Dundalk skipper O'Donnell targets three in a row

Dundalk FC captain Stephen O’Donnell was in attendance at Wednesday’s 2016 SSE Airtricity League launch in the Aviva Stadium. He spoke to Extratime.ie reporter Dylan Murphy about his side’s targets for the upcoming year.

Dundalk head into 2016 having captured the double last year and winning their first league title in 19 years in 2014. The nucleus of those sides remain at Oriel Park, with Patrick Hoban and Richie Towell being the only regulars to depart the club over the past two campaigns.

Regarding the team’s priorities for the year ahead, O’Donnell said: “I think the league is always our priority at the start of each season. We are going for three in a row this year.”

The Lilywhites signed off a remarkable year last November by defeating Cork City in the cup final. This triumph saw them being hailed as possibly the greatest Dundalk side of all time, surpassing the teams of Jim McLaughlin and Turlough O’Connor.

“Everyone loves a good cup final day out and a good cup run,” O’Donnell added.

“Plus we have Europe to throw in during the summer.”

Dundalk were drawn against Belarusian’s BATE Borisov in their European campaign last year and succumbed to a 2-1 aggregate defeat, and Europe remains a big part of their 2016 plans.

“It is definitively something we harbour big ambitions for, but we’ll worry more so about that when it comes around.”

Dundalk have a 100% record in pre-season, recording wins over Cliftonville, Shelbourne, Waterford United, Limerick FC, UCD and finally neighbours Drogheda United in the Jim Malone Cup. They have looked impressive conceding only two goals altogether in those games.

“I’m happy with how our pre-season has gone, we have played six games and won all six of them,” the Dundalk skipper said.

“The boys are in good shape. We have been back since January 9^th so we are all chomping at the bit to get going.”

A crucial part of Dundalk’s success during the Stephen Kenny era has been Richie Towell. The midfielder scored nearly 50 goals during his three year stay with the Lilywhites.

Last season was a particularly prominent year for Towell, who scored 29 goals for the club in all competitions, with 25 of those coming in the league, a record only equalled by Glen Crowe and Jason Byrne.

Towell’s departure to join Brighton has seemingly left a big void in the Dundalk team, but O’Donnell disagrees.

“We’ll probably play a little different than last year. We’re not going to have a midfielder that will score 29 goals. I don’t think it’s going to be like for like, but we have brought in two very good midfielders in Patrick McEleney and Robbie Benson.

“Football doesn’t work like that; people were asking how we were going to replace Pat Hoban’s goals the season before, so we’ll all just have to chip in.”

McEleney in particular has caught the eye in pre-season with a couple of Man of the Match performances, particularly against Shelbourne and Waterford United.

However, Benson, a member of last season’s First Division Team of the Year, hasn’t featured as often in his first few months with the club due to injury.

“I think with the two additions we have made and with the team having another year under their belt, we’ll be able to cope just fine.”

O’Donnell also revealed that he’s been monitoring the progress of Towell, who signed a contract with Brighton in November.

“I do always be checking on his (Richie Towell’s) progress and asking the boys how he’s getting on,” O’Donnell revealed.

Towell has yet to make an appearance for the Seagulls in the Championship yet, and his only first team start was in their FA Cup defeat to Hull City on January 9^th.

However, his former captain believes that Towell will make a big impact with the club next year when he fully acclimatises.

“I think when Richie moved over there it was always going to be tough to break into the team for this season. I always felt myself that next season would be his time with a good pre-season under his belt.

“I’ve no doubt that he’ll be a success over there.”

Dundalk and Stephen O’Donnell begin the defence of their league crown by visiting the Carlisle Grounds to face Bray Wanderers on Saturday 5^th March.