Profiled: Newtown’s UEFA Europa Conference League opponents Dundalk

Newtown AFC face a formidable task in the First Qualifying Round of the inaugural Europa Conference League when they come up against one of Ireland’s most successful teams, Dundalk FC.

History

The club came into being in 1903 as Dundalk Great Northern Railway FC which had, since 1883, been a rugby club. Playing their home games at 4,500 capacity Oriel Park – less than ten miles from the border with Northern Ireland – they joined the League of Ireland in 1926. In the intervening years, they have won the title 14 times, a record that is second only to current champions, Shamrock Rover’s 18.

Since the inception of the Premier Division in 1985, the Lilywhites have lifted the trophy more than any other club (8) and five of their titles have come in the last seven seasons. The 2020 season saw Dundalk finish third in the table, the first time they’ve failed to make the top two since 2012.

In addition to league triumphs, the club has lifted the FAI Cup on 12 occasions (again, second only to Shamrock Rovers, who have 25 wins to their name), the most recent being 2020, making them the current holders.

En route to 2020 final, Dundalk set the competition record for the biggest win with an 11-0 semi-final victory over second-tier Athlone Town. They claimed the crown with a 4-2 extra-time win over Shamrock Rovers.

The 2021 season brought yet more silverware for Dundalk as they claimed the President’s Cup (the Republic of Ireland’s equivalent to England’s Community Shield) after a penalty shoot-out against Shamrock.

Manager

The club are currently managed by Vinny Perth, who is in his second spell in the hot seat. Originally assistant manager to Stephen Kenny from 2013, he was given the top job when Kenny departed in 2019 and led them to a quadruple of trophies with the Premier Division, FAI Cup, Presidents Cup added to the Champions Cup (an annual competition between the champions of the Republic and Northern Ireland).

Perth was relieved of his position in 2020 when the club was eliminated from the Champions League qualification. His successor, Filippo Giovagnoli subsequently led the club to Europa League qualification but a poor start to this season saw the Italian leave his role.

On the 16^th of June 2021, Perth returned to the club in time to lead them into Europe once more.

Players to Watch

Patrick Hoban is the man most likely to give the Newtown backline sleepless nights. His tally of five goals from twelve appearances this term might not seem impressive but he has notched 110 goals in 205 outings over two spells, a rate of more than one goal every two games.

He also has a Football League pedigree, having turned out for Oxford United, Mansfield Town, and Stevenage between 2014 and 2018, as well as spending time on loan at National League, Grimsby Town.

Patrick McEleney is a crowd favourite. Having begun his career with five years at Derry City, he has had two spells with Dundalk, bookending a brief spell at EFL League One Oldham Athletic. He made nine appearances and scored a single goal at Boundary Park before making his way back across the Irish sea.

Between the sticks is former Albania U19 keeper Alessio Abibi, who signed from Italian Serie D side Cavese in the off-season.

The side also boast a number of current international footballers with Raivis Jurkovskis and Sonni Nattestad named in the most recent Latvia and Faroe Islands squads, respectively.

Central African Republic midfielder, Wilfried Zahibo, signed for Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo earlier this year. He previously represented New England Revolution in the North American top flight and was named in the MLS All-Star team in 2018, playing half an hour against Juventus in the All Star game.

Centre back, Andy Boyle also has a Republic of Ireland cap to his name, having played against Iceland in 2017.

Road to Europe

While their domestic records see them trailing Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk are Ireland’s undisputed kings of Europe. Last season’s third-placed finish and FAI Cup win set them on the path to their 25^th European campaign.

As well as boasting the highest co-efficient score in the League of Ireland Premier Division, they have qualified for the Europa League group stage twice since 2016. The most recent outing was just last season, where they went up against Arsenal of the English Premier League.

In the 2016/17 edition, they became the first Irish team to earn a point in a European group stage with their draw at AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands and, then, claim a win when they defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel 1-0 at Oriel Park.

Despite the heroics, on both occasions, they finished bottom of their group and were eliminated.

European Preparation

The League of Ireland Premier Division has just entered the second half of the season and Dundalk currently sits a disappointing seventh out of 10th in the table, with 24 points. They are 11 points behind third-placed St Patrick’s Athletic and 14 behind top duo Shamrock and Sligo Rovers.

Their form over the opening 19 fixtures stands at six wins, six draws, and seven defeats with a goal difference of minus 3.

The club were unbeaten in Perth’s first three games back at the helm, collecting six points from a possible nine, before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at league leaders Shamrock Rovers on Friday night.

Dundalk host the Robins on Thursday 8^th of July, before the return leg five days later on Tuesday 13^th July at TNS’s Park Hall stadium.

(Featured Image Sexitoni)