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.

Former Dundalk boss Foster appointed first team coach at Portsmouth

Former Dundalk FC manager Ian Foster has been appointed as first team coach of English side Portsmouth.

The Liverpool native will work under new manager Paul Cook, who he would have went head to head with in his League of Ireland when Cook was in charge of Sligo Rovers.

Commenting on the Portsmouth website, Foster said: “The opportunity to work with Paul is something that I’m really looking forward to.

“I’ve known Paul for a long time and we share the same philosophy on how the game should be played.

“Pompey are a great club. I’m delighted to be here and very excited to get started in the role.”

Former Hereford, Kidderminster and Chester striker Foster has also managed Galway and most recently worked as first team coach and development coach at Coventry.

After coming in following Sean Connor’s departure, Foster managed Dundalk during the 2010 and 2011 campaigns during which time the Lilywhites finished sixth and seventh respectively. He also guided Dundalk to a 5-4 aggregrate victory over Luxembourg outfit Grevenmacher in the UEFA Europa League in July 2010 before Dundalk bowed out in the second qualifying round against Levski Sofia.

In 2011 he took the Lilywhites to the Setanta Sports Cup final, where they went down 2-0 to Shamrock Rovers.