| Match Pictures | Matches: 1962 – 1963 | 1962-63 Pics |
Trivia
- Celtic played a short tour of Ireland after the finish of the 1962-63 season. This was the first game of the tour played on a Sunday evening
- Dundalk were Irish Champions this season. The game was played at Dundalk's ground at Oriel Park.
- It can't be the case that Celtic have struggled against a team with a one-armed striker but then Jimmy Hasty wasn't just anybody. He was an inspirational example of the human spirit rising above adversity. He scored in this match too proving he wasn't in the team on sympathy but ability. An example to others with a handicap his death in 1974 at the hands of Loyalist paramilitaries was all the more tragic
Review
The last home match had been on March 31st, and it was a full two months before supporters got the opportunity of seeing their heroes again, for the visit of Scottish Cup finalists, Celtic, who attracted a large attendance with many travelling from Northern Ireland for the first game of their Irish tour. Three up inside the first fifteen minutes, with the third goal coming from Bobby Murdoch, Celtic were coasting and five minutes after the interval they made it 4-0. But inspired by Dermot Cross, Dundalk fought back and began to match their illustrious rivals and with fifteen minutes left had reduced the deficit to 4-3. As a result of a brilliant display of goalkeeping, Christy Barron shared the match honours with Dermot Cross, while Leo O’Reilly and Ted Harte stood out in a scintillating second half performance from the home team.
'Thru the Years'
It took 31 years before Glasgow Celtic arrived back in Dundalk. Oriel Park was the venue on 26th May 1963. Dundalk had just won their first league championship title in 30 years while Celtic had finished runners-up in the Scottish Cup. The game was a remarkable treat for the Dundalk football public. Celtic were three goals up after just 17 minutes. Only fine goalkeeping from Christy Barron prevented Celtic from adding several more goals before half-time. The Democrat reported that “The Dundalk players looked completely over-awed by the occasion and almost in a state of panic.” It didn’t get better. Celtic went 4-0 up after 50 minutes. Thankfully, the Irish Champions rallied with a sensational comeback. Dermot Cross pulled one back and from that moment Dundalk were a side transformed. Dundalk pulled another two goals back to give Celtic an almighty scare…it wouldn’t be the last time that Celtic were to be given a scare at Oriel Park!
Teams
Dundalk:
Barron, Murphy, McKeown, Rowe, Lyons, Harte, O’Reilly, Cross, Callan, Hasty, Kennedy.
Scorers: Cross 2 (), Hasty(75)
Celtic:
Haffey, MacKay, Kennedy; McNamee, McNeill, Price; Murdoch (Johnstone), Divers, Johnstone (Chalmers), Hughes (Murdoch), Brogan.
Scorers: Divers (), Murdoch 2 (), Chalmers (50)
Referee:
Attendance:
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
