Kilduff taking in bigger picture as Dundalk welcome Rovers

Dundalk manager Ciaran Kilduff. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho

Dundalk’s impressive return to the Premier Division reaches its sternest test when champions and league leaders Shamrock Rovers visit Oriel Park in Friday’s televised fixture.

Next week’s Louth derby will mark the midway stage of the campaign but having climbed into fourth, a European qualification spot already, there’s no ceiling to the Lilywhites’ charge.

Stability on and off the pitch is integral to their renaissance. 

New majority shareholder, US-based Irishman Chris Clinton, will be in the stand relieved he succeeded in convincing his manager to rescind his resignation during a pre-season of ownership friction.

This is only Ciarán Kilduff second season as a men’s LOI team boss and has welded a mixture of Daryl Horgan's experience with the rawness of Eoin Kenny to strike a winning formula.

"A little over a year ago, the idea of hosting a Premier Division home game against the defending champions and league leaders Shamrock Rovers would have been something we'd have greatly welcomed with open arms,” said Kilduff, whose team suffered a minor blip by losing to Bohemians last Friday.

“I think this visit by Rovers is a real marker of how far this club has come.

“Of course, both the group and I have felt a degree of disappointment with the points we've dropped over the last three or four games but if we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, this has been a very competitive and successful return to the Premier Division. We should take real pride in that.” 

Elsewhere, bottom-side Waterford need points off erratic Derry City in Graham Coughlan’s first home game at the helm. Second placed St Patrick's Athletic welcome Shelbourne while Bohemians host Drogheda united.

FRIDAY’S LOI FIXTURES (All 7.45pm unless stated):

PREMIER DIVISION: Bohemians v Drogheda United, Dalymount Park Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers, Oriel Park (8pm); St Patrick’s Athletic v Shelbourne, Richmond Park; Waterford v Derry City, RSC.

FIRST DIVISION: Cobh Ramblers v Athlone Town, St Colman’s Park; Kerry v Wexford, Mounthawk Park; Treaty United v Finn Harps, Markets Field; UCD v Bray Wanderers, Belfield Bowl.