Dundalk FC :: News

05 March 2008: EXPERIENCE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL PROMOTION PUSH

by Keith Wallace

This weekend sees the beginning of the 2008 eircom League of Ireland season, with Friday’s opening night of action throwing up some eye-catching clashes - none more so than in the First Division as Dundalk and Shelbourne battle it out for an early head start in the race for promotion. This year represents a crucial one for Dundalk, with the Lilywhites facing into their seventh season in the lower tier - an all too long absence from the top table for one of Ireland’s greatest clubs.

Denied promotion for infamous reasons two years ago, Dundalk started last season at lightening pace before self-destructing. However, looking at John Gill’s close season dealings, the Lilywhites now look to have a squad capable of earning a top flight ticket once more. Eight of the nine new arrivals have previously played their way out of this division, with Gill’s objective to bring in players who have done it all before quite clear.

Of the nineteen senior players now on the books at Oriel Park, fourteen of them have won promotion in their careers to date, while another has won a Premier League medal. The manager and the assistant manager have also won promotion both as a player and a coach, and that invaluable experience now in the squad and management team is key to Dundalk’s hell finally ending.

Threats will, as ever in this division, be widespread. With a full pre-season to prepare his troops this time around, Dermot Keely’s Shelbourne are likely to provide the biggest danger. The form of a possibly lethal strikeforce in ex-Lilywhite pair Philip Hughes and Anto Flood could be pivotal to the Reds returning to the Premier Division at the second attempt, with a squad of 24 giving Keely plenty of options and cover in all areas.

Despite being quiet in the build-up to the new campaign, Waterford United, relegated from the top flight last November, will also be dangerous, while the dark horses are without doubt new club Sporting Fingal, who have eight ex-Dundalk players in their ranks. Outside of that trio, it is hard to envisage any one of the remaining sextet making a credible challenge to Dundalk, although stranger things have happened.

Dundalk, like last year, have again been installed as ante-post favourites for the title, however, to justify their place at the head of the betting market, they will need to improve their away form drastically. Unbeaten at home until the league was out of reach late last season, the Lilywhites’ results on the road cost them any hope of capturing the title, with just one win from their last ten attempts (1-2-7). The 43 points accumulated at Oriel was in stark contrast to the 23 picked up away, and that’s a problem which will need to be addressed immediately as they travel to Shels on Day One.

With a new and fresh squad assembled by Gill, however - provided, of course, that they avoid any repeat of the widespread injury-crisis which was suffered by the club last season - Dundalk are tipped to bury their away day blues, and they appear to be in pole position for the one and only promotion place. Whether or not they can deliver on their promise, only time will tell, however, their pre-season displays indicate that they can, with another successful and entertaining season looking assured.


KEY PLAYER: DAVID CASSIDY - Midfielder Signed from Shamrock Rovers in the close season, an in-form Cassidy will be vital to Dundalk challenging for league honours this year. The 22-year-old has already one First Division winners medal in his collection from his time at Shamrock Rovers, while he also helped the Hoops to a fifth place finish in the top tier last term as he played in all bar three of their league games. Successful with both of his League of Ireland clubs to date, the tenacious central midfielder has impressed highly with his all-round game in five appearances during pre-season, and his fitness and form will shape Dundalk’s season.


ONE TO WATCH: ROBBIE MARTIN - Striker Signed from Longford Town shortly after appearing for the midlanders in the FAI Cup final in December, this former UCD goal machine could be the answer to Dundalk’s scoring problems. Played on the left side of midfield throughout last year by Alan Mathews, John Gill acquired Martin to play him in his more preferred position of striker. In his last season in the First Division with UCD, in the College side’s promotion winning year of 2004, Martin netted twelve times in thirty appearances. With Dundalk, the 25-year-old has failed to hit the net in pre-season, however, he is tipped to at least equal that feat achieved with the Students four years ago, as the Lilywhites look for a new Goal King.