2011 Preview: Dundalk
Credit:
Dundalk FC
Year founded: 1903
Major honours: League of Ireland Champions (9 times): 1932/33, '62/63, '66/67, '75/76, '78/79, 81/82, '87/88, '90/91, '94/95. FAI Cup Winners (9 times): 1942, 1949, 1952, 1958, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1988, 2002.
Stadium: Oriel Park.
Manager: Ian Foster.
Captain: Simon Madden.
Transfers in: Jason Byrne, Mark Quigley (Bohemians), Keith Ward (UCD), Greg Bolger, Colin Hawkins (Sporting Fingal), Eoghan Osborne (Drogheda United), Michael Hector (Reading on loan).
Transfers out: Fahrudin Kudozovic (SV Eintracht Trier 05), Tom Miller, Wayne Hatswell & Steven Lennon (Newport County), Matthew Tipton, Alan Cawley & Garry Breen (Portadown), Liam Burns (Bohemians), Shaun Kelly (Unattached).
The Lilywhites started last season in great form and topped the table by mid April, their first defeat didn’t arrive until the tail end of April, somewhat inexplicably at Oriel Park to Bray. However gloomy pre-season predictions about the threadbare nature of the Dundalk squad proved prescient as injuries, suspensions and fatigue took their toll in mid season. A run of 11 league games with just a single win destroyed their season and in the end although they finished with a better points haul than the previous season they finished a place lower in sixth.
There were of course notable points in the season such as “Fenngate”, beating champions Shamrock Rovers 3 times and their foray into the Europa Cup. Despite losing some of last season biggest hits in Miller, Kudozovic and Burns they have replaced well to improve the squad and they will be hoping to push on again this season with a target of European qualification.
Confidence amongst Dundalk fans is sky high after their great Setanta cup victory over Linfield. We played devils advocate with Lilywhites manager Ian Foster and asked if a top three finish was within their capabilities this coming season. “It will be difficult to get into the top three. Both Rovers teams are very strong and the likes of St Pats who finished above us last season have strengthened again so they’ll be a force to be reckoned with, they’ve signed some excellent players and of course Derry City and Bohemians will be strong as well.”
“It’s going to be a tough division, with the likes of UCD & Bray, they’re teams that are difficult to beat. There’s no easy games in the league and I wouldn’t like to say that we’re going to finish in the top three. We couldn’t even finish in the top half last season so I don’t think you go from sixth to third in the one year, hopefully we can, but I certainly won’t be coming out with any statements like that. “
ExtraTime Prediction: 3rd.
Year founded: 1903
Major honours: League of Ireland Champions (9 times): 1932/33, '62/63, '66/67, '75/76, '78/79, 81/82, '87/88, '90/91, '94/95. FAI Cup Winners (9 times): 1942, 1949, 1952, 1958, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1988, 2002.
Stadium: Oriel Park.
Manager: Ian Foster.
Captain: Simon Madden.
Transfers in: Jason Byrne, Mark Quigley (Bohemians), Keith Ward (UCD), Greg Bolger, Colin Hawkins (Sporting Fingal), Eoghan Osborne (Drogheda United), Michael Hector (Reading on loan).
Transfers out: Fahrudin Kudozovic (SV Eintracht Trier 05), Tom Miller, Wayne Hatswell & Steven Lennon (Newport County), Matthew Tipton, Alan Cawley & Garry Breen (Portadown), Liam Burns (Bohemians), Shaun Kelly (Unattached).
The Lilywhites started last season in great form and topped the table by mid April, their first defeat didn’t arrive until the tail end of April, somewhat inexplicably at Oriel Park to Bray. However gloomy pre-season predictions about the threadbare nature of the Dundalk squad proved prescient as injuries, suspensions and fatigue took their toll in mid season. A run of 11 league games with just a single win destroyed their season and in the end although they finished with a better points haul than the previous season they finished a place lower in sixth.
There were of course notable points in the season such as “Fenngate”, beating champions Shamrock Rovers 3 times and their foray into the Europa Cup. Despite losing some of last season biggest hits in Miller, Kudozovic and Burns they have replaced well to improve the squad and they will be hoping to push on again this season with a target of European qualification.
Confidence amongst Dundalk fans is sky high after their great Setanta cup victory over Linfield. We played devils advocate with Lilywhites manager Ian Foster and asked if a top three finish was within their capabilities this coming season. “It will be difficult to get into the top three. Both Rovers teams are very strong and the likes of St Pats who finished above us last season have strengthened again so they’ll be a force to be reckoned with, they’ve signed some excellent players and of course Derry City and Bohemians will be strong as well.”
“It’s going to be a tough division, with the likes of UCD & Bray, they’re teams that are difficult to beat. There’s no easy games in the league and I wouldn’t like to say that we’re going to finish in the top three. We couldn’t even finish in the top half last season so I don’t think you go from sixth to third in the one year, hopefully we can, but I certainly won’t be coming out with any statements like that. “
ExtraTime Prediction: 3rd.
