'It's not ideal' says Daryl Horgan as Dundalk head to Turner's Cross to face Galway
DUN GOOD: Dundalk's Daryl Horgan with his SSE Airtricity / SWI Player of the Month Award for May 2026 at Oriel Park. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.
Newly-crowned SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland (SWI) Player of the Month Daryl Horgan admits Dundalk’s trip to Galway on Friday getting moved late to Turner’s Cross isn’t ideal.
His Lilywhites are the notable story just past the midway point of the season, rising to fourth place despite being widely written down as certain to return straight to the First Division.
The role of Horgan has been instrumental for Ciarán Kilduff’s side. The former Ireland winger turns 34 in August but being just four years younger than his manager hasn’t quelled his effervescence.
As Eamonn Deacy Park is undergoing works and their intended temporary home, Pearse Stadium, is being used for GAA this weekend, an alternative venue was required.
Galway boss John Caulfield is unhappy at the handling of the matter that led to them changing county to Cork and Horgan can understand why.
“Look, it's not ideal,” said the Galwegian native.
“It's always a very, very difficult game at Galway but, for me, it doesn't really matter where you play.
“It's disappointing the game's not in Pearse Stadium because I was really looking forward to that.
“The only downside is the distance for both teams and sets of fans to travel but it will still get a great crowd.”
After the brief two-week summer break, Dundalk aim to resume their stellar form.
“I felt we had a good squad from the get-go,” their captain Horgan explains about expectations.
“And now you're looking at points you've left behind really at the minute, which again is a good thing.
“We're in a position we're quite happy with but there's always been lots of teams who've had a good start to the season and fallen away.
“We don't want to be that team, only continue from our momentum.”
This was Horgan’s fifth time collecting the personal award but a decade spanned from his last accolade. He soon left champions Dundalk for the UK, lining out for Preston North End, Hibs and Wycombe Wanderers before returning to settle in Co Louth.
Having amassed 98 goals over his club career, added to by his strike for Ireland against Andorra, the century is within sight. Doing so against his hometown club, on the site of his former club Cork City, would be quite the fitting scene.
“That would be absolutely fantastic; nice to do it against any team, to be honest,” he said.
“When you go out, first and foremost, all that matters really is three points. If I score, fantastic but, if not, then we've got three points.
“I don't really care who scores so long as we win.” Finishing out his career at the club he won numerous trophies during his first spell is the plan, after penning a two-year contract extension.
“The biggest thing for me is the appetite to play, to keep going and keep pushing yourself,” he says about his longevity.
“I love coming into work every day. The manager has brought in a really young, infectious group.
“I’ll eventually get to the stage where the body starts to hurt and things like that but it hasn’t happened yet.”
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