Wilson embraces left-back role in Dundalk promotion drive

JR Wilson has expressed his contentment in stepping into the role of left-back for Dundalk FC as they pursue the SSE Airtricity League First Division title.

Though a right-back by trade, Wilson has adapted seamlessly to the opposite flank, starting there in six of Dundalk’s last seven fixtures following the departure of first-choice left-back Sean Keogh, whose €150,000 move—plus add-ons—to Brighton & Hove Albion was finalised at the beginning of August.

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The Lilywhites had considered recruiting an unattached professional to fill the vacancy, yet no deal came to fruition, and in the meantime Wilson has embraced the responsibility, declaring himself more than willing to shoulder the task.

“I don’t mind; I said to the manager when I came I could play anywhere, and I probably regret that now,” the Ringsend man laughed, speaking to The Democrat after once again lining out at left-full in Dundalk’s 3-1 victory over Bray Wanderers at Oriel Park.

“Once I’m playing, I don’t really mind helping the team out,” he added. “It’s a good experience now, so I’ll do a job anywhere for the team.”

Having stumbled in their previous two outings—drawing with Kerry at home and away to Wexford—Dundalk returned to winning form on Friday night, defeating Bray 3-1 courtesy of a Gbemi Arubi brace and a well-taken strike from Eoin Kenny.

“It was a good win,” Wilson reflected. “It was a big game, first against third, and we had to go and win after drawing the last two games. It was a big night here in Oriel, and we had good support behind us, so it’s on to the next one now.

“We had to be out of the gap quick and had to bounce back after the last two draws. I thought Kenny and Gbemi were brilliant. Kenny, obviously away with the Northern Ireland U21s—pity it wasn’t southern—but it was brilliant for him and I’m delighted for him. He came back and he promised me yesterday he was going to get a goal today, so I’m delighted for him.”

Wilson, whose father Karl once lined out in the League of Ireland with Shelbourne, St James’s Gate, and Monaghan United, and whose younger brother Tyreke currently features for Shels, registered as a Dundalk player in July after departing a financially stricken Athlone Town at the end of May.

His brief spell with Athlone at the beginning of the campaign followed a career in which the 26-year-old amassed close to a century of Premier Division appearances—most of them under Damien Duff at Shelbourne—and he now hopes to return there next season with The Lilywhites.

“The first half of the season was a bit of a write-off, a bit of a mad one,” he explained. “I had to come down to part-time with work commitments and personal things at home, but this is a massive club. I’ve played here numerous times. Seeing the crowd here tonight—brilliant. They’re back on the up, and hopefully kick on and see what happens at the end of the season.

“Like I said, it’s one of the biggest clubs in Ireland. It should be in the top division, and that’s where you want to go and build it.”

League leaders Dundalk, six points clear of second-placed Cobh Ramblers in the race for automatic promotion, begin their final five matches on Saturday night away to Longford Town at Bishopsgate (kick-off, 7:30pm).

“They’re a tough team down there,” said Wilson. “The manager has done a brilliant job, to be fair to him. I watched them recently, and they’re doing well. It’s going to be a tough game Saturday night, but it’s all about being professional, getting a win, and finding a way, as we always do—that’s the plan.”