Lads,
Who was Limerick FC manager when we won the cup in 1971? Also, was Sonny Price manager when we won the league in 1960?
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Lads,
Who was Limerick FC manager when we won the cup in 1971? Also, was Sonny Price manager when we won the league in 1960?
Ewan Fenton was the gaffer in 1971. Sonny Price was the man in 1960. Heres an interesting piece from the Leader archives:
After 23 years of hard and honest endeavour Limerick finally won the League of Ireland Championship in the 1959/60 season. Having finished runners-up in successive seasons - 1943/44 and 1944/45 it was an occasion to savour.
Unlike other years, when the majority of the sides were local, this team had a nucleus of Dublin based players who supplied six to the panel, there were five from Limerick, two from Cork and the remainder from junior circles.
Lady Luck was on Limerick's side, for although they lost their last game 3-2 to St Patrick's Athletic on Sunday, April 17 1960, they still captured the championship.
The trophy was not available on the day and some of the players did not see it until it was won, 20 years later in the Eoin Hand era.
In this era, where managers have a film-star profile, such was not the case, some 40 years ago. For the record Sonny Price was coach of that Limerick team and Noel "Noisy" Murphy of rugby fame put the players through a strict training routine to attain a high fitness level. He was living in Limerick at that time.
The following players wre on the Limerick books during the 1959/60 season:- Pat Skelly, Willie Clinton, Fergie Crawford, Joe Casey, Gerry McCarthy, Harry McCue, Dessie McNamara, Jerry O'Brien, Georgie Lynam, Clem Dillon, Dick O'Connor, Leo O'Reilly, Donie Wallace, Eddie McCarthy, Denis Linnane, Sean Moloney, Johnny Fogarty, Tony Brosnahan, PJ Meagher and Jimmy Murphy.
Amateurs on League of Ireland forms:- Mick Doyle, Eamonn O'Connor, Dick Butler, Jimmy Forde and Liam McMahon.
Other players who played with Limerick during Dessie's sojourn include Mick "Dobber" Lipper, Tim "Togsie" Cuneen, Ewan Fenton, Mick Doyle, Frankie Johnson, Al Finucane, Kevin Fitzpatrick and Vinny Quinn while a legion of Cork friends include Johnny Coughlan, Ray Cowhie, Jackie Morley, Donal Leahy, Austin Noonan and Donie Wallace wish him well.
Des played in two F.A.I. Cup finals 1965 and 1966. A fairytale first final ended all square after a great game. It will be remembered as the Mick Doyle final as he broke his leg just before half-time.
The following year Shamrock Rovers won 2-0. Des also figured in two European Cup campaigns-versus Young Boys of Berne and C.S.K.A. Bulgaria.
Des, always on the fringe of International honours, played in schoolboy and minor international trials. In the 1958/59 season he was capped for the League of Ireland against the Irish League. This game was played at Windsor Park, Belfast, with victory going to the League of Ireland 3-2.
When his League of Ireland career ended, he helped local junior team - Hibernians to win the Jim Jackman Cup.
He returned to Pike Rovers in 1971 to lead them to victory in the Munster Junior Cup final at the Marayke against Crosshaven. Des has the unique honour of winning Munster Minor, Junior and Senior Cup medals.
He also holds every honour in inter-firm football.
His son, Brian, won a Munster Minor up medal with St Clement's.
As per the last article Sonny Price in 1960 and ewan Fenton in 1971.
Fenton won a cup medal with Blackpool in 53 and arrived just after the 1960 league winning season. He brought a different brand of football to Limerick and apparently we were great to watch (before my time) - he left to manage Linfield for 3 years and won every trophy there but came back and had at least 3 more stints as manager. Great man to develop young players. He still lives in Limerick and runs a driving school -
He also won the League Cup in 75 and the shield in 84 and he grew the team that won the league in 1980 also managed by Frankie Johnson and John Herrick with eoin Hand obviously winning the league.
Andy McEvoy RIP was the star of the 71 team - arguably our greatest ever player. I'd plump for Kevin Fitzpatrick but have to bow to those who say Andy in his prime. Al Finucanew would be up there as well
Wrt Ewan Fenton - found this while killing some time surfing.
LIMERICK manager, Ewan Fenton, has a unique record in that he has been associated with clubs in all the countries of these islands.
Ewan first hit the limelight in Scotland with Dundee North End. Then he moved to Blackpool, from there to Wrexham and then across the sea to Limerick. After seven eventful years with the Shannonsiders he tried his luck in Northern Ireland with the famous Linfield.
I've met him a few times, and he's a total gent. A genuinely nice guy. He singlehandedly transformed Limerick football, and it must gall him to see how something once mighty has fallen.He should have received a lot more praise and credit than he did.
A true testament to his ability to get the best out of something hopeless is the way he got my sister to pass her driving test, 'cos she was one hell of a bad driver... :D :D . If he could do that, then he could manage anything.
gspain: Spotted you on the TV last week. Well done on travelling out to Switzerland for the match.