PLAYER PROFILES
PLAYER PROFILESFirst team squad for season 2002
JOHN
CONNOLLYNow established first choice keeper at the club, after joining as cover in the 1999/2000 season. Spent first half of 2000/2001 on the bench, but won his place back by the end of the season. Former Bohs, Shels and Kilkenny keeper
Signed in the Summer of 2002 after a long spell at Bohs. Actually made his Bohemians debut against Dundalk back in 1995 and spent seven years at Dalymount in and out of the first team. Substitute on the Bohemians side that lost to Dundalk in the 2002 FAI Cup Final. Competes with John Connolly for the number 1 spot.
DONAL
BROUGHANExperienced Dubliner. Had a long career with Bohs, with a brief spell with Shels halfway through it. Left Bohs to join Pats in '99 but was not popular with Pats fans who singled him out for abuse. Joined Dundalk in October 2000, and marked his debut with a goal against Waterford. Now in his third year at the club, was a member of the Cup winning side of 2002 and is now the most senior member of the back four.
Experienced left back who has had spells with Sligo Rovers, Bohemians, Kilkenny and Monaghan United plus a spell up North. Signed in 2002 after the departure of captain David Crawley to Shelbourne. Renowned for his leadership qualities on the pitch, Brunton is still in his twenties despite being widely travelled
NOEL
MELVINMonaghan man in his second spell with the club. Ex-Finn Harps and Monaghan defender who joined Dundalk back in 1997. Spent three years at the club, and was voted Player Of the Year in his third season but decided to retire due to time constraints and the travelling in Division One. Coaxed out of retirement in 2001/2 by Martin Murray and will be an integral member of the side in the 2002 season.
BRYAN
MC CRYSTALFormer Leeds trainee from Bellurgan. Played with Dundalk as a 16 year old in the League Cup before leaving for Leeds. Returned to Ireland last season and played with Newry Town. Move to Dundalk was inevitable and it came about in the Summer of 2001. Injured in third match against Shelbourne and missed the rest of the relegation season with a serious knee injury. Back to full fitness for the 2002 campaign
JOHN WHYTE Established himself in the right back role in the 1999/2000 season after joining soon after the appointment of Terry Eviston. Popular with the fans, the Faughart man made his return to the club from Newry after leaving Oriel in 1993 for a career in the North. Has spent long periods out of the side under Martin Murray, but fought his way back into the first team at the end of the 2001/2 season and played a key role in the Cup success
JOHN FLANAGAN 22 year old Drogheda man who lists Home Farm and his hometown club as former clubs. Played at right back there but played in central midfield for Dundalk when joining before the 1999/2000 season. Popular because of his aggressive style, Flanagan formed a good relationship with Ciaran Kavanagh in central midfield in the latter half of the 2001/2 season.
DAVID HOEY Burst onto the scene back in 1997 for the relegation playoff against Waterford United and has been a prominent squad member since. Progress was curtailed by serious illness back in 1998 which meant he hardly played any games at all in 1999 and has had a serious effect on his game. Now playing in preferred right side of midfield role after a spell at right back at the start of the 2001/2 campaign.
LIAM
DUNNESmall combative midfielder who started his career at Bohs before a move to Scottish Premier side St Johnstone where he spent a few seasons. Moved back to the North where he played for Portadown and subsequently at Crusaders under Martin Murray. Joined Dundalk shortly after Murrays appointment. Played a key role in 2000/1 season, but has largely been on the periphery since then.
CIARAN
KAVANAGHLocal man who came home after 10 seasons with UCD in the Summer of 2001. Central midfielder, respected throughout the League, his experience is a great addition to the side. After a slow start to his Dundalk career, firmly established himself in the latter half of 2001/2, being one of the outstanding players on the Cup winning side.
OHN SHARKEY Pint sized right winger, who has never really held down a regular starting place. Best moment so far for Dundalk was a last minute goal to win in Tolka against Shels in relegation season. Threatened to pin down a starting place in the 1999/2000 season but did not feature regularly in latter half of season. Has been dogged by injuries since then.
CHRIS
LAWLESSLocal teenager who broke into the first team squad in 2000/01 and made two sub appearances. Burst onto the scene midway through the 2001/2 with some brilliant performances in midfield. Strong on the ball, and comfortable going forward Lawless is one of the brightest prospects to emerge in recent years and with a Cup win under his belt, should go on to be a big player for the club in years to come.
DAVID WARD Enormously talented player, who can play both up front and on either wing. Burst onto the scene back in 1997/98 as a teenager, and had a difficult time living up to those heights in the following seasons. Enigmatic talent who is devastating when at his best, but frustrating at his worst. Spent the second half of the 2001/2 season on loan at Newry where he made a big impact. Back to Dundalk for the 2002 season.
DAVID MARTIN Young striker who promised a lot when scoring five goals in the latter half of the 1998/1999 season. However, things did not work out for him under Terry Eviston and barely featured in 1999/2000 season. Has failed to make an impact since then, and has spent time on loan at Newry.
ANTO REILLYAfter scoring 50 goals in the Summer League was given his chance by Terry Eviston and repaid the then managers faith with several crucial goals in the 1999/2000 season. Played the same role in 2000/1 season, and then went on loan to Drogheda for the first part of 2001/2. Peripheral figure in the squad.
MARTIN
REILLY20 goal hero of the promotion season of 2000/1 season, breaking a long standing Dundalk record in the process. Great touches and very pacy, Reilly is a fantastic player to have at the club. Joined at the start of the 2000/2001 season from Crusaders, because of the appointment of Martin Murray. Snapped up by Brian Kerr for St Pats in the mid nineties from non league and immediately made an impact, finishing the Leagues top scorer within a few seasons and also won two League medals in his time at Pats before leaving to join Crusaders on the Bosman ruling. Had a relatively quiet season in 2001/2, but made a return to form towards the campaign, scoring a couple of goals on the way to the Cup final.
CORMAC
MALONELocal man who joined from non league Quay Celtic in December 2001 and after a few impressive under 21 displays, broke into the first team squad towards the end of the season. Scored goals against Derry and Bray in the valiant effort to avoid relegation. Also made a Cup final substitutes appearance. Prominent member of the first team for the 2002 campaign.
Another player who spent most of his career at UCD before joining Dundalk in 2001, apart from a short six month spell at Kilkenny City. UCD's all time leading goalscorer, O'Byrne is a former Irish under 21 international who was once regarded as one of the brightest prospects in the country when he partnered Jason Sherlock for UCD. Injured in pre season before 2001/2, damaging cruciate ligaments. Yet to play a competitive game for the club, and not expected to recover from injury until November or December of 2002.
GARY
HAYLOCKJoined club in December 2001 from Glentoran where he his goalscoring form had left them top of the Irish League. Bradford born goal poacher who had successful times at Shelbourne, Linfield and most notably Panionos of Greece who reached the quarter finals of the Cup Winners Cup during Haylock's time at the club. Has already written his name into Dundalk folklore with some heroic performances in the all too late revival towards the end of the 2001/2 season. Most memorable contribution was his two goals that gave Dundalk the Cup final win against Bohemians. Has now taken on an almost ambassadorial role for the club in the town. Appointed co-ordinator of youth development in schools around the town, filling the role previously held by Tommy Connolly.
Pictures courtesy of dundalkfc.com