If Dundalk are to achieve any level of success this season a lot will depend on the success of the partnership between Thomas Heary and Liam Burns. Dundalk’s great teams have always been based on two strong centre-halves. In the 1980s, Dundalk had the likes of Tommy McConville, Dermot Keely, Paddy Dunning and Joey Malone playing at centre-half. Then, in 1989, came one of the most combatant warriors ever to have played for the club. James Coll. For six years, Coll dominated the Dundalk defence.
Much like Tom McNulty, you were born in Glasgow and came over to Ireland at an early age. How did that come about?
Yes I was born in Glasgow and lived in an area called the Gorbells. My Dad was from Donegal and I would often spend summers over there. The Gorbells was a very rough area with a lot of social problems with drugs and crime. When I was 16 my Dad decided that we should make a move over to Ireland. I ended up working and playing junior level football in Tallaght. Then Turlough O’Connor heard about me and signed me up for Athlone. That was in about 1983/84.
Turlough eventually signed you for Dundalk in 1989. Did he want to sign you earlier?
Yes. He left for Dundalk in 1985 and he wanted to bring me with him. However, I still had another year on my contract at Athlone. They wanted silly money for me so I fulfilled my contract with Athlone. After that, I had a spell at St Pats and then moved to Limerick. I eventually managed to hook up with Turlough again in 1989.
What were your first impressions of the club?
I absolutely loved it. It was great to be back working with Turlough O’Connor. I am a big Celtic supporter and I was aware of the big European matches between the two clubs. So I knew I was coming to play for a proper football club in a proper football town.
How would you rate Turlough O’Connor as a manager?
Turlough was a man’s man. He stood by you. If at anytime you went through a bad stage he wouldn’t drop you or give you a hard time. He’d always believe in your ability and stay with you. He wasn’t what I would call a great coach. But he was very wise. He knew that the League of Ireland is all about experience. We are still seeing that now with the teams that Pat Fenlon puts together. So he would seek out experienced partnerships to put in his team. So you had Joey Malone and Harry McCue, and then myself and Ronnie Murphy forged a great partnership. I mean, you can’t go wrong with Martin Lawlor on your side. Turlough’s idea would be to keep with his strongest team even if they had an off-day. Over the course of a 42 game season or whatever, he knew that in 35/36 of them that he would get the best out of that team.
What can you recall about your first season?
I was still a bit green. I was attacking every ball when sometimes I should have sit back. But eventually I fitted in. I was bound to improve as a player given the experience that surrounded me. I was young and naïve but I loved the atmosphere of the place.
Is there anything unique about the atmosphere at Oriel?
There is no bullshit from the supporters. If you walked into the bar after the game people would give you an honest assessment of your performance. If you played badly people in Dundalk will tell you straight to your face that you had a shocker. And if you played well they were genuinely delighted for you. There would be no “bad luck” crap if we lost – they’d tell you what they thought. I loved that about Dundalk. The fans loved to talk about the football.
The 1990/91 season turned out to be special. But do you remember how it started?
How could I forget! We lost 5-1 to Shels at Oriel. We were all over the shop. I remember we let Paul Newe go and he came back and scored four goals that day. It was just one of those days.
How did you turn it around?
Slowly but surely it all started to come together. Gino Lawless was immense in midfield. I remember that I started to form a very solid partnership with Ronnie Murphy at the back and we had Dave Mackey and Martin Lawlor with Alan O’Neill in goals.
I remember that partnership with Ronnie Murphy very well. I remember that most people were surprised that it worked so well…
Myself and Ronnie became very good friends which helped enormously. The thing about Ronnie is…he knows his limitations. He had been around the league for many years. He used to say to me: “Just make sure that you don’t get caught square with me”. We had a simple but very effective partnership. I’d attack the ball and he would sit back and cover. I’d knock it out and then we would re-group.
And then it came to that last day in Cork…
Let me tell you this. Cork were never going to win that game.
In our last issue of the Dundalk FC Magazine Tom McNulty said much the same thing…
Tom was the jewel in our crown that year. Peter Hanrahan had a great season and was always dangerous. We had Mick Kavanagh on the wings. Mick Shelly was just so dependable. But get to a big match situation and you just know that Tom McNulty would have a chance.
How did you enjoy your European Experiences with Dundalk?
The first one I had was against Wettingam in Switzerland. It was my first trip and it was the first time I’d seen a player play in the hole. I was still very naïve. What the hell is the hole I asked? I was warned about this chap. He was an ex-Switzerland international. He played in the hole between attack and midfield and I just didn’t know whether I should go after him and run the risk of being turned or stick my ground and have him running at me full speed! It was a great learning experience. The 1-1 draw against Honved two years later was another great experience. I learned a lot that day also against their top striker who was another international.
By 1993 we had an FAI Cup Final that ended in disappointment…
I blame the league authorities for that. By the end of that season we were absolutely flying. We beat Bohs three times and Shelbourne home and away in the top-six section of the league that was split off. We just missed out by a point while the top three teams were told they had to play a four game play-off series. This meant that we were without a game for three weeks. Normally, we would have finished off the league season on one Sunday and then have the FAI Cup Final seven days later. If that had happened we would have battered Shels in that final. I have absolutely no doubt about it. So while Shels were involved in that play-off…we had to contend ourselves with a trip up the North to play Crusaders. Well this was just a nightmare. It turned into this big North v South thing. It was a total free for all. A kicking match. The referee lost all control. Tom, Ronnie and Terry Eviston all got injured. By the time the final came around those three lads were lame. Ronnie didn’t make it. Tom was our key player and shouldn’t have played at all . But it was a Cup Final so nobody was going to cry off.
How did you feel with Turlough left in 1994?
I could see it coming. I think there was a lot going on between him and the Board. But you have to remember that he was a Bohs legend. So when they came calling for him I think he had to take that opportunity. He had nine years at Dundalk and I know the club was very special to him.
How did you find Dermot Keely as a manager?
I thought it was a great appointment. He was a Dundalk legend and would know the club inside out. The thing is, he was very strong minded. So was I. I was the club captain at this stage. I think Dermot believed that I was too much of an influence in the dressing room. I had total respect for him but I think he was suspicious of me.
Did you clash much?
Not really. But I do remember when we were looking to win the league in 1995 going to visit him with Tom McNulty. We were playing some great stuff and went on a great run. We had Eddie Van Boxtel in goal and he was doing very well. Then Dermot dropped Eddie in favour of Jody Byrne. We went to play Shamrock Rovers in the RDS and Jody let in an awful clanger. I had to stop Tom from running after Jody! I think Jody knew himself that his best days were behind him. He was in a great Rovers team that barely needed a good keeper. Thankfully, Boxer was brought back in and we went on a great run to win the league.
Was this strained relationship the reason why you left Dundalk after winning the league?
Well, Turlough was interested in brining me to Bohs. But I didn’t want to leave. Why should I? I was really settled in Oriel Park. I was at the peak of my career. I loved the club and the fans. I had great respect for everybody and had great respect shown back to me in return. But Dermot didn’t offer me a new contract. As I said, I think he believed I had too much of an influence. So in the end I had no option but to join Bohs. I asked Dermot afterward why didn’t he offer me a new deal and he said that he felt that there was no point and that he knew I was going to go to Bohs. That was rubbish.
I know at the time that people thought the Board wanted him to cut costs..
Well I am not aware of that. Maybe his hands were tied but that wasn’t how it was put to me.
That league winning side barely received any credit. Did that annoy you?
The 1991 side was probably better. But Dundalk is one of the clubs that just know how to handle an end of season run-in. We just got on with it. Other clubs were getting all the praise. The Dublin media loved Shels. And then Derry were being talked about as if they were unbeatable.
Then it came to the final day…
We knew we would beat Galway but…we were nervous. That really wasn’t like us. I remember just thinking while it was 0-0: “Just don’t let one go over your head and get caught”. It was great to win it. And you are right…we didn’t get one ounce of respect. Neither the PFAI or the Soccer Writers gave us any awards. I remember they stuck Tom in the team of the year at the last minute. I had a great season and was at my peak. I don’t think I was in the top ten that year.
How did you enjoy Bohs?
Not very much. It took me about two weeks to regret making that move. There was a clique at Bohs. I wasn’t used to that. I remember playing Bordeaux in a European game. Zidane was up against us. We were one down at half-time when somebody started pointing fingers of blame. That player was then responsible for us conceding a second goal. So after the game I had a go at him. I had come from a club of strong leaders but Bohs was nothing like this. I am not shy about making my point known. Anyway, it ended up in a fist fight! But these types of things showed why Bohs won nothing in those days. I ended up breaking my leg and finished there.
Are you still involved in the game?
I coach at NUI Maynooth and also at a team in Celbridge. I still keep an eye on Dundalk and hope they do well.
