Inside Track: Curiosity Corner

KNOW YOUR INITIALS

It’s GN this week

1: They have this Run in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

2: The Great White Shark

3: He drove a very fast car before his untimely death

4: Never quite as good as his father on the golf course

5: There’s one in Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Kilbeggan

6: A ‘Young’ player who saw action with Louth in Croke Park and Dundalk FC in Dalymount

7: This Railway used bring Louth supporters to Dublin back in the 1940s and ‘50s

8: A good English footballer and now a TV pundit

9: A sports reporter who was seen on ITV before switching to Sky

10: The Wales rugby team could do with him right now

READ NEXT: Louth GAA club | Paddy Sheelan Cup round-up

THE DUNDALK CONNECTION

The point was made here at the time of Stephen Kenny’s appointment as Republic of Ireland manager that he was the fourth with a Dundalk connection to fill the post.

Others were Eoin Hand, who had played for Dundalk, Liam Tuohy, a one-time team manager at Oriel, and, of course, Stephen Staunton, who wore the white jersey at underage before embarking on a hugely successful career with Liverpool, West Ham and the Republic of Ireland.

There’s another connection, however, this one, admittedly, rather tenuous. While glancing through Jim Murphy’s first book, the excellent History of Dundalk FC, we came across a photo of the team Johnny Fearon had assembled for his benefit match in 1954. His team took on a Shamrock Rovers/Drumcondra selection and won.

There in the front row is a youthful Mick Meagan, who in a playing career with Everton, Huddersfield and Drogheda amassed 17 International caps. He won a First Division league title with The Toffees in the 1962/’63 season.

When his playing days were drawing to a close, the Dubliner was named the first-ever manager of the Republic team in 1969. Prior to this, the International side was chosen by selectors.

Benefit matches were seen as a reward for players for their services to their clubs. Fearon included on his team two of his colleagues on Dundalk’s 1952 FAI Cup-winning side, Tommy Traynor and Mattie Clarke.

But it was a couple of cross-Channel players who caught the bid crowd’s imagination. Johnny Aston and Jack Rowley both played for Manchester United and were England Internationals.

Aston’s son, John, who, in a star-studded career, also with United, was named man-of-the-match for his performance in the 1968 European Cup final.

THE NAME IS THE SAME

A newcomer to the Ireland rugby team - and a former English jockey-cum-trainer.

SHE SAID

“I don’t know what’s out there, or what it’s all about. Or if there’s any money to be made in the sport – I’m not sure.

“If I am offered a good contract, I will have to consider it, because it is my future at the end of the day, and boxing is a short career, so I obviously have to consider it.” Katie Taylor, after winning Gold at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Thirteen years on and the Bray girl is still boxing, firmly established in the professional ranks. More than that, she is a World champion, one of the country’s finest-ever in the sporting ranks.

WHO AM I?

“Will he be top dog next week”, people are asking about me. They should mull over it, but I’m confident, and my charges are in great form.

Answers

Know Your Initials: 1 Great North, 2 Greg Norman, 3 Gunnar Nilsson, 4 Gary Nicklaus, 5 Grand National, 6 Gerry Nixon, 7 Great Northern, 8 Gary Neville, 9 Gary Newbon, 10 George North. Name Is The Same: Jamie Osborne. Who Am I?: Willie Mullins.