Dundalk prepare for battle with the Students

Dundalk FC will look to extend their imperious unbeaten streak in the SSE Airtricity League First Division to 18 matches as they welcome UCD to Oriel Park this Friday night (kick-off, 7:45pm).

Following a brief hiatus during the mid-season break, Ciaran Kilduff’s squad resumed training on Sunday, with their sights firmly set on overcoming a UCD side currently embroiled in the battle for playoff contention.

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The Students sit fifth in the standings—just a single point ahead of Wexford in sixth—and are keen to consolidate their position.

The Lilywhites, by contrast, have their ambitions fixed higher. They have led the table since the third round of the campaign and now hold a six-point advantage over second-placed Cobh Ramblers and a seven-point cushion over Bray Wanderers in third.

With 12 victories and five draws from their 17 matches, Dundalk’s tally of 41 points makes a slide below fifth—and outside the playoffs—highly improbable. Yet, for Kilduff’s men, only the sole automatic promotion place will suffice.

“We’re unbeaten, and we’ve seen everyone,” said the Dundalk manager. “We’re top of the table. Of course we’re going to try and win it from here, of course we’re going to go for it now, but we still have a lot to prove yet. Our eyes are on the prize firmly now, and we’ll take confidence from the first half of the season.”

Few would bet against Dundalk maintaining their dominance this Friday. Their record against UCD at Oriel Park is emphatic: unbeaten since 2013, with 10 wins from the last 11 encounters on home soil. The Students’ lone bright moment in that run was a 1-1 draw in 2023.

In terms of team news, Dundalk are expected to be without Conor O’Keeffe (concussion), as well as Norman Garbett and Ethen Vaughan (both nursing hamstring issues).

However, there is a glimmer of good news, as Sean McHale may return to the fold after a three-game absence with an ankle injury, while Andy Paraschiv is again available after sitting out the recent 3-2 away win over Wexford due to illness.

Meanwhile, Dundalk have been drawn at home to Sligo Rovers in the second round of the Sports Direct FAI Cup.

With The Bit O’Red currently languishing at the foot of the Premier Division table, many will view this as a promising opportunity for the First Division leaders to advance to the last 16.

History appears to favour The Lilywhites ahead of the tie, which is scheduled to take place at Oriel on the weekend ending July 20th, for they have triumphed over Sligo in each of their last three FAI Cup encounters, including a dramatic last-minute 1-0 semi-final victory at The Showgrounds in 2019.

Furthermore, the 12-time winners of the competition have not suffered an FAI Cup defeat at home since 2014—a formidable record that adds weight to their prospects.

In other news, Dundalk are set to receive €69,261 through the Community Recognition Fund, earmarked for the enhancement of toilet facilities at Oriel.