2025 MFD preview - Dundalk
Coming into 2025, one of the League of Ireland’s most famous Clubs, Dundalk, will kick off their season in the unusual surroundings of the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division and in the hunt for promotion back to the top flight.
After a difficult year on and off the pitch at Oriel Park, Ciarán Kilduff has taken over at his former Club and will look to a blend of youth and experience as a way to guide the Lilywhites back to where they feel they belong.
Kilduff will have a couple of familiar faces in his trenches with Daryl Horgan staying at the Club while he has also welcomed back Keith Ward to Oriel Park for his fourth spell in Louth.
Elsewhere, there is plenty of young talented throughout the squad with high hopes for the likes of Eoin Kenny while Gbemi Arubi has signed after 2024 in Waterford, in addition to attacking midfielder Harry Froome joining from Bray Wanderers.
Grit will be provided by Aodh Dervin in the middle of the pitch while defender Conor O’Keefe has signed from Galway United after spending 2024 in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.
With Enda Minogue in goal after coming in from Athlone Town and Dundalk holding onto young promising defender Mayowa Animasahun, there are reasons to see a strong core in the squad being built by Kilduff and his management team.
This is added to with further attacking threat in last season's top scorer in the Division, Dean Ebbe, joining from Athlone Town while Leo Gaxha has also put pen to paper in Oriel.
Thoughts however of a stroll to the title like Cork City in 2024 may be misplaced however as other Clubs have been investing heavily in their bid for promotion.
Cobh Ramblers have been building an impressive squad down south and it will be interesting to see where the challenges come from throughout the season as teams like Wexford and Kerry have been rebuilding well too.
It all makes for a fascinating promotion race and at the heart of it is a huge Club in Dundalk looking to get back to the big stage.
