2025 Arrivals and Departures

**redobit** · 20/12/2024, 1:53 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Sligo love a crock

We've turned plenty of them in to gems tho.

**Nesta99** · 20/12/2024, 3:10 PM

Originally Posted by Glen Of Aherlow

You'd have to be very worried if you were a Sligo fan , it's going to be a very competitive PD next season

Careful now! Remember the 2024 predictions thread success and that they have tradition to save them from the dreaded trapdoor....

**outspoken** · 20/12/2024, 3:32 PM

Originally Posted by redobit

We've turned plenty of them in to gems tho.

Yep, Power was excellent when he played last season but having had such a thing squad last season it's certainly high risk.

**legendz** · 20/12/2024, 3:46 PM

Seanie McGrath is staying with Kerry. A lot of good news after what had been a quiet off season.

**Jack B** · 20/12/2024, 6:50 PM

Have to say I may well be getting mislead by a small sample size, but whenever I've watched Luke Heeney I've always thought he was a weak point in Drogheda's team.

Nonetheless, very enjoyable stuff from them in teasing his re-signing announcement.

https://x.com/DroghedaUnited/status/...857687267?s=19

**Cosmo** · 20/12/2024, 7:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jack B

Have to say I may well be getting mislead by a small sample size, but whenever I've watched Luke Heeney I've always thought he was a weak point in Drogheda's team.

Nonetheless, very enjoyable stuff from them in teasing his re-signing announcement.

https://x.com/DroghedaUnited/status/...857687267?s=19

Certainly not a weak link - delighted he's staying.

**oriel** · 20/12/2024, 8:22 PM

Ah look its a good gag by Drogs admin, all good banter, to be fair why would any player turn down PD and Euro over start over project in FD, I certainly wouldn't.

He's a good player, won't be getting into many team of the weeks mind, but def worthy of a place at a PD club.

**oriel** · 21/12/2024, 11:19 AM

Eoin Kenny back at Dundalk for 2025, not sure he had that many options, but good to see, local lad now, but needs to score more, and bulk up a little in my book.

Another local lad who does not need to bulk is the big lad Animashaun, also signed back, central defender who should ease through FD games you would think.

**outspoken** · 21/12/2024, 1:43 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Ah look its a good gag by Drogs admin, all good banter, to be fair why would any player turn down PD and Euro over start over project in FD, I certainly wouldn't.

He's a good player, won't be getting into many team of the weeks mind, but def worthy of a place at a PD club.

Incredible to see so many grown men being beyond wound up about it, personally think it's sh*t like this that makes the league great.

**outspoken** · 21/12/2024, 1:44 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Eoin Kenny back at Dundalk for 2025, not sure he had that many options, but good to see, local lad now, but needs to score more, and bulk up a little in my book.

Another local lad who does not need to bulk is the big lad Animashaun, also signed back, central defender who should ease through FD games you would think.

Agree fully on Kenny needs to get down the roma more often for a mixed grill. Personally, I find Mayowa a bit clumsy especially with ball at feet but should cruise through FD if attitude is right.

**dansultheman** · 21/12/2024, 2:49 PM

Dundalk seem to have a good size budget! With everything they have been through to survive, is it seen as a gamble to go for it in the 1st division this year with so much debt still to pay?

I thought that they would be trying to create a more sustainable model, I could be wrong but the first division is a slog and won�t be as easy as many think in my opinion.

**culloty82** · 21/12/2024, 5:55 PM

Nathan Gleeson makes it three Kerry re-signings in as many days.

**oriel** · 21/12/2024, 7:48 PM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Agree fully on Kenny needs to get down the roma more often for a mixed grill. Personally, I find Mayowa a bit clumsy especially with ball at feet but should cruise through FD if attitude is right.

Outstanding, guessing you know the town well, if you know the most popular Italian cafe / chipper, and the mixed grill too - up there with Sing Li curry chips** and Harp - the towns greatest icons after DFC and the Coors !!!

**Away fans in Oriel Park would have had that pleasure for most of and after the SK era, then again Mullens is not bad either, all of this is just classic LOI, a 2025 arrivals and dept thread and we are talking about fast food, I`ll get my coat.........................

**oriel** · 21/12/2024, 8:01 PM

Originally Posted by dansultheman

Dundalk seem to have a good size budget! With everything they have been through to survive, is it seen as a gamble to go for it in the 1st division this year with so much debt still to pay?

I thought that they would be trying to create a more sustainable model, I could be wrong but the first division is a slog and won�t be as easy as many think in my opinion.

I don't think anyone at the club or supporters will be of the opinion and regardless if this will be possibly one of the weaker FD's in some years, that it will still be nothing other than a very tough ask to come back up at the first attempt. Dundalk will probably start as favs, but what the club / fans won't have is the mentality knowing the FD inside out that the other 9 clubs will have, plus it will be 9 very different venues and much longer travel, so all will be a factor.

Initially and after all the meltdown, my mates and I (and we are mid 50's so we have seen a lot, euro games high of the late 70's, first golden era 76-82, then again 88-92, back to the FD for most of the 00's, terribly depressing scene, Kenny era and after obv massive highs 13-20, then where we are now) so its always been a rollercoaster.

All of us agreed that a good few seasons down, will do us no harm, re-start / re-set and take our medicine after a deserved relegation.

Then we see the pieces Kilduff has put together, and even getting him was a coup, remember he joined not knowing if we would get the License, and the players started to arrive, and most exactly what we need, good FD exp with Athlone (3 players), maybe Bray's best or one of, no marquee signing, but wasn't expecting any, Eoin Kenny and Animashuan staying are positives, both need to do better than 2024 but that wouldn't have been hard as would have applied to all.

Personally I`m not taking 2025 for granted, if we get promoted great, but then that creates another challenge, how to stay in the PD, and at the same time keep managing the debt, which by the sounds of things the owner and the board have managed very well, seemingly paying everyone, obv not what they are fully owed, but all get something.

I think the 2025 FD might be a little more competitive than most think.

**DCSIL** · 22/12/2024, 8:15 AM

Originally Posted by oriel

Outstanding, guessing you know the town well, if you know the most popular Italian cafe / chipper, and the mixed grill too - up there with Sing Li curry chips** and Harp - the towns greatest icons after DFC and the Coors !!!

**Away fans in Oriel Park would have had that pleasure for most of and after the SK era, then again Mullens is not bad either, all of this is just classic LOI, a 2025 arrivals and dept thread and we are talking about fast food, I`ll get my coat.........................

Just seen that Joe Grossi has passed away.

**ger121** · 22/12/2024, 7:52 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

I think the 2025 FD might be a little more competitive than most think.

I think you might be right Oriel. I�d still have you as firm favourites but it could be a competitive division.

**legendz** · 22/12/2024, 8:28 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

I think the 2025 FD might be a little more competitive than most think.

Originally Posted by ger121

I think you might be right Oriel. I�d still have you as firm favourites but it could be a competitive division.

Dundalk will pull well clear like Galway and Cork. 7 clubs will be vying for the playoffs again. That can classed as competitive within that group of 7. They can all perform well on their day, as seen in some cup performances, but not consistently enough to match Premier clubs and the odd one out squeezed out by relegation.

**Knocklyonhoop** · 22/12/2024, 9:20 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

I don't think anyone at the club or supporters will be of the opinion and regardless if this will be possibly one of the weaker FD's in some years, that it will still be nothing other than a very tough ask to come back up at the first attempt. Dundalk will probably start as favs, but what the club / fans won't have is the mentality knowing the FD inside out that the other 9 clubs will have, plus it will be 9 very different venues and much longer travel, so all will be a factor.

Initially and after all the meltdown, my mates and I (and we are mid 50's so we have seen a lot, euro games high of the late 70's, first golden era 76-82, then again 88-92, back to the FD for most of the 00's, terribly depressing scene, Kenny era and after obv massive highs 13-20, then where we are now) so its always been a rollercoaster.

All of us agreed that a good few seasons down, will do us no harm, re-start / re-set and take our medicine after a deserved relegation.

Then we see the pieces Kilduff has put together, and even getting him was a coup, remember he joined not knowing if we would get the License, and the players started to arrive, and most exactly what we need, good FD exp with Athlone (3 players), maybe Bray's best or one of, no marquee signing, but wasn't expecting any, Eoin Kenny and Animashuan staying are positives, both need to do better than 2024 but that wouldn't have been hard as would have applied to all.

Personally I`m not taking 2025 for granted, if we get promoted great, but then that creates another challenge, how to stay in the PD, and at the same time keep managing the debt, which by the sounds of things the owner and the board have managed very well, seemingly paying everyone, obv not what they are fully owed, but all get something.

I think the 2025 FD might be a little more competitive than most think.

if this squad (even at this early stage) doesn�t get promoted then CK isn�t as good a manager as I�d say most expect him to be

**Nesta99** · 23/12/2024, 8:09 AM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Incredible to see so many grown men being beyond wound up about it, personally think it's sh*t like this that makes the league great.

Cup winners, Europe, going ft v 1st division finanaial basketcase, the moments hesitation between choosing was obviously the weight of sheer size, tradition, and how fleeting the normal order gets turned on its head. Why people get so flustered about fans being fans where oneupmanship and winding up is the core of the whole thing.

Im pretty sure Outspoken lives in Dundalk, snared by a local las, and a regular in Oriel, so a good independent view on where the teams is at over the years. It would've been super impressive if the old Maloccas(Park St) v Roma mixed grill wars were referenced!