Dundalk FC eye further additions ahead of 2025 season

After making five new signings over the weekend, Dundalk FC could be set to raid Louth neighbours Drogheda United for the services of versatile midfielder Luke Heeney.

The 25-year-old, who hails from Bellewstown in Meath, has made over 150 competitive appearances for Drogheda since joining them from St Patrick’s Athletic in 2019.

He featured in 30 of Drogheda’s fixtures in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division last term, as well as coming on as a substitute in the Sports Direct FAI Cup final triumph versus Derry City last month, and play-off final win against Bray Wanderers a week later.

A midfielder by trade, Heeney played primarily as a right-back for Drogheda in 2024, and was also known to occasionally switch out to the left or play as a holding-midfielder.

Included on the PFAI Transfer List, he is understood to be considering a number of options, but could be enticed by a move to Oriel Park – where he would join new signings Harry Groome, Dean Ebbe, Conor O’Keeffe, Gbemi Arubi and Enda Minogue.

Moving in the opposite direction, however, could be Lilywhites defender Mayowa Animasahun, while Jad Hakiki has had his expected move to Sligo Rovers confirmed.

Meanwhile, Dundalk have announced Daryl Horgan as their new club captain, with the winger taking over the responsibility from John Mountney after he moved to Bohemians.

“It’s a massive, massive honour. Obviously, such a huge club, such a successful club, successful captains over the years, amazing people, amazing players, and to be on a list with those people is incredible,” Horgan told DFCTV.

“I’ve never been a captain before, so it’s a real honour and privilege for me. Obviously, I’m embedded in the town now, so I know what it feels like and what it means to be part of this place. I’m buzzing, I’m excited.”

He added: “It was a tough season last season. You can blame behind the scenes all you want – it was a tough season on the pitch.

“Behind the scenes didn’t come until late, and even then, everyone got paid, so you can blame everything you want, but on the pitch wasn’t good enough.

“We all have to be held accountable for that. I hope everyone is looking at themselves in the mirror and thinking ‘did I do enough?’. That was a very, very disappointing aspect to last season.

“The other stuff, off the pitch, there was a moment where we all thought Dundalk might not be here tomorrow. To have it here and to have the buy-in of the community, the club really does seem to be going in an upward trajectory right now.

“I feel there’s a real positivity around the place and a real kind of change in Dundalk. It’s an opportunity to do that. Sometimes, you have to have a real kick in the teeth to go ‘right, something’s not right here’.

“Now is the opportunity, and for me, to be captain, to be a part of that and hopefully a big part of that, I’m very excited.”

Dundalk have also launched their new home and away jerseys, in collaboration with kit suppliers Playr-Fit and front-of-shirt sponsors ZOMA.

Supporters can now pre-order their jerseys via shop.dundalkfc.com to ensure in-store collection before Christmas.

New manager Ciaran Kilduff, along with a player and a coach, will hold an open Q&A with supporters next Monday, December 16th inside the Lilywhite Lounge at 8pm.