Al Finucane

Archived reference

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=== Limerick F.C. (1960–1973)=== === Limerick F.C. (1960–1973)=== Finucane played his first game for [[Limerick F.C.]] as a 17-year-old in 1960. His debut came on 4 December against Shamrock Rovers in Milltown, with the match ending in a 2–2 draw.<ref name="indo_profile">{{Cite web|title=Where are they now?|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/where-are-they-now/26737446.html|website=Irish Independent|date=2011-05-29|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260408172313/https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/where-are-they-now/26737446.html|archive-date=2026-04-08|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="limerick_legend">{{Cite web|title=In Pictures: Limerick soccer legend Al Finucane celebrates 80th birthday|url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/sport/1007985/in-pictures-limerick-soccer-legend-al-finucane-celebrates-80th-birthday.html|website=www.limerickleader.ie|date=11 January 2023|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en|first=Colm|last=Kinsella|first2=Dave|last2=McMahon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111200831/https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/sport/1007985/in-pictures-limerick-soccer-legend-al-finucane-celebrates-80th-birthday.html|archive-date=2023-01-11|url-status=live}}</ref> Finucane played regularly for the reserve side until August 1961 when he again played for the senior team during Limerick's [[League of Ireland Shield|Shield campaign]].<ref name=extraTime_profile>{{Cite web |title=Al Finucane {{!}} History {{!}} Career Details {{!}} Images {{!}} extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football |url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11135075/al_finucane/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.extratime.com}}</ref> Initially played at [[inside-left]], Finucane scored eight goals in the 1961–62 season. He would later change position to [[centre-half]], where he established himself as a ball-playing defender.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |date=22 September 2022 |title=1961-62 League of Ireland season |url=https://leagueofirelandseasons.com/2022/09/22/1961-62-league-of-ireland-season/ |access-date=2026-01-17 |website=League of Ireland Seasons |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="leader_honoured" /><ref name="Farrell_2016" /> Finucane played his first game for [[Limerick F.C.]] as a 17-year-old in 1960. His debut came on 4 December against Shamrock Rovers in Milltown, with the match ending in a 2–2 draw.<ref name="indo_profile">{{Cite web|title=Where are they now?|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/where-are-they-now/26737446.html|website=Irish Independent|date=2011-05-29|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260408172313/https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/where-are-they-now/26737446.html|archive-date=2026-04-08|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="limerick_legend">{{Cite web|title=In Pictures: Limerick soccer legend Al Finucane celebrates 80th birthday|url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/sport/1007985/in-pictures-limerick-soccer-legend-al-finucane-celebrates-80th-birthday.html|website=www.limerickleader.ie|date=11 January 2023|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en|first=Colm|last=Kinsella|first2=Dave|last2=McMahon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111200831/https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/sport/1007985/in-pictures-limerick-soccer-legend-al-finucane-celebrates-80th-birthday.html|archive-date=2023-01-11|url-status=live}}</ref> Finucane played regularly for the reserve side until August 1961 when he again played for the senior team during Limerick's [[League of Ireland Shield|Shield campaign]].<ref name=extraTime_profile>{{Cite web |title=Al Finucane {{!}} History {{!}} Career Details {{!}} Images {{!}} extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football |url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11135075/al_finucane/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.extratime.com}}</ref> Initially played at [[inside-left]], Finucane scored eight goals in the 1961–62 season. He would later change position to [[centre-half]], where he established himself as a ball-playing defender.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |date=22 September 2022 |title=1961-62 League of Ireland season |url=https://leagueofirelandseasons.com/2022/09/22/1961-62-league-of-ireland-season/ |access-date=2026-01-17 |website=League of Ireland Seasons |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260419225406/https://leagueofirelandseasons.com/2022/09/22/1961-62-league-of-ireland-season/|archive-date=2026-04-19|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="leader_honoured" /><ref name="Farrell_2016" />

He has the distinction of scoring the first ever goal in a competitive game at [[Flower Lodge]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} In 1965, he played against [[CSKA Sofia]] in Europe.<ref name="indo_profile" /> He was part of the Limerick side that lost successive FAI Cup finals to Shamrock Rovers in 1965 and 1966. Finucane was awarded [[SWAI Personality of the Year|Personality of the Year]] by the Sports Writers' Association of Ireland for 1966–67 and won his first international call up the same season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |date=10 February 2025 |title=1966-67 League of Ireland season |url=https://leagueofirelandseasons.com/2025/02/10/1966-67-league-of-ireland-season/ |access-date=2026-01-17 |website=League of Ireland Seasons |language=en}}</ref><ref name="SWAI_award" /> He has the distinction of scoring the first ever goal in a competitive game at [[Flower Lodge]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} In 1965, he played against [[CSKA Sofia]] in Europe.<ref name="indo_profile" /> He was part of the Limerick side that lost successive FAI Cup finals to Shamrock Rovers in 1965 and 1966. Finucane was awarded [[SWAI Personality of the Year|Personality of the Year]] by the Sports Writers' Association of Ireland for 1966–67 and won his first international call up the same season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |date=10 February 2025 |title=1966-67 League of Ireland season |url=https://leagueofirelandseasons.com/2025/02/10/1966-67-league-of-ireland-season/ |access-date=2026-01-17 |website=League of Ireland Seasons |language=en}}</ref><ref name="SWAI_award" />