Vemmelund feels Dundalk will Nic it
NICLAS Vemmelund might have been denied the perfect ending to his Dundalk career last year but he has backed his former team-mates to finish the job he started this time around.
The Danish defender announced prior to last year’s FAI Cup final that he would be returning to his homeland. When he rose to head home Michael Duffy’s free kick top the top right hand corner in the fifth minute of extra-time it looked like he would bow out of Ireland in spectacular fashion.
Unfortunately for Vemmelund and his team-mates it wasn’t to be. On 111 minutes Achille Campion slipped in behind the Lilywhites rearguard to equalise for Cork, who would go on to win the result shoot-out on a 5-3 scoreline.
It’s something that still pains the 26-year-old – now playing with Middelfart in the Danish Second Division – to talk about.
‘For me, it was almost the perfect ending but it wasn’t to be,’ he told The Argus this week.
‘The best thing about it was that it had just gone into overtime and we were still ahead with about 10 minutes to go so you think you’re going to win. It was nice to play there and score the week before Denmark played Ireland in the World Cup Qualifiers. It’s not often a defender scores so it was really great. The feeling afterwards is always nice. You feel like you’ll be man of the match and get the trophy but it wasn’t to be. That’s football.
‘It just wasn’t our year but I still think we done quite well in the second half of the season and it’s no surprise that the boys have kicked on this year and got to the final again. This season has been really good for the boys. I saw they won the league with a few matches to spare. I haven’t had a chance to see any matches but I’ve seen a few highlights from games and they’ve been really good. I talk with some of the boys sometimes too.
‘After not a great start last year, we had done quite well. Of course you always want to win something, especially at a club like Dundalk. I just think last year wasn’t our year. It was great to score in extra time in the cup final but we still lost on penalties afterwards.
‘Hopefully they can do it this year though. I’d love for them to win.’
The Dane, now expecting his first child with partner Camilla who he moved back home to spend more time with, said he still missed Dundalk but said it was no surprise to see Sean Hoare fill his void by being named in the PFAI Team of the Year.
‘Sean has always been a great player,’ he said.
‘When I was there you could see he had so much potential so I’m not really surprised he’s in the Team of the Year to be honest.
‘It was a great time for me at Dundalk. I still miss it sometimes. It was a nice club to be in with a lot of good lads. Most of them are still there. I still miss it but I haven’t regretted it,’ said Vemmelund.