Dundalk need to start making big decisions on the future of Oriel Park

Historically one of the biggest losses League of Ireland football ever witnessed was the sale of Shamrock Rovers famous ground at Milltown. The sale resulted in housing being put on the hallowed ground of a stadium that had huge memories and was the home of Ireland’s most successful ever senior club.

The ground was closed to soccer in 1987 and sent shock waves around the Irish sporting world. It was sold off for property development and broke the hearts of all Rover’s supporters as well as football supporters of all clubs in the League of Ireland.

The legend that is Shamrock Rovers was born and matured at its home in Glenmalure Park on the south side of Dublin. So many important games were played there. So many young players made their breakthrough at this famous old ground.

Rovers were experiencing one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, when suddenly its owners decided to opt to sell the ground.

Jim Mclaughlin moved to Milltown in 1983 from Dundalk for the beginning of the new season. He had brought unprecedented success to the Oriel Park club, winning three league titles and three FAI Cups. One was the club’s first double.

Jim departed Dundalk in the Spring of 1983 and went on to win three league titles with the Hoops and two FAI Cups. Winning the league in his first season with Rovers in 1984 was a mammoth achievement. But he won it again in 1985 and 1986 before departing to his hometown club Derry City in 1986.

Jim also won the double with Rovers in 1985 and 1986. UCD had beaten them in the final of 1984. Dermot Keely, another Dundalk legend, took over as manager in September 1986 and guided the Hoops to another league and cup double.

It was their fourth league title in a row and third straight cup win. But 1987 also became the year the Hoops had to vacate their ground and become a nomadic club, wandering around Dublin playing in various grounds right up to the noughties when they eventually became the anchor tenants of the new Tallaght Stadium.

Rovers pay a ground rent of around €250,000 a year for the tenancy rights, if not less. They have a state-of-the-art ground which continues to see its crowd capacity being increased with a new stand in the pipeline. 1987 saw Rovers supporters set up a new committee made up of genuine fans to try to save their ground going to builders.

They called themselves the ‘Keep Rovers At Milltown’ group known more famously as KRAM. Dundalk played Rovers in the cup final of 1987. Rovers romped home to a 3-0 win against Dundalk. At half time, Rovers supporters staged a protest on the side of the pitch, highlighting the sale of their football ground.

Sadly, as they protested beside where Dundalk supporters were located, missiles were hurled by both Rovers and Dundalk fans at each other. A tiny minority of Dundalk supporters threw missiles at those on the pitch. In turn, some protestors threw missiles back into the crowd. I was in the middle of the Dundalk supporters.

I saw several children who were hit by bottles thrown by Rovers’ demonstrators. There was blood all over the children's faces. Adults too were injured. But Rovers fans too were injured, again many with what looked like serious facial injuries. I do not know who started the trouble. But a minority of both sets of fans from both clubs were equally culpable.

All the KRAM movement’s attempts to keep Rovers at Milltown sadly failed. The Rovers fans loyally stayed with them. But their numbers diminished somewhat in the late 1990s. Rovers were relegated in 2005 but were promoted again a year later.

The Hoops topped the first division with Dundalk coming second. But there was to be no promotion for Dundalk as the FAI picked those who would be promoted and relegated based on their performances going back a number of years.

But Rovers nearly went out of football as they were practically insolvent. Their debt case ended up in the courts, but thankfully they stayed in football.

Gradually they grew stronger and the move to Tallaght Stadium proved to be their life saver. The club, of course, is dominant in Irish football at the moment. They have won the last three league titles and are now hoping to make it four in a row.

Rovers are a great community club and are very much immersed there in Tallaght. They are loved by the Dublin media. They are not liked by many clubs outside of Dublin. But that’s just football rivalry.

Everybody was delighted they survived in the dark days of 2005 and were promoted in 2006. They have gone from strength to strength.

Dundalk should have been promoted that season as well. The FAI said this could not happen as their record over the previous four years was dreadful. They won only 8 games out of 58.

They came second that season in the First Division. It counted for nothing and left Dundalk fans angry and bitter.
However, it later emerged the club had signed up to the deal in the couple of seasons before coming up to the split and new league formations.

I have mentioned all of this to illustrate how the fortunes of the two most successful clubs in the Republic have overlapped in the past 30 years. Rovers, however, have won the battle for a new ground and home and it’s great to see it.

Dundalk however, have Oriel Park which must be totally overhauled. But the club have a ground which they lease privately.
The lease has always ensured that nobody could ever sell it off to private building developers. The Casey family owns the ground and leases it to Dundalk FC.

That has been the case for nearly 100 years. It has worked for Dundalk FC. But now the owners must show leadership and talk to the Casey family and Louth County Council. The club can not get any public funding to develop it into a modern facility unless the Council takes possession of it.

The idea would be for the Council to purchase Oriel and redevelop it into a modern day stadium. The Council will have to purchase it just as Dublin City Council bought Dalymount Park and South Dublin City Council bought the area in Tallaght for the new stadium.

Tallaght Stadium is not just used by Shamrock Rovers. It is a public amenity facility that is owned by the Council. When the new Dalymount Park Stadium is complete, it too will become a public amenity.

Bohemians will be, and are, the anchor tenants. Bohs nearly went out of football two years ago. But they sold the ground to the Council and they are bearing most of the rest of the cost to turn it into a top class stadium.

The owners of Dundalk FC must approach the Casey family and ask them if they would be interested in selling Oriel Park to Louth County Council. The Casey family must, of course, get the proper fee.

But if Dundalk can persuade Louth County Council to purchase Oriel as a community facility with the club as the anchor tenants, then it could truly become a proper modern stadium and also a precious community facility.

But the interest and leadership to do all this must come from the owners of Dundalk FC. I would like to think that a new stadium is on their radar. But I am not so sure. I have seen no movement from the owners on this at all. Now maybe I am wrong and something is going on in the background unknown to us all.

If, as I think, they have thought little on the project, they now know what they can do. But pressure needs to be put on now. I am calling on the owners of Dundalk FC to say if they are interested or have already approached Louth County Council with a view to them purchasing Oriel from the Casey family.

The purchase would ensure soccer would remain at Oriel and the facility can be turned into a community project. The owners must say if they are happy with things as they are or if they will be much more proactive on the issue than they have been up to now.

Local Politicians

This is the time where all local politicians must be lobbied by the club owners, supporters and those who want to see a new community facility.

Local representatives I have spoken to are very lukewarm on the project. It’s only a small number. But I think many have little idea what would be involved in such a project. Remember they are our reps. There is an election in 15 months time for a new Council.

Why should supporters of the club give them support at the ballot box if they are not going to do anything positive for the club?

However, if the owners show no inclination to do anything, everything I am saying here is a waste of time. As I repeatedly say, great credit must be given to the owners for bringing the club back from the brink following the Peak6 fiasco.

But they must now take another step forward and put the pressure on the local Council. The owners should not have to pay anything towards a new stadium. That must come from the Council and the government.

What’s really annoying is that Dundalk twice had a chance in the past 13 years to take control of the field where the new Louth GAA stadium is being built. It was owned by Louth County Council over that span of time. It would have qualified for public spending support. But the two opportunities came and went and the rest is history.

Louth GAA bought the council field that is now undergoing development as the new stadium of Louth GAA for a very reasonable price. The local GAA went about their plans well and now have their new ground in sight. They got all the funding they needed in a very professional manner.

They got no funding from the Council towards the ground development as it is now in private hands.

Dundalk have had so much success over the years and have brought huge credit to the area. In recent memory, the achievements under Stephen Kenny were unreal. Andy Connolly and Paul Browne were the people who funded that project, bar 2018 when Stephen Kenny left to become Republic of Ireland Under 21 boss.

Andy and Paul revived and resuscitated the club. But there has been much criticism at the lack of recognition the club got in the Kenny era from Louth County Council.

Well, local councillors had better wake up as there are local elections next year. Dundalk supporters should see who are the councillors who will help the club and who will not.

If they take your vote for granted, maybe they are in for a rude awakening. It’s people power that can shake the Council out of its slumber.

But it’s the owners who must tell us are they going to back the idea of lobbying the Council, TDs and Senators to get something done. If they do not, then it’s all a waste of time.

Andy Connolly showed great courage to come back to the soccer cauldron and rescue Dundalk again. This time he has had Stats Sports to help him. They have funded the new Dundalk project, which is a massive amount of money.

That consisted of stabilising the club, getting a new manager and bringing in new players. That has been done. Now off the field they must communicate with fans and let them know what they intend doing on the ground issue.

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Leinster Senior Cup

Dundalk were beaten 4-0 by Shelbourne on Friday night in the Leinster Senior Cup at Oriel Park. But it was a useful exercise for Stephen O’Donnell to give fringe players and those returning from injury a game.

The home side found themselves down to 10 men on six minutes when centre half Hayden Muller took young Mattie Smith down on the edge of the box. As Haden was the last man back, he was correctly given his marching orders.

Damian Duff’s side were ahead four minutes later when Jack Moylan fired home from close range. They dominated the game and were two up nine minutes from the break, when Jack Moylan crossed for Kyle Robinson to tap home.

Shels were never in any problem of losing this game. Evan Caffrey made it three with 21 minutes left on the clock. The scoring was complete with nine minutes left When Gbemi Arubi took advantage of a mistake by Peter Cherrie in his own penalty area.

But Stephen O’Donnell says it was a key game for him to take stock of things and he was very positive in his post match media interviews.

Robbie McCourt came through with no injury worries. He has not played for Dundalk since they were knocked out of the cup by Waterford last August. He did play in the last game of last season against Derry. He hardly lasted 10 minutes, getting an early sending off in that game. Since then Robbie has picked up an injury and also had a hernia operation.

I’m not Robbie's biggest fan and again he did nothing for me to increase my faith in him. For me he is certainly not the answer to fill a gap in the defence if anybody is injured.

Louie Annesley continues to recover from a serious infection that hit him just after the season started. The manager says he will be returning to the side, but just not yet.

Dundalk are way better off out of the Leinster Senior Cup. It’s the oldest competition in the country. Dundalk have won it seven times and were runners up 11 times.

Friday night was their 200th appearance in the competition. Good news is that Hayden Muller will not be suspended for any games even though he was sent off last Friday night. New rules mean he can only be suspended in Leinster Senior Cup games. 

Stephen O'Donnell

Stephen O'Donnell believes that Shamrock Rovers are still the team he expects to be at the top of the pile come the end of the season.

This despite the fact that they have yet to win a game this season. I told the Dundalk boss that a senior member of the Dublin media told me in the Aviva last Wednesday that Rovers will not win the league this season. The journalist said that there are simply too many Dublin derbies.

They were so competitive that he believed the games were sapping the energy out of Rovers. He said to me to imagine if there were three teams from Louth in the league along with Dundalk. It would take its toll on them too.

One local derby every nine games is enough. Imagine four or five derbies every nine games for Dundalk and think how hard that would be. He is right.

The Dublin journalist says they should extend the league to sixteen clubs. That is what they used to have. I was glad to hear the journalist say what he did. Most Dublin media do not see beyond their city and indeed many are Rovers supporters.

It would allow clubs like Treaty in Limerick to grow along with Waterford, Finn Harps, and Galway. There used to be a 16 team league. O’Donnell was not against the idea at all. The more I spoke to him about it, the more he was interested.

I suggested to him that quite a number of the Dundalk squad I had spoken to believed that they are good enough to win the league. I asked him that since he believes Rovers will top the table again if he does not believe his side can win it.

He assured me that Dundalk can most win the league. But injuries, suspensions and other factors will have a big say in that.

He says he believes that the depth Rovers have will be in their favour. But if things go right for him, then Dundalk at the very least can qualify for Europe.

Peter Cherrie

Dundalk goalkeeper, and captain for the night in the Leinster Senior Cup Peter Cherrie says he feels the sending off of Hayden Muller was a rather soft decision by the referee.

He says the sending off made things even more difficult for Dundalk. Peter says the game allowed Stephen O’Donnell a chance to give other members of the squad game time.

It was, he says, also a chance for the manager to see how his injured players were faring in their recovery. He said Dundalk did want to win the game. But the chance for O’Donnell to see how other members of the squad were faring was what was most important.

But Peter added it was never a nice experiencing a defeat. He says the game was also used by the boss to bring some of the younger players into the team.

He says many of the new additions to the squad showed that they have a lot to contribute to the team going forward. Peter says he was surprised that he was playing. But he was only too glad to featuring.

He did say that he made a silly mistake for one of the goals. He says that it would have been worse had the game ended in a 1-0 defeat and that he would have felt even worse.

To be fair to Peter, the game was long over by the time his mistake came. He says that he will go home and work even harder to ensure that when called in to play with the first team again that there are no mistakes from him at all.

I do think Peter is being hard on himself. Shelbourne cut the Dundalk defence to shreds down the flanks. He was given very little protection. Peter pulled off some very good saves during the game.

Full credit to Stephen O’Donnell for keeping the popular Scotsman at Oriel. He also has local Mark Byrne to bring into the team if needed. Mark himself is an excellent keeper.

Final Thoughts

The Main Stand at Oriel attracted a few pigeons during the close season. They left their mark on parts of the stand with quite a lot of droppings. But Dundalk worked hard to clean the stand and by the time the official season started, it looked fine.

Dundalk have hit on a plan to keep their unwelcome guests away. They have placed two plastic crows at the back of the stand at opposite sides. The plan seems to have worked. The plastic birds really are scarecrows in their own right.

The Dundalk team and managers had the three days off after the Drogheda game. All were back to work on Monday of last week. I think Dundalk can beat Rovers this week.

That would certainly loosen their grip on the title if they were beaten. Oriel will be packed to the rafters for the biggest game of the season.

The new Jimmy Hasty documentary can now be seen on UEFA TV. The footage of Jimmy scoring a goal in Zurich in the European Cup was sensational. It also showed him setting up a goal and cracking a shot off the crossbar.

It was the first time his wife spoke publicly on Jimmy being tragically murdered. The voice of the late Jim Malone features in the documentary. He talks about how he actually managed to sign the player. The documentary has got a great reaction. It will be on mainstream TV soon.

So on Friday, Dundalk clash with Shamrock Rovers. I think they can win. Have a great week. Let’s all look after each other. And please be careful out there.