Stephen O’Donnell not taking Dundalk's European opponents for granted

Nothing will be taken for granted when Dundalk FC open their Europa Conference League campaign against Gibraltarian outfit FCB Magpies in two weeks’ time.

The Lilywhites were paired with the Gibraltarians at the first-qualifying-round draw, which took place in UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

The first leg will be played at Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar on Thursday, July 13th (kick-off, 6pm), with the return leg at Oriel Park on Thursday, July 20th (kick-off, 7.45pm).

Dundalk become the first-ever League of Ireland club to face a team from Gibraltar and will be heavy favourites to progress to the next round, although head coach O’Donnell is taking nothing for granted as he enters his maiden European campaign as a manager.

“It’s something to look forward to, an exciting time of the year now,” he said in reaction to the draw.

“There’ll be a little bit of the unknown. They’re obviously in their pre-season, they’re starting the pre-season and I think they’ve signed seven or eight players already.  It works both ways. They won’t be too despondent of us being the seeded team, them getting us.

“We’re looking forward to doing our homework on them, but we want to be going into that game off the back of good domestic results.  It’s all on the night though. You can say (you’re favourites). Then, when it’s unexpected, you go and win a game.

“I would take any game in isolation, on its merits when the first whistle goes, more so than saying that’s a dream draw or whatever. I think they’re all going to be tough games. Football has moved on. As you see with national teams and that, there’s no walkovers.”

Due to injury, O’Donnell didn’t travel with the squad to Larnaca, Cyprus back in 2018 when temperatures weren’t too far off 40-degrees Celsius as Dundalk were beaten 4-0.

Stephen Kenny still the right man for the Irish job despite recent results

The Commentary Box: The Gerry Malone Column

Pat Hoban delighted to be part of Dundalk FC history books

The climate in Gibraltar isn’t expected to be as intense, but will nonetheless pose a challenge for Dundalk, especially given the earlier kick-off time at Victoria Stadium.

Dundalk will have an opportunity to see FCB Magpies in action beforehand, when they take on English Championship side Preston North End in a friendly on July 5th in Spain.

“I don’t know what the heat is at the minute. It’s a six o’clock kick-off, so we’ll deal with that when it comes around. We’ll make sure we try and get everyone as healthy as we can going into it. We’ll definitely have eyes on (their friendly versus Preston) for sure.”

If, as expected, Dundalk overcome FCB Magpies, they will face the winners of the tie involving Connah’s Quay Nomads (Wales) and KA Akureyri (Iceland) in the second qualifying round, with the first leg scheduled to be away from home on July 27th.

Connah’s Quay are playing their home European games at Park Hall in Oswestry, the same venue where Dundalk faced Newtown in the Europa Conference League in 2021.

KA are based approximately 400km from Reykjavik, but in order to meet competition requirements, will likely have to play their home matches at Fram Reykjavik’s stadium.

The departure of Wasiri Williams from the club was also confirmed last Tuesday due to personal reasons, with the ex-Swansea City man set to join Partick Thistle in Scotland.

Meanwhile, loan signings Johannes Yli-Kokko and Rayhaan Tulloch are both scheduled to return to HJK Helsinki and West Bromwich Albion respectively in the coming weeks.

Those departures, coupled with long-term injuries to Robbie Benson and John Mountney, could leave The Lilywhites with only 16 fit outfield players, and that’s before factoring Archie Davies, who left Weavers Park sporting a protective boot last Friday.

Mayowa Animasahun, however, has returned from a productive loan spell at Dungannon Swifts in the Irish Premiership, and was amongst the travelling party in Drogheda.

Division 1 Reports: Naomh Mairtin back at the top following huge victory

Division 2 Reports: Dundalk Gaels' title hopes hit another setback

Interest in bringing Daryl Horgan back to Oriel for what would be a sensational return does remain, but The Lilywhites are likely to be priced out of a move for the 30-year-old.

“I don’t know,” replied O’Donnell, when asked if there was resources to add to his squad. “If anything goes out, something will come in. It’ll be like for like if we do any business.

“We’ll see where we get (with Horgan). But as I said, anything that comes in, it’ll have to be like for like, so anything that comes in will have to go out.

“I’ve spoken to Daryl. I’ve kept in contact with Daryl even before he was available. From a player’s point of view, he’s weighing his options and we’ll see what we can do, if we can do anything.”

Dundalk’s players wore black armbands throughout last Friday’s 2-1 SSE Airtricity League win at Drogheda United in honour of ex-player Karolis Chvedukas, who spent the 2018 season at Oriel, and passed away suddenly at the age of just 32 earlier in the week.

“It shows you how fragile life is and not contemplating on the grand scheme of things,” said O’Donnell.

“It’s only when things happen to you from a health point of view, or your family or your loved ones, that you know, why do you worry so much about football?

“I lived with Karolis. It’s terrible. He was so young, 32 years of age, it’s terrible. Unfortunately, things like these happen in life, people close to you, people you know get taken away from you. Obviously, I send my condolences to Karolis’ friends and family.”