Dundalk entered the 2022 season having finished in sixth place in the league the previous season and having failed to qualify for European football for the first time since the 2012 season. They were still the League of Ireland Cup holders because, after they had won it in 2019, the competition was not held in 2020 or 2021. 2022 was Dundalk's 14th consecutive season in the top tier of Irish football, their 87th in all, and their 96th in the League of Ireland. The 100th anniversary of the club's entry to the Leinster Senior League and therefore its first match as a senior club passed on 7 October 2022.
Stephen O'Donnell was the club's new head coach going into the new term, having replaced Vinny Perth in the close season.
Season summary The league season started on 18 February 2022. Dundalk moved into third position after the round 15 victory over Bohemians and remained in the top three—the automatic European qualification positions—for the remainder of the season. A run of one defeat in 15 games from round 12 to round 26 saw an unlikely title challenge develop but injuries to several key players and mixed results subsequently saw that challenge fade in the final series of matches. A home victory over Bohemians in round 35 guaranteed third place and qualification for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League.
A notable milestone was reached in round five away to Shelbourne, when Patrick Hoban scored to become the first player to score 100 league goals in the club's history. Another milestone was reached in round 18, when the club achieved its 1,000th league victory in the top tier of the League of Ireland with a win at home to St Patrick's Athletic. For the round 12 home fixture against Shelbourne, the team wore a specially commissioned shirt in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease charity, 'Watch Your Back'. The match-worn shirts were subsequently auctioned with all proceeds going to the charity.
The club's Honorary President, Des Casey, died in August. The club renamed Oriel Park 'Casey's Field' in his honour until the end of the season because Oriel is built on land that has been leased from the Casey Family Trust since 1936.
In the FAI Cup, they were defeated in the quarter-final by First Division side Waterford.
The end of the season saw club captain Brian Gartland retire after 10 seasons having made 251 appearances for the club.
First-Team Squad (2022) Sources: Note: Substitute appearances in brackets
No.NameDOBPos.DebutLeagueFAI CupOthersTotalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1 Nathan Shepperd 10 September 2000 GK 202233030003602 8 February 2002 DF 202233 (1)130003713 4 November 1986 DF 20134 (1)01000604 7 March 1991 DF 201331 (1)030003505 16 December 1991 DF 202220100002015 28 September 1999 MF 202211 (1)11 (1)0001416 6 February 1998 DF 202223 (9)12 (1)0003517 Daniel Kelly 21 May 1996 MF 2019 20 (3)600002368 7 May 1992 MF 2016 19 (10)31 (1)1003149 28 July 1991 FW 201321 (4)91100261010 Greg Sloggett 3 July 1996 MF 202030 (2)1320035311 John Martin 5 January 1999 MF 202210 (21)21 (2)00034214 1 October 1983 GK 20093000003015 Darragh Leahy 15 April 1998 DF 2020283100029316 17 March 2002 MF 202223 (9)6300035617 12 October 1990 MF 201110 (22)52 (1)10035618 Robert McCourt 6 April 1998 DF 20222 (1)010004019 19 April 2001 MF 20227 (3)0000010020 13 February 2001 MF 202220 (13)01 (1)10035121 Paul Doyle 10 April 1998 MF 202216 (9)2210027322 1 September 2001 MF 20225 (4)22 (1)00012223 22 February 1993 MF 20127 (3)01 (2)00013024 Mayowa Animasahun 8 August 2003 DF 2021 0000000025 Mark Hanratty 18 July 2002 MF 20201 (2)000003028 Ryan O'Kane 16 August 2003 MF 2021 10 (8)20 (3)10021329 14 December 1988 FW 20159 (18)21 (1)100293
Competitions
Premier Division
League table
FAI Cup
Awards Player of the Month MonthPlayerReferenceFebruary Steven BradleyMay Daniel KellyJune Mark Connolly
Footnotes
References