Stephen O'Donnell hopeful Dundalk can recruit more signings before season opener

Stephen O’Donnell remains hopeful that Dundalk FC can add more new signings ahead of the SSE Airtricity League season, which kicks off on February 17th.

The club had already announced four acquisitions ahead of last week's pre-season friendly with First Division side Finn Harps at Oriel Park, which ended in a 0-0 draw, while a few days ago Archie Davies became the club's fifth new player in 2023.

Hayden Muller and Connor Malley both made the starting line-up, while Louie Annesley and Cameron Elliott emerged for the second half, with the former having what would have been a winning goal ruled out in the final moments for what looked to be an offside.

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“I thought it was important,” said head coach O’Donnell, when asked to assess the performance of his new arrivals. “That’s why I wanted a 7.45 kick-off, just to get them used to the surroundings, what it’s like on a home match night.

“They all have really good attributes, and I thought they done well. It’s not easy coming in your first game. They’re only in the door. As I said, we haven’t done anything shape-wise, et cetera, with them as a group in bigger spaces. They all have really good attributes, good age profiles, and I think they’ll be really good players for the club.”

With the opening fixture of the 2023 campaign against UCD at Oriel less than four weeks away, O’Donnell confirmed that the club’s business has not yet been completed, with The Lilywhites believed to be scouring the English and Scottish markets for further additions.

“Hopefully there’ll be another few, but again, it’s a tough market,” he claimed. “We could go and get three next week, but they have to be three that can add to the squad.

“Sometimes these take time, and we’re going to try our best to get the best possible players available. Hopefully there will be another three or four, so hopefully we get there. In an ideal world, that’s what I’m looking to add.”

Playing the full 90 minutes for Dundalk on Friday was English trialist Sam Caiger, a 20-year-old right-back, who was previously a West Ham United U21 player with Alfie Lewis.

Caiger came through the famed youth academy at West Ham before signing a professional contract with The Hammers, but was released after just one season in 2021.

“I thought Sam done well,” reflected O’Donnell. “He’s been out of football for a long time now. That might have been his first game in 18 months to two years, so that’ll bring him on lots.

“He was at West Ham previous, but he’s had a couple of back operations and that, so I thought he done well. It’s not easy. You’re coming in there, you haven’t played football in a long time, and it’s a new team, your first time playing at the venue. I thought he done well.”

Although not formally announced, O’Donnell confirmed that reserve goalkeeper Mark Byrne, who played the second half against Harps, will remain part of the squad in 2023.

However, The Lilywhites were without several injured players against Harps, but O’Donnell is hopeful that he will have close to a full complement available when UCD come to town.

“We have John Mountney, Robbie McCourt, Darragh Leahy, Robbie Benson, Daniel Kelly, John Martin and Greg Sloggett (on the injury list), so a lot of quality there to come back in, and quite exciting when we do sort of marry them back in. The majority will (be ready for the league), I’m hopeful.”

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Meanwhile, it was also announced that the recently retired Brian Gartland is to remain at Oriel as Head of Football Operations – a role that will see him work closely with the club’s owners, board, plus O’Donnell on all aspects of football-related activities.

“I’m delighted to have Brian on board,” added O’Donnell. “Before the end of last season, I wanted to have Brian involved in whatever capacity we could.

“He lives locally. He’s been an absolute club legend. He’s very articulate. He’s very intelligent, so he’s a brilliant asset. We want to create a sort of slick operation here at Dundalk, and that’s our goal of setting Dundalk up for the future.”