Dundalk midfielder Towell scoops Player of the Month award for July

Dundalk’s Richie Towell who was presented with the SSE Airtricity / SWAI Player of the Month award for July.

Dundalk FC midfielder Richie Towell has been named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month for July.

The former Celtic ace wins the award for the second time having scooped the prize last August also.

He picked up the award at a ceremony in the Davenport Hotel this morning, where he spoke to the media ahead of his side’s clash with Limerick FC in Oriel Park tomorrow.

Towell was the driving force behind the Lilywhites’ magnificent July run that saw them win six out of seven games. As well as scoring a brace away to Jeunesse Esch in the Europa League, he also scored the opener in the 5-1 league win against Bray.

The Dundalk star admits it was an honour to top the voting among SWAI members.

“To win the award for a second time is a great honour,” said Towell.

“It’s a reward for all the hard work I’ve put in. I’ve been on a decent goal scoring run which is nice, it’s something I try to do. I’ve got 13 for the season so far and I’m in flying form.”

Dundalk are four points clear at the top of the table, but after a disappointing draw against rivals Drogheda United last week, they are keen to get back to winning ways against Limerick on Friday.

“We were disappointed with the draw against Drogheda but we are still four points clear and we have the belief in the squad that we can bounce back,” explained Towell.

“We have bounced back before. We are fully focused on getting a good result against Limerick now.”

Towell began his career at Celtic before signing for Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk in 2012 and admits the Lilywhites boss has been a huge reason behind his good form.

“Stephen Kenny has been absolutely brilliant for me,” added Towell.

“When I got back from Celtic I was thinking ‘have I failed?’ and my confidence was low. But he has built me back up and has taken the shackles off me this season.

“I am really enjoying it. He is a joy to play for and I know the lads think the same.”

In winning the award, Towell fended off competition from team-mate Kurtis Byrne who finished second. Derry City’s Michael Duffy was third.

Towell is the second Dundalk player to win the Player of the Month award this season after Daryl Horgan scooped the prize in May.

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

Towell double hands Dundalk a first leg European advantage

Two goals from Richie Towell handed Dundalk the advantage in their Europa League qualifier against Jeunesse Esch of Luxembourg.

A penalty in the 59th minute set the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table-toppers on their way after David McMIllan was fouled and Towell doubled the lead with 19 minutes remaining.

The second leg takes place on Thursday 10 July at Oriel Park.

The match started at a frantic pace and it was Dundalk who had the first chance through an overhead from McMillan, which went well over the bar. At the other end, Jeunesse had an effort cleared by Andy Boyle.

Darren Meenan then found the head of Brian Gartland, but he headed straight into the arms of goalkeeper Marc Oberweis.

McMillan shot just wide of the left-hand post when he had space following a Daryl Horgan pass and Massey then came even closer as his left-footed drive whistled past the right-hand post of Oberweis.

Boyle then headed just over the bar on the stretch from another Meenan free-kick.

Jeunesse should have taken the lead moments later when Sanel Ibrahimovic caused havoc in the Dundalk defence, and after two attempts and heroic defending from Gartland and Boyle, they survived.

Kurtis Byrne’s first-time effort was shot over the bar and then Oberweis punched away a Towell free-kick.

Peter Cherrie produced a world-class save to deny a point-blank header from Kim Kintzinger after Ibrahimovic had headed back across goal. Towell closed the half with a shot straight at the goalkeeper.

The second half began with Dundalk exerting pressure and Towell once again shooting from distance, but it went well over the bar.

The Lilywhites did make the breakthrough just before the hour mark though when a Horgan cross was headed on by Byrne into the path of McMillan. He was pushed over by Eric Hoffman, who gave the referee no choice but to award the penalty.

Up stepped Towell who, despite Oberweis guessing the right way, dispatched the penalty to the bottom left corner to give Stephen Kenny’s side a deserved lead.

The visitors were in full control and made it 2-0 on 71 minutes. A Ruaidhri Higgins cross was headed on by McMilan into the path of Towell and after a brilliant first touch, he settled and rifled the ball to the net.

Towell had a great chance to clinch the hat-trick when Horgan slipped him through, but he could not beat the goalkeeper in the one-on-one.

Horgan then had a shot blocked before Towell tried a speculative effort from distance, which in the end went well wide. Gartland had another great chance to make it three, but his header into the ground was off target.

The Lilywhites were in full control and despite their pressure, they did not add to their tally, but take two away goals into the return leg at Oriel Park next Thursday.

JEUNESSE ESCH: Marc Oberweis; Nenad Dragovic (Milos Todorovic 46), Ken Corral Garcia, Bryan Melisse, Kim Kintziger, Eric Hoffmann, Sanel Ibrahimovic, Alexandre Vitaly, Jonathan Ziyoko (Marko Albaneise 66) (David Solares Del Sousa 80), Adrien Portier, Martins Santols Gracia.

Substitutes not used: Denis Agoric, Amar Catic, Ricardo Alexol Delgado, Yannick Jorge (GK)

Booked: Dragovic (39),

DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle ©, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Richie Towell; Darren Meenan, Kurtis Byrne (Ruaidhri Higgins 68), Daryl Horgan (John Mountney 84); David McMillan (Patrick Hoban 78).

Substitutes not used: John Mountney, Mark Griffin, Simon Kelly, Manuel Kaguako, Gabriel Sava (GK)

Booked: Gartland (26)

Attendance: 759.

SOURCE: RTÉ Sport

Dundalk to find out Europa League opponents later today

Dundalk will find out who they have been paired with in European competition later today when the draw for the first two qualifying rounds of the Europa League takes place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon in Switzerland.

The draw for the first qualifying round is due to take place at 12 noon, with potential second round opposition revealed at 1.30pm.

The draw will be streamed live on uefa.com

The first qualifying round matches are scheduled to take place on Thursday July 3^rd and Thursday July 10^th.

Possible opponents for Dundalk are Aberdeen of Scotland, Jeunesse Esch of Luxembourg, Tromso of Norway, Ekranas of Lithuania, My-Pa 47 of Finland and Bangor City of Wales.

There is the possibility of fixture reversals following the draw so supporters have been advised not to book flights or accommodation until after the fixtures are officially confirmed by UEFA later today.

Tickets for the games will go on general sale from Oriel Park on Monday. Due to UEFA insisting that the home leg be all-seated, tickets will be limited and be on restricted sale.