Laois man to the fore as Dundalk secure €3 million Europa League place

For the second time in their history, Dundalk reached the group stages of the Europa League last night in the Aviva Stadium.

They defeated Ki Klaksvik of the Faroe Islands 3-1 to secure a place in the group stages alongside the likes of Spurs, Arsenal, AC Milan, Celtic, Rangers, Roma, Napoli and Leicester.

And more importantly, in the Covid-19 times we live in, its nets the club a €3 million windfall.  It could turn out to be even more too as a group stage win is worth €500,000 and a draw worth €190,000.

According to the latest accounts, it cost Dundalk €945,000 to run the club for 2019 – it gives you a sense of the scale of this win.

They are managed by Italians Filippo Giovagnoli and Giuseppe Rossi but a Laois man has an integral role in the managerial structure.

Rathdowney native Shane Keegan is the club’s opposition analyst and his role has changed dramatically since the two Italians took over from Vinny Perth in August.

The former Galway United and Wexford Youth boss, who also manages Portlaoise AFC’s Leinster Senior League side, took on an even more prominent role at the start of September following further backroom departures in the form of John Gill and Alan Reynolds.

Because he holds a UEFA Pro Licence, Keegan was named as the Head Coach on the official UEFA teamsheets through this Euopa League campaign.

He now joins the two Italians on the training ground and sits alongside them on the bench at matches.

Dundalk’s European adventure began in mid-August when they lost 3-0 to Slovenian side NK Celje in the Champions League.

That sent them into the Europa League qualifiers where they defeated Andorran side Inter Club d’Escaldes 1-0 in Round 1.

They travelled to Moldova for Round 2 where they won a penalty shoot-out against FC Sheriff.

And then last night’s victory was historic in more ways than one as they became the first Irish side ever to win three consecutive European matches.

Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat, Keegan explained how his role has changed.

He said: “The main body of my work is still very much the opposition analysis.

“I’ve been spending huge amounts of time over the last two weeks watching opposition games – maybe three/four hours a day. So that’s what eats into the vast majority of my time.

“Obviously where the role has expanded, a hell of a lot, is that I have been on the training ground on a daily basis with them over the last couple of weeks and obviously on match night and in the dressing room having more of an input on things.

“It certainly has expanded, even if it’s title is still working off the same goal at the moment.”

Shane and his Dundalk lads will be waiting to see who they get in the draw today. The first round will be on October 22.

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/10/02/laois-man-to-the-fore-as-dundalk-secure-e3-million-europa-league-place/