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Tall Story from long ago about Mayobridge

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Gerry Quinn

This story is told by the late great Jimmy McLoughlin, Down goalkeeper of the 1930's and 1940's concerning Dan McAlinden (grandfather of the boxer Dan McAlinden who was once British Heavyweight champion)

Jimmy was a barman in Moore's Bar on the Mall in Newry

Dan McAlinden

Old Dan McAlinden was a big strong man from Mayobridge and he could tell you some stories about all the great stars he used to play with and play against. Dan used to call into Moores Bar where I was working at the time and tell me football stories.

He told this story a dozen of times in the bar, he said:

"I was playing for Mayobridge this day in Newry against Newry Shamrocks. They had a good team. It was touch and go, in a very big field. A big factory is built on it now". I played on it often, "there was a big thorn hedge behind the goals and a lot of balls went into it and that was the end. Behind the goals was an old railway and a river, very dirty. That was the railway line with trains going to Warrenpoint. As it was the summertime, all the windows in the train were open. We were awarded a fifty". Dan said, "I placed the ball on the spot. The referee said, "When you kick this ball, times up, no more play" It was a draw at the time. Dan said, "I took the kick, it went straight over the bar for us to win and the ball went in through the window on the train and on to Warrenpoint".

And that's true!