ten minutes. Dundalk were awarded a 20th minute penalty which provoked angry scenes from the home support. Athlone keeper Swan smothered the ball underneath the feet of Sean Sheehy who toppled over in the process. Athlone native Turlough O’Connor dispatched the penalty. Athlone again equalised when Jackson headed home an O’Reilly corner in the 32nd minute. Tommy McConville restored Dundalk’s lead after 55 minutes with a snap shot and it was followed by a fourth Dundalk goal on the hour mark. O’Connor shot from the left and when Swan pushed his effort out Sheehy was there to slot home the rebound. However, Quinn combined with Minnock to let Barclay through in the 64th minute for Athlone’s third. Barclay had the final word with five minutes remaining when he headed home Minnock’s cross.
Athlone: Swan, O’Reilly, Campbell, Quinn, Jackson, Sandom, Wallace, Jordan, Barclay, Minnock, Givens.
Dundalk: Muckian, Kelly, Brennan, B McConville, T McConville, Hendrick, Sheehy, Turner, O’Connor, Larkin, McKeever.
FLASHBACK – 23 January 1972
In the news: Jack Lynch meets with British Prime Minister Ted Heath in Brussels to discuss the violence in Northern Ireland; Violence breaks out at three anti-internment marches in the North; Ireland move closer to EEC membership when Jack Lynch and Dr Hillery (Minister for Foreign Affairs) sign the treaty of accession to the European Community; 95 people die in New Delhi after drinking poi•soned liquor at a wedding;
On The Box: The VIPs starring Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor (RTE); The Big Match, Upstairs Downstairs, The Frost Programme (UTV); The Basil Brush Show, Ken Dodd & The Diddymen (BBC1)
The Cup Final Defeat Dundalk 1-2 Athlone Town
Thursday 30th December 1982 League Cup Final Tolka Park
Athlone Town won their third League Cup in four years with this vic•tory over the Christmas period in 1982. Athlone, featuring many future Dundalk FC stars, came from behind to win with two late goals despite having gone down to ten men in the 74th minute.
Dundalk had taken the lead after 21 minutes when Ollie Ralph (right)capitalised on poor goalkeeping to score. Grace denied Ralph a second goal with a great save early in the second half. A brawl broke out at the halfway line in the 72nd minute which resulted in Conway receiving a red card. However, Athlone had won a free-kick in the incident and Meagen floated the ball into the box for Larry Wyse to cross for Harry McCue who headed past Jody Byrne to give Athlone the lead. Athlone then took the League Cup with a Noel Larkin penalty after Noel King had handled inside the box.
Athlone Town: Grace, Fenuik, P O’Connor, McCue, Conway, Carroll, Wyse, Meagan, O’Connor, Larkin, Murray
Dundalk: Jody Byrne, Robbie Lawlor, McConville, Dunning, Martin Lawlor, Sean Byrne, King, Flanagan, Kelly, Ralph, Cunningham. Sub: McLaughlin for Cunningham.
Dundalk 3-0 Athlone Town
Thursday 29th November 1990 League Oriel Park
Dundalk moved into second place in the league after a fine performance in Oriel Park. The outstanding player on the pitch was, as was often the case this season, Peter Hanrahan, who added another two goals to his impressive strike rate. Mick Kavanagh and Terry Eviston often caused the Athlone defence cause for concern. The first goal was caused by Jim Grace’s inability to hold a Kavanagh cross from the right-wing that Hanrahan quickly nipped in to score. After 28 minutes, Hanrahan was put straight through by a great pass by Gino Lawless to shoot past Grace with a powerful shot. Dundalk sealed the points after 43 minutes when Lawless latched onto a neat through ball by Kavanagh to chip the ball over the advancing Grace. This match was also notable for being Richie Purdy’s debut for Dundalk in place of the suspended James Coll.
Dundalk: O’Neill, Purdy, Lawlor, Murphy, Mackey, Hanrahan, McNulty, Shelley, Eviston, Lawless, Kavanagh
Athlone Town: Grace, Kinsella, Gavin, Woods, Wright, Morrison, Murphy, Maher, Reid, Clarke, Best.
FLASHBACK – 29th November 1990
In the news: The United Nations Security Council adopt a resolution authorising the USA and Britain to use military force against Iraq to liberate Kuwait; Seamus Mallon of the SDLP tells the Anglo-Irish conference that the RUC would not gain support from the nationalist community for the next “50 years” unless it is totally revamped;
On The Box: Live At Three, Garda Patrol, Father Dowling, Today Tonight (RTE1); The Den, Jo Maxi, Head of the Class, Falcon Crest, Nighthawks (RTE2); Going for Gold, Tomorrow’s World, Top of the Pops, Smith & Jones (BBC1), Top Gear, Harry Enfield (BBC2); The Bill, Counterpoint (UTV); The Crystal Maze, Cheers (Channel 4).
