Magpies shot down in Oriel Park Dundalk Sub aqua

DUNDALk FC delighted the sold out Oriel Park crowd last Thursday evening as they safely negotiated their way past a stubborn FCB Magpies side in their first round UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier.

Having drawn 0-0 in the away tie in Gibraltar, Dundalk FC and their supporters were quietly confident they could get the job done back home in Oriel in front of their home supporters. And those supporters were cheering as early as the third minute when a dangerous corner from Darragh Leahy was headed powerfully home from close range by the club’s all time leading scorer Pat Hoban.

Magpies looked dangerous on the few occasions they got into attacking positions and one of those attacks led to an equaliser when a cross which was headed clear by Andy Boyle was sensationally volleyed into the top corner by Joe to silence the home faithful.

Ryan O’kane, who was enjoying his first taste of European foot- ball in Oriel Park, almost restored the Lilywhites lead just before the break but his shot was well saved by the visiting keeper to ensure the sides went in level at the break.

An inspired second half substitution from Dundalk manager Stephen O’Donnell saw John Martin come in for Johannes Yli-kokko and the kilkenny native took just two minutes to make his mark. Martin played a neat one-two with Ryan O’kane before seeing his shot saved by the visiting keeper. The ball, however, rebounded straight back to Martin and the Dundalk striker gleefully slotted home to make it 2-1 to Dundalk and send the home supporters into raptures.

The Magpies pushed hard for an equaliser throughout the second half and there were a few nervy moments for the home side but with ten minutes to go all nerves were evaporated when Hoban’s cross was turned into his own net by Magpies defender Andre Dos Santos.

The singing and chanting could begin in earnest now with Dundalk 3-1 up on aggregate and the Carrick Road’s prize for a solid opening round victory is a trip to Reykavik next week where they wil take on kA Akureryi of Iceland. There is also the not too insignificant matter of €550,000 prize money added to the Oriel Park coffers for the club’s opening round win.

Stephen O’Donnell and his players will be hoping to add to that figure with victory against the Icelandic side in the second round.

By Tamara O’Connell

DUNDALk Sub Aqua Club is planning to take on new members who will begin their training as recreational divers in October.

According to local man, Gerard Butterly, who has been a member of Dundalk Sub Aqua Club for 20 years, the club is one of the biggest in the country.

Originally from Blackrock, Gerard currently lives in Lordship and joined Dundalk Sub Aqua Club in 2003 when he was 33-years-old.

“I joined as a trainee diver but I had done a year’s diving with another club prior to joining Dundalk Sub Aqua Club,” said Gerard.

“You do a year’s training and an exam at the end of it. Eventually you end up as a two-star qualified diver.

“We start advertising for new members in September and we take people on in October. It involves a year’s training of time spent in the pool at Aura and lectures.”

Members of Dundalk Sub Aqua Club have to be over 18. Snorkelling and scuba training in the pool takes place in Aura and the lectures take place in the clubhouse on Quay Street.

“We make a big deal of the first open water dive. We usually go to Donegal and do shallow dives,” said Gerard.

“It can be a wee bit daunting for trainees so we try to make a whole bit of craic around the event.

“The first dive is for a maximum of 10 metres. Over the course of the summer trainees complete a minimum of 25 open sea dives.”

He added: “They gradually get a bit deeper or more challenging. The final exam sees the trainee taking the examiner on a dive and the trainee has to guide the examiner.

“The point is for the trainee to prove they have the ability to take another diver on a dive. In addition to recreational diving, the club also has a Search & Rescue Unit.

“We normally take on a maximum of 15 trainees each year; maybe 11 or 12 might complete the training.”

Gerard concluded: “For trainees just starting out we do a cou- ple of trial dives in Aura for people to experience it to see if it’s something they like.

“We dive the whole year around, weather permitting. It’s seldom not to have a dive on the weekend.

“We usually go to Carlingford Lough or Greenore, out by the lighthouse. It’s our regular haunt. But we also dive off Rathlin Island in Antrim or in Donegal.”

Those who would like to join the Search & Rescue Unit, have to do additional training in search and recovery.

Members of the Search & Rescue Unit have different capabilities and specialities. Many people are needed to help on-shore, to drive boats and get divers into the water safely.

Anyone who is interested in joining Dundalk Sub Aqua Club can find out more information on www.dundalksubaqua.ie.