Dundalk FC manager Ciarán Kilduff is fully focussed on making his first home match in charge “a special night” for supporters, with his former club Athlone Town set to visit Oriel Park in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division season opener on Valentine’s Day.
The fixtures were released at 12pm on Tuesday, with Kilduff pitted against Athlone, a club he led to their first-ever SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division title in October, before stepping down as manager following their Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup final defeat.
Kilduff, who has brought goalkeeper Enda Minogue and last season’s First Division top scorer Dean Ebbe from Athlone to Oriel Park, is continuing to build his squad ahead of the new season and cannot wait for the first league fixture to come around on February 14th.
“That first game here, for us, for everyone, I know the result matters, but I think it should be a real emotional night because we’re still alive. I’m really looking forward to that more than anything,” Kilduff said at Monday night’s Q&A in the Lilywhite Lounge.
“I know the football has to be played and we’ll look after that, but for you (the supporters), I need that to be a special night.
“That’s a huge night for me and my career. It’s going to probably be the proudest one, knowing what you went through, knowing that I get the responsibility to take it on from there. I can’t wait for that.”
Dundalk follow up their opening match with back-to-back trips to Finn Harps and Kerry before welcoming Treaty United to Oriel Park on March 7th. Kilduff’s side’s return fixture with Treaty is on Good Friday, which is followed by the visit of Finn Harps to the Carrick Road on Easter Monday.
The Lilywhites will complete their campaign with a trip to Cobh Ramblers on October 17th.
See the full First Division Fixture List HERE.
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| Date | Opposition | Competition |
Stadium | Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 14th February | Athlone Town | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 21st February | Finn Harps | First Division | Finn Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 28th February | Kerry | First Division | Mounthawk Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 7th March | Treaty United | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 14th March | Bray Wanderers | First Division | Carlisle Grounds | 7.45pm |
| Friday 21st March | Longford Town | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 28th March | Wexford | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 4th April | UCD | First Division | UCD Bowl | 7.45pm |
| Friday 11th April | Cobh Ramblers | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 18th April | Treay United | First Division | Markets Field | 7.45pm |
| Monday 21st April | Finn Harps | First Division | Oriel Park | 5pm |
| Saturday 26th April | Longford Town | First Division | Bishopsgate | 7.30pm |
| Friday 2nd May | Athlone Town | First Division | Athlone Town Stadium | 7.45pm |
| Friday 9th May | Bray Wanderers | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 16th May | Cobh Ramblers | First Division | St Colman’s Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 23rd May | Kerry | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 30th May | Wexford | First Division | Ferrycarrig Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 13th June | UCD | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 20th June | Treaty United | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Monday 23rd June | Finn Harps | First Division | Finn Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 27th June | Cobh Ramblers | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 4th July | Kerry | First Division | Mounthawk Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 11th July | Bray Wanderers | First Division | Carlisle Grounds | 7.45pm |
| Friday 25th July | Wexford | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 1st August | UCD | First Division | UCD Bowl | 7.45pm |
| Monday 4th August | Longford Town | First Division | Oriel Park | 5pm |
| Friday 8th August | Athlone Town | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 22nd August | Treaty United | First Division | Markets Field | 7.45pm |
| Friday 29th August | Kerry | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 5th September | Wexford | First Division | Ferrycarrig Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 12th September | Bray Wanderers | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Saturday 20th September | Longford Town | First Division | Bishopsgate | 7.30pm |
| Friday 26th September | UCD | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 3rd October | Athlone Town | First Division | Athlone Town Stadium | 7.45pm |
| Friday 10th October | Finn Harps | First Division | Oriel Park | 7.45pm |
| Friday 17th October | Cobh Ramblers | First Division | St Colman’s Park | 7.45pm |
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