Barry O'Hare named Player of the Year at Dundalk and District League awards
Shamrocks FC's Barry O'Hare was named Player of the Year at the 2026 Dundalk and District League Presentation Night, with Square United's Arthur Sands taking the Top Goalscorer award and Liam Gorham, Ger Cunningham and Brendan Watters inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Player of the Year 2026 - Barry O'Hare (Shamrocks FC) - Top Goalscorer 2026 - Arthur Sands (Square United)
Hall of Fame 2026 - Liam Gorham (Rangers and Racing Club)
He started with Bank Rovers in the Dundalk Schoolboys League for three years, then won doubles with Rangers at U15 and U17.
Moved up to the District League with Wolves and Rangers, winning a league & cup double with Rangers in 1971 and captured the league the following season.
He split with Rangers and helped to form Racing Club with many ex-Rangers players. Racing Club went through the Second Division unbeaten, their only defeat coming in the 1976 cup final against Carlingford, a 1-0 loss.
He returned to Rangers, and Wolves in his early 40s, won the North Eastern League in 1974 with Rangers. He played with Dundalk Schoolboys, Youths, and B teams, as well as some games with the senior team.
He helped the B team reach the Castrol Cup Final. He was on the losing side when Dundalk were beaten 3-1 by Shamrock Rovers in the Presidents Cup final of the 1972-3 season. He was an outstanding defender whether playing outdoors or indoors 5-a-side.
Hall of Fame - 2026 Ger Cunningham (Rangers)
He began his football career with Greenfield, then moved to Rangers, and won six Player of the Year awards with Rangers. He played in the Milk Cup in Coleraine and lined out with the Dundalk Youths. He had trials for Ireland U17 and U18 teams.
At 18 years old, he was named Dundalk and District Player of the Year in 1986. That year, he scored a brace of goals for Rangers in their 4-1 Cup victory over Pegasus. Shortly after, an illness struck, which practically wiped out his football career.
Two years later returned to Rangers and again starred in a McConville Cup victory, scoring in a 3-1 win over Pearse Celtic. He later found out that one of his heroes, Davie Provan of Celtic, suffered from the same illness.
In 1989, he moved to work and study in Munich when the wall was coming down. He started to play with an Irish team in a German League and was noticed.
1860 Munich signed him as an amateur, and he played a few games for their second team, including Bayern in the Olympic Stadium. Despite work with Fyffes taking up most of his time, he returned to Rangers in the Dundalk League.
He played and managed Pegasus and Punters. He played a few games for Monaghan United in the League of Ireland First Division. His love for football was so obvious. A superb midfielder.
Hall of Fame 2026 - Brendan Watters (Rangers, and Racing Club)
His first game in the Minor League U15 was with a team called Southend. The following year, he lined out with Norton Villa. In 1966, he signed for Rangers, who won a league and cup double. Between 1966 and 1970, Rangers claimed up to five doubles.
Aged just 15, he played his first Summer League game with Rangers in 1968. In 1971, he won the double with Rangers. The following year, the McCourt Cup followed a league title onto the trophy shelf.
The Chief Cup team shields all the greatest cups on the trophy shelf. In 1973, Rangers were awarded the cup but refused to accept it.
In 1976, Racing Club were formed and duly won the Second Division unbeaten. They reached the cup final but lost to Carlingford 1-0, their only loss that year. The club lasted roughly 10 years.
He returned to Rangers and helped them to a cup win over Pegasus. In 1993, he was sent off while playing in goal for Rangers, his first in 24 years of playing. He retired in 1996, aged 43 years.
He lined out with Dundalk Schoolboys U16 in 1969, Dundalk Youths U-18 in 1970, Dundalk B in 1971, and played three full games for Dundalk first team. One of the most eloquent central defenders to grace the league.