2018 Season Preview - Dundalk

Manager: Stephen Kenny

Stadium: Oriel Park

Players In: Patrick Hoban (Mansfield Town), Dean Jarvis (Derry City), Stephen Folan, Ronan Murray (both Galway United), Karolis Chvedukas (FK Suduva), Krisztian Adorjan (Novara – on loan), Ross Treacy (Swansea City).

Players Out: David McMillan (St Johnstone), Patrick McEleney (Oldham Athletic), Niclas Vemmelund (Middelfart Boldklub), Thomas Stewart (Larne), Paddy Barrett (FC Cincinnati), Shane Grimes (Cliftonville), Ciaran O’Connor (Finn Harps), Conor Clifford (Released), Steven Kinsella (Everton – end of loan), Carlton Ubaezuono (Galway United – on loan).

Extratime.ie Key Man: Robbie Benson

Having rejected the opportunity to link up with David McMillan at St Johnstone and instead sign a one-year extension with Dundalk, Robbie Benson looks poised to become the Oriel Park outfit’s star player this coming season, with many tipping the 25-year-old to follow in the footsteps of Richie Towell and Daryl Horgan in becoming the next top SSE Airtricity League player to make the move to England.

A wise head on young shoulders, Benson, who holds a master’s degree in actuarial science, racked up over a century of League of Ireland appearances with UCD by the time he was just 22, having started his career with hometown club Athlone Town. He rose to prominence with Dundalk in 2016, scoring memorable European goals against BATE Borisov, Legia Warsaw and Zenit St Petersburg.

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Ronan Murray

A new addition who looks set to replace Patrick McEleney in that number ten role for Dundalk, Ronan Murray possesses all the attributes to become the best player in the SSE Airtricity League, having been named in the PFAI Team of the Year last term on the back of netting 13 league goals – a feat made all the more impressive given that this was for a Galway United side which got relegated.

Murray, who hails from County Mayo, has signed a one-year contract with Dundalk and will have ambitions to move cross-channel again, having previously represented Ipswich Town, Swindon Town and Notts County before moving to Galway last year. The 26-year-old has already shown flashes of brilliance in pre-season, which culminated with two goals in the President’s Cup match last weekend.

How they did last season:

League: Runners-up

Stephen Kenny’s side finally surrendered their SSE Airtricity League crown last season after winning the title for three consecutive years beforehand. The Lilywhites will take some encouragement coming into the new campaign however, having managed to cut Cork City’s seemingly unassailable lead at the top from 20 points last July down to just seven points come the end of the season.

FAI Cup: Runners-up

Dundalk reached the Aviva Stadium showdown for the third year in a row after easily disposing of Derry City, Crumlin United and Drogheda United before an epic semi-final replay win over Shamrock Rovers after extra-time. However, they agonisingly lost the final against Cork City on penalties.

EA Sports Cup: Winners

Despite finishing as runners-up in both the league and FAI Cup, Dundalk ensured that there was at least some silverware on its way to Oriel Park in the form of the EA Sports Cup, after The Lilywhites had thrashed Shamrock Rovers 3-0 in the final at Tallaght Stadium to win the competition for the sixth time in their history.

Europe: Champions League Second Qualifying Round

The Lilywhites were unable to match their exploits from the year before in Europe, when they went all the way to the Europa League group stages via the Champions League play-off round. However, they exited the Champions League with their heads held high by taking Rosenborg, who themselves would go on to reach the Europa League group stages, all the way to extra-time before losing 2-1 in Trondheim.

What to expect this season:

Dundalk are certain to be challenging on all fronts once again this season and are joint favourites along with Cork City to lift the SSE Airtricity League trophy come October. One thing the Lilywhites must improve on however, is their record against Cork, whom they took just one point from a possible nine last term – turning that one point into five would’ve been enough to win the league.

Another thing Dundalk could’ve been accused of last year was that at times they were too nice to play against, none more so than in their encounters with Cork. The acquisition of combative Lithuanian international midfielder Karolis Chvedukas could solve that problem while Patrick Hoban, who has returned to Oriel Park after three years in England, is expected to lead the line with Ronan Murray playing behind him.

Title Odds: 6/4

First Game: Bray Wanderers (Home), Friday 16th February – 7:45pm