Maher already eyeing Euro games
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It may be still a few months away, although Stephen Maher can't help but get excited about the prospect of playing in Europe with Dundalk.
The push to bring European football back to Oriel Park has already begun and Maher, who is a new signing for The Lilywhites this season, has fully backed the club's bid to have their home games played in the County Louth venue.
The 22-year-old featured in St Patrick's Athletic impressive run in the Europa League qualifiers last term and is hoping to enjoy a similar run in the same competition with his new club.
"I think once European football is mentioned it just brings excitement. The teams you can play if you get through a round is amazing," Maher told the club's official website.
"It’s at the back of our minds now, but come closer to it we’ll all be thinking about it and ready to enjoy it.
"I can’t wait. It was a great experience for me last year [with St Pat's] and I loved every minute of it. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t get European football for St. Pat’s this year, but coming to Dundalk and finding out we had a chance of European football, I was so excited.
"I think if we can remain injury-free this year that we’ll have a really good chance of doing well. We’re solid, we try to get the ball down and play, and I think that could suit us in European football."
Dundalk are one of four Airtricity League teams that will be competing in Europe this season and Maher reckons the chances of one, if not more, of them progressing to the group stages is very high.
Shelbourne, Drogheda United and St Pat's have all achieved fantastic results in recent seasons. Now it is the turn of Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers, Sporting Fingal and Dundalk to go even further.
"I do believe one Irish team has a great chance of qualifying into the group stages," he stated.
"I really think this year a team can do that, and hopefully that can be us. I think one of the Irish teams can really push on this year; they have to be looking at the third round at least. For every Irish team, I think that’s the aim.
"Teams have got through two rounds in the last couple of years, so I think there are great possibilities for Irish teams this year."
The push to bring European football back to Oriel Park has already begun and Maher, who is a new signing for The Lilywhites this season, has fully backed the club's bid to have their home games played in the County Louth venue.
The 22-year-old featured in St Patrick's Athletic impressive run in the Europa League qualifiers last term and is hoping to enjoy a similar run in the same competition with his new club.
"I think once European football is mentioned it just brings excitement. The teams you can play if you get through a round is amazing," Maher told the club's official website.
"It’s at the back of our minds now, but come closer to it we’ll all be thinking about it and ready to enjoy it.
"I can’t wait. It was a great experience for me last year [with St Pat's] and I loved every minute of it. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t get European football for St. Pat’s this year, but coming to Dundalk and finding out we had a chance of European football, I was so excited.
"I think if we can remain injury-free this year that we’ll have a really good chance of doing well. We’re solid, we try to get the ball down and play, and I think that could suit us in European football."
Dundalk are one of four Airtricity League teams that will be competing in Europe this season and Maher reckons the chances of one, if not more, of them progressing to the group stages is very high.
Shelbourne, Drogheda United and St Pat's have all achieved fantastic results in recent seasons. Now it is the turn of Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers, Sporting Fingal and Dundalk to go even further.
"I do believe one Irish team has a great chance of qualifying into the group stages," he stated.
"I really think this year a team can do that, and hopefully that can be us. I think one of the Irish teams can really push on this year; they have to be looking at the third round at least. For every Irish team, I think that’s the aim.
"Teams have got through two rounds in the last couple of years, so I think there are great possibilities for Irish teams this year."
