Green Shoots - A History of Irish Football

Today we have the 3rd and final part of our journey through Limerick football. In this episode podcast Kehlan and Gary talk about them winning the FAI Cup in 1982, matters off the pitch come to a head with high court drama, and where to now for Limerick football?

So the last time we left it Limerick had just won the league tile in the 79/80 season…

We're in part 2 of our journey through Limerick football as we look at the period from 1960 through to 1980.

In this episode we look at cup heartbreaks, hooligans in Limerick and Irish football and the coming of Eoin Hand as manager.

We'll also be looking at Limerick winning finally winning the FAI Cup in 1971 and the last of Limerick's league titles in 1979/80.

This week's episode is the start of a three episode journey into the story of Limerick football. From a garrison town in 1891 to Treaty United in 2022, Limerick has had a long and storied history with football. In this episode we look at the origins of football in the city from 1891 to becoming League of Ireland champions in 1960.

After the Rep. of Ireland's dramatic 2-3 victory away to Hungary at the weekend (16-11-25) in their World Cup qualifier, they head to playoff. This all seemed so unlikely just a few months before when Ireland were bottom of the table with 1 point from 3 games.

Kehlan and Gary look back on an historic night in Budapest and what it means for international football in the country.

Here is a bonus clip that never made it into Episode 27 and my interview with the great Waterford F.C. legend Alfie Hale. In it talks about his relationship with the great Busby Babe & Manchester United legend Denis Viollet.

You can go back and listen to that fantastic interview with Alfie in a two parter in epsiode 27 and episode 28. You can also listen back to other great interviews with Pat Fenlon, Eoin Hand, Dermot Keely, Tony Galvin and Pat Byrne as well.

First division football in the League of Ireland has been around from the mid-1980s. Often seen as the LOI graveyard and, at times, notoriously difficult to get out of.

So how did it all begin and who the key teams and moments of it during the 1980s?

In this week’s episode it’s the beginning of the Mick McCarthy era as he looks to take the Republic of Ireland to the world cup in France 1998. A stall-worth of the Charlton era. His partnership with Kevin Moran at the back, arguably the greatest center partnership in the history of Irish football.

And now all eyes turned to him.

Jack had retired into the sunset, but his shadow was long. Just how do you followed the man who made it all happen?

Dermot Keely is one of the most decorated players and managers in League of ireland history and on our last podcast we talked to him about his playing days up to when we walked away from Dundalk to go North and play with Glentoran. You can go back and listen to Part 1 in last week’s podcast, episode 39.

Here we pick up the interview as Dermot is about leave Glentoran, head to UCD and eventually to that all conquering Shamrock rovers team on the 1980's under Jim McLoughlin.

Now Dermot Keely is considered by many to be one of the greatest players and managers in League of Ireland history.

He has 9 Premier division titles and 7 FAI Cups between player and manager. He won player of the year and personality of the year for the 1984/85 season when he was part of a Shamrock Rovers side stacked with ability and talent.

A part from managing Shels, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers to premier division titles, he also won promotion with Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps.

Not bad for a man the great Jim McLaughlin described as ‘ Better Without the Ball’ which is also the name of his autobiography as well.

On this week’s podcast we’re in Europe again as we look at some famous nights for Irish clubs in the European Cup Winners Cup. A competition that no longer exists but which LOI clubs have a long history with.