Kenny confident he can add another Irish international from Dundalk to his CV

Stephen Kenny with Ireland boss Martin O’Neill at yesterday’s Dundalk FC-Dundalk IT partnership launch in Dublin

Stephen Kenny believes he can produce an Irish senior international at Dundalk.

A local hasn’t lined out for Ireland since Stephen Staunton made his debut in 1988 but Kenny has a proven track record of turning League of Ireland stars into Ireland internationals.

Amongst those who have gone on to represent their country having played under Kenny were the likes of James McClean, Connor Sammon, David Forde and Glen Crowe.

Paddy McCourt, who is expected to be at Oriel Park on Friday night for Barnsley’s visit, also went on to represent Northern Ireland having made his name playing under Kenny while at Derry City. Other Northern Ireland reps who played under the current Lilywhites boss were Niall McGinn and Daniel Lafferty, with Ger Doherty having made the squad despite not winning a cap. Eamon Zayed also went on to play for Libya.

Speaking at the launch of Dundalk FC’s new partnership with Dundalk IT in Dublin yesterday, Kenny said a Dundalk player could follow suit in the not-too-distant future if they believed in themselves.

“Derry hadn’t many internationals for a long period but I was at Derry for four years and we had eight players who became full internationals. I think with the proper infrastructure players can get opportunities to progress and do well.

“I managed Glen Crowe when he was picked, the first since Pat Byrne, in that period. Nobody thought he could.

“The likes of David Forde, who is there now, was really driven and would talk regularly about his desire to become an international even then. Players have to absolutely think like this.

“When I got to Dundalk, I said one of the problems is that Steve Staunton is the last Dundalk international which isn’t great.

“Its a bad indictment as it’s a football town. It would be different if it was a hurling stronghold but it’s not. With the proper infrastructure players can get opportunities to progress and do well.

“I’d be disappointed with the group I have now if I didn’t get an international out of the group. I’m not saying they’ll play for Dundalk and Ireland in the one year but what I will say I would be genuinely disappointed [if one didn’t reach senior international level].”

McClean gives Dundalk duo his seal of approval

Ireland and Wigan winger James McClean has given his seal of approval to Dundalk pair Stephen Kenny and Pat Hoban, branding them the best manager and player in the League of Ireland at present.

McClean was taking part in a Q&A on his Twitter recently when he was asked who the best League of Ireland manager was.

His response was: “Easily Stephen Kenny.”

He was then asked “who would you say was the most impressive player in the LOI last season?’. To this he replied: “Hoban of Dundalk done wonders for them.”

The former Sunderland ace made his breakthrough in Irish football with Derry City and clearly still retains an interest in the league.