Inside Track: Jim McCourt hasn’t been to Oriel this season, but still hasn’t missed a Dundalk tie

Jim McCourt, Inside Track’s old pal (as in, he’s been communicating with us for years) hasn’t seen his beloved Dundalk FC play this season.

Well, that’s not strictly correct; he’s been on the streaming service – not to be confused with the dodgy box – and there hasn’t been a game, home or away, he hasn’t seen.

He admits to looking in being “hard work at times”, but nothing stops him from getting the armchair out each time the team he’s been following for over 60 years are in action and plonking himself down in front of the telly.

Jim’s in good form. He’s had one or two health issues and had a stay in hospital, but he’s getting stronger by the day.

It was no bother to him getting the computer out to compose his latest thoughts and send them out this way.

His complaints about the team’s performances have been aired by others – no consistency and team selections.

“It goes without saying, the team would be further up the table if there was more of the former, and regarding the latter, injuries have played a part, but they’re hardly the only reason why the same team hasn’t been fielded in consecutive games,” he contends.

While happy with the signing of Darryl Horgan, Jim believes others will have to be brought in, and, more important, every effort made to keep goalkeeper, Nathan Shepperd, on board when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

There’s still an outside chance the team will make it to a top four position in the league, but the only realistic chance of getting into Europe next season is by winning the Cup.

“It’s not going to be easy against Galway in the quarter-finals. Right now I’d take a draw and get them to Oriel.”

Jim is thinking back to the Stephen Kenny era, not only the league and Cup wins and the great nights in Europe, but also the former manager’s words: “Remember these days and nights, they don’t last forever.”

How right he was, concludes Jim.