Dundalk to replace maligned Oriel Park pitch with new synthetic surface for season opener

Premier Division champions Dundalk have announced that work will start next week on the installation of the new synthetic pitch at Oriel Park.

The Lilywhites will face Shamrock Rovers in their opening league encounter on the Limonta Sport Max S P+ 60mm surface, which is to be installed by Northern Ireland based pitch contractors Clive Richardson.

Limonta have been official turf partner to the Football Association of Ireland since 2014 and provided the pitch for the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown. It was on that Abbotstown ground that Dundalk completed much of their preparation for their 2016 Europa League campaign.

In a statement, the club confirmed that they carefully considered the training requirements of the first team, their various underage squads and ladies’ teams when deciding this stage of the stadium renovation.

Dundalk’s ultimate ideal is to put in a new natural turf pitch. In consultation with the Clive Richardson Ltd. and stadium developers, the Dundalk hierarchy believe it’s not currently the right time for the return to grass.

The extensive future development plan that includes overall stadium improvements will incorporate plans for a new grass playing area. The new Limonta surface will then be relocated.

Clive Richardson Limited (CRL) enjoy an international reputation built up over 40 years' experience. CRL focus on Sportsground Construction and Civil Engineering Works and recently oversaw the fitting of Crusaders' artificial surface. They can also count work on Windsor Park, Croke Park and the RDS among their numerous projects.

Headquartered in Bergamo, Italy, Limonta has been a FIFA preferred producer of artificial turf since 2009. Their new pitch at Oriel Park will feature a unique double-S shape filament which guarantees unparalleled quality in terms of long-term playability.

Dundalk’s announcement means that the league champions will forfeit home advantage for the 2017 President’s Cup final against FAI Cup winners Cork City. The FAI will announce details of that fixture in due course.

The existing, much-talked-about all-weather pitch at Oriel Park has been in place since 2005.