Below are the nominations received for Dundalk:
Tony Kavanagh nominated by Gerry Larkin
In my view, Dundalk's best player was Tony Kavanagh, who played during the 70s. Very exciting and entertaining to watch.
Tommy McConville nominated by Paddy
I think Tommy McConville must be included in any line-up. If you were to ask the players that played with him they would all say the higher the standard of opposition the better Tommy played.
Tommy McConville nominated by Dónal Greene
The Irish International centre-half played with Pele in the MLS.
Dessie Gorman nominated by Niall McArdle
Martin Lawlor nominated by Art Duffy
Martin was part of a family of Lawlors that were involved with the club and also featured Mick and father Kit in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Martin played 18 times in European competition with Dundalk and a total of 569 times for the club from 1977 to 1995 (excusing him one season with Shamrock Rovers). He also has more league appearances for the club than anyone else at 400 times. Aside from DFC record holder Tommy McConville, Martin has made more of a contribution to the club than most. There is also a commonly told anecdote in Dundalk about Martin negotiating a newer deal in the early eighties where he instructed that the increase in his wages be given directly to schoolboy football within the town. Most DFC fans can even forgive him for going on to manage Drogheda United.
Tommy McConville nominated by Aiden Donohoe (Dundalk)
Tommy McConville nominated by Stephen McEvoy
My nomination for the best player in the league of Ireland is Tommy McConville. Dundalk's greatest.
Tommy McConville nominated by Harry Dwyer
Tommy McConville for Dundalk in the 70s – the most skilful central defender in the LOI – magnificent record of clean sheets over a season.
Tommy McConville nominated by Des Denning
Unquestionably Tommy McConville. Still playing 5-a-side weekly at 60. What an athlete.
Tommy McConville & Dermot Keely nominated by Eamon McEneaney
McConville for his 580 appearances for Dundalk. These two players deserve to be in the Hall of Fame
Tommy McConville nominated by Michael Shine
Amongst Tommy's major honours with Dundalk were three league titles and three FAI Cups, other honours with Waterford and also played in the NASL not to mention six or seven full Irish caps.
Tommy McConville nominated by David Gray, Toronto, Canada, 48
Being fortunate to follow Dundalk through their halcyon days in the late seventies and early eighties, I was treated to many great performances against other League of Ireland opposition. However, the real tests came on European nights when the highly paid professionals would drop in on Oriel Park. Being overwhelmed by the opposition was always a concern for the supporters, but manager Jim McLaughlin would keep the team grounded and focused on the task. There was no better marshal to see his plans through than Tommy McConville, whose positioning, composure and all-round defensive play would probably have kept Bobby Moore on the sub's bench had he turned up looking for a game. In many other instances, the best players that the League of Ireland has unearthed have ended up in the English leagues, with mixed success. For the most selfish of reasons, I was grateful that Tommy was not one of them. During his many playing years, he gave much enjoyment to Dundalk supporters and continues to work with the club still.
George Best and Dermot Keely nominated by Tony Fearon
George Best - Cork Celtic, for obvious reasons.
Dermot Keely, Dundalk. Ferocious commitment, strong in the tackle, from 1978 to 1981 he was majestic in the heart of defence in a great Dundalk side that won a host of domestic honours, and came within a whisker of knocking Celtic out of the European Cup. Actually turned down a move to Celtic. I never ever saw a forward, either domestically or at European level, take him to the cleaners, or even give him a hard time, so dominant was he.
Tommy McConville nominated by John Logan
The all-time great would have to be Tommy McConville. His record speaks for itself.
Barry Kehoe nominated by Andrew Nordon (31) Dundalk
Barry Kehoe for Dundalk in the 80s was surely destined for greater things until a medical at Everton diagnosed him with cancer. He has to be up there with the very best.
Tommy McConville nominated by Colin Mullen (32) Dundalk
I would like to nominate Tommy McConville for Dundalk FC's All-Time Great for two reasons:
1. With 579 appearances and 26 goals between 1964 and 1986, he leads the way in the number of times anyone has pulled on the great black and white jersey!
2. For being oh so close to knocking the mighty Glasgow Celtic out of the European Cup in 1979. C'mon the Town.
Paddy Dunning nominated by Rob Bergin
Paddy Dunning has to be considered a League of Ireland Legend. He won a whole host of domestic trophies with Dundalk and was the captain of the UCD team who won the FAI Cup in 1984. He also was capped twice for the national team when he was only 20 years of age, his debut playing Italy in Florence in front of 70,000 screaming fans in 1971. He also went on to play against Sweden. He also represented the League of Ireland XI in trips to South America where he played against Brazil and Argentina. A true great.
Jimmy Hastie nominated by Paddy Crossan
I think any of your older readers will remember the name Jimmy Hastie, ex-Dundalk. Jimmy was a very good goal scorer and this was a great feat as he only had one arm. This did not seem to take away from his game and he even played in the old European Cup against Zurich. The name Ben Hannigan must come to the minds of many as a great entertainer and a very skilful player. In his days at Shels and then Dundalk he gave many people joy, as did a lot of his team-mates. How lucky to have in the same Shels team the likes of Roberts, Hennessy, Barber, Strachan and O'Brien. Ben also played in a very good Dundalk team, with Turner, Blount, McKeown, Millington, Bourke, Murray, Brennan and Fox.
Tommy McConville nominated by Carl Sullivan
Well he played for Ireland and marked Pele in a match against Brazil. He also marked him out of the game.
Tommy McConville nominated by Jason Crossan, Gloucester, England
What more can you ask for? Dundalk through and through, an absolute rock in the centre of defence and captain of one of the League of Ireland’s most dominant forces of any era. They all came to Oriel Park (Liverpool, Porto, Tottenham, Celtic) in Tommy’s hay day and invariably left with their reputations slightly tarnished by being outplayed by the part-timer. A centre back is never the most glamorous position but Tommy Mc was pure class and worthy of recognition at the highest level.
Joey Donnelly nominated by Peter Morgan
Overall leading goalscorer for Dundalk FC (69 goals), Joey captained the first Dundalk FC team to win the FAI Cup in 1942. Joey scored two goals for Ireland in a 5-2 victory against Germany in Dalymount Park on 7 October 1936. He played 10 times for his country and graced Oriel Park for many years. A true Dundalk FC legend.
Barry Kehoe and Martin Bayley nominated by Bo McKeever (Bray Wanderers 1985-2000)
Best two legends of my time were Barry Kehoe (Dundalk) and Martin Bayley (Sligo Rovers), the most skilful and creative midfielders you will ever see!!
Tommy McConville nominated by Robbie Morton
I have picked Tommy based on players who have spend the majority of their career in the LoI. Paul McGrath or Roy Keane are the greatest players to have graced a LoI pitch but they only played one-two seasons. Tommy was the greatest Dundalk and LoI player I ever saw. Other honourable mentions include Jackie Jameson (St Pat's and Bohs), Pat Byrne (Rovers) and Martin Murray (Dundalk).
