Dundalk departures expected as Kilduff prepares for squad reshuffle

With the celebrations following Dundalk FC’s 3-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers barely over, attention has already turned towards next season, with manager Ciaran Kilduff anticipating significant changes to his squad as he looks to build on a respectable sixth-place finish.

The Lilywhites brought their campaign to a positive conclusion at Oriel Park on Friday night, coming from behind to defeat the newly crowned SSE Airtricity League Premier Division champions. However, Kilduff knows there is plenty of work to be done before the 2027 season gets underway.

Having secured promotion from the First Division in 2025 before consolidating their Premier Division status this year, the Dundalk manager believes the club have made encouraging progress, although he is keen to take another step forward.

“I’ve meetings from Monday morning, and we’ve a lot of work to do. We’ve seen the last couple of weeks, couple of months, it’s been difficult,” Kilduff said.

“The season as a whole, would we have taken sixth position? 100 per cent. For two seasons to get promoted and then mid-table, it’s positive, but there’s another level here again.

“We’ve seen the depth that you need, the strengthening that you need, the right people you need, and we’ll hopefully be able to do that again next season. It mightn’t be perfect, but we’ll definitely try and make more positive steps and build again.”

A considerable turnover of players is expected over the winter, with Enda Minogue, Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun, Harry Groome, Leo Gaxha, Norman Garbett, Keith Buckley, Danny Mullen, Tyreke Wilson, Rob Cornwall and JR Wilson among those out of contract.

Conor Kearns and Egor Vassenin are also due to return from their respective loan spells with Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers, adding further decisions to Kilduff’s workload as he shapes his squad for next season.

The Dundalk manager acknowledged that several established members of the group would be moving on, but was keen to recognise the contribution made by those who helped steer the club away from the difficulties of 2024 and back into the Premier Division.

“There’s going to be some changes, and there’s going to be quite a few significant players who have been here since the start,” he said.

“I’ve had some conversations with them early in the week, and they know. I’m not going to name them; that will all come out in due time, but for the bulk of that group, to finish on a high, they deserve it. They owe the club nothing.

“They’ve come in at a time when the club was really struggling. The depth of despair at the end of 2024, to come in, win a First Division and then keep the club in the Premier Division.”

“Anyone who leaves this club now should be doing so with their head held high, and they should be given the recognition from all supporters and fans because, overall, they’ve done nothing but a credit to the club.

“We know where we want to go. We might have to go again and even just strengthen our hand in certain areas, but there’s a lot of lads there who’ve given a lot to Dundalk.”

One departure that was marked on Friday night was that of veteran goalkeeper Peter Cherrie, who brought the curtain down on a playing career spanning just over 24 years.

The 43-year-old, who began his career with Airdrieonians in his native Scotland, made his final appearance after starting against Rovers. He played for the opening 30 minutes before being replaced by Minogue to a standing ovation at Oriel Park.

Cherrie made 274 appearances across his spells with Dundalk, the first of which began in 2009, and has also served as the club’s goalkeeping coach for the past two and a half seasons.

“I wanted to play Peter for longer. Peter decided himself 30 was enough,” Kilduff said.

“And credit to him, forget the goalkeeper and all the other stuff, coach and all that. He deserves a send-off. He’s a legend to this club. Stuff that no one will ever see day to day, standing in when I needed him, when players got injured.

“Every time I signed him, I signed him solely as a coach. Every time he kept coming back, and he deserves the send-off.

“The lads love him. He’s a bit of a quiet leader in his own way, Peter. And what he’s done for the club, a bit of a local cult hero as well. He deserves a great retirement and a great send-off, and he got it.”

Whether Cherrie will continue in his coaching capacity next season remains to be seen, although Kilduff is keen to allow the veteran time to enjoy his retirement before making any decisions about his future.

“I’ll talk to Peter. Peter and me have this relationship where we don’t even have to speak. Half the time, I just look at him and he goes, ‘Gaffer, whatever you need.’

“There’s still a small part of me that thinks he’ll get them gloves out again. Since I’ve been here, he’s been nothing but brilliant to me.

“Whatever Peter wants to do next year, I’ll be speaking with him in the coming weeks, but he just needs to celebrate and enjoy tonight.”

While several players are expected to depart, Kilduff already has a core group committed for next season, including Bobby Burns, Aodh Dervin, Daryl Horgan, Cian Dillon, Ronan Teahan, Luke Mulligan, Trevor Clarke, Shane Tracey, Declan McDaid and Tom Grivosti.

Recruitment has been underway for some time, with the manager hoping to add considerable depth and quality to his existing options as Dundalk look to become more competitive throughout the campaign.

“Those plans have been going on a month. I have been speaking to a lot of players, but I have to respect the ones that are here first,” Kilduff said.

“Sometimes players moving on, it affects the budget, and then you’re bringing in players, and there’s a lot of moving parts, but we were lucky to have a few weeks there where we knew we were going to be okay in terms of relegation, and that we could get planning for 2027.

“I was nearly wishing tonight away, kind of going, ‘I just want it over with now so we can get to work.’

“But I’m actually so happy for the lads in there in the dressing room that it’s a positive ending for some of them and should build a little bit of anticipation and a little bit of excitement for next season already.”