Dundalk out to defy formbook against table-topping Rovers
The Lilywhites welcome Shamrock Rovers to Oriel Park on Friday night
Dundalk FC’s season reaches another significant juncture on Friday night when The Lilywhites welcome defending champions Shamrock Rovers to Oriel Park (kick-off, 7.45pm), with Ciaran Kilduff’s side seeking to halt a four-game winless run against the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division leaders.
Despite recent frustrations, Dundalk remain fourth in the table on 22 points after 16 games, a respectable return for a side that only returned to the top flight this season.
However, back-to-back defeats at Oriel have left Kilduff demanding a sharper edge from his squad as the campaign nears its halfway point.
“We’re at the highest level of football and we’re the newly-promoted team,” Kilduff said. “I think you’re going to see deficiencies at times. I think we went through a good run and we’re obviously in a bad one now.
“I don’t think there’s been many teams in the division that haven’t gone through a period like that, but we’re not going to accept it. We’re very frustrated with it.
“It’s not good enough. At this level, in this league, we have to come up with answers quickly because it’s not going to get any easier.”
Kilduff’s task against Stephen Bradley’s side is complicated further by mounting defensive absentees. Rob Cornwall serves a suspension, while Mayowa Animasahun (hamstring) and Conor O’Keeffe are also ruled out, leaving Dundalk once again piecing together a makeshift backline.
On Animasahun, Kilduff confirmed: “He’ll be out for a while after the break, no time soon. He had a negative scan, which is not perfect. It won’t be season-ending or anything like that, but he’s obviously got a bit of a road ahead.”
O’Keeffe’s ongoing concussion issues are also a concern for the club.
“Chief is probably having a recurrence of his concussions,” Kilduff added. “He seems to be getting re-concussed after the bang he took down in Cobh last year.
“It seems every time he gets a re-impact in that area, we lose him. So, obviously, we have a duty of care there to look after that, so that hasn’t been easy either.”
Meanwhile, highly-rated teenager Vinnie Leonard appears unlikely to play again for Dundalk before his summer move to Norwich City.
“Vinnie is probably the next one on the way back after his virus. He was hospitalised for a period as well, but he is on the way back. Unfortunately, it won’t be any time soon,” said Kilduff.
“It’s unlikely we’re going to see him. It’s just unfortunate. It’s not through lack of trying or desire from Vinnie or anything like that.”
The visit of Rovers begins a daunting sequence for Dundalk, who travel to rivals Drogheda United the following week in two fixtures that will bring them to the midpoint of the season.
“Two perfect games,” Kilduff said. “There isn’t going to be anything easy about it. We’ll definitely make an honest approach of ourselves. Listen, this is what we wanted.
“Shamrock Rovers coming here — I think it’s on the telly as well. Hopefully, we get a full house, make a bit of noise and have a go at them. It’s the newly-promoted team against the defending champions and league leaders. What an opportunity to go and hopefully compete.”
Dundalk can at least draw confidence from February’s meeting in Tallaght Stadium, where they earned a 1-1 draw despite playing much of the contest with 10 men.
Kilduff knows another monumental effort will be required if they are to unsettle a Rovers side once again setting the pace at the summit.
“They’re a top team,” he said. “They’re the champions, they’re top of the table, they’re formidable. We’ll just have to do whatever we can to get ready for them. It’s not going to get any easier.
“Obviously, there is a defensive issue now with the numbers. Even our makeshift centre-halves aren’t available, so we’ll just have to take our medicine and regroup over the weekend.”
For all the disappointment surrounding recent results, Dundalk’s position in the upper reaches of the table remains a source of encouragement heading into a pivotal fortnight.
“That’s the one positive in this — we’re probably still mixing it with teams,” Kilduff said. “It’s not bad reading, but it was a bad feeling because when you’re leading like that, you have to come away with something.”