acjessr*
A
10
Richie Blackmore gathers the ball against Celtic as DermotJCeely_supports.
Davy Provan (Celtic) gets in a shot against Dundalk.
the ectasy it was agony in the second leg. Even before the team set off from
Dublin Airport there was a controversy, Tommy McConville and Tony Cavanagh
refused to travel because they were unhappy with compensation payed for loss
of wages. Eventually they decided to travel but were told they had been suspended
and were sent home. The game itself was frustrating, 2-0 down on the night and
2-1 on aggregate Mick Lawlor was denied by the woodwork. Hadjuk eventually
won 4-0 and included in that total was two own goals. It was a night which was
to see the break-up of that team. Tony Cavanagh and Jackie McManus, who
was later revealed to be involved in the airport controversy, never played for
Dundalk again and went to Sligo and Drogheda respectively. Tommy McConville
made his peace with the club and was part of the new stream built by Jim
McLaughlin which did the double in 1979. There was dismay when the draw
was made for the European Cup the following season. They were paired with
Linfield on a preliminary game. Following the ugly scenes of 1968 when Rangers
visited Oriel Park there was heavy security to prevent a repeat but the scenes
at Oriel Park that night were flushed across TV screens all over the world as
Linfield fans went on the rampage. Played in such an atmosphere as prevailed
in Oriel Park that night it was too much to expect a match of quality and the
game ended in a diplomatic 1-1 draw. Liam Devine getting a late equaliser. After
the events of that night UEFA took the severe step of ordering the second leg
to be played on the neutral ground of Harleem in Holland.
