DUNDALK MANAGER Stephen Kenny described last night’s title-decider win over Cork City at Oriel Park as the culmination of an “amazing journey.”
Second-half goals from Stephen O’Donnell and Brian Gartland secured three points and the league title for the Louth men on a dramatic evening on the Carrick Road.
City had gone into the game knowing a point would see them crowned champions but in front of a sizeable and vocal home support, Dundalk did the business.
After coming to within three points of last season’s league championship, Kenny felt this time around his side were deserving victors at the end of a season that has also seen the Lilywhites lift the EA Sports Cup and progress in the Europa League.
“Over the course of the year, I felt we were the best team this season, “Kenny said. “To win it tonight in front of our home crowd was more than we could have dreamed of. It’s been an amazing journey that many people have contributed to. There’s no better feeling.”
This is Kenny’s second Premier Division title as a manager, coming 11 years after his last with Bohemians. He is more than familiar with final day deciders, coming out on both the winning and losing sides with Bohs, Derry City and now, triumphantly so, with Dundalk.
“If you win, you’re celebrated and if you lose, you’ve bottled it. Sometimes it’s the width of a post. That’s the nature of football. The margins are so slim sometimes,” he said. “Overall, we’ve been very good every week.”
This performance was the latest in that series, with Dundalk good value for the win that sent them to the top of the league standings and the supporters into delirium. Bar Mark O’Sullivan’s header and Billy Dennehy’s first half free-kick that bit the upright, Cork were restricted to shots from distance or set-plays.
Shortly after O’Donnell’s opener, the midfielder could have scored again but his header from Richie Towell’s cross went just wide. The returning midfielder, making his first start since April after rupturing his cruciate ligament, admits it was a fairytale return.
“It’s a great feeling. There’s no better way to win the game. People were questioning our character going into this. We knew we had to win the game and that was drummed into us all week,” he said.
“My strike wasn’t all that great. It took a little nick to take it from right to left! But I had a sneaky feeling all week that something was going to happen.”
Not only was O’Donnell making his first start back after his long lay-off but after injuring his calf against Bray last week, the Dundalk captain hadn’t trained all week. He was only declared fit at 6pm. Looking back on a man-of-the-match performance, you would never have guessed.
“I had no doubts about my 90 minutes. It was a one-off game and adrenaline was going to get me through. I’ve kept myself in decent shape over the last six months. I had no qualms. It was an easy game to play 90 minutes in. Although, it was very frantic in the first half, if you came in unfit, you’d be blown.
“If you had said to me two years ago that 20 strangers would turn up on January 15th 2013 and some second last season reach the FAI Cup semi-final and then this season – win the league, the league cup, get to the Setanta Sports Cup final, beat Hajduk Split away – it’s phenomenal.
“People said when Drogheda beat us 4-1 on the opening day that we were one season wonders. But we had faith in our ability. We knew we had the players and it would click. I only came in and done the last few games. Those boys have done the hard yards. I think that was their 52nd game this season.”
O’Donnell, who has won league titles with Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers in his career, lifted the trophy with Andy Boyle – who has captained the side in his absence. It was only that the Galwegian made a dramatic late contribution to the cause that made him want to lift the silverware.
“I would have felt like a fraud,” he said. “If I wasn’t involved, I wasn’t picking up any trophy. Boyler was the captain all season. At 23 years old to be that composed, he’s been fantastic. I can’t talk highly enough of him and the rest of the squad.”