The Commentary Box: Dundalk looking to the UK after missing out on Irish targets

The curtain finally came down on the career of Dundalk skipper Brian Gartland as he announced his retirement following 17 years in football.

The skipper made the announcement on twitter and within minutes it brought a flow of tributes to Dundalk’s gentle giant and centre half. Brian cited lingering injury issues as the key behind to his decision.

The 36-year-old centre back suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2021 at Tallaght Stadium. Brian did get back to full fitness, but was never the same after the injury.

The Dubliner has played with Bray, Shelbourne, Monaghan and Portadown before Stephen Kenny persuaded him to join Dundalk in 2013.  Brian went on to develop a formidable partnership with his fellow central defender Andy Boyle.

His 9-year spell at the club saw him winning four league titles and three FAI cups. He won the league four times over a five-year spell. Three of the titles were won under Stephen Kenny. The 4th was won under Vinny Perth in 2019.

He won two cups with Stephen Kenny and one with Filippo Giovangoli. He led Dundalk twice into the Group stages of the Europa League. Sadly, he rarely appeared for Dundalk after picking up the injury.

He did play in Dundalk’s 3-1 defeat in the cup against Waterford. He played his final game for Dundalk in the last game of the season against Derry City at the Brandywell. He led Dundalk to a 1-0 win.

Gartland starred in the game so much that I felt he might continue into next season. But on Saturday last, he made the very wise decision to blow the final whistle on an illustrious career. He was a Dundalk FC legend.

2023 Preparations

As preparations for the new season continue, Dundalk FC manager Stephen O’Donnell continues with his plans to bring in new key signings that are needed so much to ensure the side remains competitive towards the top end of the table.

There was some good news that midfielder Robbie Benson and John Mountney are expected to remain at the club. Robbie normally just signs one-year contracts with Dundalk.

It makes sense as it allows him to have the freedom to decide what to do at the end of the year. He has done it all with Dundalk, winning Leagues and cups.

He was also a player who made other clubs in Europe sit up and take notice when his key goals allowed Stephen Kenny’s side to march through the gates of Europe.

John Mountney will also be staying on at Oriel. Signed in 2012, John is the longest serving member of the squad with Dundalk. He was away from the club for two seasons. He joined Pat’s when Stephen O’Donnell left Oriel to take over as manager there.

But a bad injury in his second season at Inchicore saw him side-lined for 15 months. When Stephen returned to Oriel, Mountney came with him. He was fit again by August 2022. John had a great end of season and helped the Lilywhites to qualify for the Europa Conference League.

Dundalk have lost out to Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and St Pat’s as they chased new signings at home. They had been looking at three UCD players. However, those players opted for the three clubs already mentioned above.

I have no doubt Stephen O’Donnell will get the right players as we head into January. Stephen Bradley and Runar Hauge may be available for Dundalk in January from Hibernian as the transfer window opens.

Both would be good additions to the Dundalk squad. They know the set up at Oriel, having played for the team last season. Hauge got some vital goals for Dundalk towards the end of the year after coming to Oriel at the second half of the season.

Bradley of course took the league by storm at the beginning of the season. He was the Soccer Writers Player of the Month in March. He was top class. The 18-year-old did see a dip in form. But he finished up the season strongly and would of course be another asset to the Galwegian.

Joe Adams and Sam Bone are departing the club. Mark Connolly’s boots were just too big for Sam to fill. Joe found it difficult to stamp his authority in the team and was in and out of the first team at times during the season.

But he had a terrific last few games of the season for Dundalk, making a major contribution to getting them into Europe in 2023.

Thus, with the lack of players available on the domestic market, Stephen O’Donnell has turned towards the UK in an attempt to bring new talent to Oriel. It could be January before any new announcements on UK signings are made.

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Transfer Woes

Meanwhile as Dundalk are not getting the players in the League here, other clubs are. Shamrock Rovers signed Bohemians ace Liam Burt at the weekend. The attacking midfielder is seen as a major capture.

Burt follows in the footsteps of Danny Mandroiu, Andy Lyons and Roberto Lopes over the past couple of seasons. Lyons and Mandroiu now play in England.

Dylan Watts is also an ex Bohemians player. Rovers are expected to sign top Sligo Rovers striker Conor Keena. I would be expecting that a move on that is imminent.

The reigning champions will also be keeping Alan Mannus, Lee Grace, and Aaron Greene alongside five other players. All have accepted new contracts. 

Bohemians have signed former Drogheda United striker Dean Williams on a multi-year deal. Dean scored twice against Dundalk last season, helping the Drogs to two vital home wins over the Oriel Park side.

Surely Williams must have been considered by Stephen O’Donnell. But he must not have been the type of player he wanted. Bohemians also signed ex Derry City striker James Akintunde.

The Lilywhites have also lost out on the signatures of three key UCD players they wanted. One has to ask why they could not get even one of these players. This I find very worrying.

Derry once again got a player they wanted. They signed Colm Whelan from UCD. Dundalk are reported to have had a keen interest in signing the striker. But City can sign who they want these days, and they got their man in midweek.

European Memories

The weekend before last Dundalk said good-by to one of their greatest ever players, David McMillan. He decided correctly to call it a day following a star-studded career with the Oriel Park side.

In July 2016 Dundalk were held to a 1-1 draw by Icelandic champions FH in the second round of the Champions League Qualifiers. At that time, away goals counted double. Thus, FH were in the driving seat.

The Icelandic champions took the lead in the 2nd leg when they scored 18 minutes into the first half. Dundalk looked dead and buried, as did the Stephen Kenny dream.

The Lilywhites at this stage had very little money to keep Kenny’s ever-growing budget in check. Then came two goals that changed Dundalk’s fortune.

The tie was levelled up on 52 minutes when David McMillan scored. He got his second ten minutes later. Although FH pulled a goal back, the game finished 2-2. On away goals, Dundalk advanced.

I’ve been told by impeccable sources source that had Dundalk not advanced in that round, then the Kenny story in Europe which brought millions to Oriel, would not have happened.

It’s very sad that the millions made by Dundalk in their European journey throughout the next few years was spent in the way it was when Peak6 took over. The amount of money spent in their last year of ownership in 2021, mainly on players, was mind blowing.

It meant after years of success the club never invested in the redevelopment of Oriel. If you walked into Oriel today, there is nothing to show in the stadium of the successes and money Dundalk won and earned in the Kenny-Perth era.

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David McMillan

Between 2014 and 2017, David made 118 first team appearances and scored 51 goals for Dundalk. In 2018 he moved to Scotland and spent three seasons with St Johnstone, Hamilton and Falkirk.

The attacker returned to Oriel in 2020. In his second spell he made 60 appearances, scoring just seven goals. But David helped Dundalk to an FAI Cup by scoring a hattrick against Shamrock Rovers In the 2020 final.

A book could be written about David McMillan and his soccer career. He has been an absolute gentleman, never refusing a post-match interview. He’s also been a team leader on and off the pitch.

Nathan Shepperd

Dundalk keeper Nathan Shepperd is getting a lot of attention from UK clubs. The good news is that he is a Dundalk keeper and that if anybody wants him, they will have to pay a lot of money.

But that should not come into it. Dundalk need Nathan Shepherd in between the sticks next season. Were they to let him go, it would give a negative reflection on the club’s ambitions.

Unless they get a really good offer, and the move would be huge positive for Nathan’s career, then I’m sure Dundalk will not be interested.

Dave Rogers

Former Dundalk player Dave Rogers is the new manager of First Division outfit Finn Harps. Dave’s family live in Dundalk. Apart from the Lilywhites, Dave played with Drogheda United, Pats and Shelbourne. He won three Premier Division titles while at Tolka Park.

Dave leaves his post of Nottingham Forest under 21 manager for the task of returning Harps to the Premier Division. His coaching journey has taken him across the world.

He has worked with the Liverpool FC International Academy in America, South Korea and India. Dave was also the manager of DSK Shivajians FC In India and FC Arizona in America.

The Scouser came very close to returning to Oriel, but this time as manager, back in 2021. Peak6 were still the owners of the club at that stage. Back then, Dundalk swung from crisis to crisis.

They already had three different people managing the club, with players who were being paid massive wages. The Lilywhites were in crisis, paying the team massive wages despite the fact they were delivering nothing.

Club chairman Bill Hulsizer decided to look for a new manager as Jim Magilton stepped back from his role of caretaker boss. Dave Rogers And Vinny Perth were in the frame for the job.

Vinny had done it all at Oriel with Dundalk, while Rogers had a lot of good managerial experience and was an equally strong candidate. In the end Peak6 opted for Vinny Perth. Vinny did a very good job as a manager in this crisis period.

He led Dundalk to safety from relegation to mid table obscurity, before departing the club again once the new owners came in.
Dave has been waiting for his chance to get his teeth into managing in the League of Ireland. He faces a tough job with Harps.

It may take a couple of seasons for the Donegal side to return to the Premier Division. Dave must be given that time. But I believe he will do very well at Finn Park.

Final Thoughts

Dundalk’s application to join the EA Sports Women’s under 19 League has been successful. This will mean the club will have two women’s teams, with the under 17 and under 19 sides competing at national level in 2023. Players who are interested in joining the under 19 team cam contact Bernard Freeman at Womens.football@dundalkfc.com.

The first HSE SafeTalk workshop took place at Oriel last Thursday night.

The course which helps participants to recognize and engage with people who may be having thoughts of suicide and to connect them to first aid resources, was delivered by local man Derek Pepper.

The SafeTalk workshop is part of the club’s Mental Health and Well-being programme. It’s designed to educate and increase awareness about mental health and to try and challenge the stigma associated with Mental Health difficulties.

Elsewhere, a number of Dundalk’s academy players were in action at the weekend in the FAI Irish Schools Under 18 boy’s interprovincial tournament at the AUL complex in Dublin.

It’s always busy in a League of Ireland club during the season and in the off season. Have a great week. Please remember to be careful out there and look after each other.