RETRO: HAJDUK SPLIT 2014

It's 10 years ago today since Dundalk, 2-0 down from the first leg at Oriel Park, almost pulled off the improbable in their UEFA Europa League second qualifying round second-leg tie against Hajduk Split at the Stadion Poljud.

For Stephen Kenny’s side to advance to the third qualifying round - and a nasty-looking tie with Shakhter Karagandy of Kazakhstan - they had to do what no League of Ireland team had ever done before and recover from losing the first leg at home to go through.

In front of almost 15,000 fervent Croatians, they went mightily close to pulling it off as goals from Patrick Hoban and Kurtis Byrne secured a famous 2-1 win but it wasn't enough as Hajduk edged through, 3-2 on aggregate.

It was a seismic result at the time but, as it transpired, it was the first of many memorable nights on the continent that we got to enjoy over the following six or seven years. The article below was published in the Dundalk Democrat and the Dundalk FC: Champ10ns 2014 book, with accompanying pictures from Ciaran Culligan.

"Proud to be here, proud of the team, proud of the fans, proud of Dundalk FC. What an effort!"

https://youtu.be/nufB_I84Tog?si=KqOZIdMotyJ-gRG4

HAJDUK SPLIT:

Dante Stipica; Zoran Nizic, Goran Milovic, Mario Maloca, Goran Jozinovic; Nikola Vlasic, Mislav Andelkovic, Mijo Caktas (Filip Bradaric HT), Jean Evrad Kouassi (Anton Maglica 62), Sandro Gotal, Marko Bencun. Subs not used: Dino Mikanovic, Antonio Milic, Josip Basic, Lovre Kalinic (GK).

DUNDALK FC:

Gabriel Sava; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Ruaidhri Higgins (Darren Meenan 87); John Mountney, Richie Towell, Donal McDermott (Patrick Hoban 57); David McMillan (Kurtis Byrne 68). Subs not used: Marc Griffin, Mark Rossiter, Simon Kelly, Peter Cherrie (GK).

REFEREE:

Ionut Marius Avram (Romania).