Updated at 12.00
LAST NIGHT’S EUROPA League victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv will go down in Dundalk history as their greatest ever result.
Stephen Kenny’s became the first Irish club to win in the group stages of the competition thanks a 72nd-minute goal from substitute Ciaran Kilduff.
In doing so, the Lilywhites earned themselves a €360,000 win bonus following on from the €120,000 they claimed by drawing with AZ Alkmaar a fortnight ago.
To put that into perspective, it’s three times more than the €100,000 awarded for winning the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title last year.
It brings their total European earnings this season up to around €6.78 million thanks to the €900,000 for qualifying for the Champions League third qualifying round, €3m for reaching the play-off with Legia Warsaw, and €2.4m for securing a place in the Europa League groups.
They must now have their sights on finishing second behind Group D leaders Zenit St Petersburg and progression to the knockout stages would bring more financial rewards.
Europa League prize money:
- Win bonus: €360,000
- Draw bonus: €120,000
- Round of 32: €500,000
- Round of 16: €750,000
- Quarter-finals: €1,000,000
- Semi-finals: €1,500,000
- Losing finalist: €3,500,000
- Winners: €6,500,000
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Gilroy is one of those players who should really have more international caps than he does. Hes been very unlucky in my opinion.
@Rudiger McMonihan:
Unfortunately for him his all round game is just not up to international class.
I fear that unless Adam Byrne improves his defence he will become the new Craig Gilroy but there is no doubt going forward they are impressive.
You’d worry for Ulster with that backrow. Marcel Coetzee and Jean Deysel always seem to be injured.
I wonder would Leinster have a backrow or two to spare for up north?
@Culture At War: Matt O’Connor was apparently in town this week talking to three Leinster and Ireland players about signing for Leicester Tigers next season. If Nucifora is doing his job properly, he should be making sure we keep our talent here rather than letting other talents leave like Zebo.
@Paul McCutcheon: why would any Irish forward want to play for that crash bang wallop merchant. 2 season playing for him will take 3 season of your career
@Chris Mc: Didnt stop Dominic Ryan going to them and putting any international ambition aside, rather than move North were he would have be greatly appreciated and got plenty of gametime.
@Kingshu: Agreed. Looks like Ryan is going to do a Marty Moore.
Surely Peter Nelson should be getting a start at out half in games like these? Ulster will be in real trouble when CL leaves in the new year.
@Captain NerbNerb: Should be they clearly they are banking on the outcome of the court case.
I was very impressed with McBurney performances for the U20’s over the last two years. He seems to have put on some mass which he needed to add to his already impressive technical skills at both ruck and line out time. In a position that has a load of questions marks for Ireland going forward if he continues to impress and develop his game all the better for Ulster and Ireland. At 21 and having been in the same environment with Best he has the time and guidance.
@Ian Verdon: Tbh John Andrews has a fair turn of speed which never seems fully utilized. If he was brought in the 7s program it might help him develop better footwork and handling skills.
there isnt one decent forward in that pack
@Tommy Bread: Reidy, Henry & Treadwell are all Irish internationals.
@Tommy Bread: disagree, you obviously don’t watch them regularly.
All this fake news circulating !!!
I could have sworn that Ulster announced weeks ago that they had signed a South African loose head forward.
I must be wrong, but then I have this memory of the Ulster management over the last 3 weeks saying something alone the lines of a new prop making his debut this weekend but where did he go.
Maybe they could tell us for real if he is fit or not.
Will he play soon, play this year, this season or is he banjacksed
@Mark Smith: Absolutely. Is it or is not another B@!!s up?
The Kings only real threat is in the backline. If Ulster hope to go there and play expansive sevens style rugby they could be in for a shock! Win the battle up front and when the game is in the bag do the fancy stuff.