A look at the Lilywhites

Derry City v Dundalk: Opposition Preview

After the postponement of their fixture against Shamrock Rovers last week, Dundalk will make their return to the Premier Division after a year’s absence against Derry City on Friday. The Lilywhites return to the top flight of Irish football as the 2025 First Division champions having lost just three league games last season, eventually finishing ten points clear of
second placed Cobh Ramblers. Scoring more and conceding less than any other team in the First Division last year, Ciarán Kilduff will be on a mission to cement his side’s Premier Division status in 2026 and beyond.

Outgoings

• Rohan Vaughan (end of loan – Queen’s Park Rangers)
• Sean McHale, (end of loan – St Patrick’s Athletic)
• Ethen Vaughan (released)
• Muhammad Haris (released)
• Andy Paraschiv (Longford Town)
• Dean Ebbe (Ballymena United)
• Samuel Safaei (Harland and Wolff Welders – loan)
• Keith Ward (retired – joined coaching staff)
• Peter Cherrie (retired – joined coaching staff )

Incomings

• Danny Mullen (Derry City)
• Keith Buckley (Bohemians)
• Rob Cornwall (Bohemians)
• Bobby Burns (Galway United)
• Ronan Teahan (Kerry)
• Tyreke Wilson(Shelbourne)
• Harvey Warren (Bray Wanderers)
• Conor Kearns (Shelbourne – loan)

Dundalk have mixed tried and tested Premier Division talent with two of the First Division’s brightest young players to strengthen their squad ahead of the new year. The signing of 30 year old Scottish striker Danny Mullen from Derry City is a real statement of intent from the Lilywhites. He scored 21 times in 86 appearances for City after signing in the summer of
2023, with two of those coming against Dundalk in 2024. Mullen will replace Dean Ebbe, who bagged ten league goals last season.

Experienced defensive duo Keith Buckley and Rob Cornwall both moved to Louth from Bohemians, while flying fullback Bobby Burns is another astute signing after spending the last 18 months at Galway United. They’ll compliment young centre backs Mayowa Animasahun and Vinnie Leonard, who both shone last year. The latter is rumoured to be of interest to clubs in England and Scotland having amassed more than 40 appearances since making his debut as a 16 year old in 2024 and appearing at the U17 World Cup with Ireland.

Goalkeeper Conor Kearns, a Premier Division winner with Shelbourne in 2024, joined on loan in search of regaining full fitness after seeing his 2025 campaign ravaged by injuries. The 27 year old is joined in Dundalk by 21 year old midfielder Ronan Teahan, who played 34 times for Kerry FC last year and scored twice away to Dundalk in a 3-3 draw. Another 21
year old joining from the First Division is defender Harvey Warren, who signed from Bray Wanderers after an impressive First Division campaign.

Nailing 20 year old Derry born forward Eoin Kenny down to a new contract could perhaps be as good as any new signing. Son of former Derry City and Dundalk manager Stephen, Kenny scored nine league goals in 2025 and recently received a call up to Northern Ireland’s U21 squad.

21 year old former Shelbourne and Waterford forward Gbemi Arubi is another real presence up top, netting twelve goals in league action last season. Dundalk legend Daryl Horgan, who made seventeen appearances for Ireland, returned to Dundalk in 2023 after seven years in England and Scotland. A tricky winger who has since moved into a more central position, the 33 year old scored eleven and assisted a further six in league and cup action last year and has the quality to change a game.

Form:
With just one defeat from their last thirteen First Division games in 2025, Dundalk will go into the new season on a high. Beating St Pat’s 2-1 in the Leinster Senior Cup Final in October, the Lilywhites got the better of Shelbourne (3-1), UCD (5-1) and Athlone Town (5-0) in preseason action. Despite defeats against St Peter’s Athlone (5-2) and Shelbourne (2-1) in
their second meeting of the winter, Dundalk lifted the Jim Malone Cup after beating Drogheda United on penalties two weeks ago.