CHERISHED MEMORIES
FIFTY years ago was a momentous season in the history of Dundalk Rugby Club.
To mark the acquisition of their new home and the building of a modern clubhouse at Mill Road, a Dundalk selection played the touring Irish Wolfhounds in front of a large crowd, which included then IRFU President JWS Irwin in September 1969.
But that season was made all the more memorable the following April 1970 when, captained by Vinny McGee, Dundalk won the blue riband of Leinster junior rugby, the Provincial Towns Cup after a barren 21 years.
The team was boosted by the inclusion of former Connacht player Eamonn McGuire, who had gained eight caps for Ireland between 1963/64 until a broken leg cut short his international career, during which he scored a try that would have given Ireland their first win over the All Blacks at Lansdowne Road, only for the referee to disallow it as he deemed he couldn’t have been fast enough to get on the end of a kick ahead unless he had been in front of the kicker. No TMO then!
Eamonn was posted as Chief Fire Officer with Louth County Council, and recovered sufficiently by then to continue playing.
He was joined in the team by another former Connacht player Phelim O’Doherty, also then living in Dundalk, and a then 18-year-old Richard Jeffers, who belied his youth with some terrific performances against many seasoned players.
Dundalk showed their intent from the outset in the first round at Mill Road with a 20-3 win over a much fancied Skerries team, who were to go on to dominate Leinster rugby by winning the next four Towns Cup.
There was also drama in the second round at Mill Road when they were held scoreless by Wexford Wanderers, hampered by an injury to winger Joe Durnin ten minutes into the second half, which necessitatedcessitated hooker Vinny McGee to show his versatility by playing on the wing.
Still a player down, it wasn’t until the dying minutes of extra-time that Dundalk landed a penalty and got a converted try to win 8-0.
They met neighbours Drogheda away in the quarterfinals, and it was a typical Louth derby affair, with chances few, before Dundalk just edged it 9-6.
It was back to Drogheda for the semi-final against Naas, and out-half Tony Steen proved the difference between the sides in very wet and windy conditions as he kicked three penalties and a dropped goal for a 12-6 win.
A vastly experienced Navan team now stood between Dundalk and glory in the final in Drogheda, but it was no classic!
Navan fancies their chances having won the cup three times since 1964, but Dundalk were a very determined outfit, and a Steen penalty gave them the lead.
It could have gone either way when Navan equalised, but just before half-time Dundalk put together the best move of the game to carve out a bit of space for winger Gerry McGee and he duly obliged with a superb finish. Joe Gallagher added the conversion and it was 8-3 at the interval.
There were no further scores in a second-half in which Dundalk had to absorb an awful lot of pressure, but they held out for a memorable victory to cap a fine season.
Dundalk - Jim Malone, Ollie Leavy, Brian Little, Oliver Quinn, Gerry McGee, Tony Steen, Bertie Dillon, Phelim O’Doherty, Vinny McGee (captain), Davey Bell, Gerry Hannigan, Joe Gallagher, Eamonn Ashe, Eamonn McGuire, Richard Jeffers.