Tiarnán Mulvenna (born: 10 December 1988) is a local striker who was called up to the senior squad by John Gill in 2006 after continually impressing in the club’s youth system. He struggled to get into the match squad of 16, however, and had to wait until the Lilywhites’ final game of the season to make the bench, when he was an unused substitute in the side’s 2-1 win over Waterford United in the second leg of the promotion/relegation playoff final at the RSC. That sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory for Dundalk but it was not enough to see them promoted as Galway United instead gained a top-flight spot due to criteria set down by the FAI.

As he continued to train with the first-team squad, Tiarnán gave Gill a firm message in May 2007 when the striker netted all five goals in a facile 5-1 win for the Dundalk Youths, and shortly after - following a striker crisis at the club - ‘T’ made his senior debut when introduced with five minutes to go in the 2-0 victory over Athlone Town at Lissywollen. Three days later, on 31 May, he again appeared from the bench for his Oriel Park bow against Monaghan United, and after a fantastic reception as he took to the field, Mulvenna put in an impressive 35-minute showing. His first senior goal for the club came within seconds of him entering as a second-half substitute against Kilkenny City at Oriel Park on 20 September as he scored with his first touch in a 4-0 win.

Last season saw Mulvenna continue his impressive development as he finally made a full breakthrough to the first team, playing in 29 (15 from the start) of the club’s 36 league games on their way to capturing the First Division crown. Mulvenna scored six goals along the way as Dundalk came out on top of a dramatic race for the First Division crown with virtually the last kick of the season as they pipped Shelbourne at the post to give Mulvenna his first medal in senior football. Gill, however, was soon replaced by Sean Connor, who chose to release 20 of the 23-man title-winning squad. Mulvenna was one of the lucky three to survive as he signed his first ever professional contract and he made his top-flight bow in the League of Ireland when entering as a late substitute in Dundalk’s opening night defeat by Bohemians on 6 March. He scored his first ever Premier Division goal against Bray Wanderers at Oriel Park on 5 June.

Profile last updated: July 2009