Dundalk receive boost

**BrayUnknowns** · 19/12/2006, 11:32 AM

Dundalk�s morale received a timely boost on Monday night when Philip Hughes, the top scorer in the eircom League in 2006, agreed a new deal which will keep him at Oriel Park for next season. More

Great news for Dundalk, but surely it was time for hughes to better his career, would have got his game at a number of Premier clubs, better wages etc.... strange move by him IMO

**Raheny Red** · 19/12/2006, 11:54 AM

Very surprised by that

- fair play Dundalk

**Dodge** · 19/12/2006, 11:55 AM

Hughes has had spells with 2 premier division clubs and failed to shine at either (despite pats fans high hopes for him)

Too fat for the premier IMO

**harry crumb** · 19/12/2006, 11:57 AM

Sprinted past your defenders easily enough in the cup match early on this season.

Think he went off injured though.

**bluemovie** · 19/12/2006, 11:58 AM

I wonder could he be signing a contract just to ensure that the likes of Bohs would have to pay Dundalk a transfer fee? I'm not so sure he'd be as impressive in the Premier Division anyway - it's a big step up.

**dcfcsteve** · 19/12/2006, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by BrayUnknowns

Great news for Dundalk, but surely it was time for hughes to better his career, would have got his game at a number of Premier clubs, better wages etc.... strange move by him IMO

Strange move ?!? They're all sh!t scared that Maxi McAllister will be round their house with a can of petrol and an itchy lighter-finger if they don't renew... !

**Terry** · 19/12/2006, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by harry crumb

Sprinted past your defenders easily enough in the cup match early on this season.

Think he went off injured though.

he was out of breathe and couldnt continue !!!

**holidaysong** · 19/12/2006, 1:48 PM

The word is loyalty. Philly is even more of a legend now! Fair play to him and to John Gill for keeping in contact with him every day and making sure this happened.

**Peadar** · 19/12/2006, 1:53 PM

He's just afraid of having a medical before he could join another club.

**Philly** · 19/12/2006, 2:03 PM

Sticking with Dundalk, here is a story that is on eleven-a-side.com:

Government minister joins Dundalk protest

December 19, 2006

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern TD has joined the clamour of criticism of the FAI’s decision to exclude Dundalk from the new FAI eircom League of Ireland Premier Division in 2007.

The Lilywhites were omitted after Independent Assessment Group (IAG) recommendations were ratified by the Association last week.

The decision provoked outrage from Dundalk supporters who had expected to land a place in the top division following victory in the end-of-season play-off against Waterford United.

Ahern, a renowned Dundalk supporter, told The Argus: "I find it incredible that a team which has performed to such a high standard and attracted such growing support should be denied it’s rightful place - promotion to the Premier League.

“I have, among thousands of other fans from Dundalk, followed the team all season. They have shown great skill and courage in battling to the promotion places and defeated a Premiership side in the play-off. Yet they have been denied promotion based on what I can only describe as a somewhat crude set of statistical analysis that flies in the face of natural justice.

"Why have the play-off’s in the first place? Why put the team and fans to such huge expense? Clearly it wasn’t in the script that Dundalk succeed ... I call on the FAI to reconsider this decision. And even at this stage to extend the number of teams in the Premier League to include Dundalk”
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Looking for votes from Maxi and the likes perhaps?

**Dodge** · 19/12/2006, 2:14 PM

In fairness to him he's always been a dundalk fan and does actually go to games (when he can obviously)

**Peadar** · 19/12/2006, 3:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

...and does actually go to games (when he can obviously)

Manages to get to the odd Champions League Final too...

**JW.** · 19/12/2006, 3:48 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Hughes has had spells with 2 premier division clubs and failed to shine at either (despite pats fans high hopes for him)

Too fat for the premier IMO

This was my concern in relation to us potentially signing him.
A day later we swooped for John Lester

**fingers** · 19/12/2006, 4:44 PM

Hughesie struggled with the idea of leaving but was helped to make his decision as Bohs draged on discussions Giller was in touch on a near daily basis and the fact that he and the fans have a brill rapour the decision came easy.

Just for the doubters, Phily's scoring record
1. Record scorer with Killkenny 16 in 20 games
2. Record scorer with Kildare 16 for the season (Might have been bettered)
3 Record scorer with Dundalk 22 for the season

And double figures for teams he started and finished a season with as a centre foward. He was with St Pats as a 19 year old and left when he was 20 and played approx. 24 games mostly on the wing.

But as they say doctors differ and patients die.

**BohsFans** · 19/12/2006, 6:56 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

In fairness to him he's always been a dundalk fan and does actually go to games (when he can obviously)

He's actually a Bohs fan, from in and around Cabra,

**BohsFans** · 19/12/2006, 6:57 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

The word is loyalty.

Not really, he just didn't want to give up his job in Irish rail for going full time with us.

**Dodge** · 19/12/2006, 7:17 PM

Originally Posted by BohsFans

He's actually a Bohs fan, from in and around Cabra,

Dermot Ahern? He is in his ********

**eamoss** · 19/12/2006, 7:58 PM

Originally Posted by BohsFans

Not really, he just didn't want to give up his job in Irish rail for going full time with us.

Ah now it make sence when he got the POTM award that it was taken in a train station.

Originally Posted by Dodge

Dermot Ahern? He is in his ********

He is talking about Philip Hughes

**pineapple stu** · 19/12/2006, 8:29 PM

By all accounts, the First Division suits Batman. Was at UCD for a spell in '04; decent player and we would have been kept on but his attitude wasn't right for the Premier basically. Him staying at Dundalk is nothing to do with loyalty, just convenience.