One of the positives from Monday night’s defeat at Dalymount Park was the appearance of teenager Eoin Kenny, who came off the bench to make his League of Ireland debut for the club.
Eoin arrived in Dundalk when his father Stephen was appointed manager of the club back in December 2012 and progressed through the schoolboys ranks at Rock Celtic and the Dundalk Schoolboys League before joining the academy setup at Oriel Park.
His first taste of senior football came during a loan spell at First Division club Wexford FC last year and, with his father watching on from the Jodi Stand, the 18-year-old made his Premier Division bow on Monday night.
“I’m glad to get that milestone,” he said. “”I have been training with the first team squad since last year, so it was a long time coming.
“It’s a big achievement and it’s one that I’m proud of. Hopefully, there’ll be many more in the future.
“I’m a fan of the club myself and I obviously went to the games all the time as a young boy so it was a proud moment, it was surreal.”
Eoin Kenny in action against Bohemians. Photos: Gerry Scully
Kenny’s goal against Drogheda United in the Jim Malone Cup in January remains the only one to have been scored by the Lilywhites at Oriel Park this year but he said he was confident that Dundalk’s fortunes would turn.
“We have really talented strikers at the club,” he said Kenny. “Chances just haven’t landed for us yet.
“Jamie Gullan scored a great free-kick in Tallaght and in training you can see the talent we have in goalscorers and we have other areas of the pitch where people can score goals.
“So I wouldn’t get worked up on that, the chances are coming and once we get one the goals will flow.”
Head of Football Operations and current interim c0-manager Brian Gartland has watched Kenny develop over the past 10 years and he said it was just rewards for the youngster’s dedication to the game.
“It’s brilliant for Eoin to get his debut for us,” said Gartland. “I am delighted for him, he works so hard, his work ethic is incredible, on and off the pitch, he duly deserved his opportunity.
“He was out for a few weeks with an illness but he has been training really well and has a lot of great attributes. He’s one of those players who can be in the right place at the right time.”
