Mick Hoy

Mick Hoy
Mick Hoy
AppsGoals
League 533
FAI Cup 81
Shield 270
City Cup 80
Leinster Cup 70
Totals 1034
1937-38 402
1938-39 352
1939-40 270
1940-41 10
Totals 1034
Total Appearances: 103
Total Goals: 4
Position: LB
Nationality: NI
Debut: 22-Aug-37, City Cup, (H) v. Shelbourne

Bio:

Left-full Mick Hoy played in Ireland’s last five pre-war Internationals, an unbeaten run that concluded with two draws away from home against Hungary and Germany in May 1939. He was also on the winning side in his last two appearances with the League of Ireland, stretching his undefeated Representative appearances to seven in the space of 8 months.

During his first three Dundalk seasons Mick was one of a trio in the last line of defence, with Charlie Tizard and Billy O’Neill, which was one of the best in the country and undoubtedly one of the best ever to serve Dundalk.

A native of Tandragee, the red-haired Mick had started with Gilford Crusaders and had a short spell with St James’s Gate before joining Glenavon in the Irish League in the early 1930s, where there were regular rumours of cross-channel interest. During his seven seasons with Glenavon he had won four Mid-Ulster Cup medals. He had another short spell in the Free State League with Bray Unknowns before Dundalk signed him from Glenavon in April 1937, to join Billy O’Neill in the full-back line.

With just a handful of games played in the 1937-38 year Mick had a City Cup medal, after Dundalk defeated Cork in the final in early September, and in October he was selected for his first International Cap, a World Cup tie in Oslo against Norway. At the season end he was on the Dundalk team that lost in the final of the FAI Cup to St James’s Gate. A quick tackling full, he was an excellent and accurate distributor of the ball, always finding a team mate.

His International and League call-ups continued through the 1938-39 season, and at season’s end he played in three representative matches in the space of eight days. 2-1 victories over the Irish League (Mar 11th at Belfast) and a powerful Scottish League (March 17th at Dalymount ) were followed by a 2-2 draw against Hungary on March 18th at the Mardyke, Cork.

Injury prevented him from playing in the first round FAI Cup tie in the 1939-40 year, but in the aftermath of the loss against non-league Distillery, and in the midst of a deepening financial crisis, nobody was spared—the pay bill had to be lightened. Mick joined Charlie Tizard, Billy O’Neill, Wagger Byrne and Benny Gaughran in the mass exodus.

He ended up in late February with Glenavon and a couple of months later collected an Irish Cup runner-up medal after losing to Ballymena in the final. He returned to Oriel Park in Feb 1941, playing with the Reserves, and was called upon for one League game in March in the absence of Billy O’Neill. With Tandaragee Rovers he remained active as manager and coach into the 1960s.

What They Said About Him

The verdict of Ireland’s Saturday Night in April 1934 when Mick was with Glenavon was ‘…a good club man…will play from whistle to whistle…works wholeheartedly…sure of foot…good tackler and powerful kicker…the type of defender a goalkeeper likes to have in front of him’.

Honours:

1 Win: City Cup 1937-38.

2 Runners Up: FAI Cup 1937-38; Leinster Cup 1938-39.

3 League of Ireland caps

6 Irish International caps:

Won 2; Drew 3; Lost 1.
First WC Norway (a) 2-3 Oct-37
Last FR Germany (a) 1-1 May-39