Those Were The Days: Hibernians Of Malta In The Cup Winners Cup

by John Kehoe

(first published in the June 2010 Dundalk EA Sports Cup programme)

In 1970 Waterford FC got to the second round of a European competition for the first time, setting up a meeting with Celtic after overcoming Glentoran in the opening tie. They were far from the first League of Ireland team to do so (tonight’s opponents Dundalk triumphed over Utrecht in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in 1968, for one), but the Blues were to repeat the feat in the European Cup Winners’ Cup, in 1980, when a plumb first round tie pitted them against Hibernians of Malta. Again though, as fate would have it, Dundalk had got there first, having seen off Hibernians the previous season in the European Cup.

Hibs are based in Paola, a small town about 5km south of the capital, Valetta, and are one of the more successful of the Maltese clubs, 4th on the list with 10 League titles to their name, and never having been relegated from the top division since joining in 1932. They have their own ground, called, surprisingly, Hibernians Ground, but like all Malta Premier League sides, they play all their matches in the national Ta’Qali Stadium. Founded as Constitutionals FC in 1922 by the 1st Baron Strickland, who went on to become Malta’s Prime Minister, they initially represented the sporting wing of the political Constitutional Party, soon to become very unpopular on the island thanks to a head-on collision with the Church. A bad move in what is still a staunchly Catholic country, in 1931 the club was strongly urged to rebrand itself by the Maltese FA, prior to joining the professional ranks. It’s unclear why the name Hibernians was chosen, certainly it’s not Malta’s ‘Irish’ club; that honour lies with Floriana.

It took almost 30 years for success to come to Paola, but it was worth waiting for, a League and Cup double in 1961, and with it the first foray of any Maltese club into Europe, a 5-0 aggregate loss to Servette of Switzerland ending their interest quickly. Having won the League 10 times, and been runners-up another nine, as well as eight Cup victories, Hibs have had many adventures in Europe since (60 matches in all), and over the years have had some notable results, including holding mighty Manchester United to a scoreless draw in the first round in 1967, the season Matt Busby’s side won the European Cup, and doing the same to Real Madrid in the first round of the 1970-71 Cup Winner’s Cup. Having suffered defeat twice at the hands of Irish sides in Europe, Hibs also gained a modicum of revenge on us when they knocked Shelbourne out of the Champions League 1st qualifying round in 2002. They have just completed a very disappointing season, finishing sixth out of the six teams in the champions pool after the 10-team league was split half-way through the season. And this after lifting their 10th league title just last year.

But back to 1980, and Waterford’s Cup final win over St. Pat’s earlier that year earned a trip to the sunny island to take on the Maltese Cup holders on Wednesday, September 17th. The Hibernians team at the time was probably the best ever in the club’s history. In the four years from 1978 to 82 they won three League titles and two Cups, and posted a record 37 game unbeaten run, so it was far from an easy tie. Hibs had actually asked the Blues to play a week earlier due to a clash with a big Euro attraction on the island (Sliema Wanderers had drawn Barcelona in the UEFA Cup), but Waterford cheekily countered by asking the Maltese to keep the date but give up their home advantage, which didn’t meet with a favourable response, so it was as you were after all. The Blues had shipped some poor results early in the season, knocked out of the League Cup by Thurles Town, and drawing their two opening home games (away to Galway Rovers and at home to Home Farm). With the suggestion that minds were unfocused by the coming Euro tie, the Munster Express had thundered: “We have no chance of winning the European Cup. But we can win the League of Ireland Championship, and it’s about time after an eight year lapse!” Hmmm.

So having got off to a poor start, the Blues landed at Luqa airport determined to get their season going. Though lining out very much in a defensive mode, Waterford were coping well with their opponents, and the rough and bumpy pitch, and should have taken a valuable lead on 57 minutes when Larry Murray was brought down in the area, but Tommy Jackson missed from the spot. That was a game-turning moment, as five minutes later the home side went in front: Consilio crossed, the wonderfully named Ernest Spiteri-Gonzi headed on, and Guzi Xuereb bundled over the line. Despite the win, though, Hibs manager Joe Attard gave his side ‘no chance’ in the second leg two weeks later.

Perhaps had he been following Waterford’s domestic results he might have been more optimistic, as a draw at Shelbourne, followed by a home defeat to UCD, were hardly ideal preparation for part two of the tie, but in the end Attard was proved right, as a rampant Blues dismantled the hapless Maltese at Kilcohan Park. Sadly a fairly paltry crowd were there at 4pm on October 1st to witness the event, takings of £1200 (at £2 a head for adults, 50p for kids) a far cry from a few years before. It took a while for the game to take off though. Gerry Fitzpatrick had struck the woodwork early on, but it was ten minutes from half time before the scoring was opened, Paul Kirk chesting down Tommy Jackson’s through ball and lashing past goalkeeper Mizzi from the edge of the area. Al Finucane doubled the lead six minutes later, sidefooting home from close range after Mick Madigan helped on Vinny McCarthy’s cross. And just before the break, the third goal in a nine minute spell wrapped up the tie, Fitzpatrick with a spectacular overhead kick from Larry Murray’s cross. With the pressure off the Blues were all over Hibs in the second half, but only added to the score ten minutes from the end, as Mizzi could only parry Fitzpatrick’s fierce drive into the path of Kirk, who had a simple task to slot home for his second.

With chairman Joe Delaney adamant that Waterford’s second round home tie would take place at Kilcohan whomever they were matched with – sides like Valencia, Benfica and Feyenoord were still in the hat – all eyes were now on the draw. In fact, the cash strapped club really only wanted to see one of two names come out , Newport County (the closest and possibly best chance of advancement) and West Ham United, due to the much smaller travelling costs involved. Instead, their worst fears were realised with a potentially ruinous trip to Dinamo Tbilisi. A creditable 1-0 home defeat, and a 4-0 one away, ended that year’s involvement, but the details can be kept for another time. For now we can look back with a fond eye on the day we made the Maltese, and I can’t believe I’m about to write this, a little bit cross!

The teams for the second leg were:
Waterford: Peter Thomas, Ger O’Mahoney (Noel McQuaid 82), Brian Gardiner, Al Finucane, Tony Dunphy, Tommy Jackson, Larry Murray (Mark Meagan 72), Mick Madigan, Paul Kirk, Vinny McCarthy, Gerry Fitzpatrick
Hibernians: A Mizzi, Consilio (Campbell 54), Buttigieg, Zerafa, R Mizzi, Kureab, Mallia, Cauchi, Gallia, Spiteri-Gonzi, Cumi