LOI 100 Week 14 - Victorious Brewerymen the toast of St James’s Gate becoming first League of Ireland champions

Date: Dublin 21 December 1921

As Dublin braced itself for Dáil Éireann’s discussion of the Treaty, rumours about what it might mean for the association game in Ireland abounded. 

Some of these were positive, there was a feeling abroad that Ireland’s new dominion status might help the FAI in its campaign for recognition, others were very concerning. 

Viator, the football correspondent of ‘Sport’ magazine feels that the FAI should approach Sinn Féin directly and ask if the code is to be abolished in this country or whether the 4,000 members of its 200 clubs should be allowed to continue playing the game of their choice. 

All eyes were on Dolphin’s Barn on Saturday as St James’s Gate secured the honour of becoming the first ever League of Ireland Champions with a 1-0 home victory over Bohemians. 

A large crowd, paying a ground record of £130 for gate-takings, attended St James’s Park, and this compares favourably with the combined receipts of £100 for all games in Belfast last week. 

Sadly the patrons in the south city did not witness an encounter in keeping with the league position of the two clubs. Bohemians left-half Otto was removed to hospital after the game, suffering with concussion. 

Little blame for the Gypsies defeat can be attached to Otto, who, along with his partner McIlroy was one of the more impressive performers in the Bohemian defence, where Nash and O’Kane struggled. 

Bohs dominated possession but their forward line was wasteful. In spite of this, Aungier in the Gate’s goal had a number of close shaves and can count himself lucky to have another clean sheet to add to his league medal. 

Overall, the Brewerymen were much the better team with their inside forwards impressing in the passages of play that followed Duncan’s eighteenth minute goal. Indeed, they added another goal after the break but this was disallowed for offside by Mr Wilson, whose refereeing reflected well on the new FAI. 

Shelbourne look to be in a strong position for the upcoming Shield competition which will commence after Christmas. The Reds stylish away victory by the odd goal in three over Dublin United at Donnybrook should have been by a wider margin. Foley opened Shels account with a fine equaliser before Watts scored a winner. The men from the South Lotts Road also missed a penalty and several other chances.

Elsewhere, there was a 2-1 home victory for Olympia over YMCA, while the Biscuitmakers crumbled away to Frankfort as the Drumcondra side recorded a 3-0 victory.

In the qualifying rounds for the FAI Cup, there was more bad news for Bohs as their B team were beaten 2-0 by Shelbourne United at Dalymount. Some were surprised at the low attendance at this fixture but the Gypsies faithful were understandably elsewhere. 

Shamrock Rovers had their appeal against last week’s defeat to Tipperary Wanderers upheld and the Ringsend side managed to also overturn the result with victory being achieved through a late Bob Fullam penalty. Athlone Town were victorious away to Clara.

Attention now turns to next week’s match between a Bohs/Gate XI and a team selected from the other six teams in the league, while fans of the dribbling code still have the Shield, the FAI Cup, and the Leinster Senior Cup to look forward to. 

Whether these competitions will take place in an atmosphere of war or peace may be decided over the coming days.

Dundalk sign John Martin from Waterford https://t.co/XCxlqY0B06pic.twitter.com/lKTU6WkQzL

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) December 21, 2021