Dundalk FC kick-off their First Division campaign against Athlone

Dundalk FC kick-off their SSE Airtricity League Men’s First Division campaign on Friday night when they welcome Athlone Town to Oriel Park. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

It’s a fresh start for the Lilywhites, who begin life in the First Division under new manager Ciarán Kilduff.

The club's European history maker takes charge of his first league game, and there’s an extra layer of intrigue as he faces his old club, Athlone Town.

Kilduff enjoyed great success with Athlone’s women’s team where he led them to a league and FAI Cup double over the past two seasons.

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Only two players remain from Dundalk’s first game of 2024—captain Daryl Horgan and defender Mayowa Animasahun—highlighting the scale of change in the squad.

Kilduff's men are aiming for a swift return to the Premier Division after suffering relegation last season. Oriel Park was far from a fortress in 2024, with Dundalk winning just four of their 18 home matches.

Pre-season results have been mixed for the Lilywhites with wins against Malahide United, Drogheda United, and Shamrock Rovers U20s but losses to Shelbourne and Usher Celtic. A 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland U19s added another test for the squad.

Both these sides last met in the 2020 FAI Cup in a match that ended in a record-breaking 11-0 win for the Lilywhites.

While such a result is unlikely this time around, the home side will be eager to start their promotion push on a positive note.
The manager is relishing the occasion and the significance of the game after a turbulent off-season for Dundalk.

Kilduff said: “When I was saying it at the start of the year about how special this game will be, I meant that I just couldn’t wait for this moment tonight which will mean that all of the work that has been going on is worthwhile, justified and we’ll have that opening night feeling of ‘we can concentrate on football.

“I think we got a taster against Drogheda two weeks ago of a couple of thousand in the stadium.

“Opening league night, when there were some really, really worrying times about not even having a licence, I’m not saying the result doesn’t matter, but it is a victory in itself that the club has an opening night game in the league this year.

“That’s not lost on me or the players and the staff. We appreciate that and we’re going to use that as a driving force this season.”

In team news, Dundalk has received a boost with centre-half Seán McHale (heel) and winger Norman Garbett (hamstring) back in full training and available for selection. However, defender Ethen Vaughan (hamstring) remains sidelined and will require a scan.