Andy Boyle played a huge role in Dundalk's title-winning success

I just happened to bump into an ardent Dundalk supporter, while I was out doing my early morning shopping last Saturday. The supporter was so positive about the future of the club, it was unreal.

He said it will take about three years for the club to become a major power force in Irish soccer again. This supporter will be buying his usual season ticket in the coming weeks. He said that it will take time to rebuild the club from the ashes it is now in.

He is convinced that John Temple can bring the club back from the abyss. The supporter says that nobody knows the pressure that Brian Ainscough had to go through running the club last season.

But he says he is confident the club will get significant government grants going forward to improve the Oriel Park infrastructure. It may take a couple of years for the grants to come. But they will come.

He said it was a horrendous year for Brian Ainscough grappling with the debts the club had built up over the past couple of seasons. But now the club has come back from the brink, and can only go one way and that is up.

The supporter is a member of the Dundalk FC Supporters Trust. He has got his brother and sister to join the trust as well. One is in the United States. The other is in Australia.

I found our short discussion very interesting. His point that last season was horrendous for Brian Ainscough made me think just how difficult running a League of Ireland club must be.

We as supporters mostly think of the players and the manager and how they are doing on the field. But nobody thinks of the owner, who must pay the bills on a weekly and a monthly basis. The cost of running any League of Ireland club is massive.

It will take over half a million euro to run Dundalk next season. And it may be a lot more, depending on the state of the economy. I do not think many realise just how close the club nearly went out of business. I am one of them.

I always felt that it would be saved before the deadline left by Brian Ainscough. I did not know just how bad a state the club was in. It was in a dreadful state.

I just do not know why John Temple has come in and rescued Dundalk. But he has obviously done his due diligence and sees a way for Dundalk to get out of the mess it has been in.

But he, like any owners of League of Ireland clubs, is taking a massive risk. But John seems to have brought stability to the club. It looks certain now that the club will not have to enter SCARP.

This is massive, as it has allowed Dundalk to continue planning for next season. The club will also not face a points deduction. Now I will stress that it's important that we wait as supporters for the announcement about SCARP is official.

But it will ensure that Dundalk can continue to plan for the next season and take its place in Division One, once news about SCARP is fully confirmed.

There was great news for the club on Friday evening when it was announced that Dundalk were welcoming local company Zoma as a principal partner. Zoma will have their name on the front of the Dundalk FC shirt on a two-year deal.

Zoma, is a multi-award-winning marketing agency located in Park Street in Dundalk. They have made a significant investment in the club. As part of the deal, they will assist the club in developing and growing the official website and social media platforms.

Zoma are recognised locally and nationally for their creativity. They also have an office in Belfast. They also work closely with companies in the Dundalk area.

Dundalk FC say they are very excited for the club to come on board, as they look forward to a new era at Oriel Park, bringing the club back to the community.

Dundalk CEO Peter Halpin says that partnering with another fantastic local company is a testament to the support the club continues to see as they reset and rebuild.

The Marketing manager of Zoma, David Kieran, says that his company are incredibly proud to be the shirt sponsor, and Marketing Partner of Dundalk FC for the next two years.

Mr Kieran says that the partnership is about more than just about football. He says it is about reconnecting the club with the local community, families and schools.

He said that Zoma's partnership with the club will share in the inspiring story of resurgence and ambition that Dundalk FC represents.

The club's new 2025 first-team jersey will be unveiled soon. It will be designed by local company Playr-Fit. It's great to see the club's deal as its Official Kit Supplier extending into a third season.

The importance of securing a sponsor for the first team jersey means so much for the club. It's a great vote of confidence in the club. To think that six weeks ago Dundalk came within hours of extinction.

Now the sponsors are returning. More will follow. It's a great foundation stone for the rebirth of Dundalk FC. When one thinks how long it took the Republic of Ireland to get a shirt sponsor in the post-John Delaney era.

It's a great achievement by Dundalk to have secured such a good sponsor and who will add to the money already invested in the club.

There will potentially be another sponsored company being named on the back of the jersey. There may also be two other sponsors.

Dundalk lost its key central defender when it was confirmed that Andy Boyle had departed the club for Premier Division, Waterford. The news broke early last week. It's a huge blow to Dundalk in my mind.

But nobody can deny Andy a chance of continuing in the Premier Division. I do not even know if Ciaran Kilduff had Andy in his plans. But he must have been. Andy was out of contract at the end of the season just finished.

Waterford have a full-time set-up. Dundalk's is a part-time set-up. I'm sure Andy was offered a good financial package. Dundalk would not have been able to compete with that. Andy is 34 next March.

He is in the twilight zone of his career. He was right to head to the southeast to play with a club that looks to have great potential.

Andy arrived at Oriel Park in December 2012 at the age of 21, He began his League of Ireland career in February 2009 with UCD where he spent two seasons. He made 55 appearances for the university side scoring one goal.

Andy moved to Shelbourne for two more seasons. He made 52 appearances for the Dublin club. He did not get any goals for the Tolka Park side. But Stephen Kenny was monitoring the young centre half when he himself did not have a club.

He was also watching Pat Hoban playing for Mervue United. Kenny arrived at Oriel in 2012. In the same month, Andy Boyle was signed by Kenny and one of the best centre-halves to ever play for Dundalk had arrived at Oriel.

Stephen Kenny said at the time of signing Andy, that he had a major building block secured in his success plan for Dundalk. Andy had two spells for Dundalk.

He was an ever-present centre half in the team in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. He made 129 appearances for Dundalk in that four-year spell. Andy scored seven goals in that period also. He won three league titles in a row.

That was in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He also won the double with Dundalk in 2015. It was a remarkable achievement for the young Dubliner. He was part of the Dundalk team that got to the qualifying round for the Champions League.

This same side went on to qualify for the Group Stages of the Europa League. Only Shamrock Rovers had achieved this for the League of Ireland a few years previously.

Andy's reputation was being monitored by English clubs by 2016. When the season ended in 2016, he signed for Championship side Preston North End. But Andy found it very difficult to make the breakthrough in the Preston first team.

Over three seasons Andy had made just ten first-team appearances and had failed to score a goal. In 2018 Andy went out on loan to Doncaster Rovers. He made six appearances for the first team. He did score a goal for them.

Andy was only in Doncaster for a short spell. Preston let him out on loan again in 2018. He went to Dundee, where he made an immediate breakthrough to the first team. Andy made thirteen first-team appearances for Dundee and scored one goal.

In 2019 Andy was loaned out again by Preston. This time he went to another Scottish side, Ross County. He made 11 first-team appearances and scored one goal.

In November 2018 Dundalk were rocked by the departure of their most successful ever manager, Stephen Kenny. Stephen left a week after completing another double. Nobody saw his departure coming.

The FAI offered Kenny the Republic of Ireland U21 job with a stone wall guarantee of becoming manager of the senior team at some time in the future. Everybody was stunned.

It soon became clear that Stephen had an escape clause in his contract if he were ever offered the job of manager of a Republic of Ireland team that would lead taking charge of the senior team at a future date.

With the departure of Stephen Kenny, his assistant Vinny Perth became the first team manager. Vinny was the natural choice. He had nothing to prove to anybody as he played a huge part in the Dundalk success story with Kenny as boss.

It was a surprise to me, why Stephen did not bring Vinny with him as part of his backroom team when he took up the job with the Ireland U21's. Vinny decided to make a move to bring Andy Boyle back to Dundalk.

Andy was only too delighted to return. He was returning to a team who were League champions and who would be playing in the preliminary round stages of the Champions League once more.

Under Vinny Perth, Dundalk won another League title in 2019. Andy Boyle played a huge role in Dundalk's title-winning success. Dundalk also won the League Cup that season. They also reached another FAI Cup final.

This time it was Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva. A win for Vinny Perth's team would have seen Dundalk become only the second-ever team to do the elusive treble.

Derry City had done the treble in 1989 under Jim McLaughlin. Derry supporters prayed that Dundalk would not equal their club's record.

The game against Shamrock Rovers was a cracker. It went to penalties. In the end, Rovers won it, smashing Dundalk's dreams of doing the treble.

The Pandemic struck in March 2020. Its arrival amazingly also saw Dundalk begin to decline as the top club in the League of Ireland. After games were suspended because of COVID-19, they returned. But no crowds were allowed to attend.

All games were played behind closed doors. Bill Hulsizer, who now controlled the club, decided to replace Vinny Perth with Filippo Giovagnoli. It was a disgraceful decision. However, Filippo guided Dundalk to the group stages of the Europa League.

They were the first Irish team to reach this stage of the Europa League for a second time. Dundalk played Arsenal at the Emirates in London. They also played a return leg at Tallaght. 

Filippo also guided Dundalk to another FAI Cup win in November 2020. It was sweet revenge against Shamrock Rovers who had just dethroned Dundalk as champions and for the FAI Cup final defeat the year before.

Andy won his second FAI Cup medal that season. In season 2021, he was one of the key players who helped Dundalk narrowly avoid relegation when Vinny Perth was called back to save Dundalk from the dreaded drop.

Vinny delivered, but only after putting Peter Cherrie back into goals, having left him out for quite a number of games when he returned in the latter part of the season. In the end, Vinny delivered and Cherrie saved Dundalk from the drop.

Andy Connolly returned in November 2021 as joint owner of the club with STATSports. As Vinny Perth's short-term contract with Dundalk was up, Stephen O'Donnell was brought in as the new manager.

O'Donnell will always be a hero to Dundalk as a captain and player. He had just guided Pats to the FAI Cup in November 2021 In his first season as boss, Dundalk finished in fourth place. But they were back in Europe.

This time for Andy Boyle, Dundalk were to get past just one team before going out of the Europa Conference League. In 2023 Dundalk failed to qualify for Europe. A number of well-known players left the club.

Record goal scorer Pat Hoban was told he could find another club by O'Donnell. This was shortly before the end of season 2023. It was a huge mistake. Brian Ainscough came in as the new owner. Stephen O'Donnell was sacked after Dundalk failed to win any of their first eight league games. They had scored just three times and conceded 15 in the process. Andy Boyle was still playing with Dundalk.

In October 2024 Dundalk were relegated at the end of the month having come rock bottom. Andy's contract was now up. Last Tuesday he decided to leave Dundalk and head to Waterford. He was vice-captain of Dundalk throughout his time at Oriel.

For much of it, he was captain as he delegated for Stephen O'Donnell, Brian Gartland and John Mountney when they were out injured.

His guidance as centre half at the back was immense. Andy had his own problems with injury. When he would return, one could see how badly he was missed.

Andy represented Ireland at underage level. On 2nd June 2006, he played for the Republic in a tri-nations international away game against the North. On 8th April 2009, Andy played for the Republic U19's in a friendly away to Cyprus.

He played again for the U19s against Portugal on 8th September 2009 in the Clarion Hotel Four Nation tour. He made three more appearances for the Ireland U19's.

They were against Albania and Italy in the UEFA U19 Championship Qualifying rounds. In May 2010 Andy played for Ireland U19's in the 2010 European Championship elite round against Ukraine.

On the 28th March 2017, Andy made his debut for the Irish senior team in a friendly against Iceland at the Aviva. He did not pick up any more senior caps.

Andy was a terrific asset to Dundalk FC both on and off the pitch. He was a leader. He had great motivation and communication skills needed for a captain. Andy never once turned me down to do an interview.

This was even in the most awful season gone by. I would have understood if he had wanted to. He was a gentleman to the corps.

He will be badly missed by Dundalk. Waterford are getting a real Captain Fantastic. I wish Andy and his new club the best for next season.

It's been some week for Drogheda United. Last Sunday week they beat Derry City in the FAI Cup final by two goals to nil. Nobody gave them a chance against Derry City. But Ruaidhri Higgins saw his side go down to a 2-0 defeat.

One of the goals was scored by former Dundalk U19 centre-half Andrew Quinn. Andrew was on Dundalk's books from 20th September 2020. He went out on loan to Bray the following February. He came back to Dundalk on 30th November 2021.

But Andrew did not stay long with Dundalk. Drogheda signed him on a free transfer in January 2022. He should have been kept at Oriel. It was just another example of Dundalk losing future key talented players.

Andrew moved to Shelburne on 1st January 2023. He returned to Drogheda a year later to the very date. Andrew is an excellent player. One wonders why Dundalk did not make a move for him.

He would at least have been one new Irish signing on their books. Last Saturday Drogheda won the promotion relegation play-off game against Bray Wanderers by three goals to one. This time last year, striker Franz Pierrot had just finished a season with Athlone Town.

He had scored an abundance of goals in Division One with Athlone. I remember saying to people he would be a great signing, knowing that Pat Hoban would be leaving Oriel. It was Drogheda who got his signature.

On Saturday he scored the two key goals that kept Drogheda in the Premier Division. Surely, Dundalk could and should have got him.

Franz is a natural striker. He formed a lethal partnership with Douglas James Taylor this season. It's a pity he was not playing for Dundalk.

The fallout for Derry for losing the cup final has been swift. Club skipper and former Dundalk hero Patrick McEleney has departed for Ballymena United in the Irish league. Manager Ruaidhri Higgins departed at his own insistence.

Owner Philip Doherty wanted Ruaidhri to stay as he had a year left on his contract. But the former Dundalk assistant manager knew it was time to go. Five weeks ago Derry were favourites to do the double.

Last Sunday week, their season crumbled to dust at the Aviva. The defeat also meant they had no Europe next season. Shane McEleney has also departed. He has signed for Glentoran. He can not start playing for the Oval club until 1st January.

Midfielder Colm Whelan has also departed the Brandywell. He has signed for Bohemians. Four other Derry players are also out of contract. Speculation has already started as to who the next manager will be.

Stephen O'Donnell's name is being linked to the job along with at least four others. It's been rumoured that Ruaidhri Higgins will be going to Pats to join Stephen Kenny's backroom team.

Irish League club Glenavon have parted company with their manager, Dundalk man Stephen McDonnell.They have won only three league games this season.

They are only four points off the bottom. Stephen was head of the Dundalk FC academy when Jim Magilton was the CEO at Oriel in 2021.

Dundalk full-back Sean Keogh played in the full game for the Republic of Ireland U19 team that beat Azerbaijan in Moldova last week. Sean continues to show very good promise.

The Dundalk FC supporters Trust held an EGM in the Lisdoo last night. They appear to have got a great response from the Dundalk soccer public.

One final note about Andy Boyle. He was as fine a centre-half as Dermot Keely, Paddy Dunning and Tommy McConville. He was a legend with the club who may at some stage return as manager in the future when Dundalk are back in the Premier Division.

Have a safe week. Please be careful out there and remember to look after each other.