Aidan Lynch (born: 29 August 1977) began his career in the League of Ireland back in 1995 when he made four appearances for college side, UCD, in the Premier Division. That was the first of seven successive seasons in the top flight with the Students, a period in which he made 134 appearances and scored eight goals. The centre-half then departed to Drogheda United in 2002 and played in the majority of the Louth club’s games over three seasons, playing 79 matches. That was a spell which included a short stint in charge with Pat Scully as joint-caretaker manager after the resignation of Harry McCue in September 2003, with their only game at the helm being a 3-0 win over Waterford United.
 
Following the Boynesiders’ decision to go full-time and Aidan’s unwillingness to give up his teaching career, the Dubliner returned to UCD at the beginning of 2005. However, he made just nine appearances for the Belfield outfit this time before being sent on-loan by Pete Mahon to First Division club, Dublin City. There, under the guidance of Dermot Keely, Lynch was an ever-present with 17 appearances in the right-back position. He helped the Vikings into the ‘Promotion/Relegation Playoff’ with many fine performances and two goals, and managed to net one of the crucial goals in that two-legged affair that consigned Shamrock Rovers to their first ever season out of the top division.
 
That appeared to have given Lynch a quick return to Premier League football, but looking to change personnel for the Premier Division fight that lay ahead, Keely informed Lynch that he would not be looking for his services during the 2006 campaign. Although Shamrock Rovers would eventually express an interest in signing a player that helped to condemn them to the First Division, by then John Gill had secured Lynch's services for Dundalk thanks to a tip-off from Keely himself. The Whitehall-based secondary school teacher needed only 30 minutes to hear Gill’s plans and opt to put pen to paper, and has proved to be one of the manager’s best signings.
 
His Dundalk career didn’t get off to the best of starts, as he missed the first three months of the 2006 season after picking up an injury in the Lilywhites’ first friendly against Shelbourne. He didn’t make his competitive debut for the club until the FAI Cup meeting with Cobh Ramblers in late May, but thereafter was the first name on John Gill’s weekly team-sheet. In 16 league appearances, Lynch was key to Dundalk conceding just six goals compared to a massive 27 leaked in the 20 outings where Lynch was unavailable for selection. That was a run which helped the side to second place in the table, but despite a second playoff win in as many seasons for Lynch, he was denied top flight football due to the infamous IAG decision. Lynch’s calmness and reading of the game is incredible to watch and he has established himself as probably the best centre-half the club has had in recent years.
 
2007 seen him continue in the same form as he made 28 league appearances, and on 5 July, he scored his very first goal for the club in the 2-0 home win over Kildare County as he headed home a David Crawley free-kick. Having finished third, Dundalk once again found themselves in a playoff, however, this time, it was an unsuccessful adventure as Lynch suffered his first ever playoff defeat. His performances during the campaign, however, led to John Gill once again signing the defender up for 2008.
 
Outside of domestic competition, one of Lynch’s best career moments came on 5 July 1997, when goals from Dessie Baker and Damien Duff helped the Republic of Ireland to a 2-1 defeat of Ghana and a third place finish in the FIFA World Youth Championship. The side, coached by Brian Kerr, included Lynch and Colin Hawkins as the centre-half partnership. It was Lynch's only appearance in the tournament and it lasted for only 28 minutes before he was replaced by Alan Kirby.
 
The Irish had finished second in their group to Ghana, but a 2-1 win over the USA and a 1-1 draw against China gave them a place in the second round where they overcame Morocco after extra-time, with Duff and Neale Fenn on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory. A Trevor Molloy penalty accounted for Spain at the quarter-final stage but the Irish lost by the same margin to an Argentine side in the last four. For the record, Argentina defeated Uruguay 2-1 in the final in a competition where David Trezeguet, Michael Owen, Danny Murphy and Thierry Henry all featured as goalscorers. For Ireland though, "(Damien) was the only one who went on to greater and better things," Lynch stated.
 
Profile last updated: February 2008