Dundalk fans will, no doubt, fill Tallaght Stadium to the brim in early August.
Stephen Kenny will take his Dundalk team back to his home town, in a fortnight’s time, as Oriel Park does not fit Uefa stadium standards.
A 2-2 draw with FH Hafnarfjordur saw the Irish team eliminate their Icelandic hosts on away goals.
WATCH: Dundalk's European journey kept alive by superb David McMillan brace https://t.co/ewlexBwJ8O
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 20, 2016
Next up as the BATE Borisov side that ended Dundalk’s Champions League hopes last season. Ahead of their Champions League third round qualifier, Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers said:
“They’re a tough side. We played well and gave them a bit of a shock [last time]. We drew with them in Oriel. We know what they’re about; they know what we’re about.”
With each passing stage of European competitions, team’s grounds and pitches have to meet certain Uefa requirements to pass muster.
Dundalk’s plastic pitch met Uefa standards in previous seasons but Oriel Park itself seems to be the issue. The ground does not fall into Uefa’s Category 3 bracket so an alternative venue is needed.
The club will now travel to Belarus next Tuesday for the first leg of their tie before welcoming BATE to Tallaght the following week.
Let’s hope the security guards don’t lock the team bus in after the match, again.
Dundalk park the bus in Tallaght. Car park gate closed when team leaving. pic.twitter.com/J2JYCyUcQo
— Owen Cowzer (@OCowzer) April 22, 2016
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