Live

Highlights on Off The Ball

02:00 PM-06:00 PM

Highlights on Off The Ball
Advertisement
Soccer

Paddy Mulligan explains why the legendary Waterford United side of the '60s may have the edge on Dundalk

Since Dundalk secured their third SSE Airtricity League title in a row on Sunday night, there has...



Paddy Mulligan explains why th...
Soccer

Paddy Mulligan explains why the legendary Waterford United side of the '60s may have the edge on Dundalk

Since Dundalk secured their third SSE Airtricity League title in a row on Sunday night, there has been a growing debate about whether Stephen Kenny's side are the greatest of all time.

That's also taking into account the fact that they are also the first Irish side to win a match in the group stages of a European competition after defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League and drawing with AZ Alkmaar, before giving the mighty Zenit Saint Petersburg a real run for their money.

Are they greatest of all time? Ex-Chelsea, Shamrock Rovers and Ireland full-back Paddy Mulligan considered that question on the Rewind podcast.

"I think that the Waterford team in the '60s was absolutely brilliant and they won so many leagues," he said of a club that won the league in 1966, 1968 and 1969 before adding further triumphs in '70, '72 and '73. 

"I was at Shamrock Rovers at the time. We won six Cups in a row and they were winning leagues for fun. We were normally second to them in the league. But that Waterford team of Alfie Hale, Peter Bryan, Peter Thomas, Johnny Matthews, Jimmy McGeough, Vinny Maguire...fabulous team. No question about that.

"And the Rovers team in the '80s as well that won four-in-a-row, they were an excellent team."

Paddy also highlighted the Rovers side of the 1950s who are popularly referred to as "Paddy Coad's Colts" as other another crop with claims to be known as the greatest League of Ireland side of all-time.

As for what made the Waterford side of the late '60s so special, Paddy gave his own first-hand experience of playing them.

"They were good all-round. That Wateford team had skill in abundance. It was pure football and pure class the whole way along the line. We (Rovers) had some great battles with them, some wonderful games and it was a pleasure to play in them.

"I was only chatting to Alfie Hale there at the late Liam Tuohy's funeral and we were just reminiscing about how great the rivalry was [between Waterford and Rovers]. It was intense on the pitch but off the pitch, everything was fine. Always fair in love and war. They were a smashing team and played good football. They had to be such a good team because at Rovers, we had a very good team. We won the FAI Cup six years in succession and that takes some doing. While we were winning cups, they were winning leagues."

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Soccer