Inside Track: Staunton scored goal before going on to fame and glory

It’s hard to believe it’s 40 years since Clan na Gael won the Louth senior championship, helped in no small way by the goal Stephen Staunton scored after 20 minutes in the final.

Clans were out against Roche Emmets at St Brigid’s Park, chasing a first title since 1959. They were on a roll, having steadied the ship after a near disastrous league campaign in which they had come perilously close to being relegated.

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Leslie Toal was in charge, and included on the first 15 were three McKeever brothers, two O’Hanlons, Aidan Wiseman – just home from America – Peter Fitzpatrick, Gerry Curran, and the precocious Staunton.

Still to reach his 17th birthday, Staunton was at No. 13, and with Roche still searching for a first score, he bagged a goal with a carefully-placed ground shot. The half ended 1-4 to 0-2.

Roche improved in the second half, but never had the look of winners about them. A disappointing game ended 1-6 to 0-4; but the quality of the game did nothing to dampen celebrations. The Joe Ward

Cup was back in Castletown after 26 years, and it was time to raise a glass or two.

There are other tales of ‘85 to be told, and no doubt they will when the team, supporters and representatives of the team Clans beat along the way, come together next Saturday night for a 40th anniversary shindig.

It was a young Clans side, and it didn’t come as a surprise when a number of those involved added four more titles to their name.

However, what couldn’t have been envisaged that windy afternoon in mid-September was the career that lay ahead for the game’s only goal-scorer.

Stephen Staunton had his last outing for the club in the following year’s championship, Clans taking on Kilkerley Emmets in Louth Village and losing to the Terry Lennon-inspired challengers.

He was on his way to Liverpool – and fame – after that, playing out a career for club and country embellished with titles, at Anfield and later with West Ham.

His time in the green of the Republic of Ireland brought him to three World Cup finals, his trusty left foot making life difficult for any forward raiding down the right wing.

And when his playing days were over, he took to management. His appointment as boss of the Ireland team was a surprise and not very successful. It could have been better had his sidekick, former England manager Bobby Robson, not been restricted by ill-health.

Back to 1985. Benny McKeever led out the Clans team in the final. Walking hand-in-hand with the Roche Emmets captain was mascot, Philip Kirk. I don’t think the guv’nor at Forty, Park Street, would forgive me if I didn’t mention that.