2016 Season Review - Dundalk

Manager: Stephen Kenny: 3 Premier Division titles, FAI Cup winners, EA Cup winners and Europa League group stage qualification. It's been a successful four years in charge for the former Tallaght Town supremo who has been mentioned as a possible successor to Martin O'Neill. Time will tell if he'll be in a position to be revered by the entire country but for the minute the north-east will have to do.

Top Scorer: David Mc Millan (16 league goals). The front man may have started the season on the bench at the Carlisle Grounds but he ended it as one of the league's top scorers and hit the goal trail in style during the summer with a couple of hat tricks and a flow of European goals (five in total) as the Lilywhites progressed in the Champions League preliminaries. A key figure throughout the season and has impressed with his workrate as well as his scoring prowess.

Highest Attendance: 4,637 v Bohemians (October 23^rd). The league winning game was always going to bring a big crowd to Oriel Park and so it proved as over 4,600 flooded into the Carrick Road venue to watch Dundalk seal a third title in a row.

Lowest Attendance: 1,919 v Longford (July 5^th). Probably the most exciting game in Oriel Park this season as the midlanders travelled east and scared their hosts, who conceded three set-piece goals and had to rely on a last minute winner from Ciaran Kilduff to clinch a 4-3 victory. Such a pity that so few people saw it.

Star Player: Daryl Horgan. The winger has exceptional this season with teams often doubling up to prevent him providing a creative influence for Dundalk. His goal in the Cork City clash needs to be watched several times to appreciate his dribbling and shooting ability. Richly deserves his international call-up. Honourable mentions to his international team mate Andy Boyle, the outstanding Ronan Finn and the indefatigable Chris Shields who have all been consistently impressive performers throughout the season.

Best Young Player: Michael O'Connor. A bit of a leftfield award here but the youngster scored in both league and cup for the first team this season and found the net at both under-18 and under-19 level for the Republic of Ireland, while also making his Champions League debut. Honourable mention to his brother Ciaran who suffered an injury restricted season yet ended up in the national Under 21 squad following some impressive FAI Cup showings.

Best New Signing: Patrick McEleney. While Robbie Benson stole the European headlines, it was ex-Candystripe attacker McEleney who caught the eye in the league, scoring the winner against Wexford Youths, setting up the winner against Longford Town and scoring a sublime goal against Finn Harps. Showed some real touches of class throughout the season.

What we expected they would do: While the majority of Extratime reporters predicted that Cork City would finally escape from their Lilywhite hoodoo and clinch the league title, this reporter, in his season preview, predicted that the league trophy would remain at Oriel Park for another season. With regards to a decent Cup run, Dundalk have a great record in cup competitions of late and were the 2015 LSC and FAI Cup holders.

What they actually did: Led the field for the season, opened up a substantial lead before a couple of consecutive defeats, to Galway United and Bray Wanderers, resulted in a momentary halting of the charge towards a third successive title. The gap between themselves and Cork City closed until the Oriel Park clash between the sides saw Dundalk record a slender victory and ultimately, this was the tie which decided the league, which was won in the end by seven points. Cork City earned a measure of revenge by clinching the FAI Cup with a deflected 120th-minute goal scored by Sean Maguire following a pulsating encounter between the sides.

What they need to improve on for next year: Dundalk had a hugely demanding match schedule this season due to their continental exploits and if they are to replicate success on both home and European fronts next season it would be hugely advantageous to have a larger squad of experienced players. Similarly, there should be a great desire to win the FAI Cup, following this year's heartbreaking defeat.

#Greatestleagueintheworld moment of the season: On the way to Dublin Airport the Dundalk team coach rescued a minibus load of stranded supporters after their own transport had failed and brought them to the airport in an act which has been seen as typical of the close relationship between the team and their supporters.