Mervue United soccer club was founded in 1960. The club proved so successful that by the late 1970s, it was deemed necessary to form an additional section. However, the Galway FA ruling that a club couldn’t enter two teams in the Premier League left Mervue with no alternative but to form a new ‘club’ thus Mervue Celtic was born in 1979. The first committee included Jimmy O’Sullivan, Chairman; Tom Fox, Secretary; Tony Ryan, Treasurer; Committee Members: Martin Fallon; Fr Willie Cummins; Sean O’Dowd and Gerry Cullen. Within a year, they made their mark by winning the pre-season Fr Duignan Memorial Cup after defeating Galway Hibernians. Mike Flanagan managed the team and Tom Fox was captain. Celtic ended the season in a very creditable midway league position. Many of the Mervue United players, both junior and senior came through the ranks of Celtic. The next trophy for Celtic came in June 1981. This was the Joe Ryan Memorial Cup, which they won at Terryland Park after defeating Bohemians 2 – 1. Bohemians went a goal ahead after thirty minutes, but Celtic continued attacking and their efforts paid off in the sixtieth minute when a cross from Jackie McSweeney was headed home by Ger Healy. The winning goal came with less than three minutes to go when a well taken corner by Ger Healey found the head of Mike O’Dowd who had raced from his full back position to secure the winner for Celtic. Mervue Celtic had staged a grandstand finish to that season and was now established as a rising force in Galway soccer.
Teams across the city and county would feel the sheer determination and strength of Celtic including their own Mervue United. In fact, some of the most thrilling matches were between Mervue United and Celtic. These matches were always well-attended as everyone knew that the rivalry would bring out the best in soccer. There were never any ‘prisoners’ in O’Sullivan Park, when brother faced brother and friend faced friend. These matches produced some of the toughest games of the competition. The 1981 ‘Derby’ clash proved one of the toughest challenges for both United and Celtic. Both sides settled down from the start; a close game had been expected, but the reality surpassed all the expectations of the crowd. Celtic’s keeper, Johnny Burke denied a serious attempt on goal by Mike Long in the opening stages. A second effort by United’s Noel Gallagher tested Burke again some minutes later, but he rose to the challenge and got his hand to the ball sending it wide. At the other end of the pitch, Tom O’Connor put George Fagan through, but his powerful shot hit the crossbar and was cleared off the line. It was all attacking football, with Johnny Burke preventing another strong shot, this time from Mike McDonnell. Minutes later, Celtic’s George Fagan posed the most serious threat, forcing keeper Terry McSweeney off his line to save United from going a goal down. With Celtic pressure building, McSweeney was tested again five minutes later and had to dive at the feet of Tom O’Connor to prevent a certain goal. The second-half opened at the same fast and furious pace, with Ray Durnin putting Johnny Burke under pressure from a corner kick. Celtic forced the play back into the oppositions half giving McSweeney and the United defence some hair-raising moments. Celtic’s Ger Healy shot for goal, only to be cleared by the swiftness of Noel Gallagher. United fought back and mounted another attack on the Celtic goal area, but Paddy Lydon was in full control and provided a vital link between the Celtic defence and the mid-field. Shots from Bernard Concar and Mike Long failed to break the deadlock. One shot hit a defender’s knee and struck the inside of the crossbar, and was cleared off the goal line. However, in the dying minutes, Eamon Ryan evaded a number of tackles and found Ray McDonnell who made no mistake, blasting the ball past Burke to clench the match for United. Both teams gave excellent performances and were exhausted after this clash; a draw might have been a fitting result. While there were other memorable ‘battles’ between both sides, that day had proved to be a classic.
Some of the names associated with Mervue Celtic include Mairtín Higgins. He later managed the Mervue United Premier and Senior team. Barry O’Sullivan managed Celtic before leaving for Australia. Others Celtic players included, Ger Hanniffy, Louis O’Hara, Billy Keady, James Healy, Johnny Walsh, Frank Barrett, Padraic Long, Declan Dowling, Peter Folan, Michael Lydon, Frank Kinneen, Paddy Ryan, Alan Maloney, Kevin Ryan, Willie Henry, Johnny and Jimmy Gillespie, John Joe Fahy, Tommy O’Connor, Billy McCormack, Gerry Dooley and Padraic ‘Paugie’ Kilgannon. Paugie was said to have the best left foot in the game. There is a story about his parents (on the way to mass) stopping to watch him play in O’Sullivan Park. Paugie was in top form and needless to say gave them some of ‘Who did you kick moments’. His parents moved on quickly to mass; and offered a few prayers for the opposition. The man in ‘control’ of Celtic for many years was Peter Folan (St Helen Street). Celtic gave him some exciting and ‘hair-raising’ moments.
There was always an element of fun; some would say madness to Mervue Celtic, and they gained a tough reputation throughout the city and county. On one memorable occasion, they were playing Renmore in the Connacht Cup quarter-final in O’Sullivan Park. The game finished 2 – 2 forcing a penalty shoot-out. One of the Celtic’s greats was James Healy, who had an absolutely powerful shot. If he was on target, it was a goal; if he was off target, someone in Castle Park gained a football. James stepped up to take his penalty before a very nervous keeper. Sitting on the wall behind the goals were a number of Mervue supporters, among them his brother Tony Healy. James placed the ball and took a number of steps back for a good run at the ball. Just as he reached the ball, Tony jumped up on the wall, hands in the air, shouting, ‘I have it’. James was immediately distracted and miskicked the ball, sending it wide of the post and ending up in the factory across the road. The crowd erupted laughing, even though Celtic lost the match. The team also trained in the Mervue Community Centre on Monday nights. These were dangerous indoor matches, and were rough, there were many skinned knees and elbows as the tackling was the same as if it were on grass.
Celtic’s reserve side gained a similar reputation to their ‘first team’. Arguably the most memorable years for Mervue Celtic was the 1987-88 season. They defeated all opponents that season and met Our Lady’s Boys Club in a play-off for the league title. The league was brought to the very last match. Boys Club had defeated Galway Hibernians, which brought them through to face Celtic in Mervue. There was a huge interest in this match, being billed as the ‘League Final.’ Ray Durnin selected his team and ensured that the players who brought Celtic to this stage of the competition would be the same team to play so there was no ‘packing’ the squad. His team talk was simple saying that they had taken on and defeated the cream of the Galway league all season, ‘so go out and do the same tonight’. The referee, Martin Flannery blew the whistle to start the ‘combat’. Celtic were 1 – 0 down at half-time. Ray Durnin encouraged his team during the break with a few ‘strong’ words. Before going back onto the pitch, Celtic centre-half, Paddy Ryan called the team together and gave an emotional; some said ‘frightening’ speech warning the team about the outcome of defeat. He reminded them that they were playing for the parish, grabbing two players by the jerseys; shouted, ‘These are the parish colours, that’s what we’re playing for; every team in Galway is afraid of us; so get out there take no prisoners and win this game’. It was definitely a factor in the excellent performance by Celtic during the second half. Some of the players later said they were afraid to lose after Paddy’s speech. The combination of Joe Joe Healy and Mike Lydon up front was outstanding; with three goals from Lydon that can only be described as ‘out of the top drawer’. When the final whistle went; both sides were extremely exhausted; but Celtic had done the damage taking the trophy by 3 – 2 on a night to remember.
This was the last real impact that Mervue Celtic made on Galway soccer. A number of the players went over to the Mervue United junior and senior squads the following season. The team continued until 1991. The last performance for Mervue Celtic was a league match against Bohemians in O’Sullivan Park on a summers evening in May 1991, and they won 3 – 1. The Celtic goals came from Terry Flaherty (2); and his brother Paul (1) who was trying hard to impress a French girl who was watching him from the sideline. (Mervue Celtic Reunion: Trappers Inn – Friday 11 July 2025 – 7.00pm. All are invited).
