Former Dundalk star Stephen Maher’s father killed in hit and run incident in Dublin

Stephen Maher in his Dundalk days

Former Dundalk FC star Stephen Maher’s father Eugene was the victim of a hit-and-run incident on Tuesday night.

Eugene Maher (62) died after being knocked off his bike by a car in Clontarf in north Dublin.

The motorist, who was believed to have been driving a silver Volkswagen Golf, drove on leaving the father of two in a critical condition in the middle of the road.

Emergency services rushed him to Beaumont Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Yesterday evening, gardai in Marino recovered a similar car with a 05D registration plate and removed it for forensic examination.

His heartbroken wife Marie and children were being comforted by family and friends at their home in Griffith Downs, Whitehall, North Dublin, yesterday.

Stephen plays in midfield for Drogheda United, who Dundalk face on Friday night, and has previously had stints with the Republic of Ireland U-21 team, Yeovil Town, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic and Monaghan United. The 27-year-old was at Dundalk from 2010 to 2011 and again for a brief spell in 2012 after Monaghan Utd left the league. In total he made 51 appearances for the club, scoring twice.

His initial spell at Oriel Park was hampered by a case of osteitis pubis but he was fondly remembered for a man of the match display against Levski Sofia in the second leg of the club’s UEFA Europa League tie in 2010.

He would go on to win a league title with St Patrick’s Athletic in 2013.

The victim’s daughter, Lisa Marie Maher, is a model and the founder of a dance agency.

Dundalk U19s and U17s both at home at start of league campaigns

The fixture lists for the SSE Airtricity under 19 and under 17 leagues were released today.

Dundalk U-19s are in section three alongside Derry City, Finn Harps, Letterkenny Rovers, Sligo Rovers and Drogheda Utd.

They will kick-off their campaign at home to Derry City on Sunday September 6^th.

Meanwhile the U-17s are also in section three alongside Drogheda United, Finn Harps, Derry City, Shelbourne, Bohemians and Monaghan Utd-Cavan FP side managed by former Lilywhites boss Sean McCaffrey.

Dundalk have no fixture on week one, August 9^th, so will kick-off their campaign at home to Finn Harps on Sunday August 16^th.

You can view the full fixtures here.

Meanwhile, former Dundalk striker Patrick Hoban has been given the number 9 shirt for Oxford Utd ahead of the 2015/2016 campaign. The Galway man, who top scored for the Lilywhites with 20 league goals last season, joined the League One side before Christmas having helped Dundalk to the league title last season.

LMFM scoop top prizes at PPI awards

LMFM’s Gerry Kelly with the PPI award that his programme ‘The Late Lunch’ picked up at the awards in Kilkenny on Friday

LMFM were celebrating at the PPI awards in Kilkenny on Friday night after The Late Lunch Show picked up Magazine Programme of the Year.

The show, which is presented by Gerry Kelly, seen off stiff competition from the Ray D’Arcy Show on Today FM to scoop the prestigious prize.

Presenter Peter Dunne was also runner-up to former Westlife star Nicky Byrne for the Newcomer Award.

The station also picked up a bronze award for Sports Story of the Year for its documentary on Mick Cooke’s axing from Drogheda United, entitled ‘Mick Cooke – The end of the road.’

Well done to all concerned.

Former Dundalk FC star set to feature on this year’s X Factor

Jamie Duffy, who covered his scar from open-chest surgery with make-up for his X Factor appearance

A former Dundalk FC footballer is set to make a big impact on this year’s X Factor.

Jamie Duffy, who was a member of John Gill’s First Division winning side in 2008, reportedly melts the heart of Cheryl Cole in the new series after almost reducing her to tears with his story of how he had open-chest surgery to remove a tumour.

The 30-year-old, who was born in Texas, sailed through his initial studio audition in Edinburgh with all four judges giving him the thumbs up and he will now appear at the arena stage in London early next month.

Duffy sang ‘Say Something’ by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera and ‘La La La’ by Naughty Boy.

The midfield player – who also had spells at Shamrock Rovers, Longford Town, Kilkenny City and Drogheda United – played 38 times for Dundalk in the 2008 season – more than any other player. He also grabbed eight goals that season, leaving him behind only Robbie Farrell in the scoring stakes and would have played alongside current Lilywhite Simon Kelly.

Now living in Tallaght, Duffy has tried to make a musical breakthrough before having been a member of boyband Boulevard.

In March of last year his world was turned upside down when he was told he would die within a year if he did not have open-chest surgery.

He told The Sunday World: ““I felt rough for a good while, I knew there was something wrong. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

“For about six months, seven months, I wasn’t really feeling 100 per cent and at times really bad.

“The operation was very, very risky. They basically said you either have the operation or you die within a year, so I had to get the operation. What they found was a teratoma tumour.

“They did all the tests and I wasn’t cancerous afterwards,” he said. “I go back every six months, to make sure it doesn’t grow back.”

Dundalk to unveil new look website this week

Ahead of the start of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division this week, Dundalk FC have announced that they will be unveiling a new look website at www.dundalkfc.com

The current version has won awards in the past but, just like the playing side of things, Dundalk clearly don’t want to rest on their laurels.

The season gets underway for the Lilywhites on Friday night when they travel to face neighbours Drogheda United in United Park.

RTÉ to screen Dundalk v St Patrick’s Athletic

Dundalk v St Patrick’s Athletic will be live on RTÉ on April 4th

RTÉ have announced that they will be showing Dundalk’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash with last season’s champions St Patrick’s Athletic live on RTÉ on Friday April 4^th.

The game at Richmond Park will now have a 7.05pm kick-off to facilitate TV coverage.

Stephen Kenny’s side will kick-off their campaign in 15 days time away to Drogheda United in United Park. They will then host Limerick FC a week later, before facing a trip to Sligo Rovers and a home clash with Bohemians before their first televised match of the year.

Dundalk suffer penalty heartbreak yet again in Malone Cup

Paddy Malone, son of the late Jim Malone, presents the Malone Cup to Drogheda after the game, alongside his nephew Cillian Moran

For the eighth time since the competition’s inception in 1997, Dundalk lost out to neighbours Drogheda United in the Jim Malone Cup on penalties.

Just like last year, the Boynesiders retained the competition after winning on spot kicks following a draw.

Last night’s match at United Park finished 1-1, before Drogheda went on to win 5-4 on penalties.

Gavin Brennan had given the home side the lead with a low drive past Peter Cherrie in the 21st minute. Despite plenty of pressure from Dundalk throughout, it looked like that would be enough to secure the win for the Drogs before Daryl Horgan popped up with a header in the 92nd minute to send the game to penalties.

In the end it was Michael Schlingerman who was the hero as he saved Daryl Horgan’s spot kick to ensure Dundalk have only won the competition twice in their history.

The two sides will meet again next month in the Airtricity Premier Division opener, also at United Park.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie, Sean Gannon (Simon Kelly 73), Dane Massey, Mark Rossiter, Brian Gartland, Chris Shields (Ruaidhri Higgins 61), Stephen O’Donnell, John Mountney (Richie Towell  61), Darren Meenan, Kurtis Byrne (Patrick Hoban 61), David McMillan (Marc Griffin 73)

Dundalk prepare to take on Drogheda in the Malone Cup tonight

Dundalk will continue their pre-season preparations tonight when they take on neighbours Drogheda United in the annual Jim Malone Cup at United Park.

The pre-season fixture will whet the appetite for the two sides ahead of their Airtricity League Premier Division opener at the same venue in four weeks time.

After a 10 day break, which included a training camp in Enfield, Dundalk will be looking forward to their third pre-season outing following a 4-1 defeat to Barnsley and a 2-0 win over Wexford Youths.

Last season Drogheda won on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Dundalk hoping to win only their third Malone Cup and their first since 2010.

Stephen O’Donnell and Brian Gartland are likely to return to the side for tonight’s game, which has a 7.45pm kick-off.

Meanwhile, Dundalk will travel west on Tuesday night to take on the newly-formed Galway FC, managed by former Lilywhites player Tommy Dunne.

Bus organised for Dundalk fans travelling to Malone Cup clash with Drogheda on Friday

Dundalk FC take on neighbours Drogheda United in United Park next Friday in the annual Jim Malone Cup.

The match will whet the appetite for the two sides’ league opener a month later and give fans of Stephen Kenny’s side another chance to see some of their new signings in action.

Tony Curtis has organised a bus to the game. It leaves the Magnet at 6.45pm and costs €10.

Bookings can be made at 087-2900644 with admission to the game €10 for adults and concessions are €7.

Dundalk to face neighbours Drogheda in season opener

Dundalk will face a trip to United Park to face neighbours Drogheda in the opening round of the Airtricity League Premier Division season on Friday March 7th.

Fixtures for the new season were announced this morning with the club’s first home fixture of the season coming on Friday March 14th when they host Limerick FC at Oriel Park.

The club’s full fixture list is as follows:

• Friday March 7th – Drogheda United v Dundalk
• Friday March 14th – Dundalk v Limerick FC
• Saturday March 22nd – Sligo Rovers v Dundalk
• Friday March 28th – Dundalk v Bohemians
• Friday April 4th – St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk
• Monday April 7th – Dundalk v Derry City
• Friday April 11th – UCD v Dundalk
• Friday April 18th – Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers
• Monday April 21st – Athlone Town v Dundalk
• Friday April 25th – Bray Wanderers v Dundalk
• Friday May 2nd – Dundalk v Cork City
• Friday May 9th – Dundalk v Drogheda United
• Friday May 16th – Limerick v Dundalk
• Friday May 23rd – Dundalk v Sligo Rovers
• Friday May 30th – Bohemians v Dundalk
• Friday June 13th – Dundalk v St Patrick’s Athletic
• Friday June 27th – Derry City v Dundalk
• Friday July 4th – Dundalk v UCD
• Friday July 11th – Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk
• Friday July 18th – Dundalk v Athlone Town
• Friday July 25th – Dundalk v Bray Wanderers
• Friday August 1st – Cork City v Dundalk
• Friday August 8th – Drogheda United v Dundalk
• Friday August 15th – Dundalk v Limerick
• Monday August 18th – Sligo Rovers v Dundalk
• Friday August 29th – Dundalk v Bohemians
• Friday September 5th – St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk
• Friday September 19th – Dundalk v Derry City
• Friday September 26th – UCD v Dundalk
• Friday October 3rd – Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers
• Friday October 10th – Athlone Town v Dundalk
• Friday October 17th – Bray Wanderers v Dundalk
• Friday October 24th – Dundalk v Cork City