At 5.55pm today, Irish Premier Division champions Dundalk FC begin their Europa League campaign at home to Norwegian side Molde FK. The match will be held at Tallaght Stadium as Oriel Park was deemed not up to standard for European ties. For Irish viewers, the match will be live on Virgin Media at 5.30pm.
This is Dundalk's second time to make the Europa League group stages, the last time being in 2016 under now Republic of Ireland boss, Stephen Kenny. Shamrock Rovers were the only other League of Ireland side to make a European group stage back in 2011.
Dundalk have been drawn in a group that also contains Arsenal F.C. and Rapid Wien. The Lillywhites will look forward to a glamour double header against Premier League side Arsenal. A trip to the Emirates awaits the Louth side this day next week.
Led by Italian Interim head coach Filippo Giovagnoli, Dundalk will be hoping to be the first ever Irish side to progress from a European group stage.
Dundalk go into today's game as underdogs but will have nothing to lose. After beating Faroe Island side Klaksvikar 3-1 in the play off to reach the Europa League group stage, Dundalk pocketed £2.3 million. This is massive money for a League of Ireland club to receive, not only for the club but for the League of Ireland as a whole.
Molde FK are an experienced side when it comes to competing in European competitions . Their most recent appearances in the Europa League were in 2012-13 and 2015-16 seasons, making the knockout stages in the latter. Molde are currently second in the Norwegian top flight and are managed by Erling Moe, the man that succeeded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he left for Manchester United in December 2018. Their main danger man will be Magnus Wolf Eikrem, who is also captain for his side.
Dundalk have a squad capable of upsetting the odds. Experienced players such as Patrick Hoban, Chris Shields, Michael Duffy, Brian Gartland, Sean Gannon and Gary Rogers will give Dundalk optimism ahead of the game and one would think that Filippo's side should not be written off. This is a chance for Dundalk to show the world of football that there is quality of players in the League of Ireland. Not only is this a big game for the club but also for all Irish football fans.
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