Warm tributes paid to Quay Celtic stalwart Joe
QUAY Celtic FC and Dundalk soccer lost one of its great stalwarts just before Christmas with the death of Joe Callan, a founder member who played on the first side to represent the Quaysiders and also to win their first trophy.
Warm tributes have been paid to him as one of the greats to wear the colours of his local club, and who, after his playing days, lent his services to the club in different capacities, including managing and assisting in the management of junior and juvenile teams. In more recent times he maintained his life-long interest in its affairs by watching his grandson play at his beloved Clancy Park.
The facilities at Clancy Park was a source of immense pride and joy to him for a club that started with literally nothing, a point illustrated in a story told by present-day broadcaster and former Dundalk captain John Murphy, his player manager and teammate in the early years of the club.
In deciding on what jerseys to wear, black was the colour chosen. ‘The idea of wearing black was we wouldn’t have to wash them,’ said John.
John Murphy reflected: ‘Joe was a Quay man down to his toenails and a gorgeous wee consistent player. I never saw him play a bad game. He was always one of those you could rely on. He was a wonderful servant who could hold his own in any company.’
In that regard John recalled a game against the Rugby club in the early years of Quay Celtic playing in the Summer League.
‘A chap by the name of Brian Little was over the Rugby club team. After the game he says ‘I played against many rugby teams who were hard-hitters, but I never seen the likes of the Quay.’ Joe was one of the men he was referring to.’
Joe and the late Barney McArdle were responsible for the formation of Quay Celtic and entering the Dundalk Summer League, competing for the first time in 1967.
He was a member of the first team to line out alongside, in goal, Tom Begley, together with Tommy
Mulligan, Tommy Greene, Gene McMahon, Paddy Kerr, Gerry Mulligan, Paddy (Dykes) O’Hagan, Thomas Kelledy, Owen Kerr, Brian Fergus and Willie McLaughlin.
He was fittingly voted on the club’s ‘All Time Greats’ side when the club celebrated its Golden Jubilee anniversary in 2017. He was also the first Quay player to be selected on a Dundalk Summer League representative side - one that played against the Cavan League circa 1968 and drew 3-3.
He was on the team that won the cup, the club’s first trophy in the local league in 1968, and then went on to compete the double in 1970, winning the cup for the third year in a row the same season. That final, incidentally, was played under floodlights for the first time in Oriel Park and Joe scored as Quay twice netted in extra time to win 3-1 against Rock Celtic.
Joe also scored one of the two goals in the deciding match with Bank to clinch the league title for the first time for the club.
‘One of the greatest moments for Joe was when he was involved in managing the first Quay team to
win the Clancy Cup. Jimmy [Clancy, who the cup commemorates and was one of the club’s greatest servants) was very special for him,’ said Golden Jubilee club chairman Paul Black, who is still very actively involved in affairs at Clancy Park.
Joe, together with Gerry Mullen RIP, were in charge of the senior team that contained some of the club’s greatest players and when it enjoyed great success, with the likes of Mickey Coburn, Kenneth Cairns and Sean Kieran RIP in the side.
Paul says Joe gained a great thrill and enjoyment when Quay entered the Leinster Senior League in the late 1980s and pitted their skills and wits against wellknown and established clubs like Drumcondra and other successful ones of the day.
He loved the craic travelling on the bus with the side to Dublin every second weekend and going afterwards for a few drinks in Clarkes.
Paul states that Joe derived great pleasure being in Clancy Park and pride from the facilities at the club’s disposal.
He enjoyed in latter times and had a great interest in matches in which his grandson was involved. Another of his pleasures was walking and strolling around town with his buddies, meeting up at the Windmill corner and going as far as the Square and back to his beloved Quay.
Sadly a couple of those buddies have also died recently, including former teammate Paddy ‘Dykes’ O’Hagan who was also a member of the first Quay team.