Ciaran Kilduff: Dundalk can bounce back

Ciaran Kilduff insists Dundalk’s European adventure isn’t over yet and is confident they can put their recent setback against AZ Alkmaar behind them by beating the Dutch side and Maccabi Tel Aviv to the runners-up spot in Group D of the Europa League tomorrow night.

By their own admission, Stephen Kenny’s side were below par when losing 1-0 to AZ in Tallaght a fortnight ago but Kilduff believes they can bounce back by winning in Israel and still making it through to the last 32.

In order to do that, Dundalk will need a favour from Zenit St Petersburg, who face AZ in Holland at the same time. If Alkmaar fail to win then a score draw would be enough to see the Lilywhites through while a second victory over Maccabi would also see the League of Ireland kingpins advance if it was a draw at the AFAS Stadion.