Originally Posted by
Nesta99
I dunno really, that title was a bit unexpected after the disaster of the split league format the year previous that nearly killed us. The club and league refelcted the country being in some sort of doldrums. Hard to fathom a last day of the league with 3 teams able to win it and not long prior half the league in with a shout. Derry being huge favourites as besides being the 'best' teams that season overall they were away to an already relegated Athlone in St Mels.
To have had barely 2k at the game showed the general apathy from the previous season. What happened was in itself madcap but at least on the pitch. James Coll being presented with the PoTY trophy as the league trophy was in St Mels. It was said a duplicate was in Tolka but I dont believe that the FAI would have bothered with a duplicate trophy!! It was a cobbled together squad, no outstanding team in the league but Dundalk had a bit more resiliance and started to grind out results as the squad settled. The Van Boxtel debate raged and it was a tough watch as Jody Byrne habitually dropped the ball in to his own net when he was No. 1 and you could physically see the confidence drain away and him not wanting near the ball as the crowd bayed for Van Boxtel. That squad wasnt bad at all though, solid if unspectacular with Coll, Coady, Lawlor, Whelan and Doohan if not up front. McNulty, Britton, Long, Byrne and Suds, on the wing. Kelly, Patmore* and Whitnell and Doohan were effective. Whitnell was a sight to behold the way he went through players and generally caused chaos, could shoot and knock out a floodlight one moment or bust the back of the net the next - all while shouting at the top of his particularly high pitched voice that either hurt the ears or or could only be heard by every dog across the town.
A candidate for worst league champions ever? possibly. But as far as achieving what they did as journeymen on a shoestring its is also one of the most remarkable league winners. Runners up in the LC and LSC (its a lovely trophy). When it is considered how bad the finances were after the split season, and where things went after including European game in United Park. Ive a great fondness for that side and how they battled to the title. The scenes at the end (It was my wee radio that got handed up to the gantry to broadcast the remainder of the game in St Mels!!), the peno miss and the ball off the line we were telling the Dundalk players mainly to Joe Soap (one of a few variations on his nickname) who was then at the Dundalk players to lift it against a belligerent Galways side. I never thought Id be lucky enough to experience that sort of high drama with my own club again until the famous night in Station Road after even lower times than of 93/94; then the BATE match + a few.
So all this worst champions ever malarky is all so subjective. The only real guage is what happens in Europe but that even depends on factors like luck with the draw. If a team goes on to retain the title also but by the nature of LoI then, the league champions could be entirely different the following season.
*I actually dont remember Patmore playing tbh. His goals in the friendly but 94/95 season i dont recall too much of him. People thinking that Kelly wasnt good enough, not that liked, but was top scorer is another eccentricity to that season from my recollection.
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