DUNDALK FC ARE READY FOR THEIR EUROPA LEAGUE TIE IN ISRAEL
CIARAN Kilduff insists Dundalk still have a point to prove in Europe this season and is confident they can put their recent setback against AZ Alkmaar behind them by beating the Dutch side and Maccabi Tel Aviv to the runners-up spot in Group D on Thursday night.
By their own admission Stephen Kenny’s side were below par when they met AZ in Tallaght a fortnight ago but Kilduff believes they can bounce back from that by winning in Israel and still making it through to the last 32 of the the Europa League.
‘We have a point to prove,’ Kilduff told The Argus.
‘AZ was probably one of our flattest performances since the BATE Borisov game over there. We know how we reacted after that game so hopefully we can get a similar reaction.
‘It’s a huge match, a history making match and if we can go over there and do what we’re capable of we can make it a night to remember. Obviously we’re up against top opposition but if we can repeat the night in Tallaght then maybe that will be enough to take us to unchartered territory.’
Having secured qualification to the Europa League five years ago in Belgrade with Shamrock Rovers, Kilduff knows all about big nights in Europe but he’s hopeful of experiencing another big one in Netanya this Thursday having already scored history making goals in this season’s competition with an equaliser away to AZ in September before a winner at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv a fortnight later on what was his 28th birthday.
‘For me personally the Alkmaar night will always be remembered by me.
‘Thursday is another one of these occasions that is set up for you to make history and what a way to finish a year it could be.
‘There’ll be no bigger week in football domestically in this country. We’ve an opportunity in matchday six to get to the last 32 of the Europa League and that’s what dreams are made of when you’re growing up.
‘I’m a long time playing in this league and these days don’t come around too often so it’s important everyone gets behind each other now.’
While Dundalk will once again go into the game as underdogs, the striker feels his side can take confidence from having already beaten the Israelis.
‘I know I got the goal that night but we actually created four or five chances that night that just didn’t go in for us.
‘With another good performance I think we can turn them over again because we’ve had a lot of success this year against European teams and one more big performance could be enough.
‘I know you’re looking at results elsewhere as well. The games could toss and turn and you could need a draw or three points, you just don’t know but it will be an amazing game to be involved in.
‘Training has been good and we have been preparing well so just one more big week for us and we can achieve something that no one could have dreamed of before the season started,’ he said.