Dundalk FC will face a trip to Inchicore to take on league champions St Patrick’s Athletic in the fourth round of the Leinster Senior Cup in the New Year.
The side were paired together in the draw just weeks after Pat’s pipped the Lilywhites to the title.
A date and time for the game has yet to be confirmed although it is expected to take place before the league campaign begins in March.
The fixture will see new Dundalk signing Sean Gannon make a quick return to his former club having moved from Richmond Park to Oriel Park last month.
Aside from the case of the stolen pavlova, which has been widely reported, this week’s Argus leads with a story of absentee landlords allegedly abandoning properties in Dundalk. There’s also an interview with amateur photographer Darran Rafferty about his Navvy Bank calendar while there’s an interview with Fr Michael Murtagh – formerly of St Patrick’s and now based in Dunleer – who may have saved a bomb target’s life.
All that, and more, in this week’s Argus… on sale now!
Three Dundalk players have been named in the PFAI’s Premier Division Team of the Year.
Defender Andy Boyle, midfielder Richie Towell and striker Pat Hoban have all been included in the team, which is selected by players within the league.
Towell and Hoban have both won the SWAI Player of the Month award this season, while Boyle – who signed a new contract at Oriel Park yesterday – has been an ever-present for Stephen Kenny’s side this season.
Meanwhile, Towell and Hoban have been shortlisted for the Player of the Year award along with Greg Bolger and Killian Brennan of champions St Patrick’s Athletic. The duo are also in contention for the Young Player of the Year award, along with Cork City’s Daryl Horgan.
The team of the year is as follows: Brendan Clarke (St Patrick’s Athletic); Ger O’Brien (St Patrick’s Athletic), Kenny Browne (St Patrick’s Athletic), Andy Boyle (Dundalk), Ian Bermingham (St Patrick’s Athletic); Killian Brennan (St Patrick’s Athletic), Greg Bolger (St Patrick’s Athletic), Daryl Horgan (Cork City), Richie Towell (Dundalk); Patrick Hoban (Dundalk), Rory Patterson (Dundalk).
The awards will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (formerly The Burlington) in Dublin on Friday November 8th.
A man from St Patrick’s Parish in Dundalk made history over the weekend when he became one of the first married men to be ordained a deacon in the ancient see of St Patrick.
Benignus Ndubuisi was one of five welcomed into the ministry by Cardinal Sean Brady and Archbishop Dr Eamon Martin at the weekend, with the latter describing the five as “bridge builders between the laity, priests and bishops.”
Benignus has been study for the post for the past five years and from now on will be referred to as ‘Rev Mr’.
He, along with Drogheda’s John Taaffe, Drumcree’s Martin Barlow, Cookstown’s Andy Hegarty and Tralee’s David Durrigan, will serve on a part-time basis in their appointed parishes, assisting with baptisms and funerals at the weekends and some administrative duties during the week.
Deacons cannot celebrate Mass or hear confessions though.
A health care worker by trade, Ben is married to Celestina and has four children.
Adrian and wife Caroline, who met in Garda college in Templemore, before marrying in 1994 and settling in Lordship, outside Dundalk
Murdered detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has been described as the “best in the world” by his grieving wife Caroline.
Speaking after collecting a Rehab People of the Year award on his behalf at the weekend, the mother of two said: “Adrian was the best father that any child could have.
“There was nobody like Adrian and Adrian was the love of my life. I will miss him every minute of every day as long as I live.”
Caroline also praised the local community for their support to her and their children, Amy and Niall, since the tragic incident.
“Coming out of the church and walking behind Adrian. I walked behind my best friend, surrounded by my friends – and that’s what kept me going.
“I have got thousands and thousands of cards and letters and I have got letters on days that I really needed them the most from people and they were just beautiful.
“There is no way that I can individually thank all the people but I am so humbled by it. The people thought so much of him, to do that for us.
“The people of Lordship, of Dundalk and my garda colleagues have been phenomenal – there is nothing that they wouldn’t do for us,” she said.
Caroline also sent a special word of thanks to the St Patrick’s GFC club, of which Adrian was a member and to the people of Dundalk “for the respect they showed Adrian on the day of his funeral.”
Garda Donohoe (41) was shot during a robbery at the Lordship Credit Union in January.
A €50,000 reward has been offered for information on the murder, with Garda investigations continuing.
Watch Micheal O Muircheartaigh’s presentation of the award below:
It was a weekend to remember for Hunterstown Rovers and Pearse Óg as they claimed the Junior Championship and Senior Hurling Championship titles in Dunleer yesterday.
Hunterstown comfortably overcame Naomh Fionnbarra on a 3-16 to 1-5 scoreline to claim their first junior title since 1987 and their first championship success since their Intermediate Championship win in 1999.
The win for last season’s Division Three champions was also fitting considering it was the 20th anniversary of their 1993 Intermediate Championship success and the 40th anniversary of their 1973 Junior Championship triumph.
Meanwhile, Pearse Óg made club history by retaining the Senior Hurling Championship for the first time after beating Knockbridge on a 2-9 to 1-7 scoreline.
Elsewhere, Cooley Kickhams moved a step closer to a first senior title since 1990 when they seen off the O’Connells on a 2-9 to 0-9 scoreline as goals from Patrick Sheelan and Richard Brennan in the second half proved the difference.
The peninsula outfit will have to wait to see who they meet in the Joe Ward decider of September 29th in Drogheda after the Newtown Blues and St Patrick’s drew 0-9 apiece in their semi-final on Saturday, with Stephen Moonan’s stoppage time free earning the Drogheda men a second bite at the cherry this Friday night in Haggardstown.
Pearse Óg celebrate the successful defence of their Senior Hurling Championship title
New Dundalk signing Jordan Keegan, in action for Scunthorpe United during his spell in England
Dundalk FC have made their first signing of the summer transfer window with the capture of Jordan Keegan from St Patrick’s Athletic.
The 21-year-old – who scored twice in a 2-1 victory for Monaghan over the Lilywhites in May 2012 – put pen to paper at Oriel Park on Tuesday after his deal with the Inchicore men was cancelled by mutual consent.
Keegan, who has played cross channel for Southampton and Scunthorpe United, had featured just twice for Pat’s this season.
Dundalk fought off competition from Shelbourne for his signature and he goes straight into the squad for Friday night’s clash away to Derry City in the Brandywell.
UPDATE: Dundalk have also captured former Hull City forward while youth team player Ciaran O’Connor put pen to paper on a professional contract.
Dundalk FC issued a short statement last night, reassuring League of Ireland fans that they are fully investigating the incident which seen a St Patrick’s Athletic supporter fall in the stand of Oriel Park last Friday night.
Niall Hannigan was taken from the ground via ambulance following the incident and was later diagnosed as having broken his pelvis, as well as a bone in his back.
Last night, Dundalk broke their silence on the matter and wished Mr Hannigan well in his recovery.
They said: “Dundalk FC has held a number of meetings to review the events of last Friday’s match with St Patrick’s Athletic.
“The club is undertaking a full investigation and compiling a full report on the events that took place.
“While this investigation is continuing we shall be making no further comment on the matter.
“Dundalk FC would like to wish Niall Hannigan a speedy recovery.”
Keith Ward holds off Bohemians’ Derek Pender in one of his outings earlier this season
Dundalk’s promising season has been dealt a major blow with the news that midfielder Keith Ward faces the rest of the campaign on the sidelines with injury.
The 22-year-old, who has been in fine form during his second spell at Oriel Park, was stretchered off late on having come off the bench in Dundalk’s 2-1 win over St Patrick’s Athletic last Friday night.
Ward revealed on Twitter last night that he has suffered a cruciate ligament injury and admitted that the “season (is) over for me” – something he said was a “nightmare, especially with (the) team doing well.”
Ward’s injury comes at a time when Stephen Kenny’s side were in fine form, having closed the gap on leaders St Pat’s to six points with a game in hand to put themselves firmly in the title race.
Talk of the Town 