On the 14th of August, 1998, Newry Town returned to the top tier of Irish football having been promoted as First Division champions just a few months earlier.
And what an opening fixture we were handed - The mighty Linfield at home! The fact that their manager Trevor Anderson and striker Dessie Gorman had left Linfield to join the Joe Rice revolution at Newry some 18 months earlier just added to the build up.
Newspaper reports estimated a crowd of close to 7000 descended to the Showgrounds resulting in a 17 minute delay to the start of the game due to traffic chaos as fans spilled into the ground.
Before the match there was a minutes silence for the late Harry Walsh who played for both clubs and had just recently passed away. Harry played 35 times for us in the 1938/39 season.
The first half was a nervy affair which saw Linfield come close on several ocassions. Newry goalkeeper Paul Straney saving shots from Davy Larmour, Robert Campbell and Tony Gorman and we were probably lucky to get to halftime at 0-0
But we began the second half on the front foot and on 69 minutes were awarded a penalty after Stephen Collier brought down Paul Evans in the box. Dessie Gorman stepped up and cooly slotted home past Bobby Geddes.
Linfield were soon back on level terms when just seven minutes later referee Leslie Irvine once again pointed to the spot when striker Davy Larmour was brought down in the box. Up stepped Stephen Beatty to send Paul Straney the wrong way.
But with time running out and the game seemingly heading for a draw - up stepped Dessie Gorman (who else) to find a historic winner for the Town.
Paul Evans, superb as usual down the wing, whipped in a fantastic delivery and Gorman rose highest to send a bullet header past Geddes to seal a famous win and sent the home fans wild.
FT Newry Town 2 Linfield 1
LINEUPS
Newry Town: Paul Straney, John White, Anthony Mitchell, Tony Scappaticci, Stuart McLean, Gary Peebles, Alan Byrne, John Kenny, Trevor Smith, Dessie Gorman, Paul Evans.
Subs: Andy Myler (84 mins for Smith), John Tumilty, Chris Coffey.
Lintield: Bobby Geddes, Tommy McDonald, Pat McShane, Ryan Semple, Murphy, Stephen Beatty, Davy Larmour, Tony Gorman, Glenn Ferguson, Robert Campbell, Noel Bailie,
Subs: Jamie Marks (57 mins for Semple), Stephen Collier (60 mins for mcShane) (5), Ian McCoosh.
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