Dundalk park European ambitions as focus turns to FAI Cup

The prospect of a European place may be growing around Oriel Park, but the immediate focus will be on a different prize when the Club Orange FAI Cup quarter-finals arrive this weekend.

A 3–2 victory over Drogheda United tightened Dundalk FC’s grip on fourth place in the Premier Division, potentially a European position should the FAI Cup be won by a team outside the top three.

With Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne already eliminated from the competition, and either St Patrick’s Athletic or Bohemians set to join them after their quarter-final, the significance of the last-eight tie against Derry City is becoming increasingly apparent.

“We probably have to park the European stuff ourselves internally,” Kilduff said. “I’m not saying it was a weight, but the expectation starts growing and all of a sudden you’re putting this unnecessary pressure on yourself. We just needed to win a game.”

The immediate satisfaction, he suggested, was simply in ending Dundalk’s seven-game winless run and getting one over their local rivals after failing to beat them in three previous meetings this season.

“We needed to win a Louth derby against a team — no disrespect — but we know they’re not in great form either, so we just wanted to come out on top of one, and we did.”

Attention now turns to the FAI Cup quarter-final at the Ryan McBride Brandywell on Sunday (kick-off, 4pm), with Kilduff welcoming the extended preparation time while expressing some frustration at the wider fixture schedule.

“We’ll look at the table as the weeks go on, but it’s a nice way to get ready now, with a long break, into Derry.”

That break will be followed by a demanding spell, with Dundalk due to travel to Waterford before facing St Patrick’s Athletic and Shelbourne at home between September 11th and 18th. They will then have another extended gap in the calendar, with the next scheduled fixture potentially being an FAI Cup semi-final in the weekend ending October 11th.

The Bohemians fixture at Oriel Park that weekend could also be postponed if they progress from their quarter-final against St Patrick’s Athletic.

“I’m a little bit frustrated with the schedule. I’m not going to have a big moan about it, but we have no game now for nine days. Then we have a three-game week, and then we have a three-week break. That seems taxing.”

The compressed run could leave Dundalk facing four matches in 13 days, with a further three-game week potentially awaiting them if they reach the cup semi-finals.

“I think there’s four games in 13 days, basically, for us now. At this point of the season, that’s going to be hard, and whoever gets through — if you were to get through to the semi-final, Derry or ourselves — you potentially come back to another three-game week.”

Kilduff’s concern is heightened by the growing injury list. Harvey Warren, Tyreke Wilson and JR Wilson are unlikely to recover in time for the Brandywell, while Trevor Clarke was forced off at half-time against Drogheda and Sean Spaight has also picked up an injury.

“Trevor’s picked up another injury for our tally, and then Sean Spaight as well got hurt during the week, so this is going to be demanding now. This is going to be a demanding week for the group, but mentally they should be feeling good.”

For all the concerns over the schedule and squad numbers, the Brandywell represents an opportunity that neither side will want to pass up. With several of the Premier Division’s leading sides already out of the competition, both clubs will see the FAI Cup as a genuine route to silverware.

“It’s going to be a tough game away to Derry. It’s a massive game for them too. Their season is like ourselves; they’re looking at that going, there’s a chance for someone there.”

Kilduff expects the atmosphere to add another dimension to a fixture in which there will be little room for caution.

“We’ll have to go up to their cauldron. We’ll have to be positive and be aggressive with it. It’s a big game for us, a big game for our club, and it’s great to have that win to take into it.”

Kilduff had promised his players a few days off if they could win their two matches around the break. One hurdle has now been cleared, with the cup tie providing the second.

“I promised them a few days off if they won the two games. They won one now, so the second one is with the three-week break coming, so they’re halfway there, but a bit to do yet.”