DUNDALK’S TWO-LEGGED Champions League play-off is about much more than just the club, according to manager Stephen Kenny.
Having already made history with their win over BATE Borisov earlier this month, the Lilywhites are aiming to go where no Irish side has ever gone before by clinching qualification to the Champions League group stages.
Legia Warsaw stand in the way of Stephen Kenny’s men — first at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow night (7.45pm), before next week’s return leg in Poland.
With players from all four corners of Ireland in their squad, Kenny believes Dundalk will be flying the flag for the entire nation and, especially, those involved in the game at every level.
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“It’s not just the League of Ireland we’re representing,” he said this afternoon. “I think grassroots football throughout Ireland connected with our performance against BATE.
“There are buses coming from different villages in Ireland. We have players from Waterford, Galway, Mayo, Westmeath, Meath, Athlone, Dundalk, Derry and right throughout the country.
The four provinces are all represented by our team and people at grassroots level connected with the manner of the performance — not just the victory itself.
“There is a lot of goodwill towards that. Those players have come up through the various schoolboy leagues throughout the country. Some went to England at young ages and others went different routes.
“There is a connection there, so it has ramifications, not just for the league itself, but for people who love the game and those who are involved in it at all levels.”
Kenny speaking at today's pre-match press conference in Dublin. Gary Carr / INPHO
Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO
Wednesday’s game will be played at the home of Ireland’s international team as Oriel Park does not meet Uefa standards, and Dundalk have called upon “the Irish football family” to come out and fill the venue.
Around 24,000 tickets have already been sold for the 50,000-seater and Kenny is hopeful that fans of other clubs will lend their support on the night.
“There is always rivalry and you can’t deny that,” he said. “That is the nature of sport itself and sometimes it is hard for rivals to support each other. I understand that and nothing I can say will change that.
“But it would be great to have the support of everyone here tomorrow so we could have a substantial crowd to really lift the players and see if we can achieve something extraordinary.”
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'There are buses coming from different villages in Ireland. We've players from throughout the country'
DUNDALK’S TWO-LEGGED Champions League play-off is about much more than just the club, according to manager Stephen Kenny.
Having already made history with their win over BATE Borisov earlier this month, the Lilywhites are aiming to go where no Irish side has ever gone before by clinching qualification to the Champions League group stages.
Legia Warsaw stand in the way of Stephen Kenny’s men — first at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow night (7.45pm), before next week’s return leg in Poland.
With players from all four corners of Ireland in their squad, Kenny believes Dundalk will be flying the flag for the entire nation and, especially, those involved in the game at every level.
“It’s not just the League of Ireland we’re representing,” he said this afternoon. “I think grassroots football throughout Ireland connected with our performance against BATE.
“There are buses coming from different villages in Ireland. We have players from Waterford, Galway, Mayo, Westmeath, Meath, Athlone, Dundalk, Derry and right throughout the country.
“There is a lot of goodwill towards that. Those players have come up through the various schoolboy leagues throughout the country. Some went to England at young ages and others went different routes.
“There is a connection there, so it has ramifications, not just for the league itself, but for people who love the game and those who are involved in it at all levels.”
Wednesday’s game will be played at the home of Ireland’s international team as Oriel Park does not meet Uefa standards, and Dundalk have called upon “the Irish football family” to come out and fill the venue.
Around 24,000 tickets have already been sold for the 50,000-seater and Kenny is hopeful that fans of other clubs will lend their support on the night.
“There is always rivalry and you can’t deny that,” he said. “That is the nature of sport itself and sometimes it is hard for rivals to support each other. I understand that and nothing I can say will change that.
“But it would be great to have the support of everyone here tomorrow so we could have a substantial crowd to really lift the players and see if we can achieve something extraordinary.”
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Dundalk handed major boost ahead of Champions League showdown in Dublin
A superb Mark Timlin free-kick helped Pat’s earn a hard-fought win tonight
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All four corners UEFA Champions League Dundalk Legia Warszawa