DUNDALK’S EURO DREAM

Football fever grips town ahead of Legia Warsaw clash in Aviva

EXCITEMENT is building ahead of Dundalk FC’s UEFA Champions League game against Legia Warsaw at the Aviva next week after Stephen Kenny’s team stunned opponents BATE Borisov with a 3-0 victory to book a place in the final qualifying round of Europe’s most prestigious football competition.

Mr Kenny said the club’s progress into the final qualifiers, which sees Dundalk take on the Polish champions at the Dublin stadium next Wednesday night, followed by the away leg in Poland on Tuesday August 23, was ‘ the stuff of dreams’. The Lilywhites have garnered positive headlines for their emphatic victory around Ireland and Europe, with Irish manager Martin O’Neill heading to the dressing rooms in Tallaght stadium last Tuesday to congratulate the Dundalk players.

In addition, President Michael D Higgins, a League of Ireland fan, also congratulated Dundalk on making it further than any other Irish team in this competition.

He said: ‘I am sure that all Irish soccer fans share my delight in this remarkable achievement against quality opponents and will wish Dundalk every success in the forthcoming play-off ’.

In-form Dave McMillan, who scored two goals in the BATE game last week, has now scored five goals in four Champions League appearances this year and is the top goal scorer in Europe’s main club tournament.

Estimates say that with prize-money, gate receipts and extra UEFA payments, the club could benefit to the tune of €5.4 million from the win over BATE.

What Stephen Kenny wants is to fill the Aviva for next Wednesday night’s game. Get your ticket.