Filippo Giovagnoli’s got this, and that’s all Dundalk fans need to know.
When the inexperienced Italian was appointed as the Lilywhites manager in August, there were plenty of scoffs, eye-rolls and dissenting voices. A month, 3 European wins and a drastic upturn in fortunes later and the town have qualified for the group stages of the Europa League.
In doing so, they’ve earned themselves almost €3 million in prize money with a scope for plenty more when they get there. They’ve given the League of Ireland a much needed publicity boost and that man Giovagnoli, the much ridiculed former technical director of AC Milan’s Junior summer Camps, has drove it all.
And while this win will taste like sweet redemption for him, it will feel much the same for the players of Dundalk FC who were 4 SSE Airtricity League games without a win before his appointment, and were reeling on the back of a 3-0 hiding in a Champions League qualifier when he came in.
Those days seem a long way away now.
While the League of Ireland is out of their grasp, they’ve made giant strides on the continent and on the back of a 3-1 win over Faroese side Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag (KI) on Thursday night, the turnaround is complete.
A bravely taken header from Sean Murray lit the touch paper for the Irish side in the first half and while the fairytale-seeking Faroe-Island side did apply the pressure in the second half, Dundalk had all the answers.
Tremendous bravery from that man Sean Murray throwing his head on the line to give Dundalk the lead 🙌pic.twitter.com/oP9SAs3ikA
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 1, 2020
Daniel Cleary made it two after an error by the KI goalkeeper in the second half and though the visitors struck back with a screamer, Daniel Kelly settled Dundalk nerves with a pacy burst and a cool finish.
'That surely is the €3 million goal from Daniel Kelly'
COME ON THE TOWN ⚪️https://t.co/dVX8j69DL1
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 1, 2020
‘That surely is the €3 million goal’ said Darragh Moloney in the RTE commentary box and so it was. In fact, it could be worth much more as each win in the group stage would be worth €500’000 for the club while a draw would be worth.
Oh what a great night to be a town fan.
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