Europe is the focus for Rogers
ACELEBRATORY trip to Las Vegas is often an added bonus for all-conquering teams at the end of a season. Considering Dundalk’s new owners are a Chicagobased investment firm, maybe it’s not yet out of the question for the double winners to get an invite Stateside.
‘I don’t know if my missus would let me go,’ goalkeeper Gary Rogers said. ‘I’d be doing well to get away on holiday for a week.’
Seeing as the Meath native was only too happy to celebrate on the pitch with his two young daughters after the 2-1 Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup final win over Cork City, a family pass to Tayto Park might suit him better.
‘We got away on a couple of pre-season trips and went away in mid-season to prepare for Europe. Whatever has been asked by [manager] Stephen (Kenny) has been delivered and thankfully we have been able to repay it and deliver on the pitch,’ the 37-year-old continued.
‘The preparation and what they have given the club has been great, but that was the case with the previous owners as well. All in all, it has been a terrific season.’
Mike Treacy, 31, is the conduit for the Americans and deals closely with Kenny and chief executive Mal Brannigan. He was in the thick of the celebrations at Lansdowne Road and also saw the players lift the Premier Division title last month.
He has attended games at various points throughout the season, including taking his parents to Tallaght Stadium for the 5-2 demolition of Shamrock Rovers, who announced the re-signing of several first-team players — most notably Greg Bolger, Daniel Carr and Joey O’Brien, just after the Cup final.
It was Dundalk’s day, though, and Treacy was in his element with the players. ‘It’s great to see as they [the owners] are not anonymous,’ Rogers explained. ‘They’re at training when they’re over. They’re not over every day obviously, as they have other things to do but they have a presence and have been over regularly at games and training sessions.
‘It’s great for them as this is what they invested in the club for. They wanted the club to be successful and they have been rewarded today. It’s great to see them over and enjoying the occasion.’
Cork manager John Caulfield cited the Americans’ investment as one reason why he feels Dundalk will now dominate the League of Ireland, an accusation Kenny rejected, insisting that shouldn’t be ‘the narrative’.
Regardless, as Rogers prepares to enter the final season of his contract at Oriel Park, he is determined to make another splash with Dundalk on the continent.
‘You have to be thinking that way, to be wanting to win trophies and do well in Europe. The European success two years ago is something we want to replicate next year and that’s the target,’ he added.
‘You have to set yourself these aims, for real big days in Europe. To achieve that, you have to put in the hard yards all season long and make the sacrifices. All players in this group have made those sacrifices this year and it’s why we’ve got the double in the bag.
‘There is a great mixture of lads and great characters in the group. The gaffer recruits really good lads and his recruitment has been phenomenal over the years. He has proved that time and time again. Everyone is pulling in the right direction which is what you need to do if you’re going to achieve anything.
‘When it comes to that time of year, you try and peak and focus in to be successful in Europe. It’s the one major thing this league can give you that England can’t apart from a very few players. There are not a lot of Irish players playing in Europe and we have the opportunity nearly every year to play in Europe and test ourselves against the best there is.
‘We’ve done well in that department, apart from a bad half this year but overall we have coped really well with Europe and acquitted ourselves really well over a number of years. That will be the challenge next year.’
The FAI already confirmed yesterday that the 2019 season will start on February 15, with the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup on November 3, and Rogers is looking forward to his travel companion Jamie McGrath building on a season which saw his nominated for the PFA Ireland Young Player of the Year award.
‘I’ve been driving him everywhere for the last year, so it’s great he passed his driving test this year,’ he’said of his fellow Meath man. ‘He might be able to give me a dig out. Jamie is a fantastic talent and is only 21. He’s been in the Irish U21s and can go as far as he wants. He has bags of ability and it’s all there for him. The future is bright for him.’
So are the lights in Las Vegas.