Chord minors from 1961 were Leinster kingpins
MOMENTS in history abound, but here’s one from 60 years ago and the birth of a fine young soccer team.
Chord Celtic had been in business at various times, including 1958,, the DI reporting on a 7-0 win over Dundalk side Tottenham Hotspur in the FAI Minor Cup.
The winners led 3-0 at the interval by goals per Clarke, T Nawn, and Kellaway. Second half scorers were Woods (2), Clarke and Nawn. Best for Chord were T. Clarke, Woods and McDonnell.
They played Longford Town next time out and drew 1-1.
Their goal in the 20th minute was a result of fine play by Kellaway, who sent, over a grand pass to Woods, who shot low and hard from twenty-five yeards range for a very well-taken goal. For the Drogheda side, Tony Lynch at right-full played a really outstanding game, Kirwan in goais, Clarke at centrehalf, Connor (right-half ). Kierans left-half , and Kellaway and Woods in attack. However they lost the replay 4-0.
But in 1960, they entered a minor team in the Leinster League, the first minor side from the town to play in the Dublin League since the 1940s.
It was also agreed that they’d play at United Park when Drogheda were away from home.
Chord’s first home game was against Doddsboro, winning 4-3.
Celtic performed most creditably in their first game, and during the opening half ran up an interval lead of 3-0. Within fifteen minutes of the restart, Doddsboro reduced their deficit to 3-2. their two goals coming in as many minutes. For a spell, Celtic lost their grip on the game and when the Dubliners equalised with about nine minutes to go, it looked as if the Drogheda side was going to lose a point. But with five minutes to go, Christy Devlin made the issue safe for Celtic when he scored the winning goal as a result of a penalty award.
The winners have a fine goalkeeper in Tommy Murphy, who brought off many excellent saves and was in no way to blame for any of the shots that beat him.
Christy Devlin was a sound and resourceful left-full . Paul Kirwan was a grand centre-half. Donal Culligan was superb.
S. Thompson, alter an indifferent start, led the forward line in excellent style after scoring his side’s first goal in League football, and was always eager to have a shot at goal. M. McCarthy, after blazing a couple of shots hopelessly wide early in the same, later found his shooting target aim and added two goals.
Both wingers. S. Leonard and F. Thornton each had their moments while Peter McKeown was an inside forward who fitted well into the line.
Chord Celtic—T. Murphy, M Martin. C. Devlin L. Finnegan, P Kirwan. D. Culligan, S. Leonard. P MoKeown. S. Thompson. M McCarthy, F .Thornton.
They went on to beat Bromley 4-0 in their second game, away.
The Chord line-out showed two changes in personnel to that which defeated Doddsboro the previous week at United Park, John Mullen coming on for N. Martin at rightfull_ and Gerry Farrelly taking Christy Devlin’s place at left-full, the latter being drafted into the attack to add more punch. Chord took the lead in the 15th minute when the Bromley custodian failed to hold a shot from Thornton and Thompson rushed in to score. Ten minutes later McKeown sent up a well-directed drive to Devlin who. gaining possession, drew the losers’ ‘ keeper from his goals and promptly rounded him and coolly put the ball into the net. Thompson added two after that.
Full-backs, Mullen and Farrelly made successful debuts.
The league title would come that season and in 1961, they headed to the Athletic Union League Minor Division, hotly contested with the likes of Shamrock Rovers and Home Farm.
Their first game was a 2-1 win over East Wall United.
Chord, although short Paul Kirwan and Liam Cullen, fielded a workmanlike side which included three players who distinguished themselves in the Drogheda Under 16 League at the Lourdes Stadium. Tom Byrne and Jim McGulre . both of Railway United and J. Clarke. Also there were two Balbriggan lads—Liam Grant and J. Fanning, both of whom fitted well into the side.
Outstanding player for the winners was Tom Murphy who brought off some fine saves in goals and impressed a prominent AUL. official who watched, the game. Christy Devlin made a welcome re-appearance at centre-half while Donal Culligan played his usual fine game at lefthalf. Celtic were well served in attack by Sean Thompson and Frankie Thornton and with better luck in the first half might have led by a couple of scores.
Thompson scored Celtics first goal in the 15ch minute and Just on the half-time mark, East Wall equalised. With twenty minutes to go Thompson scored the winning goal for Celtic to give them the two League points.
CHORD CELTIC—T. Murphy. M. Rooney, T. Byrne, L. .Grant, c. Devlin, D. Culligan, J. Clarke. J. McGuire, S. Thompson, F. Thornton J Fanning.
They also beat Belgrove 7-3, despite being minus Paul Kirwan. Joe Fay and Francie Thornton but their deputies proved worthy substitutes.
Chord’s marksmen were Grant 3. McGuire 3 and Byrne.
In 1962, the Drogheda AFC was formed, with the aim of giving the town senior football. They would play at the Stadium. The hope was to play in the First Division of the Leinsier Senior League. They would field a B team in the same league and field a team in the AUL Minor Division.
Chord’s minor side amalgamated into the club. Chord were back to action in the AUL by 1967 and featured the likes of Lambe, Rice, Clarke and Brogan and also featured left-half Chris Byrne and Pat Whelan.
By this stage, Liam Cullen had made the Drogheda team, having partnered Donal Culligan in that Chord minor team.