Leinster Branch Boys Section re/launch Senior Champions League – Barry Kehoe Cup:
This Thursday (April 25th) sees the final of this season’s Leinster Champions League Senior Division One competition take place in Oriel Park, Dundalk, between Chanel College, Coolock & St: Peter’s College, Dunboyne: The final is a repeat of last week’s Metropolitan League Final, which saw the Coolock school triumph 3/1 in the final at Leixlip:
You may wonder why two Dublin schools (ok, I know Dunboyne is technically in Meath, but they play in the Dublin region!) are contesting a Leinster final in Dundalk – the answer is simple – Barry Kehoe: For those of you too young to remember, Barry Kehoe was probably the outstanding player in the Dundalk side of the 1980’s, a team which always challenged for honours, culminating in a famous League & Cup double in 1988: Barry’s prominence in the team was such that he won representative honours with the League of Ireland team, as well as being an automatic choice for the Ireland amateur side throughout the qualifying campaign for the 1988 Seoul Olympics: Such was the esteem in which Barry was held that players such as Peter Beardsley, Brian McClair, Pat Jennings, Liam Brady & Paul McGrath played in Barry’s testimonial match in 1989 in front of a packed Oriel Park:
Barry also had to overcome some major obstacles in his life & was afflicted not once, but twice with cancer & in true Barry Kehoe fashion, beat it twice, returning to the Dundalk side on both occasions after heavy doses of chemotherapy treatment: Barry continued playing at League of Ireland level well into his mid/thirties, switching allegiance to Louth rivals, Drogheda United FC:
Off the pitch, Barry was a successful businessman, owning Dundalk’s busiest nightclub, a restaurant & several bars – his skill & tenaciousness were hallmarks of the man, no matter where he plied his trade:
The town of Dundalk & the football community in Ireland was greatly saddened by Barry’s untimely death in 2002, at the age of just 40: The term ‘legend’ is bandied about far too often these days, but in the person of Barry Kehoe, the adage is most appropriate:
The North East League of the FAI Schools had just commenced in 1988 when the then Regional Organiser, the late Dave Colgan (of St: Oliver’s C:C:, Drogheda & father of Nick Colgan, Irish International) approached Barry about the possibility of sponsoring a trophy for then fledgling Leinster League competition: Barry did not hesitate & provided a sterling silver trophy worth almost £200 to the FAI Schools: Such generosity was typical of Barry:
The trophy has provided great service in the 24 years since, being housed in 21 different schools throughout Leinster: It even found its way back to Dundalk twice, with De La Salle College capturing the title in 1990 & St: Mary’s College triumphant in 2002: A full roll of honour is below; However, time waits for no man or trophy & a new one was needed & when Adrienne Kehoe was approached about the possibility of providing a replacement, there was no hesitation there either: Adrienne is of course the daughter of another Dundalk FC legend, Enda McGuill:
Considering the history of the competition that the venue for the re/launched competition is Oriel Park: Many thanks to Paul Johnston, General Manager, Dundalk FC, for his involvement in the game & to Adrienne Kehoe, Lisdoo Steakhouse & Restaurant, for providing the catering for the reception after the final, as well as the sponsorship of the replacement trophy:
Caption for Photo:
Declan McGrath (FAI Schools Leinster Branch) accepting the Barry Kehoe Memorial Cup from Adrienne Kehoe (Lisdoo Restaurant & Steakhouse)
