Dundalk FC Magazine Issue 07: Dundalk v Cork City, 2 May 2014 matchday programme — 2014 SSE Airtricity Premier Division at Oriel Park; the Oriel Park pitch row, and Europe on the horizon

Official Dundalk FC Magazine, Issue 07, €3. Dundalk v Cork City, 2014 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, Oriel Park, Friday 2 May 2014, kick-off 7.45pm. Cover: SIMON KELLY.

A top-of-the-table meeting in the season Dundalk won the title, with a Setanta Cup final against Sligo at Tallaght the following week — 'win or lose we have only had two cup finals in the past 20 years so it should be a great occasion.'

Colm Murphy's editorial is most interesting on the row over the Oriel Park surface. UEFA had already inspected the ground ahead of a July Europa League tie, the pitch had 'already achieved two-star certification', and the remaining work was infrastructural. He is unapologetic: 'Oriel Park is the only pitch that gets a proper inspection every year… it would be very surprising if some of the awful grass pitches that we have played on so far this year would pass some stringent tests. Some of the comments being made about the pitch are utterly ridiculous.'

At forty-eight pages there is room for good writing, and 'The Spectator' column makes a statistical case for Irish football's audience: a League of Ireland aggregate around 350,000 plus 200,000 to 300,000 watching Ireland at home, a total 'that would easily challenge rugby and hurling's aggregate attendances'; a 50,000 international crowd as the per-capita equivalent of 800,000 in Germany; and 'barely half a dozen countries in Europe' that would beat 22,000 for a dead rubber against Kazakhstan.

Author: Dundalk Football Club

Publisher: Dundalk Football Club

Publication Date: 2014

Binding: Single Issue Magazine

Condition: Used - Very Good