The First Louth Derby: 18th August 1963
Dundalk’s first ever senior encounter with Drogheda United was played on the 18th August 1963 in the first round of the City Cup. This match was also Drogheda United’s first match in Irish senior football having being elected to the league earlier that year. With Dundalk starting the season as reigning League champions and looking forward to their debut in the European Cup against Zurich, a good crowd was expected. However, the 5000 strong attendance exceeded all expectations. Drogheda brought along several busloads of enthusiastic supporters to see their first senior game. Nobody gave Drogheda much hope as they had a very inexperienced. As it turned out, they exceeded all expectations and very nearly brought off a sensational result. Dundalk started the game strongly and were on the attack for the first 15 minutes. However, they were shocked when Dunne failed to clear a long ball into the box and McElroy was able to round Barron to place the ball into an empty net. Dundalk equalised from a Francie Callan penalty after a Kearn’s handball and went on to dominate the half. O’Brien, Drogheda’s new goalkeeper signed from Cork Hibs, made some great saves from Callan and Pownall but eventually Dundalk were rewarded for their attacking play when a Pownall cross was converted by Hasty with a spectacular diving header. However, minutes after the restart another error by Dunne presented McElroy with the equaliser. Drogheda continued to press forward and to the amazement of the large crowd went 3-2 in front after Barron failed to stop a scorching long-range effort from Kerr. Kennedy then saw an effort come back off a post and into O’Brien’s arms. On 75 minutes, Dundalk were level. Cross, on the right, dribbled through the defence an crossed for Pownall who scored with an unstoppable shot. Corners were the preferred method of deciding knock-out games at this time and with time running out Dundalk were trailing 6-5. Then with 5 minutes remaining, Kennedy sent Cross through who bundled the ball past O’Brien to leave the final result Dundalk 4 Drogheda 3. The three other Louth Derbies that season were not quite so competitive. In the Shield match one month later a Kennedy hat-trick gave Dundalk an easy 3-0 win in their last game before playing Zurich. In the league, Dundalk won 6-1 in the Lourdes Stadium and 6-2 in the return game in Oriel Park.
The team for that first match against Drogheda was: Barron, Murphy, McKeown, Dalton, Dunne, Harte, Kennedy, Callan, Hasty, Cross, Pownall.
21st November 1965 Drogheda United 0-2 Dundalk
While Drogheda avoided the snow that had fallen elsewhere in the country, the Lourdes Stadium was rain-soaked during this Louth Derby. Dundalk ran out easy winners. The first goal came after 38 minutes when Ray Burke, the Dundalk inside-left, was taken down in the box. But while appeals for a penalty went unheeded the ball found its way to McGrath who shot low past Henderson in the Drogheda goal. Drogheda were handed a life-line after 43 minutes when Timmy Lyons handled a Paddy Cheevers shot. However, Christy Barron brought off a great save from Dick Dunne’s penalty. Dundalk went 2-0 ahead after 74 minutes when Francie Callan out-muscled Liam Cullen and smashed a 25 yard shot past Henderson to seal the points.
Teams
Drogheda United: Henderson, D Dunne, Girvan, Pullen, T Dunne, Cullen, Farrell, Halpin, Flood, Cheevers, Hamill.
Dundalk: Barron, L O’Reilly, Caswell, Millington, Lyons, Masterson, McGrath, Kelledy, Callan, Burke, V O’Reilly.
In The News: Snow caused chaos in many parts of the country; The UN calls for severe measures to be used against Rhodesia; The Liberal Party of Northern Ireland calls for “freedom of speech to be protected” following the pelting of a speaker with rotten eggs in Enniskillen.
On TV: Watch with Mother, Blue Peter, The Magic Roundabout, An Party Political Broadcast on behalf of the Nationalist Party, Meet the Wife, Panorama; Northern Ireland election Question Time, Come Dancing (BBC); Crossroads, Coronation Street, Dateline (UTV); Huckleberry Hound, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Hitchcock Presents, the Battle of Benburb (RTE).
11th October 1969 Droghead United 0-1 Dundalk
A terrible defensive blunder by Drogheda full-back Dermot O’Shea gave Dundalk the points at Lourdes Stadium. The only goal of the game came after 14 minutes when Dundalk winger Eamon Carroll’s cross came straight to O’Shea. As his goalkeeper, Eddy Wallace came out to pick up the ball, O’Shea was caught in possession by Tommy Kinsella who shot the ball to an empty net. The goal proved to be one of the few highlights of a forgettable game.
Teams
Dundalk: Swan, Hendricks, O’Reilly, B McConville, T McConville, Millington, Kinsella, Turner, Stokes, Bartley, Carroll. Sub: O’Connor for O’Reilly
Drogheda United: Wallace, Colwell, O’Shea, O’Dea, Lyons, Meagen, Keogh, Burke, Lougheed, McEwen, Clarke. Sub: Whelan for Loughreed.
In The News: A weekend of violence in Belfast. Three people are killed. 21 British Soldiers are injured by snipers. 42 civilians are also injured; Five Russian cosmonauts are in orbit and are believed to begin work on the first space station.
On TV: The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, World In Action, The Riordans (RTE); Football Highlights, The Flaxton Boys, Stars on Sunday, One-Eyed Jacks (UTV); TV for viewers from India and Pakistan, The Sky at Night, Ken Dodd and the Diddymen; Malcolm Muggeridge asks The Question Why, Monty Python’s Flying Circus (warning for Sex and Violence given in the TV listings) (BBC1).
15th October 1972 Dundalk 1-1 Drogheda United
This match was played under floodlights on Sunday night to allow people watch the All-Ireland final on TV. Dundalk had injury concerns and were without McConville, Hendricks and Canavan. Fran Brennan operated as a sweeper with Kelly and Gerry McKeever offering support. Dundalk had the better of the game with Willie McKeever and Joe Larkin working hard. However, Dundalk were missing a target man. Dundalk took the lead after 10 minutes when Mullen was set up by Larkin to round Byrne in the Drogheda goal to score from an acute angle. Drogheda equalised after 16 minutes when Cooke scored from the penalty spot after Con Davey had handled in the penalty area. Dundalk dominated the rest of the match but Byrne in the Drogheda goal prevented Dundalk from grabbing a winner.
Teams:
Dundalk: Keogh, Kelly, Brennan, Davy, Boyle. G McKeever, Brunton, W McKeever, Mullen, Larkin, Rodgers. Sub: Kane for Rodgers.
Droghdea United: Byrne, McSweeney, Reynolds, Meagen, O’Neill, Lynch, Murphy, Smith, Muckian, Cummins, Cooke. Sub: Whelan for Muckian.
In The News: The Irish Medical Association request that the Government remove restrictions on the use of contraception; Israeli plans bomb Syria and Lebanon; Offaly win the All-Ireland.
On TV: Elephant Boy, Encounter, All Ireland Football Final Live between Offaly and Kerry (RTE); Weekend World, The Big Match, The adventures of Black Beauty (UTV); Ask Aspel, The Onedin Line, Parkinson (BBC1); The Seven Year Itch (BBC2).
16th September 1979 Drogheda United 0-2 Dundalk
Two headed goals by Hilary Carlyle gave Dundalk victory over Drogheda in this Louth Derby at United Park. Dundalk took the lead when Sean Byrne made a good break from the middle and passed to Martin Lawlor, whose cross from the left was headed home by Carlyle. Drogheda came close to equalising after 40 minutes when Mick Leech hit the post. Dundalk clinched the points after 83 minutes when Liam Devine made a break down the left and crossed to Carlyle who again headed home from six yards. The gate receipts were the highest so far in United Park, £1,627.
Teams
Drogheda United: Forrestal, Hines, Cameron, Campbell, Ferguson, McAuley, Metcalf, Freany, Leech, Clarke, Stephens. Sub: Roche for Freeny
Dundalk: Blackmore, McConville. Lawlor, Keely, Dunning, Flanagan, Daly, Devine, Carlyle, Byrne, Muckian.
In The News: The country braces itself for power cuts as the ESB consider strike action; Kerry win the All-Ireland by hammering Dublin; The new leader of the Unionist Party, James Molyneaux, claims that nationalists should attempt to improve direct rule by London rather than breaking free from it.
On TV: Kerry v Dublin in the All-Ireland Final, Disney, The Spinners, Zulu. (RTE1); Star Trek, Sykes, The Dick Cavett Show, The Prisoner. (RTE2); The High Chaparral, Crackerjack v Are You Being Served in the Star Turn Challenge (BBC1);
25th March 1984 Dundalk 3-0 Drogheda United
Dundalk, under their temporary manager Tommy Connolly, had little difficulty in disposing of Drogheda United in front of one of the most poorly attended Louth Derbys in years. Dundalk dominated from the start and Drogheda were lucky to hold out until the 38th minute when Dundalk captain, Kieran Maher, floated a free-kick into the penalty area and the ball went all the way into the net. Things got worse for Drogheda in the second half when Benny Laryea beat Matt Bradley with ease and made it 2-0 after 51 minutes. Dundalk made it 3-0 in the 77th minute when Tommy Gaynor ran on to a long pass by Maher to fire into the top corner of the net.
In The News: It is revealed that 508 people, mostly children, died in a gas fire in Sao Paulo, Brazil in early March. The accident was hidden from the press; Walter Mondale takes a further step towards securing the Democratic nomination for President when he wins the caucus vote in Kansas; A miner who opposed the strike in the UK is found dead after committing suicide following being branded a scab.
Teams
Drogheda United: Flynn, Byrne, Macken, Bradley, Flanagan, O’Neill, Nugent, Martin, Dillon, Quinlan, Johnston. Subs: Ward for Macken, Cleary for Nugent.
Dundalk: Blackmore, O’Brien, Lawlor, McConville, Wright, McLaughlin, Maher, Kehoe, Gaynor, Laryea, Cunningham. Sub: Lundy for McLaughlin.
On TV: Bilko, Fraggle Rock, Hart to Hart, Murphy’s Micro-Quiz-M, Sportscene (RTE1); MT USA presented by Vincent Hanley, Ripley’s Believe It or Not (RTE2); Dynasty, That’s Life (BBC1); The Milk Cup Final Live – Liverpool v Everton (the match finished 0-0), Bullseye, The Smurfs (UTV).
22nd February 1990 Dundalk 3-1 Drogheda United
Oriel Park was the venue for a Thursday night Premier League Louth Derby. Dundalk were chasing leaders Derry City and St Pats while Drogheda United were embroiled in their annual struggle against relegation.
Dundalk pushed their neighbours deeper into relegation trouble with a 3-1 victory. The winning margin would have been much bigger only for an excellent performance by Drogheda keeper Robbie Horgan. The star of the show was an ex-Drog: Paul Newe had a hand in all three goals and tormented the visiting defence from start to finish. The first goal came in the 41st minute as a result of a mistaken back pass by John Nolan that Newe latched onto and sent in a shot that Horgan could only parry and Roddy Collins, in a rare moment of happiness during his second spell at the club, pounced on to score. Within a minute, however, Drogheda were level when Brendan O’Callaghan scored from close range from a pass by Charlie O’Reilly.
In a scrappy second half, Dundalk got a harsh penalty in their favour in the 68th minute when Newe was pulled down by Declan Geoghegan. The ever reliable John Cleary stepped up to convert the spot kick. Dundalk sealed the points in injury time. With Drogheda committed forward searching for an equaliser, a long ball out of defence by Joey Malone was collected by Newe who beat the advancing Horgan to score Dundalk’s third.
Incidentally, Drogheda had ex-England international plus Leeds, Man United and Man City star Peter Barnes in their line-up. However, he was replaced by a young Stephen Geoghegan after a fruitless battle with Gino Lawless.
Dundalk: O’Neill, Lawless, Lawlor, McNulty, Cleary, Malone, Murray, Shelley, Collins, Cousins, Newe. Sub: Eviston for Collins.
Drogheda: Horgan, O’Reilly, D Geoghegan, Nolan, Flanagan, Toal, Girvan, Cunningham, O’Callaghan, Douglas, Barnes. Sub: S Geoghegan for Barnes.
Elsewhere: 19 year old Garry Haylock opens the scoring for Shelbourne in a 2-0 win over Bohemians at Tolka Park. Tommy Fitzgerald grabbed the second late in the game.
In The News: With Nelson Mandela released from prison, a diplomatic row breaks out between the Irish EC presidency and the British Government on Margaret Thatcher’s decision to break an EC ban on investment in South Africa; The Irish UN mission in southern Lebanon is on high alert after a confrontation in which Irish soldiers shot dead two militia members and three Irish soldiers suffered gunshot wounds.
On TV: Matlock, Today Tonight (RTE1); Jo-Maxi, Doogie Howser MD (RTE2); Ben Elton – The Man from Auntie, Cagney & Lacey (BBC1); The Comic Strip Presents (BBC2); Blockbusters, Adventures of Sherlock Homes (UTV); The Crystal Maze (CH4).
15th August 1995 Drogheda United 2-2 Dundalk
This League Cup game ended in a draw following a late goal for Drogheda United at United Park. Dundalk took the lead when Brian Byrne nipped in to take advantage of a slip by John Grace. Six minutes later Drogheda got a deserved equaliser when Barry O’Connor scored from the right following a cross by Tom Sullivan. Dundalk regained the lead three minutes later when Mick Byrne skilfully evaded the defence and ran on to slot home. Drogheda dominated the second half and grabbed an equaliser when Michael Harte ran on to a clever pass by John Ryan to score.
Drogheda United: Grace, Tresson, Lawlor, Reid, McLaughlin, Browne, Sullivan, Crolly, Ryan, O’Connor, Harte.
Dundalk: Van Boxtel, Britton, Coady, Doohan, Futcher, Purdy, Hanrahan, McNulty, M Byrne, Kelly, B Byrne. Sub: Long for M Byrne
In The News: It is revealed that the Dail will be recalled early to discuss three upcoming referendums on divorce, cabinet confidentiality and votes for emigrants; 100 people are evacuated at the U2 owned Clarance Hotel; A 12-foot high plywood peace dove, erected in Belfast, was torn from its perch and smashed by Loyalists, only four days after it was erected.
On TV: Diagnosis Murder, NYPD Blue, Davis (RTE1); The Wonder Years (RTE2); The Detectives, Men of the World, M (BBC2); The Baldy Man, Sledgehammer (UTV); My So-Called Life (CH4).
