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From The Archives: Festive Football Part 2
- Colm Murphy
- 23 hours ago
- 6 min read
See Part 1 of this series: HERE>>
Dundalk 3-2 St Patrick’s Athletic, League of Ireland, 27th December 1959.
Dundalk moved to the top of the table with this thrilling win over St Patrick’s Athletic in front of a festive crowd of 3,500 at Oriel Park.
Dundalk began brightly, but it was St Patrick’s Athletic who struck first after 14 minutes. A cross from Curtin was headed clear by Noonan, only for the ball to fall to O’Rourke, who finished with a neat angled shot to put the visitors ahead.
Just five minutes after falling behind, Dundalk drew level through Victor Meldrum. Lawlor and Munroe combined smartly to create the opening, and Meldrum finished confidently to make it 1–1.
St Pats regained the lead three minutes after the restart. A cross from O’Rourke caused confusion in the Dundalk defence, and Whelan took advantage after Murphy mis-kicked his clearance.
With 19 minutes remaining, Dundalk were back on terms thanks to a well-worked move when Eddie Kelly’s cross was headed back across goal by Meldrum, allowing Liam Munroe to strike.
As the match entered its final moments, Dundalk found the decisive goal in dramatic fashion. With just a minute remaining, Munroe surged forward and delivered a precise cross into the box, where Eddie Kelly calmly side-footed the ball past Lowry to make it 3–2. Oriel Park erupted!
The Dundalk Democrat stated, “The biggest crowd of the season gave their team great encouragement, endured all the disappointments, thrilled to all thrills, of a really grand game, and were rewarded with a home win when it seemed to have alluded them.” W.P Murphy, writing in the Irish Independent, declared that, “this is the best side the Border Town has had for years,”.
Dundalk now sat joint top of the table with Cork Hibernians.
Dundalk: Christy Barron, Shay Noonan, John Murphy, Patsy McKeown, Johnny Robinson, Leo McDonagh, Ted Harte, Kit Lawlor, Liam Munroe, Victor Meldrum, Eddie Kelly
St Pats: Lowry, White, Dunne, Caulfield, McCarthy, O’Reilly, Curtin, Byrne, Whelan, T White, O’Rourke.
In The News
Widespread flooding affected towns and villages along the River Shannon. In Dublin, Gardaí continued to investigate a major riot on O’Connell Street on Christmas Eve, during which forty people were taken to Jervis Street Hospital following a two-hour confrontation with Gardai. Closer to home, the mystery surrounding the theft of arms and ammunition from Dundalk Barracks was resolved when two 19-year-olds were charged and later sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
Around Town
Despite the winter weather, Dundalk’s entertainment venues were bustling during the holiday period. Cinemas across the town screened a wide range of films, from Bundle of Joy starring Debbie Reynolds at the Adelphi to Imitation of Life with Lana Turner at Park Street Cinema, while the Magnet offered family favourites such as Tom Thumb and Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure. St Nicholas’ Hall hosted screenings of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and The Paleface.
There was plenty of live music option around town. The Town Hall hosted a “Monster Mistletoe Record Hop”, followed by performances from The Blue Aces and the Con Hynes Orchestra, while the AOH in Jocelyn Street welcomed the Jimmy Shield’s Orchestra. In Blackrock, the Pavilion featured the Stan Lynn Orchestra and the Jimmy Compton All Stars with Nita Norry.
Dundalk 2–1 Shelbourne, League of Ireland, 23rd December 1962
Dundalk maintained their position at the top of the table with a deserved 2–1 victory over Shelbourne at Oriel Park. The win was particularly satisfying as it came just four days after Shelbourne had eliminated Dundalk from the Leinster Cup on corners at Dalymount Park.
In front of one of the biggest crowds of the season, Dundalk delivered a performance full of character, resilience and quality.
Shelbourne made the early running and took the lead inside ten minutes when a dangerous cross from Conroy caused confusion in the Dundalk defence. In attempting to clear the danger, Tim Lyons inadvertently helped the ball into his own net. The visitors held that advantage through a very even first half, with both goalkeepers forced into fine saves, particularly Dundalk’s Christy Barron, who made two outstanding stops later in the game.
Dundalk emerged with renewed intensity after the interval and immediately put Shelbourne under sustained pressure. Their equaliser arrived eight minutes into the second half when Kennedy reacted quickest after Heavey parried a powerful shot, turning the loose ball into the net. Within minutes Dundalk struck again, with Francie Callan dribbling to the byline before pulling the ball back for Jimmy Hasty, who fired a low, raking shot through a crowded penalty area to put Dundalk ahead.
From that point onward, Dundalk dominated proceedings and looked capable of extending their lead. Callan, Cross, and Hasty were particularly influential in attack, combining clever movement with intelligent inter-passing, while Tommy Rowe produced a fine performance alongside the tireless Ted Harte in midfield. Despite several further chances, including a late penalty that struck the upright, Dundalk were unable to add to their tally.
An important win along the way towards Dundalk’s first title in 30 years.
Dundalk: Christy Barron, John Murphy, Patsy McKeown, Tommy Rowe, Tim Lyons, Ted Harte, Jim Redmond, Dermot Cross, Jimmy Hasty, Francie Callan, Billy Kennedy.
Shelbourne: Heavey, Carroll, O’Brien, Strahan, Roberts, Corrigan, Coleman, Hannigan, Barber, Hennessy, L Conroy.
In The News
Pope John XXIII used his Christmas message to urge the world’s great powers to cooperate in space exploration for peaceful purposes, stressing unity and peace at a time of Cold War tension. British Prime Minister Macmillan defends the Polaris missile deal with the United States while critics questioned its impact on Britain’s independent nuclear role. Meanwhile in Ireland, the expansion of Telefís Éireann brought television to many western and southern regions for the first time, a milestone welcomed by viewers but accompanied by calls for the new medium to be used responsibly.
Around Town
Cinema around town had plenty of options throughout the holidays. The Adelphi and the Magnet both had Maureen O’Hara movies on offer on Christmas Day (War Arrow and Two Flags West) while St Nicholas’ Hall cinema was showing Apache Territory starring Rory Calhoun.
Christmas dancing was on offer at Bellingham Castle by the Castle Orchestra, the Pavilion in Blackrock featured Johnny Quigley’s All Stars and the Capitol Showband, while the Cadets, Paragon Seven and the Jimmy Shields Showband were entertaining the punters in the Adelphi Ballroom.
Dundalk 4-3 Athlone Town, League of Ireland, 26 December 1976
On St Stephen’s Day 1976, Dundalk and Athlone Town served up a seven-goal thriller at Oriel Park, with Dundalk emerging victorious by 4–3 in a match that the Argus described as a “real Christmas cracker”.
Dundalk took the lead almost immediately, scoring after just two minutes when a free-kick from Tommy McConville was hooked back into the danger area by Frank Devlin and finished by Terry Flanagan. The advantage lasted barely a minute, as Athlone struck back through Noel Larkin, whose effort gave Blackmore no chance. The frantic tempo continued, and on 12 minutes Terry Daly put the visitors ahead after evading several Dundalk challenges.
Dundalk gradually regained their composure and drew level midway through the half. Terry Flanagan saw an effort cleared off the line, but Tom McConville followed up decisively, driving the ball into the net from 20 yards to make it 2–2.
The home side continued to press, and just before half-time they took the lead when Frank Devlin scored after McManus’ effort was blocked.
Three minutes after the restart, Terry Flanagan scored his second of the game after Athlone goalkeeper Tom Lally dropped a cross, allowing the Dundalk forward to finish from close range.
Athlone reduced the deficit on 64 minutes when Carl Humphries pounced on a loose clearance to make it 4–3, setting up a nervy final quarter. Chances came at both ends as the visitors searched for an equaliser. The tension boiled over in the closing stages when Seamus McDowell and Athlone defender Roger Verdi were both sent off following an altercation.
A big win, but one that was too late for to make an impact in the title race. Jim McLaughlin’s team would, in a few weeks, commence what would become a successful FAI Cup run.
Dundalk FC: Richie Blackmore, Jackie McManus, Jim McLaughlin, Tommy McConville, Brian McConville, Mick Lawlor, Tony Cavanagh, Terry Flanagan, Seamus McDowell, Frank Devlin, Jimmy Dainty. Sub: Sean Sheehy.
Athlone Town: Tom Lally, Roger Verdi, Kevin Smith, John Lawson, Pat Whelan, Eugene Davis, Gerry Myers, Noel Larkin, John Minnock, Carl Humphries, Terry Daly.
In The News
Away from football, President Gerald Ford was considering granting a full amnesty to Vietnam-era draft dodgers. The SDLP demanded clarity on the British government’s long-term role in Northern Ireland, while The Argus expressed cautious optimism that Dundalk may have seen the worst of the economic depression.
Around Town
Dundalk’s entertainment scene remained lively over Christmas. Local cinemas screened films such as Mr Majestyk, Herbie Rides Again, and The Jungle Book at the Adelphi, The Pink Panther Strikes Again at the Casino, and Hustle at the Magnet. Live music drew festive crowds, with Glen Curtin appearing at the Downtown Club and Joe Dolan and the Drifters performing at the Pavilion in Blackrock.
