Club News

from Dundalk FC Magazine 2020 Issue 2 Cork City

The Spectator

CLUB NEWS SHIELDSY’S CONTRACT

Dundalk FC midfielder Chris Shields has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Oriel Park until the end of 2021. The 29-year-old moved to Dundalk ahead of the 2012 campaign and has gone on to become a Lilywhites legend, winning a clean sweep of domestic medals, including five league titles. The news comes on the eve of the new SSE Airtricity League season and speaking to DundalkFC. com just minutes after putting pen to paper, Shields said that he was thrilled to extend his link with the club. “Since day one I’ve been happy to be here and who would have thought I’d be going into 10 years at the club! That’s very rare in the League of Ireland and I take real personal pride in it. “I’ve seen so many players come and go over the past decade so to be a constant is nice and it’s great knowing that I can just concentrate on my football now for the next two years.” Lilywhites manager Vinny Perth has never hidden his admiration for Shields and he paid tribute to the Dubliner’s work-ethic which has made him an integral part of the side over the past eight years.

“Chris Shields sums up everything about Dundalk Football Club,” said Perth. “He has been through the good times and the bad. He was here for the relegation play-off game in Waterford in 2012 and he has been here for all of the success we’ve had over the past seven years. “This will be his ninth season at the club and he has gone from being a squad player to becoming one of the most decorated players in the history of the League of Ireland. It’s a testament to Chris and how hard he works, both on and off the pitch. He is a true legend of the club and long may that continue.”

CLUB NEWS U17 LADIES FINAL

It wasn’t to be for the Dundalk FC U17 Girls side on Sunday afternoon as they were narrowly beaten by Shelbourne in the U17 MGL Cup final at the AUL Complex, Coolock. The Lilywhites controlled the first half but couldn’t find the breakthrough goal as it finished scoreless at half-time. The second half was an even affair until the 70th minute when Shelbourne broke the deadlock. Dundalk pushed for an equaliser but it didn’t come and they were punished on the break with only a few minutes remaining as the Dublin side held on for the 2-0 win. The Dundalk girls gave their all and left

everything on the pitch. The team and management would like to thank all who travelled to support the girls, it was much appreciated.

Kevin Mullen RIP Everybody at Dundalk Football Club would like to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of former goalkeeper Kevin Mullen who passed away at the weekend. After making his debut as an 18-year-old in 1952, Kevin went on to play 11 times for the club during the 1954/55 and 1955/56 campaigns, battling with Eddie McKenna and George Brennan for a place between the sticks. The picture to the right shows Kevin making a save against Shelbourne. It was a photo he enjoyed showing his family and friends! Originally from Clones, Kevin’s family moved to Dundalk when he was a boy. He lived in Demesne Terrace on the Carrick Road – right beside Oriel Park – before moving to Rathfarnham in Dublin. Kevin, his wife Lorna and their nine children remained avid fans of the Lillywhites, and his family will continue to do so in honour of their husband, father and grandfather.