Supporters should savour the good times

WE live in special times.

You don’t always appreciate what you have in the moment but the people of Dundalk should be proud to have a special team playing on their doorsteps.

It is still hard to fathom that less than four years ago the club came close to going out of existence. There has been a Lazarus-like revival since then spearheaded by Stephen Kenny. Since arriving at the club, the Dubliner has brought countless honours to Oriel Park including back-toback league titles and an FAI Cup.

However, for this Dundalk side to be truly remembered amongst the league’s greats a breakthrough in Europe is needed.

And while they will go into the Champions League second qualifying round tie with Iceland’s FH Hafnarfjardur as underdogs, they know they have never had a better chance of progressing in Europe.

While the Icelandic outfit deserve to be respected having won seven of the last 12 titles in their homeland, this was the draw that Dundalk wanted. FH, likewise, will see a tie with Dundalk as an opportunity to make progression of their own but the Lilywhites have what it takes to put it up to them.

Leaving aside the three freakish goals conceded against Longford Town last Tuesday night, this is a side that is tight at the back and offers endless threats going forward. It will do confidence no harm either that David McMillan is in the form of his life at present after back-toback league hat-tricks against Derry City and Longford.

Dundalk have shown before that they have an ability to raise their game in Europe, as outlined by the victory away to Hajduk Split in 2014 and the spirited display away to BATE Borisov last year where as 2-1 victory flattered the home side.

The fact that the first leg is at Oriel Park ,with the return leg at FH’s 6,500-capacity Kaplakriki on Wednesday July 20th should suit Dundalk as well.

They know from their opening leg 2-0 defeat to Hajduk Split in 2014 how imporant it is to keep things tight at the back – something they are more than capable of – while they have shown before how good they can be playing away from home.

Icelandic football might be on a high at present based on the national side’s progression at Euro 2016 but it’s hard to know what, if any, impact that has had on the domestic league. Like with Ireland, none of the national squad are currently playing their football domestically although FH midfielders Þórarinn Ingi Valdimarsson and Emil Pálsson were capped as recently as last January in a friendly againt the United Arab Emirates.

Former Lilywhite Steven Lennon, who failed to score in 10 appearances for the club under Ian Foster in 2010, is one of FH’s main marksman and will be out to prove his quality but the fact he played in the League of Ireland in the first place would give you the hope that the quality of both sides is nearing par.

That said, Icelandic sides cannot be taken for granted, with KR Reykjavik thumping Glenavon 6-0 in Lurgan last week having beaten Cork City 3-2 on aggregate the year before.

That said, while Dundalk by no means claim to be in their class, Celtic also beat the then Icelandic champions Stjarnan on a 6-1 aggregate scoreline at the same stage of last year’s Champions League.

FH will be no pushovers though and have a decent record in Europe. This is their 17th European campaign in-a-row and they have won at least one round for the last four seasons, including victories over Ekranas in 2013 and SJK last year while they also have experience of winning on Irish soil having beaten Glenavon in 2014 on a 6-2 aggregate scoreline.

Of course, Dundalk have a history of beating Icelandic opposition too having beat Fram Reykjavik in the Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1981, winning 4-0 in Oriel Park before losing 2-1 away from home.

Let’s hope history repeats itself 35 years on and a truly special Dundalk side can confirm itself as one of the League of Ireland’s all time greats.