Kenny sorry to lose Kilduff

DUNDALK manager Stephen Kenny hailed Ciaran Kilduff as a ‘‘terrific signing” following the striker’s departure from the club at the weekend.

The 28-year-old, who scored 31 goals for Dundalk in his two years at the club, including historic Europa League goals against AZ Alkmaar and Maccabi Tel Aviv last September, signed a contract with NASL side Jacksonville Armada at the weekend.

Commenting on the move, Kenny said he was letting Kilduff leave with a heavy heart.

“It’s just one of those things with Ciaran. He had an option to go at the start of the year and I didn’t let him go because we needed him.

“Obviously it’s a life-changing experience for him because he has a two-year contract. He’s nearly 29 and was considering going back into mainstream employment, so he might not have been able to stay with us next season.

“This was just something that came about for him and his partner and child to go to America for two years and it was something he was very excited about.

“Not that we’re overly sentimental, but sometimes you have to understand that he has been a brilliant player for us and has won several trophies and has made a big contribution and we wish him well.”

Kenny praised the impact at the club.

“There was only a point in it between us and Cork when we signed him two years ago and we went on to win it by 11 points and he got a lot of goals. We won the double last year and then the league last year and he had them big European goals and big winners in the league, so he did well overall for us.

“His final act was to hit the crossbar which would have put us through (against Rosenborg), so that was unfortunate, but he had some great goals, which probably got him the move, to be fair.”

Speaking to dundalkfc.com, Kilduff described his two years at Dundalk at the best of his football career and said he would continue to support the club.

“It’s a sad time for me as well. There is no one else in Ireland striker’s that I would rather play for. This opportunity has just fallen into my lap and it’s something that really interested me and my family.

“I hope it works out for me, but I wish Dundalk nothing but success - from the people working away in the offices every day to the people who are helping out on the pitch and on match nights.

“For me, I will always look back at this as the greatest two years in Ireland.

“This is something which is completely out of left field. It is something which has interested me in maybe the last year or so if the opportunity came. I have a young family so the timing seems right for me.

“When my daughter gets a little older and gets to school going age things will have to change so I felt that this was a ‘now or never’ situation for me. Football in America is taking off. I am going over there to grasp it and try to further myself.

“I see players like Richie Ryan and players like that who have bettered themselves and furthered their careers.

“It ticks a lot of boxes for me and I am excited to get going.”