Kilduff salutes loyal Dundalk fans after Tralee triumph

Ciaran Kilduff expressed his delight in sending the travelling Dundalk FC faithful home with smiles on their faces, following a commanding 4-0 victory over Kerry in Tralee over the weekend.

With nearly 1,000 spectators gathered at Mounthawk Park on Friday night—many of them having made the long journey from Dundalk—Kilduff took satisfaction not only in his side’s second consecutive win, which preserves their four-point cushion at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League First Division, but also in acknowledging the unwavering support of the club’s loyal followers.

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The Lilywhites opened the scoring through Harry Groome’s third goal in four starts, saw Eoin Kenny end a 15-match drought to double the lead on the hour, and capped off a commanding display with stoppage-time strikes from substitutes Keith Ward and Andy Paraschiv, as jubilant Dundalk celebrations carried on deep into the Tralee night.

“The objective was to come down and win,” manager Kilduff told The Democrat. “If you said we’d win 4-0 on the way down, I would’ve bitten your hand off.

“For periods of the game, our own quality wasn’t there, and I always felt we could maybe put them to the sword tonight in the way we were last week against Cobh. If we carried that performance and intensity, we’d do well down here, but it took us a while to get there.

“We were comfortable most of the night, but I’m trying to set as high a standard for them because they deserve it. They’re a brilliant group, and they work hard, and they’re honest, and I’m delighted that they’re going home with a 4-0 win — it makes the trip home a little bit better.

“4-0 is our biggest scoreline of the season, but to say anything about that was easy would be a lie. The lads had to perform, and they did, with some big goals at key moments.

“The first goal settles us down a bit. Eoin’s probably kills the game to make it 2-0, and then two late ones put a bit of gloss on the scoreline.”

Reflecting on Groome’s recent surge in front of goal, he remarked: “We’ve pressed him on that a bit. We needed him to step up, and he did with some huge goals, the one against Wexford in particular. He’s a super player, and there’s more to come from him.

“Sometimes we treat these lads like they’re a little bit older than they are. He’s only in his early twenties himself, trying to find his way. This is the biggest club he’s played with in terms of his profile and playing in front of big crowds. He’s getting better every week and coming up with goals, which is always a good trait for a midfielder.

“We’re going to take as many positives as we can from tonight. It’s a big win — 4-0 in Kerry — but it’s time to go home now and get all eyes on Bray.

“We did things right. The club were brilliant as well. We came down the night before, we prepped properly, and thankfully we were able to repay them with a good scoreline.”

Speaking about the travelling support, he said: “I met some of them when I was out for a coffee earlier, and they were nearly hoarse by then, but I don’t know if it was from shouting — it might have been from a bit of drinking,” he laughed.

“They’re the best in the country, they always have been. They sing and support us, and I’ve said since day dot that we appreciate it and we need it. We’re really in a good place now as a club, finally.

“We’ve always had a couple of teething problem moments, especially at the start of the season when we’re trying to rebuild, but we feel the supporters are always behind us — I feel it.

“I know the players feel it — you could see Eoin’s reaction to his goal, straight to them — and he’s had a huge night tonight. We have the best support in the country, we know it, it’s not lost on us.”