Kildare striker Kilduff becomes a Lilywhite

Experienced striker, Ciarán Kilduff, was unveiled as a Dundalk FC player by manager Stephen Kenny today. The Lilywhites bolstered their attacking options by signing the 26 year-old striker from St Patrick’s Athletic. The move was confirmed via the club’s Twitter account and website this afternoon.

Kilduff had managed three goals from 12 starts this season with the Saints but was not a consistent starter for Liam Buckley’s side. Rumours of a proposed move have been circulating since the start of the summer but the move was confirmed today just days before the transfer window close.

Kilduff joins a side that have not exactly been goal shy this season, they have scored in every league game they have played so far and have clocked 49 goals in their 20 games to date. That said, the addition of Kilduff is seen as much needed support for David McMillian who has served as Dundalk’s sole striker since the departure of last season’s top-scorer Patrick Hoban to Oxford United.

The striker joins the current league champions with a league medal already in his collection. He was a part of the 2011 Shamrock Rovers title winning team, a squad he played on with current Dundalk captain Stephen O’Donnell and midfielder Ronan Finn. Like Finn and fellow striker David McMillian he also played for UCD in the early days of his career and helped them win promotion in 2010 by chipping in 16 league goals. More recently he played an important part in Cork City’s 2013 season by netting 11 goals in just 14 appearances while on loan from Shamrock Rovers.

Kilduff has played under Stephen Kenny before, during his short tenure as Shamrock Rovers manager; Kenny went on to defy the odds and assemble the talented and ambitious group of players that won the league with Dundalk last year and he is confident that Kilduff will fit the mould at the Oriel Park outfit.

At a press conference today he told of his great respect for manager Stephen Kenny and that he was particularly looking forward to a friendly rivalry with David McMillian. He also expressed a keenness to contribute to the Lilywhite’s title defence:

“I am delighted to get the deal over the line. I have worked with Stephen Kenny before and I can’t wait to play under him here.  I was delighted to come here and when the call came from Stephen it was the one place I wanted to be. I take Stephen’s opinion very seriously and he is a manager I know, he has a great reputation within the league. I can’t speak any more highly of the man.

“I already know a lot of players here and have played with them at other clubs. Hopefully I can give him [David McMillian] a hand up there and hopefully the two of us can score plenty with us. I am glad that it is Dave that I am fighting with as the striker. Hopefully we can get this over the line, hopefully win a league because that’s what is expected.

“Playing with Dave makes it a lot easier because we are good friends. It’s going to be competitive against each other but all in good nature

“I’m looking forward to just getting going now, it took a little while to get through but pleased to be finally here.”