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Paddy Thunder

Name: Patrick J. Thunder
Born:
Died:
1947, Dublin
Height:
Weight:
Position: Left-Back

Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1911), 3 Amateur Caps (1908-1910); Irish League: 1 Cap (1910).
Club Honours: (with Bohs) Irish Cup Winner 1907/08, Runner-Up 1908/09, 1910/11; Leinster Senior Cup Winner.

Club Career:
Teams
Seasons
Signed
Fee
League
FA.Cup
Other
Bohemians
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Amateur
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TOTALS
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£-
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Biography:
Paddy Thunder was three times an Irish Cup finalist and on each occasion it took a replay to settle the tie.

In 1908 Thunder was part of the Bohemians side that faced Shelbourne in the first all-Dublin Irish Cup Final. The Shels, who were featuring in their fourth consecutive final, were heavy favourites and it was only thanks to two penalty saves by Bohs 'keeper Jack Hehir that the game finished 1-1 and went to a replay. The rematch, like the first, was held at Dalymount Park and Bohemians finished convincing 3-1 winners.

A year later and Bohemians again reached the Final where they faced Cliftonville at Windsor Park. An excellent performance by Thunder and his full-back partner Harry Curtis helped to nulify the Reds "home" advantage as the match finished scoreless. The replay at Dalyer saw the Bohs fail to make use of their "home" advantage and Cliftonville's victory was more convincing than the 2-1 scoreline suggests.

The second all-Dublin Irish Cup Final was played in 1911 with Bohemains once again facing Shelboune. Both teams had been struggling in the Irish League and it had taken the Bohs three matches to see off semi-final opponents Cliftonville to set-up an unlikey final tie. As with the previous final match-up between the two side the game was set for Dalymount, and as before it took to games to settle it only this time in the Shels favour; 0-0, 2-1.

Aside from Irish Cup and Leinster Cup successes with Bohemians, Thunder was also multi-honoured at representative level. Three times he appeared for Ireland Amateurs against England and on the occasion of his second cap, in November 1909, he helped the Irish to a 4-4 draw - the first time they had avoided defeat in this fixture. It got better a year later when the English visited Solitude and were defeated 3-2 despite holding a 2-1 half-time advantage.

Thunder also appeared for the Irish League against the Scottish League in 1910, the Scots running out 3-1 victors at Grosvenor Park. These appearances had done enough to convince the Full Ireland team selectors of Thunder's worth, and he was capped for the only time when Wales travelled to Windsor Park for an International Championship clash in January 1911. The Welsh returned home 2-1 victors.

Obituary kindly sourced by Gerard Farrell
Ireland Cap Details:

28-01-1911 Wales... H L 1-2 BC

Summary: 1/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.

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