The first of Dundalk’s ten matches with Glasgow Celtic took place on Tuesday, April 19th 1932. Celtic had commenced their Irish tour with a 3-0 win over Belfast Celtic. The Athletic Grounds was the venue 24 hours later for a match that had attracted considerable interest in the local community. Dundalk produced a magnificent performance. Dundalk opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Smith beat Cook in a race for possession and shot past Kenneway as McGonagle appealed for offside. Celtic equalised one minute before half-time when Napier scored with a powerful drive from a free-kick awarded against McDiarmid. Though Celtic had the wind in the second half, Dundalk did more of the pressing. Smith raced through the defence and sent to Donnelly who shot hard into the net for the leading goal. In the closing minutes Celtic fought hard and Lewis brought off a great save from Napier.
The Dundalk Democrat reported: “I verily believe that half the people who left the Athletic Grounds on Tuesday night had hardly realised that we had actually beaten the Celts. And, more importantly, beaten them on their merits. In years to come football fans will talk of the day we beat the Glasgow Celtic!”
Dundalk: Lewis, Johnston, McDiarmuid, Patton, Harrison, Reed, Kelly, McCourt, Smith, Hirst, Donnelly.
Celtic: Kenneway, Cooke, McGonagle, Wilson, McStay, Geatons, Napier, Smith, O’Donnell, Thompson, Murphy.
It took 31 years before Glasgow Celtic arrived back in Dundalk. Oriel Park was the venue on 26th May 1963. Dundalk had just won their first league championship title in 30 years while Celtic had finished runners-up in the Scottish Cup. The game was a remarkable treat for the Dundalk football public. Celtic were three goals up after just 17 minutes. Only fine goalkeeping from Christy Barron prevented Celtic from adding several more goals before half-time. The Democrat reported that “The Dundalk players looked completely over-awed by the occasion and almost in a state of panic.” It didn’t get better. Celtic went 4-0 up after 50 minutes. Thankfully, the Irish Champions rallied with a sensational comeback. Dermot Cross pulled one back and from that moment Dundalk were a side transformed. Dundalk pulled another two goals back to give Celtic an almighty scare…it wouldn’t be the last time that Celtic were to be given a scare at Oriel Park!
Dundalk: Barron, Murphy, McKeown, Rowe, Lyons, Harte, O’Reilly, Cross, Callan, Hasty, Kennedy.
Celtic: Haffey, McKay, Kennedy, McNamee, McNeill, Price, Murdock, Divers, Johnstone, Hughes, Brogan.
The next match between the two sides took place on 24th July 1975 in Oriel Park. Unlike the previous two encounters Dundalk were simply blown off the pitch by a Celtic team packed with legends such as Danny McGrain, Kenny Dalglish and Bobby Lennox. Dundalk fans were to see the best of their own side in the months ahead as Jim McLaughlin brought the club its first title since 1967. Dundalk were able to hold Celtic for 20 minutes before Hood scored from a free kick. McGrain set up Galvin for number two. Kenny Dalglish scored a sensational third goal when he curled an effort past guesting Dundalk keeper Jim Platt. Lennox, Evaldsson and Wilson completed the rout.
Dundalk: Platt, B McConville, R McGuigan, S McLaughlin, McManus, J McLaughlin, Dainty, Nicholl, Connellan, McDowell, Jim “Chang” Smith. Subs: Braddish, Larkin, Clarke.
Celtic: Latchford, McGrain, Lynch, Glavin, McDonald, McCloskey, Hood, Dalglish, Wilson, Evaldsson, Lennox.
A spate of postponements in the Scottish League resulted in Celtic requesting a friendly against Dundalk on 30th December 1981. For the massive attendance at the game and both teams involved the match had the intensity and atmosphere of a European Cup match. Celtic started the match strongly and stretched the Dundalk defence in the first 15 minutes. Davy Proven scored a superb direct free-kick from 20 yards after just 15 minutes but to the disbelief of everyone in attendance the goal was ruled out because the referee, Paddy Daly, was not ready. This let-off seemed to spur on Dundalk and Roy Aitken did well to clear a Brian Duff effort off the line. Both sides had opportunities before Dundalk finally took the lead after 56 minutes. Martin Lawlor tried his luck from 30 yards and when the ball was blocked it resulting in a goal-mouth scramble that fell to Jerome Clarke who was able to shoot past Packie Bonner. Celtic went all out for an equaliser but found McConville and Blackmore in top form. Blackmore saved at the feet of Charlie Nicholas while Willie Crawley forced a full length save from Bonner. The equaliser arrived after 78 minutes when Tommy Burns set up George McCluskey to blast home. Then, with just a few minutes remaining, came one of the best goals ever seen at Oriel Park. Barry Kehoe, who had already earned the man of the match award, picked up a pass from Martin Lawlor 25 yards out from goal. Seeing an opening, Kehoe flashed past three defenders and gave Bonner no chance with a perfectly placed drive. A classic Oriel night. Interesting to note that current Everton manager David Moyes made a second half substitute appearance for Celtic.
Dundalk: Blackmore, Gregg, McConville, Dunning, Lawlor, Flanagan, Byrne, Kehoe, Fairclough, Duff, Clarke. Sub: Crawley.
Celtic: Bonner, McGrain, Reid, Aitken, McAdam, McLeod, Proven, Conroy, Nicholas, Burns, McCluskey. Sub: Moyes.
On we go to 31st July 1984. Another huge crowd witnessed a good competitive match between a Dundalk squad featuring a large number of new faces and a Celtic side again packed with many stars. Dundalk were dealt a blow early on when Kehoe was forced to retire early after a muscle pull. Celtic got the only goal of the game in the 36th minute. Davy Proven, denied a goal from a direct free-kick in 1981, repeated the trick with a swerving effort from 25 yards that gave Blackmore no chance. Dundalk came into the game more in the second half. Ciaran Mahar forced Bonner into a save with Jonathan Speake’s effort from the rebound cleared off the line. Paddy Lundy set up Mahar late on but his shot went wide. In the latter stages Blackmore was called upon to show his quality and he managed to keep the score down to a respectable 1-0. This game was notable for being the first time Dundalk fans got the chance to see future Lilywhite Legends Martin Murray, Dessie Gorman and Tom McNulty in first team action.
Dundalk: Blackmore, Pat Nolan, Noel Bollard, Lawlor, Mick Wright, Ciaran Mahar, Larry Murray, Kehoe, John Cleary, Martin Murray, Jonathan Speake. Subs: Tom McNulty, Paddy Lundy, Bruce Madannan, Dessie Gorman.
Celtic: Bonner, McGrain, Sinclair, Aitken, McAdam, Reid, Provan, Willie McStay, McClair, Burns, McGarvey. Subs: Colquhoun, McIlrose, McNally.
Seven years later and Dundalk are again League Champions thanks to Tom McNulty’s winner in Turner’s Cross. Soon after the league triumph the summer of 1991 was brightened by the news of two glamour friendlies at Oriel Park as Dundalk prepare for a European Cup encounter with Honved Budapest. Liverpool and Celtic both took on Turlough O’Connor’s side within three days in July. The Liverpool game was played on Tuesday 26th July and finished 0-0 thanks to a superb display by Alan O’Neill. On a beautiful Friday evening Liam Brady brought his team to Oriel and again the Dundalk defence were able to keep them out. Few clear chances were created throughout the match. Bonner saved well from a rasping Gino Lawless effort. O’Neill got down smartly to save from Charlie Nicholas from close range while Tommy Coyne headed wide in the closing stages. In the Celtic line-up that day was a certain Joe Miller…who is now, of course, Dundalk FC’s assistant manager. On the bench for Dundalk was our current Club Promotion Officer Paul Johnston.
Dundalk: O’Neill, Mackey, Shelly, Murphy, Coll, Hanrahan, McNulty, McEvoy, Eviston, Lawless, Kavanagh. Subs: Fallon, Dunne and Johnston.
Celtic: Bonner, Morris, Rogan, Grant, Whyte, Wdowcysk, Miller, Paul McStay, Creaney, Nicholas, Galloway. Sub: McNally, Walker.
The last time Glasgow Celtic visited Oriel Park was on 17th November 1996 for Tom McNulty’s testimonial match. Both sides featured guest players as Celtic ran out 4-1 winners. Celtic’s goals came from Gerard Crossley (2), Chris Hay (son of former Celtic boss David) and Stuart Gray (son of Leeds legend Eddie). Brian Byrne struck a consolation for Dundalk.
Dundalk: Fridge, Stiritt, Crawley, Doohan, Rod De Khors, McNulty, Prizeman, Browne, Mark Reid, Donal Golden, Byrne. Subs: Napier, S Byrne, M Holland, P Flood.
Celtic: Bonner, Potter, McDonald, Boyle, Morrisson, Kelly, O’Brien, Gray, Hay, Crossley, Vaugh. Subs: McGuinness, Joyce, Davis, Gilligan, Dawe.
