Oriel Park receives official approval

Dundalk’s Oriel Park venue has received the official go-ahead to stage its first match of the season in Friday night’s big FAI Carlsberg Cup clash between the Lilywhites and north-east rivals Drogheda United.

Oriel Park has been out of commission since the end of last season as work on a new synthetic playing surface became embroiled in delays.

However, the club has been frantically pressing ahead with the development over the past month, with work on the pitch finally completed at the weekend.

The match appeared in doubt when Drogheda United manager Paul Doolin expressed his reservations about its readiness after his squad trained in Dundalk on Monday.

But Dundalk, who have had to play their home games in Drogheda and Monaghan all season, have received a massive boost with the news that a team of inspectors from the FAI and Fifa have passed the pitch for Friday night’s game.

The match will be televised live on TG4, while tickets are on sale from the venue and from Emerald Sports in the town.

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/faicup/...p?newsid=18818

Great news for Dundalk - should be a big crowd now as well. Don't like fake pitches, to be honest (and I've played on what's apparently a similar pitch to Oriel's new one in UCD), but still, the league could do with fewer homeless teams!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Don't like fake pitches, to be honest (and I've played on what's apparently a similar pitch to Oriel's new one in UCD), but still, the league could do with fewer homeless teams!

---

Having seen your performance against longford in that fans match, it is safe to say that you won't be playing on that Dundalk pitch anytime soon :) :rolleyes: :D

Unless there is another fans match of course

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sligoman

The match appeared in doubt when Drogheda United manager Paul Doolin expressed his reservations about its readiness after his squad trained in Dundalk on Monday.

---

Baldy is getting his excuses in early by the sounds of things

Another fans' match on Saturday apparently, now that you mention it! On the lush grass fields of Flancare, to follow up our Belfield Park appearance. :)