Dundalk entered the 2025 League of Ireland First Division season after being relegated from the Premier Division the previous year. Ciarán Kilduff was the club's new first-team manager going into the new term, having been appointed during the close season.
2025 was Dundalk's 99th season in the League of Ireland and their first season in the First Division since winning promotion in 2008.
Season summary Dundalk were at risk of not receiving a licence to compete in the 2025 season because of the financial crisis that had engulfed the club towards the end of 2024. Following new owner John Temple's efforts to get the debt situation under control, which meant that the club's holding company avoided examinership, the club was belatedly awarded a licence to compete in the First Division.
Their playing season began with the 2024–25 Leinster Senior Cup. Like all Leinster-based League of Ireland teams, they entered at the group stage (Round 3), where they were drawn in Group B with Shamrock Rovers, Malahide United, and Usher Celtic. They topped the group to progress to the Quarter-finals. In the process, TJ Molloy-Murray became the club's youngest goalscorer at 15 years and 10 months, breaking by six months a record set by Peter McParland in 1950. They subsequently reached the final after being given walkovers in both the quarter-final and semi-final. They defeated St. Patrick's Athletic 2–1 in the final at Richmond Park to win the competition for the eighth time.
The First Division league schedule began on 14 February 2025 with a 1–0 home win over Athlone Town. Dundalk led the way from the start, picking up 25 points from 27 in the first series of matches. They remained undefeated in the second series but a return of four wins and five draws allowed the chasing pack to stay in touch. In the third series, they suffered their first defeats of the season but six wins allowed them to maintain a six-point lead going into the final set of matches. They sealed the title with one game to spare with a 3–0 win over Finn Harps in front of 3,358 spectators.
In August, Sean Keogh was transferred to Brighton, in what was reported to be a "club record sale" (therefore in excess of the €175,000 received for Daniel Kearns in 2011).
The League of Ireland teams entered the 2025 FAI Cup in the second round. In that second round, Dundalk were knocked out by Sligo Rovers.
During Brian Ainscough's ownership, he had brought in several minority shareholders including the US-based businessman, Chris Clinton. Clinton had remained as 'Executive Director' during 2025 and he then acquired John Temple's shareholding at the end of the season.
First-Team Squad (2025) Sources: Note: Substitute appearances in brackets
No.Nat.NameDOBPos.DebutLeagueFAI CupLeinster CupTotalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1 Enda Minogue GK 2025180100 (2)02102 Conor O'Keeffe DF 202519 (3)00 (1)02 (1)02603 Sean Keogh DF 202420 (1)2102 (1)02524 Mayowa Animasahun DF 202126100302915 Sean McHale DF 202510 (9)110102116 Aodh Dervin MF 202432 (1)1101 (2)13727 FW 201431 (2)11103237138 Harry Groome MF 202529 (4)3102 (2)13849 FW 202522 (12)100 (1)021371110 Leo Gaxha FW 2025185001 (2)121611 Gbemi Arubi FW 202517 (11)12102 (1)0321212 Luke Mulligan MF 20247 (10)1002019113 Conall Alfred MF 20250 (1)000001014 Norman Garbett MF 20242 (9)0001012015 Vincent Leonard MF 202433 (1)4101 (1)037416 Eoin Kenny FW 202428 (6)90 (1)03 (1)2391117 MF 201113 (20)4003036418 GK 2009180002020019 Sean Spaight DF 20243 (2)00 (1)0208020 Sammy Safaei GK 20250 (1)000203021 Muhammad Haris 2008 MF 20250 (3)0000 (1)04022 Ethen Vaughan DF 20251000203023 Andy Paraschiv MF 202512 (21)20 (1)04038224 T.J. Molloy-Murray FW 20240 (4)0001 (1)16125 Aidan Russell Vargas MF 202500000 (1)11126 Shane Tracey MF 202510 (12)0100023027 Declan McDaid FW 202511 (3)2100015228 Calum Woods DF 20250 (1)000001028 FW 201800000 (1)01029 Rohan Vaughan FW 20252 (8)4001111530 Shay Casey MF 20250 (1)000001031 John Ross Wilson DF 2025140100015032 Rhys O'Hare DF 20250000101033 Tom McLoughlin MF 202500000 (1)010
Competitions
First Division
League table
FAI Cup
Leinster Senior Cup
Third Round Group B TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsDundalk32019276Usher Celtic32018536Shamrock Rovers32017616Malahide United3003213–110
Quarter Final
Semi Final
Final
Awards AwardPersonReferencePFAI First Division Manager of the Year Ciarán Kilduff
Footnotes
References