1987–88 Dundalk F.C. season

Dundalk entered the 1987–88 season as the League Cup holders from 1986–87, having won that competition and finished as runners-up in both league and FAI Cup. 1987–88 was Turlough O'Connor's third season as manager, and was Dundalk's 62nd consecutive season in the top tier of Irish football.

Dundalk
1987–88 season
ManagerTurlough O'Connor
Premier Division1st (Champions)
FAI CupWinners
League CupQuarter-final
President's CupRunners-up
Leinster Senior Cup2nd Round
European Cup Winners' CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Dessie Gorman (14)
All:
Dessie Gorman (16)

Season summary

The new season opened with the Leinster Senior Cup, with Dundalk exiting in the second round.[1] The League Cup followed and, after qualifying from a four team mini-group to reach the quarter-finals, they were knocked out by St Patrick's Athletic.[2] The 33-round League programme commenced on 13 September 1987, and was completed on 21 April 1988. Shamrock Rovers had won the title for the previous four seasons and were expected to challenge again, while St Patrick's Athletic, Bohemians and Cork City were all strongly tipped. Dundalk went top of the table early, but slumped to fourth after back-to-back defeats in October.[3] They then put together a seven match winning streak, to lead by three points in the run up to Christmas.[4] They continued to lead into March, until a five match winless streak saw them slip to third.[5]

With three games remaining, the season appeared to swing back in Dundalk's favour when, after going two goals down to Derry City in Oriel Park, they scored three times in the final 13 minutes to win the match.[6] A big win the following week over Bray Wanderers meant that, going into the final match of the season, they only needed a draw against St Patrick's Athletic – their closest challengers – to become Champions. Pats themselves required a win to pip Dundalk to the title. The televised finale, described as being played out in the "emotion charged atmosphere of Oriel Park", ended 1–1. Dundalk had won the League for the first time since 1981–82, and their first title in the Premier Division era.[7] They went on to win the 1988 FAI Cup Final, with a 1–0 victory over Derry City on 1 May 1988 – the club's second League and Cup Double – to cap a season that had seen them play 50 matches.[8]

As FAI Cup runners-up from the season before, they qualified for the 1987–88 European Cup Winners' Cup. In the first round they drew a glamour tie against the holders, Ajax Amsterdam (many of whose players would be in the Dutch squad that would win Euro '88). Despite "gallant" displays, Ajax ran out comfortable winners 6–0 on aggregate.[9][10]

First-Team Squad (1987–88)

Sources:[11]

No. Name Years League FAI Cup League Cup Europe Othera Total Goals
1 Alan O'Neill 1985–1993 33 8 3 2 2 48 0
2 Martin Lawlor 1977–1995 28 6 3 0 2 39 1
3 Joey Malone 1985–1990 33 8 3 2 3 49 1
4 Harry McCue 1985–1988 7 5 4 2 1 19 0
5 Gino Lawless 1986–1994 33 8 3 2 1 47 2
6 Larry Wyse 1986–1989 32 7 2 2 1 44 6
7 Barry Kehoe 1980–1993 25 8 4 2 3 41 6
8 Martin Murray 1984–1990 31 8 3 2 3 47 7
9 Dessie Gorman 1985–1989 31 8 3 2 1 45 16
10 Terry Eviston 1986–1993 32 8 4 2 1 47 15
11 John Cleary 1984–1991 33 8 4 2 2 49 8
12 Paul Newe 1987–1990 18 5 4 2 3 32 4
13 Michael O'Connor 1987–1988 25 6 0 0 1 32 6
14 Mick Shelley 1985–1993 18 3 4 2 2 29 1
15 Dave Connell 1985–1988 4 0 2 0 2 8 0
a. Includes the Leinster Senior Cup and LFA President's Cup.

Competitions

Leinster Senior Cup

Source:[12]

First Round
6 August 1987 Dundalk 1–0Drogheda UnitedDundalk
Stadium: Oriel Park
Second round
20 August 1987 Dundalk1–2 Athlone Town Dundalk
Stadium: Oriel Park

League Cup

Source:[12]

Group
23 August 1987 Bohemians1–0DundalkDublin
Stadium: Dalymount Park
30 August 1987 Monaghan United1–3DundalkMonaghan
Stadium: Gortakeegan
3 September 1987 Dundalk2–0Drogheda UnitedDundalk
Stadium: Oriel Park
Quarter Final
6 September 1987 Dundalk1–2 St Patrick's Athletic Dundalk
Stadium: Oriel Park

LFA President's Cup

Source:[12]

12 November 1987 Dundalk0–0 (a.e.t.)
(1–3 p)		 Shamrock Rovers Dundalk
Stadium: Oriel Park

Premier Division

Source:[12]

13 September 1987 Round 1 Cork City 0–2 Dundalk
20 September 1987 Round 2 Dundalk 2–1 Limerick
27 September 1987 Round 3 Shelbourne 0–2 Dundalk
4 October 1987 Round 4 Dundalk 0–0 Bohemians
11 October 1987 Round 5 Sligo Rovers 2–2 Dundalk
18 October 1987 Round 6 Dundalk 1–0 Waterford
25 October 1987 Round 7 Galway United 1–0 Dundalk
26 October 1987 Round 8 Dundalk 0–2 St Patrick's Athletic
30 October 1987 Round 9 Shamrock Rovers 0–1 Dundalk
8 November 1987 Round 10 Dundalk 2–0 Derry City
15 November 1987 Round 11 Dundalk 2–0 Bray Wanderers
22 November 1987 Round 12 Bray Wanderers 2–3 Dundalk
29 November 1987 Round 13 Dundalk 3–1 Cork City
6 December 1987 Round 14 Limerick 0–3 Dundalk
13 December 1987 Round 15 Dundalk 3–1 Shelbourne
20 December 1987 Round 16 Bohemians 2–3 Dundalk
27 December 1987 Round 17 Dundalk 1–0 Sligo Rovers
28 December 1987 Round 18 Waterford 2–3 Dundalk
3 January 1988 Round 19 Dundalk 1–1 Shamrock Rovers
10 January 1988 Round 20 Derry City 3–0 Dundalk
17 January 1988 Round 21 Dundalk 2–1 Galway United
24 January 1988 Round 22 St Patrick's Athletic 2–2 Dundalk
7 February 1988 Round 23 Dundalk 4–0 Limerick
21 February 1988 Round 24 Shelbourne 0–1 Dundalk
28 February 1988 Round 25 Dundalk 0–2 Bohemians
9 March 1988 Round 26 Cork City 1–1 Dundalk
13 March 1988 Round 27 Sligo Rovers 0–0 Dundalk
17 March 1988 Round 28 Dundalk 1–1 Waterford
20 March 1988 Round 29 Galway United 2–0 Dundalk
2 April 1988 Round 30 Shamrock Rovers 0–1 Dundalk
4 April 1988 Round 31 Dundalk 3–2 Derry City
13 April 1988 Round 32 Dundalk 5–1 Bray Wanderers
21 April 1988 Round 33 Dundalk 1–1 St Patrick's Athletic

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Dundalk (C) 33 19 8 6 54 32 +22 46 Qualification to 1988–89 European Cup
2 St Patrick's Athletic 33 18 9 6 52 25 +27 45 Qualification to 1988–89 UEFA Cup
3 Bohemians 33 17 11 5 57 32 +25 45
4 Shamrock Rovers 33 16 9 8 53 30 +23 41
5 Galway United 33 15 10 8 48 34 +14 40
6 Waterford United 33 10 14 9 40 31 +9 34
7 Cork City 33 12 10 11 41 47 −6 34
8 Derry City 33 13 5 15 59 44 +15 31 Qualification to 1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cup
9 Limerick City 33 9 7 17 33 60 −27 25
10 Shelbourne 33 8 8 17 27 65 −38 24
11 Bray Wanderers (R) 33 4 10 19 27 65 −38 18 Relegation to League of Ireland First Division
12 Sligo Rovers (R) 33 4 5 24 30 81 −51 13
Source: www.rsssf.com
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated.

FAI Cup

Source:[13]

First Round
14 February 1988 Sligo Rovers1–1DundalkSligo, County Sligo
Michael O'Connor Stadium: The Showgrounds
First Round Replay
18 February 1988 Dundalk 3–2Sligo RoversDundalk
Terry Eviston (2)
Paul Newe		 Stadium: Oriel Park
Second Round
6 March 1988 Dundalk 2–0Bray WanderersDundalk
John Cleary
Paul Newe		 Stadium: Oriel Park
Quarter Final
27 March 1988 Dundalk0–0Cork CityDundalk
Stadium: Oriel Park
Quarter Final Replay
27 March 1988 Cork City0–1 Dundalk Cork
Martin Murray Stadium: Turners Cross
Semi Final
10 April 1988 Dundalk 1–0St Patrick's AthleticDundalk
Dessie Gorman Stadium: Oriel Park
17 April 1988 St Patrick's Athletic0–3 Dundalk Dublin
Barry Kehoe
Dessie Gorman
Martin Murray		 Stadium: Richmond Park

Dundalk won 4–0 on aggregate.

Final
Main article: 1988 FAI Cup Final
1 May 1988 Dundalk 1–0[14]Derry CityDublin
15:30 John Cleary  20' (pen.) Report Stadium: Dalymount Park
Attendance: 21,000[15]
Referee: John Spillane

Cup Winners' Cup
First round
Ajax 4–0 Dundalk
Rijkaard  65'
Blind  73'
Winter  81'
Stapleton  85'
Attendance: 15,712
Referee: José María Enríquez Negreira (Spain)
Dundalk 0–2 Ajax
Newe  71' (o.g.)
Meijer  87'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Rune Larsson (Sweden)

Ajax won 6–0 on aggregate.

Awards

Player of the Month
Month Player References
March Terry Eviston [16]
April Dessie Gorman [17]

SWAI Personality of the Year
Person Reference
Terry Eviston [17]

References
Bibliography
  • Murphy, Jim (2003). The History of Dundalk F.C.: The First 100 Years. Dundalgan Press. ASIN B0042SO3R2.
  • Graham, Alex. Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005. Soccer Books Limited. ISBN 1-86223-135-4.
Citations
  1. "Athlone pounce in extra time". Irish Press. 21 August 1987. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  2. "Disappointing Dundalk go out to eager Pats". Irish Press. 7 September 1987. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  3. Dunne, Noel (27 October 1987). "Dundalk's Weekend Disaster". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  4. "Malone Makes Dundalk Safe". Irish Independent. 14 December 1987. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  5. Dunne, Noel (21 March 1988). "Dundalk's Premier Run Comes to a Stop". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  6. "Dundalk Rally to Keep Hopes Alive". Irish Press. 5 April 1988. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  7. Stuart, Charlie (22 April 1988). "Dundalk Are Tops". The Irish Press. Retrieved 23 April 2019 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
  8. Stuart, Charlie (2 May 1988). "Delight". The Irish Press. Retrieved 23 April 2019 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
  9. Stuart, Charlie (17 September 1987). "Stapleton is in scoring form". Irish Press. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  10. Kelly, Liam (1 October 1987). "Ajax clean up at Oriel Park!". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2019 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
  11. Murphy, Jim (2013). A Dundalk FC Miscellany. Ireland: Self-published. p. 270.
  12. Murphy, Jim (2003). History of Dundalk FC - the First 100 Years. Dundalk: Jim Murphy. p. 472.
  13. Murphy, Jim (2003). History of Dundalk FC - the First 100 Years. Dundalk: Jim Murphy. p. 344.
  14. "Ireland FAI Cup (1921-1994)". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  15. "FAI Cup Final". Irish Press. 2 May 1988. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  16. Meagan, Jimmy (7 April 1987). "Eviston 'nets' major soccer award". Irish Press. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  17. "'Player' awards for Dundalk duo". Irish Independent. 23 April 1988. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
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