Dundalk manager staying cautious ahead of Cobh clash

Dundalk FC could potentially open up a significant 10-point cushion at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League First Division when they host Cobh Ramblers at Oriel Park tonight (kick-off: 7.45pm).

However, manager Ciaran Kilduff has played down any suggestion that his side are clear favourites to claim automatic promotion back to the Premier Division, choosing instead to maintain a composed and cautious stance.

Unbeaten in their opening eight fixtures, with seven wins to their name, Dundalk enter this week’s clash holding a commanding seven-point lead at the top of the table.

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A win on Friday—paired with a Bray Wanderers defeat at home to Treaty United—would see that margin stretch to 10 points, marking a dominant conclusion to the first round of games in the campaign.

“It’s just one game at a time,” Kilduff told The Democrat. “We’ll set the standard and accumulate as many points as we can. Hopefully, it’ll be enough. We know we’re on a nice run right now, and winning can be a good habit to be in.

“We do speak a lot about finding a way at times, and (the win against UCD) was one of those nights where we just found a way. Against Longford earlier in the season, we were missing a lot of bodies.

“It was a war of attrition up at Finn Harps, and we were down to 10 men in Kerry. We’re getting tested with different kinds of tests, and we’re just finding ways and taking strength in it week to week.

“We know how to win games now, which is a nice trait to have. The same way losing is a habit, so is winning. The longer we can stay on this little momentum we’re on, the better.”

While Dundalk’s momentum remains untouched, the First Division was plunged into disarray last week as the FAI sanctioned three clubs—most notably Wexford and Kerry, who were each docked three points due to player registration irregularities.

“It’s not good,” said Kilduff. “As individual clubs, we’re trying to set standards for players and all of that. As a league, we need to try and do better. It turns into sagas then — of who did what, who didn’t do what, who could have done more, and who could have done better.

“It’s a bad reflection on all of us; we’re all in this league. The League of Ireland, in the last couple of weeks, has had a lot of good news stories, positive news around it.

“This week, unfortunately, it’s been matched with a couple of negative statements. Hopefully, they all get ironed out and they’re all resolved in the proper manner.”

Relegated from the Premier Division at the end of last season, Dundalk entered the new campaign as the bookmakers’ favourites for an immediate return — a status bestowed upon them even before a ball was kicked.

Thus far, they have lived up to that expectation, though Kilduff remains measured in his response.

“You’re never going to say it, but even after this week’s game — win, lose, or draw — we’re only 25% through the season; only a quarter of the games are done. As much as we’ve picked up in this round of games, you can lose as many in the next.

“For now, obviously, we’re in a good place. We’re happy with the haul of points we’ve picked up, but as a group and as a club, we’ve said: one week at a time — next up is Cobh.”

Dundalk have triumphed in each of their last three encounters with Cobh, all in the FAI Cup, maintaining a flawless defensive record.

The two sides have not faced each other in a League of Ireland match since 2007, the last occasion they both competed in the First Division simultaneously.

Furthermore, Cobh have not secured a victory in any of their last five visits to Oriel, with their most recent win at the venue dating back to the start of the 2006 season.

On Friday, the Cork side will be without the services of their captain, Shane Griffin, following his dismissal in their 3-1 home defeat to Wexford—a result that saw them slip to third place, falling below Bray in the standings.

While the outcome was disappointing, the more pressing concern at St Colman’s Park is the uncertain future of their US-based owners, FC32 Global Holdings, which has abruptly ceased its financial support for SKN St Polten of Austria, another club in its portfolio.

“They’ve good players,” explained Kilduff when looking ahead to this week’s fixture. “They’ve been through the mill with all that news and stuff that’s going on. It’s a game of football, and hopefully we can fill out Oriel once again and make it a good occasion.

“That’s all that’s important, that we get out for another game of football. We have that appreciation after maybe what happened to the club last year, going to the wall and being saved by John (Temple) late in the day, but we wouldn’t like to see any other club go through it.

“Fingers crossed, as a club, they get through, but there’ll be no sentiment for 90 minutes. But football aside, I hope everything is all right down there.”