LOI100: Week Six - YMCA and the Late, Late Show (October 24, 2021)

Windsor Park, Belfast.

Windsor Park, Belfast. Credit: Clare McCahill (ETPhotos)

WK 6 LOI 100 YMCA and the Late Late Show

Richmond Road, Drumcondra was the scene of an epic encounter as Frankfort and YMCA drew four-all. 

YM began well in spite of starting the game with only eight players and McCullough playing out of position in goal. However, their late arrivals had taken the field by the time Dunne crossed to Robinson to put Frankfort one up. YM eventually found themselves 2-0 down but ultimately took the lead twice only to be pegged back each time by the men from Drumcondra. 

If all this high drama was not enough there was a heart-stopping moment late on when YM’s impressive forward Wheeler was taken down in the box with half a minute left in the game. From the resulting penalty Ivers struck the bar and Frankfort cleared to leave with honours even. 

(Sunday Independent, October 24, 1921)

Dolphin’s Barn played host to the largest crowd of the season as St James’s Gate’s triumphal march through the League of Ireland continued. Although their good football was only seen in spasms, the Gate made light of the soft underfoot conditions to slam Shelbourne 4-1. 

Credit is due to the Brewerymen for the state of the St James’s Park pitch. The soil managed to soak up most of the heavy rainfall, apart from a small patch in front of the Pavillion End goal, to which sawdust was applied. 

The score could have been worse for the Reds but for the fine play of Val Harris and newcomer O’Hara. The latter has been signed from Leinster Senior League Second Division side St Vincent’s to replace O’Kelly between the sticks. O’Kelly has departed for Pontypridd in Wales.



(Sunday Independent, October 24, 1921)

Elsewhere, Olympia put up a good fight at Dalymount before Bohemians ran out 3-1 victors and Dublin United surprised even themselves by defeating Jacobs by the same score at Beech Hill. 

Shamrock Rovers continued their dominance of the Leinster Senior League with a 6-0 win away to Pioneers at Milltown Road. The early exchanges saw Pioneers make a determined effort to lower the Stripes colours but, after Dinny ‘Nettler’ Doyle converted the rebound from a Bob Fullam thunderbolt, there was only going to be one winner. Many League of Ireland clubs will be hoping to avoid Rovers in the upcoming FAI Cup.

An IFA ‘Ireland’ XI drew 1-1 with England at Windsor Park. With the ongoing battle for recognition, no players registered to FAI clubs were considered for selection. The players on the team who might be expected to side with the FAI in any future dispute include Billy Lacey of Liverpool and Jack Doran, who was born in Belfast but has strong connections to Dublin. 

(Jack Doran, Brighton & Hove Albion, 1921. Photo Credit: Creative Commons)



Although he was the only Dub in the team, Louis Bookman of Luton Town did not lack for friends on the pitch as he had a club team mate on each side: Allan Mathieson for Ireland and Ernie Simms for England. 

The negotiations in London have been slow-moving with the latest stumbling block caused by British objections to Éamon de Valera’s recent telegram to the Pope, which stated that the Irish people do not owe allegiance to the King. Those politicians are worse than the FAI and IFA!