FANZONE | Bring them young; they won’t leave: Lilywhites fan Emma Barry goes to Oriel with her daughter

HOW LONG ARE YOU A SUPPORTER?
Over 30 years. It’s true what they say: ‘bring them young and they won’t leave’. My parents (Paddy and Iris McGuinness) brought us as kids and myself and my brother are both following Dundalk since. I have now started bringing my daughter to the games.

FIRST MEMORY OF ORIEL PARK
Being around four/five (so 32 years ago!) and being brought to Oriel by my parents. I think the games were on Sunday afternoons in those days. I spent my time running around playing more so than watching a game!

Suppose my real memory of football would be us winning the league in 1995. Standing on the pitch waiting for the result to come in from Derry was a nerve-wrecking few minutes. Got my scarf signed that day which my mum has and wears to the games weekly.

STAND OR SHED?
Can I say neither? I stand behind the town-end goals every game. Defo more ground than stand.

CUP OR LEAGUE?
League, love seeing how teams move up or down the table depending on results. It’s great when it is tight at the top, you never know who is going to be leading. I feel there are more nerves and excitement towards the end of the season when the league title only gets decided with a game or two to go.

FAVOURITE CURRENT PLAYER?
Seán Gannon. I think he is a player that goes unnoticed at times, but when he isn’t there you miss him in the team.

ALL-TIME FAVOURITE PLAYER?
Martin Lawlor, he is a legend!

OPPOSITION PLAYER YOU ADMIRE?
Dylan Watts – he is a player that every club would like to sign.

BIGGEST RIVALRY?
Shamrock Rovers

OTHER TEAM YOU LIKE TO SEE DOING WELL?
Like to see Bohs and Derry do well, once it isn’t against us!

GAME OF THE KENNY ERA?
Has to be from the 2016 European run. I didn’t get to the game, but remember the BATE Borisov game on TV and the rain lashing down. Brilliant game to watch.

ALL-TIME DUNDALK XI?
This is so hard: Do I go with nostalgia of my childhood and Lawlor, Eviston, McNulty, Gorman, or with the Kenny era. Think I’m going to have to pick the majority from the Kenny era as, what a talented bunch of players.

Team: Alan O’Neill, Seán Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey, Stephen O’Donnell, Chris Shields, Jamie McGrath, Michael Duffy, Ronan Finn, Richie Towell

Subs: Gary Rogers, Sean Hoare, Daniel Cleary, Daryl Horgan, Patrick McEleney, Patrick Hoban, Seán Murray, Seán Maguire

SEASON PREDICTION
I’m hoping to be top of the table at the end of the season. But at the moment with all the injuries and Europe to come I’m hoping worst case scenario would be second place. Think this season could be a really competitive season among teams, which is always a good thing. As long as our players give 100 percent every match and give us a good game to watch I’m happy.