Dundalk facing crucial final four games after slide down Premier Division
Ciaran Kilduff accepted that the recent record needs to be confronted rather than explained away
For all the disappointment of falling out of the top four, Dundalk FC remain within touching distance of European contention with four games of their return to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division remaining.
The 3-2 defeat to Shelbourne on Friday night, however, means the margin for error has narrowed considerably.
Dundalk have won just one of their last 11 league games, taking six points from the available 33, and have now slipped to fifth on 41 points, level with fourth-placed Derry City but behind them on goal difference.
Speaking with the Dundalk Democrat afterwards, manager Ciaran Kilduff accepted that the recent record needs to be confronted rather than explained away.
“You have to look it in the eye. It is what it is. There’s been a change in the summer. For the second half of the season, whether it’s losing a couple or injuries or new lads, but we’ve really struggled. I’ll be the first to say it.
“If I was sitting here with a great stat, I’d be coming back going, we’ve won whatever, but we’re not. That is the stat and it’s not good enough.”
The downturn has coincided with the departures of Gbemi Arubi and Eoin Kenny, who left for Burton Albion and Portsmouth respectively during the summer in deals worth €56,000 and €40,000. Injuries have also further tested the depth of the squad.
Dundalk returned to the Premier Division this season after relegation in 2024 and now sit seven points clear of ninth-placed Drogheda United, who occupy the relegation play-off position, with Sligo Rovers appearing increasingly cut adrift at the bottom.
A minimum of six points from their remaining four matches would guarantee Dundalk finish above Drogheda, although that calculation could change depending on results elsewhere.
Despite the poor form, Kilduff remains confident that Dundalk can turn things around. They have no game this week before facing Bohemians at Oriel Park on Friday week, followed by trips to Sligo Rovers and Derry City and a final home game against Shamrock Rovers.
“I’m confident in the group. I’m confident in parts of what we showed, especially in the first half of the season. But putting it all together seems really difficult right now.
“We’re back in the Premier Division. I’m not panicking. I’m panicking to get better. We’re in the middle of the table. We’re fighting for everything.
“Of course I’m aware of the deficiencies right now. They’re there. They’re glaringly obvious, but we need to try and get better.”
Dundalk had occupied fourth place since April, when they coincidentally recorded a 3-2 win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park, but Friday’s defeat to the same opposition saw them drop out of the top four.
With Shelbourne holding a game in hand against Galway United this Friday night, Dundalk could drop to sixth by the time they face Bohemians.
“We probably weren’t doing enough over the last while for fourth place, but fourth place is hard. Look who’s chasing you, big clubs, Shelbourne won a league.
“There was a stage where Bohemians are now challenging for the league and hadn’t won a game in nine, and they’re trying to win the thing. Shamrock Rovers aren’t on a good run themselves. The league is difficult.
“We have yet to get an easy game. We’ve got nothing like an easy game in any performance I can think of. We’ve scrapped for everything we can get and we’ll have to keep scrapping.”
While Dundalk haven’t won in any of their last six Premier Division matches at Oriel Park, the support for the newly promoted side remains strong, with an average home attendance of 2,798 this season – the club’s highest since the Stephen Kenny era.
Kilduff paid tribute to the supporters but stressed the reality of Dundalk’s position as they attempt to negotiate the final weeks of their first season back in the top flight.
“They’re brilliant, but there has to be a reality of where we are right now. This has been so hard. I mean, the last time the club were in the Premier Division, we finished on 26 points and were relegated with a few months to go.
“We’re newly promoted and we’re holding our own. It’s hard work. It’s really hard work to stay with us.
“If we can finish this season with some positivity, somehow find it, and we have to find it as players, staff and a group, we’ll look back at the end and hopefully stay away from any trouble.
“Hopefully that’s when, at the end of the season, if you can avoid it, you’ll realise, well, thank God we didn’t end up there.”