Touching on 70 years Dundalk fan Jim is not hopeful

It always happens when Dundalk FC’s season is about to kick off – a message comes through from My Man in Oriel, as I like to label Jim McCourt.

This year’s came last Thursday, and yes, Jim, while looking forward to what happens at home and the other grounds where his beloved team will be in action, is not brimming with optimism.

For the second season in succession he won’t be taking his usual spot at Oriel. He has a few health issues, which are more or less confining him to base. But he has his telly, and will be taking in all games on the streaming service.

Newspapers keep Jim abreast with ongoing happenings, and from what he’s been reading, he’s a little concerned. 

The club has a new owner, and much like last season, Stephen O’Donnell will have a panel with a number of new faces included to deal with after the departure of some high-profile players, Pat Hoban chief among them.

“It’s not an ideal situation, but one that is likely to occur when a team is not successful. 

“Stephen Kenny lost few players during his golden era, but instead was able to strengthen his squad each season.

“It didn’t work out to well for us last season, and I’m concerned there might not be a great improvement. Stephen O’Donnell and his coaching staff have a lot of work to do,” Jim says.

Dundalk couldn’t have a more difficult opening to the league. 

First up is an away match with record-seeking Shamrock Rovers, and soon after that come other away games against St Patrick’s and Derry City.

But regardless how the team fares out, every time the cameras are there to cover the action, Jim McCourt will be looking in. It’s almost 70 years since he was first taken to Oriel.