Embarrassing wake up call

[Richie87]

The journey talk is a bit silly as no guarantee Dundalk will be in Europe next year. And even if they are, unlikely to be seeded for 2 rounds.

[oldfogey]

The journey talk is a bit silly as no guarantee Dundalk will be in Europe next year. And even if they are, unlikely to be seeded for 2 rounds.

I would argue that - if they qualify - they would likely be seeded for R1 & R2. Getting to R2 this year has replaced the 1.5 points we were dropping, so we will still have 8.5 going into next year's draws. This year's cutoffs were 4.0 (R1) and 6.5 (R2). That being said, we're certainly not an 8.5 team at present, probably more like a 6.0.

[carrickfan]

We all know Oriel is an embarrassment, we don’t like when opposition fans remind us. The most disappointing aspect was the comments about the dressing rooms (cells is appropriate) as the away dressing room is diabolical and remedial work could be done without a huge investment. It’s bad enough when away fans criticise the away section never mind the away team criticising the dressing rooms. I’m not sure how that part gets a FAI license never mind a UEFA pass for European games…

[Louth4sam]

I played in Oriel a few years ago and couldn't believe the state of the dressing rooms. Most GAA clubs and local football clubs have better facilities. Can't see how it can be improved as you are very limited to space over that side.

[oldfogey]

I played in Oriel a few years ago and couldn't believe the state of the dressing rooms. Most GAA clubs and local football clubs have better facilities. Can't see how it can be improved as you are very limited to space over that side.

That's why there was so much money spent on converting the YDC into a facility for the first team. They are only in the home dressing room for about 10 mins prior to kickoff and at halftime. If you take a step back and take into account the overall construction and layout of the stand, it would have to be raised to the ground and something new built. I'm sure someone has drawn up plans for a rebuild of the stadium, but they are still very much restricted by the limited access into the ground and the fact that much of the surrounding land is owned by 3rd parties (private houses, CIE, the council etc). And none of that is relevant while the ground ownership is still up in the air. With Des Casey gone I don't know how the rest of the family feel about Oriel Park.

[carrickfan]

I played in Oriel a few years ago and couldn't believe the state of the dressing rooms. Most GAA clubs and local football clubs have better facilities. Can't see how it can be improved as you are very limited to space over that side.

Size wise it’s adequate to hold a team, I took a juvenile team there to play v Dundalk and the players didn’t believe me when I told them that the stars of Ajax, Liverpool, Tottenham once stood in this room, they looked at me as if I’d two heads! Tile and plumb the showers, put seats in instead of benches. Modern day facilities for a modern day team is all.

[oldfogey]

I played in Oriel a few years ago and couldn't believe the state of the dressing rooms. Most GAA clubs and local football clubs have better facilities. Can't see how it can be improved as you are very limited to space over that side.

Size wise it’s adequate to hold a team, I took a juvenile team there to play v Dundalk and the players didn’t believe me when I told them that the stars of Ajax, Liverpool, Tottenham once stood in this room, they looked at me as if I’d two heads! Tile and plumb the showers, put seats in instead of benches. Modern day facilities for a modern day team is all.

You have to remember that the dressing rooms were sized and built based on 11 aside plus 1 sub. Nowadays you are looking at 20 plus the coaching staff. Can't imagine how the Academy sides manage.

[Louth4sam]

I played in Oriel a few years ago and couldn't believe the state of the dressing rooms. Most GAA clubs and local football clubs have better facilities. Can't see how it can be improved as you are very limited to space over that side.

Size wise it’s adequate to hold a team, I took a juvenile team there to play v Dundalk and the players didn’t believe me when I told them that the stars of Ajax, Liverpool, Tottenham once stood in this room, they looked at me as if I’d two heads! Tile and plumb the showers, put seats in instead of benches. Modern day facilities for a modern day team is all.

You have to remember that the dressing rooms were sized and built based on 11 aside plus 1 sub. Nowadays you are looking at 20 plus the coaching staff. Can't imagine how the Academy sides manage.

That's it. They were fit for purpose back in the 60s when they were first built along with the stand but they are completely undersized now and I believe the away dressing room is even smaller than home. From what I thought and was confirmed here, the home dressing room in stand is a defacto waiting room now for us as the team get ready in the YDC. Of all the infrastructure projects in Oriel the away dressing rooms would be well down the list of my priorities regardless of what visiting teams think.

[Johnnybegood33]

Surely both teams should come out of the YDC . Let the officials use existing dressing rooms under the stand .
Take up the pitch & roll in the grass , that would be a start .