John Gill’s new-look Dundalk squad will enter their first match on grass together this Tuesday night when the Lilywhites visit Premier Division hopefuls Bohemians at Dalymount Park (kick-off 7.45pm). It will be the first of two games in four days for the Louth club, as they also travel to the Brandywell to face Derry City on Friday evening in preparation for next week’s big First Division kick-off with Shelbourne.
 
The Oriel outfit have competed in four pre-season friendlies to date, all at home, with the side losing their last two warm-up matches having opened with eye-catching displays against Drogheda United and Saint Patrick’s Athletic. However, despite their recent reversals, it has been a highly productive and impressive start to the year for the Lilywhites, who were unlucky to lose out to Shamrock Rovers in their latest outing.
 
Bohemians, meanwhile, have had a quieter schedule, with Pat Fenlon’s men beating Monaghan United and drawing with English Championship side Burnley, both at Dalymount Park, before they enjoyed a warm-weather training camp in Spain, where they took in a friendly against Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev last Thursday. Now back on home soil, the Gypsies face both Dundalk and Shelbourne in the next four days ahead of their opening Premier Division fixture away to Galway United on Friday week.
 
Dundalk Team News: Manager John Gill will have a fully fit 20-man panel to choose from for the trip to Dublin, with both centre-half Ben Whelehan and central midfielder Paul Crowley again going to feature as the pair build their way back to full fitness.
 
2008 Friendly Results - Bohemians:
2 February - Bohemians 1-0 Monaghan United (Turner)
15 February - Bohemians 0-0 Burnley
21 February - Dynamo Kiev 2-1 Bohemians (Husyev, Bangoura; Cronin)
 
Dundalk:
7 February - Dundalk 0-0 Drogheda United - (Drogheda win 5-4 on penalties)
12 February - Dundalk 1-0 Saint Patrick’s Athletic - (Flanagan 4)
14 February - Dundalk 0-2 Bray Wanderers - (Duggan 27, Vaughan OG 60)
21 February - Dundalk 1-2 Shamrock Rovers - (Lynch 80; Murphy 3, Doyle 55)