Joe Hanrahan
Encyclopedia
Joe Hanrahan is an Irish
former footballer who played during the 1980s and 1990s.
He picked up many honours, including the FAI Cup
in 1983–84 and was named PFAI Young Player of the Year in the same year. He played in European competition Cup-Winners' Cup the same year, narrowly being beaten by Everton
in a two-legged tie as Everton went on to win the competition, with Hanrahan nearly scoring the equaliser in the second leg.
for Limerick and three of his brothers (Peter
, Gary and Dave) played in the League of Ireland
. He played schoolboy football with local side Vereker Clements earning five schoolboy caps for Ireland and soon attracted interest from cross-channel in the shape of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Despite this interest from Wolves, Hanrahan decided to sign for UCD where he spent four productive years. He made his League of Ireland debut on 10 September 1981 at Dundalk F.C.
The highlight of his time at Belfield
was the 1983–84 season where he picked up an FAI Cup
winners medal, scoring "after a mazy dribble" in the replay as UCD beat Shamrock Rovers 2–1. His form was noticed by his fellow professionals and he was voted PFAI Young Player of the Year. He also gained Inter-League and Under-21 representative honours during that season.
The FAI Cup win qualified UCD for the 1985 Cup-Winners' Cup. Drawn against English club Everton
in the first round, The Times
match preview picked out Hanrahan as a player to watch. A goalless draw at Belfield was followed by Everton scraping through 1–0 in the return leg at Goodison Park
; Everton "went on to win the competition but they wouldn't have done had a late Joe Hanrahan shot in the second leg been a few inches lower", as Peter Reid
, who played for Everton in that match, remembered 23 years later: "in the last minute a lad called Joe Hanrahan had a chance and if he'd have stuck it in we’d have been out" on the away goals rule
.
Manchester United swooped to take Hanrahan to Old Trafford
, but after two years without appearing competitively for the first team, the player grew unsettled. Despite speculation about a £40,000 transfer to Port Vale
, he returned to Dublin without making a senior appearance. He signed for Shamrock Rovers in 1987 and after five goals in 27 games in the clubs infamous reign at Tolka Park, he moved to his hometown club Limerick City in 1988 under the management of Billy Hamilton
. They finished third in the league that season but Hamilton left during the 1989/90 season and Limerick never challenged.
Hanrahan was on the move again in 1990 where Jim McLaughlin took up north to Derry City
. He won two League of Ireland Cup medals at the club, scoring in the 91 final against his old club Limerick. He played for Dundalk
, until they released him in summer 1997. He then joined Bohemians
alongside his brother Peter, a move which caused some surprise because of his age and reputation for being injury-prone, but he "silenced the critics with a series of sparkling performances", and also played for Monaghan United before retiring.
UCD
Derry City
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
former footballer who played during the 1980s and 1990s.
He picked up many honours, including the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
in 1983–84 and was named PFAI Young Player of the Year in the same year. He played in European competition Cup-Winners' Cup the same year, narrowly being beaten by Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in a two-legged tie as Everton went on to win the competition, with Hanrahan nearly scoring the equaliser in the second leg.
Career
Hanrahan came from a sporting family - his father had playing hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
for Limerick and three of his brothers (Peter
Peter Hanrahan
Peter Hanrahan was an Irish soccer player during the 1980s and 1990s.He was a midfielder or forward who played for UCD , Dundalk, Limerick City, Bohemians during his career in the League of Ireland....
, Gary and Dave) played in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. He played schoolboy football with local side Vereker Clements earning five schoolboy caps for Ireland and soon attracted interest from cross-channel in the shape of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Despite this interest from Wolves, Hanrahan decided to sign for UCD where he spent four productive years. He made his League of Ireland debut on 10 September 1981 at Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
The highlight of his time at Belfield
Belfield Park
Belfield Park was the home ground of University College Dublin A.F.C. from 1930 until 2007. It was previously a walled garden of Belfield House....
was the 1983–84 season where he picked up an FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
winners medal, scoring "after a mazy dribble" in the replay as UCD beat Shamrock Rovers 2–1. His form was noticed by his fellow professionals and he was voted PFAI Young Player of the Year. He also gained Inter-League and Under-21 representative honours during that season.
The FAI Cup win qualified UCD for the 1985 Cup-Winners' Cup. Drawn against English club Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the first round, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
match preview picked out Hanrahan as a player to watch. A goalless draw at Belfield was followed by Everton scraping through 1–0 in the return leg at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
; Everton "went on to win the competition but they wouldn't have done had a late Joe Hanrahan shot in the second leg been a few inches lower", as Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
, who played for Everton in that match, remembered 23 years later: "in the last minute a lad called Joe Hanrahan had a chance and if he'd have stuck it in we’d have been out" on the away goals rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
.
Manchester United swooped to take Hanrahan to Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, but after two years without appearing competitively for the first team, the player grew unsettled. Despite speculation about a £40,000 transfer to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, he returned to Dublin without making a senior appearance. He signed for Shamrock Rovers in 1987 and after five goals in 27 games in the clubs infamous reign at Tolka Park, he moved to his hometown club Limerick City in 1988 under the management of Billy Hamilton
Billy Hamilton (footballer)
William Robert Hamilton is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played as a forward.At club level, Billy played for Linfield, QPR, Burnley, Oxford United, Limerick, Sligo Rovers, Coleraine and Distillery...
. They finished third in the league that season but Hamilton left during the 1989/90 season and Limerick never challenged.
Hanrahan was on the move again in 1990 where Jim McLaughlin took up north to Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
. He won two League of Ireland Cup medals at the club, scoring in the 91 final against his old club Limerick. He played for Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
, until they released him in summer 1997. He then joined Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
alongside his brother Peter, a move which caused some surprise because of his age and reputation for being injury-prone, but he "silenced the critics with a series of sparkling performances", and also played for Monaghan United before retiring.
Club
Dundalk- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
(1): 1994–95
UCD
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
(1): 1984
Derry City
- League of Ireland Cup (2): 1990–91, 1991–92
Individual
- PFAI Young Player of the Year: 1983–84