Dundalk are a side fit for European purpose

THE quote of the week had to be Stephen Kenny describing the luminous moment in Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday night when Robbie Benson’s clinical finish found the back of the net, sealing Dundalk’s stunning 3-0 victory over BATE Borisov and taking the club to the giddy heights of a play-off for a place in the group stages of the Champions League.

“The ecstasy when we scored the third goal was just special,” said the Dundalk manager. “It felt like that was a moment that you just wanted to freeze because every one was so ecstatic. You could see the joy and you don’t always get that in life in any form so to be part of that is amazing.”

The delicious irony of success at this level, of course, is that beyond the ineffable glory of a moment in time that you might want to freeze forever, it almost immediately brings on even greater challenges and wilder hopes and dreams — the biggest night in a club’s career siring an even bigger one, or at least the potential for same.