FAI Chief Executive John Delaney described Dundalk as 'one of Ireland's great football towns' last week as Rock Celtic staged an U-16 international between Ireland and the Czech Republic at Sandy Lane and the local Schoolboys League performed the official opening of their new allweather training pitch at Bellew Park.

' I ' m delighted to be in Dundalk again and particularly on what is a red letter day for schoolboy football in the town,' the FAI chief told invited guests at a special function in the Crowne Plaza. 'For many decades the schoolboys league, or minor league as it was once known, has introduced generations of young Dundalk footballers to the game and one of them, Stephen Staunton, went on to become the first Irish player to win 100 caps for his country.

'Other Dundalk footballers like the late Joey Donnelly, Tommy McConville and the late Barry Kehoe became League of Ireland legends and I am delighted to see that the conveyor belt is continuing with the emergence of Conor McCor m a c k , Stephen McDonnell, Tiarnan Mulvenna and Nathan Murphy.'

Those words were backed up just a few hours later when Sami Ade Osobe lined out for Ireland against the visiting Czechs at Sandy Lane, playing the full 80 minutes as the boys in green came from a goal down to win 2-1.

With Ireland assistantmanager Liam Brady and Man United legend Brian McClair watching on, Ireland made a shaky start, but Osobe settled into the game nicely and was particularly prominent in the second period as the home team took a stranglehold.

Despite playing in the midfield anchor role, Osobe almost opened the scoring after just ten minutes, but his powerful header flew narrowly wide, prompting chants of 'Sami, Sami' from the crowd behind the goals.

The Glenmuir starlet was one of seven changes in the Ireland team for the second game against the Czechs on Thursday night, but he was introduced just after half-time and showed up well again in an exciting 3-3 draw.

For Rock Celtic, Sami's appearance and an Ireland victory were the icing on the cake of what was a hugely successful evening for the Blackrock club.

Despite the terrible recent weather, the playing surface at Sandy Lane was in pristine condition thanks to the hard work of Ollie English and his crew in the build-up to the game, and afterwards, club chairman, Alan Farrelly, thanked everyone who helped to make the night one to remember for Rock Celtic and local soccer in general.

The crowd was very near the one thousand mark, which thrilled the hosts, who upgraded their floodlighting system for the game at considerable expense.

All in all it was a fitting way for the seaside club to mark their 40th anniversary and it was also a night to remember for the club's young players, with the Player of the Year awards taking place after the game.

- John SAVAGE