PREVIEW: DUNDALK FC V DROGHEDA UNITED

Dundalk and Drogheda United go to battle in one of the biggest-ever Louth Derbies as the bottom two in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fight for precious points at Oriel Park on Friday night.

Lilywhites manager Jon Daly, who has been busy in the July transfer window, will field a new-look defence as Dundalk aim to get back on track at home, having conceded on the Carrick Road for the first time in almost four months against Waterford a fortnight ago.

Having seen Zak Bradshaw, who had made left-back his own, return to parent club Lincoln City before that 2-0 defeat by the high-flying Blues, Dundalk have subsequently said farewell to centre-half Zak Johnson, who returned to Sunderland at the weekend, right-full Archie Davies, who transferred to Carlisle United and Hayden Muller, who joined Sutton United on Tuesday.

Subject to international clearance, Dundalk could also have a new face between the sticks having welcomed German-born Felix Goddard on loan from Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, with Daly stating the 20-year-old goalkeeper’s intention to “come over here and play”. He will compete with Scottish stopper Ross Munro for the number one jersey.

Bobby Faulker, who made his debut in last week’s narrow defeat at reigning champions Shamrock Rovers, is in line for his first home appearance, while fellow central defender Hayden Cann will be hoping to begin his Dundalk career against his former club, who he scored the winner for in the last Louth Derby. Another defender, Dan Pike, arrived on Thursday. Like Goddard, he is waiting on international clearance.

Further up the field, recent arrival Jad Hakiki will hope to retain his place in the starting XI having made his debut in Tallaght, while fellow forward Norman Garbett – who was hugely impressive in his cameo in the capital – and attacking midfielder Scott McGill, who also came off the bench last week, will both be eager to start for the first time.

Johnny Kenny’s first-half strike for Rovers was enough to inflict a second straight defeat since the mid-season break on Dundalk, who had shown little in attack until Garbett’s introduction, which sparked the Lilywhites into life and, in the end, they were unlucky not to come away with a point.

On the same night, Drogheda drew 1-1 with league leaders Shelbourne at Weaver’s Park, as Walsall loanee Douglas James-Taylor scored from the spot late on against the nine-man Reds. That result moved Kevin Doherty’s side to within two points of their local rivals at the foot of the standings.

In terms of the table, it is roles reversed to when the teams last met, on the May Bank Holiday in south Louth. Going into that clash, Drogheda were two points ahead and increased their advantage to five after Cann’s 94th-minute winner, that coming despite the home side losing ‘keeper Jethren Barr to a 76th-minute red card.

Jamie Gullan had hammered in the free-kick from that foul to bring Dundalk level that afternoon, but the Scottish striker – who had shown a new lease of life under Daly – is in a race against time to play a part in this derby having missed the last three games. He was last seen when hobbling off early on against Shels over a month ago.

While Dundalk have recorded three victories since that devastating loss in Drogheda, the Boynesiders are winless, collecting just three points from the 27 subsequently on offer. They are also without a win on the road since last September when they came out on top at Saint Patrick’s Athletic.

In their 15 away league games since that, they have picked up just four points, but one of those did come at Oriel Park back on April Fool’s Day when they held on for a 0-0 draw despite seeing Luke Heeney dismissed in the 70th minute. Davies also saw red for the hosts, albeit in injury time.

Drogheda’s last top-flight win on the Carrick Road was in August 2021 and another one here would see them leapfrog Daly’s men into ninth. Dundalk, though, will be eyeing a victory that, along with moving them clear of the bottom, would close them in on seventh-placed St Pat’s, who are not back in league action until next month.

This is the first of two Louth Derbies in the space of seven days, with the sides also going head-to-head in the Sports Direct FAI Cup second round at Weaver’s Park next Friday, July 19th.

Tickets for Friday’s game at Oriel Park are now on general sale.

Team News
Jamie Gullan is back in the squad after missing the last three games with a glute injury while new signings Felix Goddard and Dan Pike are also hoping to be involved, subject to international clearance.

Quotes – Jon Daly
“I’ve seen Louth Derby games on LOITV before and I’m very much looking forward to experiencing one.

“There’s a lot on the line and both teams will be pushing for the win.  It’s not going to determine what happens at the end of the season, but it could really help if we go and get three points. It’s a huge game and one that we’re fully prepared for, fully focused on and excited for.

“We very much believe that we can close the gap on the teams above us and go past them. We have to believe that. 

“If we get three points on Friday night, which will be very difficult to do against a tough opponent, then you’re looking up at other teams. We play Bohs in a fortnight and we have games in hand on Pat’s and if we can win them, it obviously drags them right back into it also.

“If you’re a pessimist, things can look bleak at the minute, but from an optimist’s point of view, it’s very much all to play for and I’m looking at this as an opportunity to close the gap.

“The fans have been great since I came to the club and I think the atmosphere they’ve generated has been very good. In Tallaght last week they got right behind the boys and I think you could see the players responding to that, especially late on. 

“We need that level of support to continue and I’ve no doubt it will but it’s also important that we go and give the fans something to get behind and put in a performance and a level of effort that warrants what a Dundalk team should be all about.”

Match Officials
Referee: Rob Hennessy
Assistants: Emmett Dynan and Robert Clarke
Fourth Official: David Dunne

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