Ciarán Kilduff takes charge of his first competitive match as Dundalk FC manager when Malahide United are the visitors to Oriel Park for a Leinster Senior Cup Group B clash on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
Dundalk are seven-times winners of the competition, most recently in 2015. Last season, they qualified through the group stage, beating Leinster Senior League side Malahide 3-1 at Gannon Park in their opening match, before going on to lose to Saint Mochta’s in the quarter-finals.
This fixture was also due to be played at Gannon Park but Dundalk facilitated Malahide’s request to play in Oriel, meaning that Kilduff will have the home support behind him for his first night in the dugout.
The Lilywhites played a behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly with Shelbourne at the AUL Complex last Saturday, losing out to Rayhaan Tulloch’s second-half goal, and the manager is looking forward to getting another look at his team as preparations continue for the First Division kick-off next month.
“I’m really excited. It’s an opportunity for the lads to get more work in, play together as a group and hopefully put on a good performance,” Kilduff told dundalkfc.com.
“Obviously, it’s not a normal pre-season game, in the sense that we can make 22 players play or anything like that, but we’ll have an opportunity to get lads onto the pitch and minutes into them, and then another game on Monday (v Usher Celtic) as well. I’m looking forward to it.”
11 January 2025; Dundalk manager Ciarán Kilduff before the pre-season friendly between Shelbourne and Dundalk at the AUL Complex in Dublin. Photo by Gerry Scully/Dundalk FC.
Speaking on Malahide, the manager added: “Karl Sheppard is a friend of mine and he’s playing for them. They’re going quite well and they’re very competitive.
“I’ve been following their progress over the years, they’re a good team, they’ve got good players and they’ll be here to put on a good performance themselves. I think the opportunity for them to come up to Oriel Park and play is a big thing.
“We don’t want to take anything for granted because it’ll be a proper game.”
On team news, Kilduff explained: “We’ll be splitting the group, we’ll have a squad for Friday and a squad for Monday. It can’t be unlimited changes because everyone needs to be signed and registered to play.
“My biggest issue is that they’re all hungry and wanting to play. It’s splitting the minutes accordingly and realising ok it is a competitive game but it’s also very early in pre-season and we need to get our work in for the weeks that are in it.
“I’m looking forward to it, as are the group.”
Team News
Kilduff will not risk midfielder Luke Mulligan (ankle) for this game, while winger Norman Garbett (hamstring) is out as he continues his recovery.
Midfielder Harry Groome and striker Dean Ebbe, who both missed last weekend’s friendly with Shelbourne, are available.
Matchnight Info
Tickets for Friday can be purchased here. Gates open at 6.30pm.
The Lilywhite Lounge will also be open from 6.30pm. The Enda McGuill Suite will be closed.
The match is kindly sponsored by Mullens, Castletown Road. Mullens and the Brew Crew will be in Oriel Park for the match.
The Club Shop, which is now located in the YDC, will be closed on Friday night but will be open 10am-4pm on Saturday.
Design by Lincoln Smyth.
