A Season in Review - Dundalk

Final League Position:  11^th

FAI CUP: Semi-finals

EA Sports Cup: Quarter-finals

Player of the season: Derek Foran

Young player of the season:  John Mountney

Top scorer: Michael Rafter

Goal of the season 

Mark Griffin vs Drogheda United. In the Louth derby, Eoghan Osborne took a quick throw-in to Griffin. His first touch took him past the first defender, a wonderful touch and pivot around the second left him free to rifle the ball to the roof of the net from 10 yards. A brilliant goal – reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp for Arsenal a decade ago! 

Highlight of the season

Staying in the Premier Division with a 4-2 aggregate win over Waterford United in the promotion/relegation is the highlight for the Lilywhites this season. A miserable season throughout but they managed to raise their game and preserve the club’s status in the top flight. Other highlights are the 2-1 away victories at Derry City and St. Patrick’s Athletic and the transfer of Ben McLaughlin to Everton during the summer.

Lowlight of the season

Hard to pick one but the season overall was a lowlight as the club struggled throughout both on and off the pitch. The club being on the brink of collapse was the outstanding low point but the supporters rallied brilliantly behind the club and kept it alive. Other low points would be the 7-0 and 6-0 results against Shamrock Rovers and the 18 match winless streak.

A look at 2012

The season itself was one to forget for the Lilywhites as they just about managed to survive in the Airtricity League Premier Division. The opening period of the season was unpredictable as the newly assembled squad by Sean McCaffrey battled to pick up points and they secured commendable draws with Drogheda United, Shelbourne and victories against UCD and a highly impressive win at the Brandywell against Derry City, but there was other poor results – 6-0 away to Shamrock Rovers and 2 home defeats to Bohemians and Bray Wanderers set the alarm bells ringing. This began a run of form which saw them lose to the majority of the teams around them but in the midst of it all, they miraculously handed St. Patrick’s Athletic their first defeat of the season with a stunning late show from Mark Griffin.

Then, disaster struck. Financial problems hit Dundalk and the existence of the club was under serious threat. Cost cutting measures were undertaken with both players and staff let go and the club was operating on a day-to-day basis. Eventually in July, McCaffrey left his post as manager and Darius Kierans took over. Fortunes didn’t change however and Kierans was forced to let players go in a bid to keep the club alive, which he succeeded along with the quick thinking and drive of supporters and a takeover bid. The club  were in the middle of a run of 18 league games without a win but they found comfort in the FAI Cup where they beat St. Pat’s CY, Malahide United, Bohemians before going down to St. Patrick’s Athletic in the semi-finals.

Since early September when they were defeated by UCD at Oriel Park, it was clear that they would be facing into a promotion/relegation playoff. Having defeated Bray Wanderers in their final league match of the season, they went into the two-legged playoff with Waterford United on a high and it showed. They secured a 2-2 draw before they won 2-0 at the RSC to retain their place in the top flight.

With Premier Division football secured for 2013, the new owners wasted little time in appointing a permanent successor to McCaffrey. They have decided not to carry on the services of interim manager Kierans and have kept true to their promise of appointing an experienced manager as they named Stephen Kenny as their new boss in November. Preparations for the new season have already begun and Kenny has started assembling his squad for the new season.  Experience will be key along with tying down the better players at the club. The club expects debts to be cleared before the start of the season allowing the club to start the season on a good financial footing and produce a competitive budget to give to the manager.