Champagne put on ice when Athlone Town spoiled Derry’s title party

Shane Curran the hero when Athlone denied Derry City

 

Kieran Galvin

Picture the scene. It’s April 23, 1995 on a Sunday afternoon, just over 25 years ago. Athlone Town were playing Derry City at St Mel’s Park and a victory for the visitors would secure the Premier Division title.

On the other hand, Athlone were in the midst of a relegation battle, with a two-legged play-off against Finn Harps to come.

However, Athlone raised their game for the big occasion and, inspired by a superb performance from flamboyant goalkeeper Shane Curran, they held the Candystripes to a 1-1 draw. The surprise result denied Derry the title as Athlone played the role of party poopers to perfection. Dundalk took advantage of Derry’s slip-up as their home win over Galway United saw the Oriel Park outfit clinch the title.

Athlone took a shock lead with a mere 15 seconds gone through Donal Golden, his shot finding the Derry net via a deflection. And although the richly talented Liam Coyle brought Derry level with a sensational goal 15 minutes later, the north westerners were unable to conjure a winner.

Curran famously saved a penalty from Stuart Gauld seven minutes into the second half. And despite laying siege to the Athlone goal for the remainder of the game, Felix Healy’s men just couldn’t score a second goal.

In his book ‘Cake’ (written with journalist Tommy Conlon), Curran recalled the famous clash against Derry, with acclaimed songwriter Phil Coulter featuring in the story.

“Derry City had arrived into Athlone with thousands of fans in tow, fully expecting to leave as league champions. We were deep in relegation trouble at the other end of the table,” Curran wrote.

“I landed in the car park at St Mel’s Park just as the Derry City team coach also pulled in. Phil Coulter was following in a fine swanky car behind. I think Phil was honorary president of the club at the time.

“Then we noticed Coulter pulling a crate of champagne from the boot of his car, and another, and another. And as soon as I saw it, I could feel the heckles rising in me. They were hot favourites to roll us over, but it stuck in my craw to see the champagne. I thought it was a bit presumptuous and a bit premature.”

Curran recalled Athlone centre-half Barry Murphy exclaiming in his thick Dublin accent: “Jaysus Cakeo, they must be expecting a big bleedin’ party here today”.

Athlone had other ideas, however. Curran described Derry as “a power-packed team” and he recalled that, for most of the first half, “they threatened to overrun us completely". And he rated Liam Coyle as the best player he ever played against.

Curran recalled in his book that, following Coyle's equaliser, Derry were "coming at us in waves". 

"I was busy. I was making save after save. It wasn’t just that I was extra motivated, having witnessed the champagne in the car park. The like of that will only get you so far. As it happened, I was in great form that season anyway. It was probably the best season of my career in soccer.”

Shortly before half-time, Curran recalled saving a Pascal Vaudequin free kick which had seemed destined for the top corner.

Early in the second half, Derry were awarded a dubious penalty. With Derry fans thronged behind the goal and baying for the ball to hit the back of the net, Curran decided Gauld was going to hit the ball to his right. “He hit it low, it was skidding along the ground; I got my right hand to it, it hit the post and went out for a corner.”

It was Gauld’s 39th penalty for Derry and only his second to miss over three seasons.

There was another heart-stopping moment deep in stoppage time when Curran was unable to deal with a cross from Gauld and the ball squirmed towards the goal. “The crowd held its breath for the inevitable but the goal City was agonisingly searching for was not be as (Rod) de Khors stepped into the breach to clear off his line,” stated the Westmeath Independent match report.

“There were red faces all around among football’s hierarchy when Athlone forgot the script and promptly set about writing their own version of events that could have been a classic remake of David and Goliath,” said the report.

The league trophy was taken out of St Mel’s Park with “covered up red and white ribbons attached” as Derry finished as runners-up for the third time in six seasons.

Athlone manager Michael O’Connor was sympathetic to Derry’s plight when speaking after the game.

“It was unfortunate for Felix (Healy) and the lads because you battle for 33 weeks and then they end up with a result like that. It must be terrible for them,” he told the Westmeath Independent.

“I knew the FAI were making a mistake bringing the league trophy to St Mel’s. They should have brought it to Dundalk.”

A dejected Felix Healy said afterwards: “We had several chances to win the match but Shane Curran did quite well. We even had a certain goal cleared off the line at the end of the game."

Derry did make some amends when they defeated Shelbourne in the FAI Cup final a couple of weeks later.

‘The Shack or the Shannon’
In Athlone’s subsequent promotion/relegation play-off against Finn Harps, both legs ended 0-0. Ironically, Athlone’s Frank Darby missed a penalty in extra-time in the second leg at St Mel’s and a penalty shoot-out was required. Curran took Athlone’s second penalty and scored, and the Castlerea native takes up the story in his book.

“Mickey O’Connor, our player-manager, had the fifth penalty for us to seal the deal. Mickey slotted it, cool as a breeze.

“One of our drinking hangouts at the time was the Shack bar on the Dublin road and Mickey had famously written in his programme notes that he was either going to end up ‘in the Shack or the Shannon’ depending on the outcome. It was the Shack; we had survived in the Premier Division for another year.”

Curran was chosen for Athlone Town’s player of the season award in May. However, Athlone were relegated the following season. “We were back in the coal mines of the First Division. And there was feck all champagne to be found down there,” wrote Curran.

Athlone Town v Derry - match details

Athlone Town 1 (Golden) Derry City 1 (Coyle)

Athlone Town: Shane Curran, Frank Darby, Ray McLoughlin, Barry Murphy, Val Keenan, Conor Frawley, Tommy Keane, Rod de Khors, Donal Golden, Gino Lawless, Chris Malone. Subs: David Dowling for Golden (75 mins), Paul Brady (not used).

Derry City: Dermot O'Neill, Pascal Vaudequin, Paul McLoughlin, Peter Hutton, Paul Curran, Paul Carlyle, Paul Doolin, Harry McCourt, Liam Coyle, Stuart Gauld, Kyle Maloney. Subs: John Cunningham and Kevin McKeever (not used).

Referee: Gerry Perry (Dublin).