CHERISHED MEMORIES
THE picture below is of the Dundalk under-17 team that played Salthill in the semi-final of the Snickers National Cup at Oriel Park in 1996.
Dundalk won the match 3-0 with goals from Gavin Dunne (penalty), Padraig Gollogly, and Brendan Nordone.
The sides had played out a 1-1 draw in Salthill the previous week, with Peter McGinnity netting the Dundalk goal.
The replay win booked the Youth’s place in the final against the mighty Belvedere, which was played in Glebe North’s pitch in Balbriggan.
The young Lilywhites went into the game with injury doubts over McGinnity and Dunne and the latter was forced off early in the second-half.
Future senior star David Hoey was the Youth’s hero on the day, scoring twice in a man-of-the-match display.
He opened the scoring with a brilliant goal, but Belvedere equalised almost immediately.
However, two goals in as many minutes set up a famous victory.
Hoey restored his side’s lead, albeit with the help of a deflection and Niall O’Hagan gave them a bit of breathing space, nodding home a Mickey Woods free-kick, having replaced McGinnity.
The win was the second part of a Dundalk double on the day as Shamrocks had ealrier lifted the O’Mahoney Cup, defeating Kilnamanagh in the final at the same venue.
Pictured are: back row, left to right, Michael Woods, Gavin Dunne, Paul Scanlan, Peter McGinnity, Brendan Nordone. Front row, Padraig Gillogley, Cormac Woods, Daragh Lynn, John Savage, David Hoey, Gerard Hoey.
SPORTS Star awards started to get popular in the 1970s and at the time, Dundalk and indeed Co. Louth had no such event.
To rectify this the ‘Argus’ started to promote the idea and were fortunate to get St. Patrick’s Unit of the Catholic Boys Scouts on board through the good offices of Sean Casey, who was a leading member of the unit at the time.
Finding a sponsor was the next obstacle to overcome and eventually Martins Garage, then trading in Francis Street and owned by the Monahan Brothers, Phil and Tommy and Paddy Martin got on board.
Selection of the first winners for the first Sports Star awards in the area was left to local sports journalists and the winners were announced at a gala dinner in Ballymascanlon Hotel which eventually became the biggest social occasion in the sporting calendar.
Pictured at that first dinner were the winners with the sponsors and organisers.
Back Row, Eamon Ashe (Rugby), Tommy Monahan, Jim McArdle (Tennis), Jimmy Maguire (Motor Racing)
Middle Row, Frank Lynch (Gaelic football), Alan
Fox (soccer), Jim Whitty (Administration), Karl Dolan (Cycling), Eric Hynes (Golf), Patsy McKeown (soccer).
Front Row, Phil Monahan, Mary Gallagher (Badminton), Paddy Martin, Nuala Kelly (Indoor Football), Tom McGahon, and Sean Casey.