Stephen Kenny’s gone but Brian Gartland says business as usual for Lilywhites

As Dundalk prepare for an opening night meeting with Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park on Friday, the question dominating the build-up to the new League of Ireland season is whether the team that Stephen Kenny built can continue to hit the heights without his inspirational presence.

For Lilywhites stalwart Brian Gartland, there are no doubts. With Kenny’s former assistant Vinny Perth taking over as head coach and John Gill coming in as first team coach, the centre-half expects nothing less than “business as usual” from the champions who, perhaps in a sign of what’s to come, have already added the 2019 President’s Cup to their heaving trophy cabinet.