Ardee CS celebrate another Lennon win
ANOTHER League and Cup double for Dundalk under the management of Stephen Kenny has been rewarded with a host of individual and team awards for the manager and his players.
It is not the first time that the team have swept the boards at the various award ceremonies in the six seasons that Stephen Kenny has been at the club.
In addition a number of newspapers, TV and radio outlets have included as many as eight of the Dundalk players in their ‘team of the season’, which is a stunning tribute to the team.
An interesting experiment would however be the selection of the best team Dundalk have fielded since the arrival of Stephen Kenny at the club in 2013.
Not that the manager himself would be tempted to make such a selection for public consumption, for he has always shown great loyalty to his players and is not a great supporter of individual awards.
There is no harm however for others like myself to attempt such a selection as a way of passing the gloomy winter months and the compensate for the absence of our Friday night fix at Oriel Park or an away venue.
No doubt many won’t agree with the selection and if so, feel free to let us know.
The selection is based loosely on the formation that Stephen Kenny has favoured (4-3-3) and which has been highly successful, yielding four League trophies, two FAI Cups, a host of minor trophies, and the most memorable European nights ever experienced by the club.
Here goes with my selection:
GOALKEEPER
GARY Rogers has to be the choice. Since joining Dundalk in November, 2015, the 37-year-old Navan man has been virtually ever present and has probably just completed his best season, keeping a record number of clean sheets.
Clearly like a good wine, and indeed like most ‘keepers, he has improved with age.
He took over from Peter Cherrie, the Scotsman who had joined Dundalk in 2009 and who had experienced a few very difficult seasons before getting his reward by winning his first major honour when the club won their first League trophy under Stephen Kenny in 2014, keeping 16 clean sheets in the process.
Gabriel Sava was the only other contender for the position, and he proved to be a very competent deputy for Gary Rogers over the last four seasons. The Italian born ‘keeper leaves the club in the close season with fond members of the 2016 European campaign when he stood in for Gary Rogers when the regular No. 1 had a blip in form.
RIGHT BACK
Sean Gannon, like Gary Rogers, is the automatic choice. Since joining Dundalk in November, 2013, the 27-year-old Dubliner has been head and shoulders above any other right-back in the League, winning the PFAI team award in his position for the last five seasons. In his first season with Dundalk the former Shamrock Rovers and St.Patrick’s player helped his new club to their first League title in 19 years and is quickly becoming one of the most decorated players in the League’s history for he has now five League medals (one with Rovers) and two FAI Cup medals.
The only real challenger for his position is Sean Hoare who deputised well for him during this campaign when he was injured, but Gannon’s absence in the second leg of the Europa Cup tie against AEK in Larnaca in the summer highlighted his value to the team, not just as an attacking force, but the defensive cover he provides.
CENTRAL DEFENCE
THERE will be much debate over the selection and best combination in central defence. Here we go for the pairing of Brian Gartland on the right and Andy Boyle on his left.
Gartland joined Dundalk in July, 2013 and was initially signed from Portadown by Stephen Kenny because Andy Boyle was facing suspension and two other players who could fill the position, Mark Rossiter and Chris Shields were injured. The 32-year-old Dubliner had previously played with four clubs north and south of the border, but soon established himself as a first choice defender, becoming a vital cog in the title winning sides of 2104, 2015, 2016 and last season. Along the way he contributed vital goals and while he had spells when he fell out of favour for short periods, his importance to the side should never be underestimated, with his man of the match performance in the Cup final demonstrating that he still has much to contribute.
Andy Boyle, joined Dundalk from Shelbourne in December, 2012, and was ever present in the side that finished runners-up to St. Patrick’s in the 2013 campaign. Under Stephen Kenny’s coaching he soon established himself as the outstanding left sided central defender in the League, taking over the captaincy from the injured Stephen O’Donnell in the title winning 2014 season, and again the following two seasons when Dundalk retained the title, the 27-year-old Dubliner was selected in the team of the year for his outstanding performances.
However, it was during Dundalk’s exciting European campaigns in 2015 and 2016 that the defender came to the attention of foreign teams especially after his performances against Bate Borisov, and Dundalk fans will still curse the German referee who awarded an extremely harsh penalty against him during a Champions League tie against Legia Warsaw in a packed Aviva stadium.
After that campaign in Europe had ended, Boyle joined Preston North End in December, 2016, and was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad gaining his first and only cap against Iceland in November, 2017.
Currently he is on loan with Dundee, the Scottish Premier side from his parent club, Preston.
Other contenders for the central defensive roles would be Niclas Vemmelund, a stylish Danish born defender who was signed from Derry City at the start of 2017, but remained only one season before returning to Denmark, Unfortunately his Cup final goal against Cork last season was not sufficient to give him his first honour in Irish football.
Many may feel that Sean Hoare should have secured one of the two position, for since joining in 2017 from St.Patrick’s the 24-year-old has proved to be an invaluable squad player, not only in her preferred central defensive, where he can play right or left, but as a deputy for Sean Gannon at right-back and on the odd occasion in a holding midfield role.
He has five under-21 caps with the Republic, and his classic header in this season’s Cup final will live long in the memory.
Daniel Cleary is another who deserved consideration, for he had a fine first sea- son having joined in January, and previously was with Liverpool and Birmingham. The 22-year-old Dubliner has time on his side, and has all the attributes to develop into one of the finest central defenders in the League.
LEFT BACK
DANE Massey, like his full-back partner, Sean Gannon, the 30-year-old Dubliner has been a lynchpin in the Dundalk defence in all of the glory seasons under Stephen Kenny. He joined the club from Bray Wanderers in December, 2012, rejecting an offer from Bohemians because Stephen Kenny promised him that he would be used as an attacking full-back, unlike his four seasons at Bray when his primary duties were defensive.
He quickly established himself in the Dundalk team, playing 32 times in his first season, and progressing with the team as they won the League title in 2014. He has now four League medals on his sideboard and two FAI Cup medals, and during that memorable European campaign in 2016, he played in all six games, and appeared 14 times with Dundalk in Europe.
He frequently pops up with a crucial goal, is an excellent header of the ball, with a fine shot, and while his defensive qualities have been questioned at times, he has had few rivals for the position.
The only other real contender would be Dean Jarvis who joined from Derry City at the start of the season, but the 26-yearold didn’t get sufficient game time in the position to make his mark.
MIDFIELD
FINDING the best midfield combination over the six seasons that Stephen Kenny has been at the club is not an easy task for it is the one sector of the team that has seen the most transition, and has produced some of the best players, and the best combination football in the League for many seasons.
The trio that have been selected are Chris Shields, in the holding role, Stephen O’Donnell for his organisational skills and vision, and Richie Towell not just for his goals - 43 in 96 matches with Dundalk - but for his all round play.
Chris Shields joined Dundalk in January, 2012 and is the joint longest serving player at the club with John Mountney. The 28-year-old was signed from Bray Wanderers, his only other senior club, and his utility as a player, meant that he was used in a variety of positions by Dundalk when he arrived.
Under Stephen Kenny he has developed into one of the best midfield players in the country, steadily improving his passing skills, and vision, with each season, and is a strong contender for the Soccer Writers, ‘Personality of the Year’ having just completed his best season.
Stephen O’Donnell, the club captain, is now 33 and joined Dundalk in December, 2012 from Shamrock Rovers. A native of Galway he was just 16, and had completed his Junior Certificate when he joined Arsenal in 2003.
He never made a senior appearance with the Gunners but played in Scotland with Falkirk before returning to Ireland to play with Bohemians, Cork City, Galway and Rovers before Stephen Kenny enticed him to take over the role as his captain.
Early in Dundalk’s first title winning season, O’Donnell suffered a devastating cruciate knee ligament injury but showed great courage and commitment to return for the vital, final game of that season when he scored in Dundalk’s 2-0 win over Cork City at Oriel Park to clinch the club’s first title in 19 years in a never to be forgotten night. Throughout the winning title campaigns in the following two seasons, the Galway man was an integral part of the team, and his class always told when the team had to step up in quality during great European nights.
Richie Towell was another who sampled cross-channel football at an early age having joined Celtic in 2007, and although he did play a number of first team games, he went out on loan from Celtic to Hibernian. Disillusioned with the game he returned to Ireland and was playing junior football in his native Dublin when he was tempted back to the game by Stephen Kenny in December, 2013. His enthusiasm for the game renewed, he gradually regained the confidence that made him a target for many clubs when he was a teenager, and having won the PFAI Player of the Season in his first year with Dundalk he went on
to play a crucial role in the title winning seasons of 2014 and 2015, finishing that last season as top scorer in the league with 25 goals.
Again he became the target for cross-channel clubs and he signed for Brighton and Hove in November 2015. He is currently on loan with Rotherham, who he helped to promotion in the Championship last season, and could soon realise his cherished ambition to be capped at senior level by the Republic of Ireland.
Many would argue that Roan Finn, Patrick McEleney and Robbie Benson deserve inclusion in the selection. Finn, now 30, joined Dundalk in December, 2014, and over the two seasons he was with the club, winning two League titles, he played 62 times, scoring 12 times. He was, according to many, the best link player at the club, his natural ability and appetite for work forging the perfect link between defence and attack. He was outstanding in many of the club’s European matches and there was a great sense of loss and some dismay when he left at the end of his contract to re-join Shamrock Rovers.
Patrick McEleney, now back with Dun- dalk, is regarded by his manager as the best natural talent of his generation. He first joined Dundalk from his native Derry in December, 2015, and made an immediate impact, his silky skills and eye for a goal making him a big favourite at Oriel Park. In his first spell over two seasons he scored 15 times in 49 games and when he joined Oldham Athletic last January many fans were disappointed.
He did however return in July after a disappointing spell in England and played a key role in securing the League and Cup double.
Much of Robbie Benson’s work for the team is unheralded, but he has been a valuable midfield cog, since joining Dundalk in December, 2015. The 26-year-old Athlone native was signed from UCD, and is widely regarded as the best ‘box to box’ player in the League, for it is only when he was missing from the team that his value was appreciated.
The player himself, and all Dundalk fans will never forget his stunning volley against Legia Warsaw in the European Champions Cup game in 2016, a goal that received world wide media coverage. Supporters hope he resigns for the club.
FORWARDS
HERE again the choice is difficult, but not as testing as the selection of midfield sector.
The three chosen to fit into the system are Michael Duffy on the right, Pat Hoban as the central striker and Daryl Horgan on the left.
Michael Duffy, although he has played most of his football on the left with Dundalk, is accommodated in this selection on the right to allow Daryl Horgan occupy the left flank.
A native of Derry, Duffy, joined Dundalk in January, 2017, having spent two seasons at Celtic, whom he joined from Derry City in 2015. He never quite made his mark at Celtic, but when enticed back to Ireland by Stephen Kenny he quickly regained his form and his confidence.
In the season just ended the 24-year-old was outstanding, not just for his finishing, and assists, but for his improved defensive play, and was fittingly awarded with the PFAI ‘Player of the Year’ his memorable goal against Levadia Tallinn at Oriel Park in the Europa should have been awarded ‘goal of the year’.
Patrick Hoban re-joined Dundalk for his second spell in November last, having first signed for the club in 2013 from non League side Mervue United. A native of Loughrea in Galway, the 27-year-old had two good first seasons with Dundalk, scoring 15 times in the 2013 season, and was top League scorer with 20 goals when Stephen Kenny’s men clinched the title in 2014. On the back of that goal scoring form he secured a transfer to Oxford United and later moved to Mansfield. It came as a surprise to some when he resigned for Dundalk last November, but his signing proved to be a master stroke by his manager, for the player regained his fitness enabling him to find his confidence and goal scoring touch, finishing the season with a record 29 league goals.
Daryl Horgan, now with Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, joined Dundalk in December, 2013 on a €10,000 fee from Cory City. The 26-year-old Galway native had previously played with Sligo, and was sought by Shamrock Rovers and St.Patrick’s before Stephen Kenny enticed him to Oriel Park.
In total over his three title winning seasons with Dundalk (2014, 2015 and 2016) he played 97 games, scoring 23 goals, including two magnificent efforts against Cork City at Oriel Park to clinch the League title.
In Europe he was a revelation, for few will forget his goal against Zenit St. Petersburg when he ran half the length of the field to score a memorable solo effort. Having been called into the Republic of Ireland squad, he soon made the move to Preston North end where he made 44 appearances before joining Hibernian in the summer for a fee reported to be £500,000.
Again many will contend that David McMillan should have been named in the striker’s role. He joined Dundalk in 2013 from Sligo Rovers he made an outstanding contribution to the title wins over the following three seasons and no one can take away from the fact that he currently holds the League of Ireland record for the all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League and was the joint top scorer in the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round.
Who will ever forget his European goals for he had the uncanny knack of finding the net in those games, and his display in the FAI Cup semi-final against Shamrock Rovers last season was one of the best ever produced by a centre-forward for the club.
There was great disappointment too in Oriel Park when he decided to try his luck cross-channel last January when he joined St. Johnstone.
So there it is for what it is worth: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Stephen O’Donnell, Richie Towell; Michael Duffy, Pat Hoban, Daryl Horgan. Subs Gabriel Sava, Sean Hoare, Daniel Cleary, Ronan Finn, Patrick McEleney Robbie Benson, David McMillan.