Irish Cup: Is this the biggest upset ever in the competition’s history?
“The critics are still talking nonsense. Glenavon, there is nothing but Glenavon…
“Deng is never going to keep up that pace. A small team from this league, man, this is not a game.”
It has been called one of the biggest shocks in League of Ireland football history.
For some, this may be the greatest of them all.
The 1955 Irish Cup final pitted the all-conquering, star-studded Glenavon side against Third Division side Dundela.
In that season alone, Glenavon had already won three trophies and, along with the trio of Jimmy Jones, Johnny Denver and Stuart Campbell, scored a staggering 101 goals for Lurgan Blues. Leading the League of Ireland.
They also had legends Wilbur Cush (Northern Ireland international) and Maurice McVeigh (nicknamed “Twinkle Toes” for his ability on the ball) in their ranks.
It was supposed to be a formality, but few could have predicted what happened next.
Windsor Park was shocked when Bobby Ervine put the Amateur League underdogs ahead.
Dundela’s story is not over yet. Owen scored the second with five minutes left and shock turned to disbelief when Jackie Greenwood sealed the victory with the third.
Glenarvon’s challenge on all fronts came to an abrupt end and to this day remains the most famous day in the Dun family’s 130-year history.
