Ciaran urges town’s businesses to get behind Dundalk FC

Ciaran Callan

Ahead of this Thursday night’s massive Europa League second round tie against Hadjuk Split, Dundalk fan Ciaran Callan is calling on the town’s businesses and fans to get behind the players and staff of Dundalk FC and wish them all every inch of support.

“I think as a town and community when Dundalk is doing well like it has done over the past two seasons there has been a great buzz around the town and surrounding areas. Everyone has been talking about Dundalk FC,” said Ciaran

“With Hadjuk Split coming to Dundalk I would love to see as many homes, businesses and fans showing off their colours, flying the flags and banners ahead of the game. I think personally it will add to the already great sense of occasion and we saw how well Dundalk looked when the Giro D’Italia came through so why can’t we get behind our club and show off our colours?”

Ciaran, who has been supporting the club for over 10 years through thick and thin, has seen the good and bad times at the club.

“We had a very low period since the FAI Cup win in 2002 for many years and now it looks as if the great times this club has enjoyed in the past are coming back so when we do have good times I think it’s vitally important that we embrace them and celebrate how far we really have come as a club/”

Ciaran is hoping his “rally the troops” message might encourage Dundalk and its community to come out and support Dundalk FC.

“This is our club and our team and I encourage everyone to send messages of support and encouragement ahead of Thursday night.”

Ireland boss O’Neill to visit Dundalk this Thursday

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny with Ireland boss Martin O’Neill

Ireland manager Martin O’Neill be at Oriel Park this Thursday night to take in Dundalk’s Europa League clash with Hadjuk Split.

The game is the first item on his agenda after working in Brazil as a pundit for ITV during the World Cup.

News of O’Neill’s pending trip to Dundalk was revealed in this morning’s Irish Independent, who suggest he will use the match as an opportunity to cast his eye over some of Dundalk’s young guns.

One of O’Neill’s predecessors, Mick McCarthy, was also in Oriel last week to take in Dundalk’s victory over AS Jeunesse Esch.

Dundalk vs Hadjuk Split match and ticket details announced

UEFA have confirmed that Dundalk’s Europa League second qualifying round matches with Hadjuk Split have been reversed. This means that the first leg will be played in Oriel Park next Thursday July 17th at 7.45pm, with the return leg in Split on July 24th.

The club have also released ticket information for the game which is as follows:

Priority Tickets: Sunday & Monday
Tickets will be on sale for season ticket holders and 500 Club members from Oriel Park Office on Sunday July 13th between the hours of 2pm and 6 pm. Tickets will also be on sale in the Lilywhite Lounge from 7 pm ‘til close on the same day.

500 Club Members and Season Ticket holders can also purchase tickets from Oriel Park Office on Monday July 14th between the hours of 9 am – 5 pm.

General Ticket Sales
Tickets will be on sale to the general public from Oriel Park on Tuesday 15th July from 9 am – 5pm

Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early as possible to avoid queues and to guarantee entry to your preferred section.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Stand Adult: €20 Concession: €15 Children U12: €5

Ground Adult: €15 Concession: €10 Children U12: €5

Concession tickets and €5 Children tickets are limited. A third of tickets are at concession rates and once they are sold only adult tickets will be available.

Centre Travel put together Croatian travel package for Dundalk fans

 

Centre Travel’s window supporting Dundalk FC

Local travel agents Centre Travel have put together a travel package for Dundalk fans hoping to take in the club’s Europa League clash with Hadjuk Split in two weeks time.

The Lilywhites booked their place in the second qualifying round with a 5-1 aggregate victory over AS Jeunesse Esch of Luxembourg in the first round.

They will host Igor Tudor’s side at Oriel Park next Thursday before the return leg takes place in Split on Thursday week, July 24^th.

Central Travel, who are based in Dublin Street, have seven night packages to Croatia from €650pps. This is based on two people sharing a studio.

That price is for a trip to picturesque Dubrovnik, which is around 220km from Split. However, those interested in attending the game can travel by ferry (8.5 hours), bus (4.5 hours) or by car (3 hours).

Other packages may become available, with reports that Dundalk might charter a plane to Split for the game with limited availability for fans to travel with the team.

For further details on their Croatian package, call Centre Travel on 042 9331672.

Dundalk set up Hadjuk Split tie after easing past Jeunesse

The Dundalk FC Til I Die flag, printed by Graphic Lights in Park Street, which was displayed before kick-off for the first time last night by the Shed Side Army

Dundalk advanced to the second qualifying round of the Europa League 5-1 on aggregate thanks to a 3-1 second-leg win over Jeunesse Esch at Oriel Park last night.

First-half goals from Brian Gartland, Kurtis Byrne and John Mountney meant Jonathan Zydko’s strike after the restart was little more than a consolation.

The Lilywhites will face Hajduk Split in Oriel Park in a week’s time in the first leg of the second qualifying round.

It took Stephen Kenny’s side just nine minutes to make the breakthrough. Ruaidhri Higgins floated in a free-kick from the left and Gartland rose to head home his sixth goal of the season.

Jeunesse almost got an equaliser straight from the kick-off. Ken Corral burst into the Dundalk box, leaving Peter Cherrie for dead, but Dane Massey was on hand to make a goal-saving interception.

Dundalk remained in cruise control for the remainder of the half but they still had enough quality to add two further goals before the break.

Byrne made it 2-0 on aggregate when he forced home a David McMillan cut-back in the 36th minute and Mountney found himself in oceans of space to pick his spot from the right of the penalty area in first-half stoppage-time.

Jeunesse upped their game in the second half and Zydco found the bottom corner of Cherrie’s net in the 55th minute.

Dundalk, with one eye undoubtedly on this Sunday’s domestic tussle with Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght, failed to ignite in the second half, and the visitors almost made it 3-2 on the night when first, Bryan Melisse fired just wide, before Kim Kintzinger saw a deft header hit the crossbar.

Dundalk: Cherrie; Gannon, Gartland (Kelly 79), Boyle, Massey; Towell, Higgins; Mountney, Byrne (Hoban 61), Horgan (Griffin HT); McMillan.

Jeunesse Esch: Oberveis; De Graca, Portier, Hoffman, Vitali; Kintzinger, Todorovic (Delgado HT), Zydco (Agovic 78); Corral (Albanese HT), Ibrahimovic, Melisse.

Referee: Tsvetan Krastev (Bulgaria).

Source: RTÉ Sport

Dundalk’s Europa League away trip confirmed for July 1st

Dundalk FC’s Europa League first round first leg tie against Luxembourg outfit AS Jeunesse Esch will take place in just eight days time on Tuesday July 1st.

The two sides were paired together in the draw, which took place in UEFA HQ in Switzerland this morning, with the game brought forward by two days to avoid a clash with another Luxembourg outfit who were also drawn at home on the initial date of Thursday July 3rd.

The first leg will have a provisional kick-off time of 6pm.

The return leg will take place as scheduled on Thursday July 10th in Oriel Park.

AS Jeunesse Esch are based in Esch-sur-Alzette in south-western Luxembourg at the French border. They are the most successful side in the country, having won the National Division title on 28 occasions.

Their side contains a number of Luxembourg internationals.

Dundalk fans will be familiar with Luxembourg with many of them having travelled for the club’s last Europa League fixture in 2010 when the club played FC Grevenmacher, a town 46km away from Esch-sur-Alzette.

It is understood the club will announce a travel package for fans in conjunction with Centre Travel in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Stephen Kenny’s side will face Hadjuk Split in the second round of the qualifying stage if they get past As Jeunesse Esch.

The Lilywhites played Hadjuk in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977, drawing 1-1 in Oriel Park thanks to a Terry Flanagan goal before losing the return leg.