2013 Dundalk F.C. season


entered the 2013 season having spent the 2012 season rooted in the relegation play-off spot. The club had been put up for sale, and, with the assistance of a Supporters Trust, it was taken over by local businessmen Andy Connolly and Paul Brown. They subsequently managed to remain in the top-flight by winning a promotion/relegation play-off.. With the takeover complete and the club saved, the new owners turned to Stephen Kenny - out of work since being sacked by Shamrock Rovers - to become the new manager ahead of the season. 2013 was Dundalk's fifth consecutive season in the top tier of Irish football, their 78th in all, and their 87th in the League of Ireland.

Season summary

When the 33 round League programme commenced on 8 March 2013, neither supporters nor pundits were sure what to expect, and Dundalk failed to win any of the first five home matches. But with Kenny's team clicking into gear as his ideas took hold, they rose up the table to mount an unexpected title challenge, eventually finishing second - a defeat to eventual champions St. Patrick's Athletic ultimately costing them the title.
In the cup competitions, they exited in both the second round of the League Cup, and the quarter-final of the Leinster Senior Cup, to Shamrock Rovers. They reached the semi-final of the FAI Cup and were defeated 1–0 away to 'Louth Derby' rivals, Drogheda United, in a tempestuous game - referee Anthony Buttimer sent off two Dundalk players inside half an hour, and Drogheda took the lead from the penalty spot after the second red card. But the nine men of Dundalk prevented Drogheda scoring again.

First-Team Squad (2013)

Sources:'''
NameDate of BirthPositionDebut seasonLeague appearancesGoals
25 September 1981GK2009330
6 January 1991DF2013281
4 November 1986DF2013132
7 March 1991DF2013321
27 December 1990MF2012191
15 January 1986MF2013223
John Dillon2 August 1988MF2013295
22 February 1993MF2012202
13 June 1987FW2013221
Keith Ward12 October 1990MF2013171
9 April 1990FW2013307
17 April 1988DF2013304
17 July 1991MF2013317
28 July 1991FW20132814
Darren Meenan1 October 1991MF2013280
10 December 1988FW2003215
27 May 1983DF2013280
Stephen McDonnell28 June 1992MF2012110
Francis McCaffrey22 April 1993MF201370
Jordan Keegan5 February 1992MF201360
Eoghan Osbourne5 March 1992DF201150

Competitions

Premier Division

FAI Cup

Source:
;Second Round
;Third Round
;Quarter Final
;Semi Final

League Cup

Source:
;First Round
;Second Round

Leinster Senior Cup

Source:
;Fourth Round
;Quarter Final

Awards

Player of the Month

PFAI Players' Young Player of the Year