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.
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]
- a. Includes the Leinster Senior Cup and LFA President's Cup.
Competitions
Leinster Senior Cup
Source:[12]
- First Round
- Second round
League Cup
Source:[12]
- Group
- Quarter Final
LFA President's Cup
Source:[12]
Premier Division
Source:[12]
Cork City v Dundalk
Dundalk v Limerick
Shelbourne v Dundalk
Dundalk v Bohemians
Sligo Rovers v Dundalk
Dundalk v Waterford
Galway United v Dundalk
Dundalk v St Patrick's Athletic
Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk
Dundalk v Derry City
Dundalk v Bray Wanderers
Bray Wanderers v Dundalk
Dundalk v Cork City
Limerick v Dundalk
Dundalk v Shelbourne
Bohemians v Dundalk
Dundalk v Sligo Rovers
Waterford v Dundalk
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers
Derry City v Dundalk
Dundalk v Galway United
St Patrick's Athletic v Dundalk
Dundalk v Limerick
Shelbourne v Dundalk
Dundalk v Bohemians
Cork City v Dundalk
Sligo Rovers v Dundalk
Dundalk v Waterford
Galway United v Dundalk
Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk
Dundalk v Derry City
Dundalk v Bray Wanderers
Dundalk v St Patrick's Athletic
League table
FAI Cup
Source:[13]
- First Round
- First Round Replay
- Second Round
- Quarter Final
- Quarter Final Replay
- Semi Final
Dundalk won 4–0 on aggregate.
- Final
Europe
Cup Winners' Cup
- First round
Ajax won 6–0 on aggregate.
Awards
Player of the Month
SWAI Personality of the Year
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
- ^ "Athlone pounce in extra time". Irish Press. 21 August 1987. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "Disappointing Dundalk go out to eager Pats". Irish Press. 7 September 1987. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ Dunne, Noel (27 October 1987). "Dundalk's Weekend Disaster". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ "Malone Makes Dundalk Safe". Irish Independent. 14 December 1987. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ Dunne, Noel (21 March 1988). "Dundalk's Premier Run Comes to a Stop". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ "Dundalk Rally to Keep Hopes Alive". Irish Press. 5 April 1988. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ Stuart, Charlie (22 April 1988). "Dundalk Are Tops". The Irish Press. Retrieved 23 April 2019 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Stuart, Charlie (2 May 1988). "Delight". The Irish Press. Retrieved 23 April 2019 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Stuart, Charlie (17 September 1987). "Stapleton is in scoring form". Irish Press. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ Kelly, Liam (1 October 1987). "Ajax clean up at Oriel Park!". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2019 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Murphy, Jim (2013). A Dundalk FC Miscellany. Ireland: Self-published. p. 270.
- ^ a b c d Murphy, Jim (2003). History of Dundalk FC - the First 100 Years. Dundalk: Jim Murphy. p. 472.
- ^ Murphy, Jim (2003). History of Dundalk FC - the First 100 Years. Dundalk: Jim Murphy. p. 344.
- ^ "Ireland FAI Cup (1921-1994)". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ "FAI Cup Final". Irish Press. 2 May 1988. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Meagan, Jimmy (7 April 1987). "Eviston 'nets' major soccer award". Irish Press. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ a b "'Player' awards for Dundalk duo". Irish Independent. 23 April 1988. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
External links
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History | |
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Seasons | |
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Matches | FAI Cup final wins | |
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League Cup final wins | |
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President's Cup wins | |
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Champions Cup wins | |
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