Everyone at Dalymount Park is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former player Liam Dunne at the young the age of 54.
We wish to extend our deepest condolences to Liam’s family, friend and former team-mates at this difficult time.
One of Eamonn Gregg’s early signings for the 1990/91 season from Belvedere Boys, Liam made his league début with Bohemians at the Brandywell as a late substitute on 2nd September 1990, the day after his 19th birthday.
By mid-January 1991 he’d established himself as a regular starter beside Alan Byrne in central midfield. His busy and skilful displays, his crisp and precise passing, attracted attention further afield and after the end of that season St Johnstone managed Alex Totten snapped him up.
When Totten’s time at St Johnstone came to an end, Dunne returned to Bohs from the Perth club for the 1993/94 season, Gregg happy to re-sign him. Rare highlights of that rather chaotic season for Bohs were the two UEFA Cup games for v. Bordeaux, Liam battling gamely against the likes of Zinedine Zidane.
The scoreless draw at home to St Pat’s in the league on 14 November 1993 would prove to be his final appearance for Bohemians and he was transferred, on loan initially, to Crusaders.
It was with Crusaders that he won serious silverware, the Irish League Premiership in 1994/95 and 1996/97. Having left Crusaders in January 1999, he returned for the 2004/05 season when they were unfortunately relegated for the first time in their history. Liam Dunne stayed on however to help Crusaders win the promotion and the First Division title at the first time of asking after which he retired from playing.
May he rest in peace.
Stephen Burke