Eye on the opposition

Dundalk v Derry City: Opposition Overview (April 2026)

Following a double header in Connacht over Easter weekend, Derry City face Dundalk in Oriel Park for the first time in eighteen months. The Lilywhites have impressed across the first quarter of the season and will hope to continue their European push as the season commences.

Following relegation from the Premier Division in 2024, Dundalk won the First Division last season by a ten point margin on second place Cobh Ramblers. With just three losses in the league and a goals scored average of more than two per game, the Louth faithful would’ve been hopeful coming into the new season.

With League of Ireland stalwart Ciarán Kilduff at the helm, Dundalk opted to bring in tried and tested Premier Division talent over the off-season. The signing of Danny Mullen from Derry City was their first statement of intent, while defensive duo Keith Buckley and Rob Cornwall came in from Bohemians. Tyreke Wilson left Shelbourne to join his brother JR as
fullbacks in Oriel Park, while Conor Kearns followed him on loan from Tolka Park. The keeper has since been ruled out for the foreseeable with a knee injury.

The signing of Bobby Burns from Galway United brought more quality on the flanks, while young talents Eoin Kenny and Vinnie Leonard have stood out. Former Ireland midfielder Daryl Horgan is still the supremo in attacking midfield for the Lilywhites with six goal involvements but misses tonight’s game through suspension.

Currently fourth in the Premier Division, Dundalk have lost just once all year. 20 year old Eoin Kenny joins Gbemi Arubi atop their scoring chart with three, while Horgan, Mullen and Burns have bagged two. Shane Tracey, Declan McDaid, Tyreke Wilson and Ronan Teahanhave found the net once each.

Dundalk have been hard to beat this year, losing just once, while their five games drawn is the joint highest in the league. A 5-0 win over Waterford and recent back-to-back victories away to Shelbourne and at home to St Pat’s have been the highpoints of Dundalk’s season so far. The Lilywhites have won four of their last five league games heading into tonight’s
clash and are the joint top scorers in the division.

The previous meeting between City and Dundalk this year ended 2-2, with Derry coming from behind twice to grab the point. Eoin Kenny’s goal in that game won the league’s goal of the month award for February. That draw extended the Candystripes’ unbeaten record against Dundalk to nine games, with the Lilywhites’ most recent win over City coming in
November 2022.

At Oriel Park, City are unbeaten in the last seven meetings – the most recent of which being a 2-0 win for Derry in October 2024. Prior to Derry’s win in Oriel in November 2021, which secured European football for 2022, City hadn’t won away to Dundalk since April 2013. Meanwhile, Michael Duffy, Cameron Dummigan, Danny Mullen, Rob Cornwall and Peter
Cherrie have all played for both sides. Dundalk’s Eoin Kenny was also born in Derry while his father Stephen was City manager in 2005.