# 2011 Dundalk F.C. season

The 2011 season was Dundalk's third successive season in the League of Ireland Premier Division following promotion in 2008. Altogether, it was the club's 85th season in League of Ireland football. The club was managed by Ian Foster, who was in his second season in charge. The club finished the 36-match season in 7th position having been challenging at the top of the table for the first half of the season. The club also competed in the FAI Cup, League of Ireland Cup, Setanta Sports Cup, and the Leinster Senior Cup. In the Setanta Sports Cup they reached the final, but lost to Shamrock Rovers F.C.
After losing the final, and with the playing budget already being restricted by the club's owner, Gerry Matthews, results subsequently deteriorated as the season drew to a close. Financial losses were mounting, and Matthews decided to relinquish control of the club. Foster's contract expired at the end of the season and he was allowed to leave.

## 2011 Fixtures and results
### Setanta Sports Cup 2011
#### First Round
##### Second leg

Dundalk won 6 − 4 on aggregate

#### Quarter-Finals
##### Second leg

Dundalk won 2 − 1 on aggregate

#### Second leg

Dundalk won 5−2 on aggregate

#### Final
### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Shamrock Rovers (C) | 36 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 69 | 24 | +45 | 77 | Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Sligo Rovers | 36 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 73 | 19 | +54 | 73 | Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Derry City | 36 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 63 | 23 | +40 | 68 | Banned from 2012–13 European competitions |
| 4 | St Patrick's Athletic | 36 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 62 | 35 | +27 | 63 | Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round |
| 5 | Bohemians | 36 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 39 | 27 | +12 | 60 | Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round |
| 6 | Bray Wanderers | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 53 | 50 | +3 | 51 | |
| 7 | Dundalk | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 50 | 53 | −3 | 44 | |
| 8 | UCD | 36 | 10 | 4 | 22 | 42 | 80 | −38 | 34 | |
| 9 | Drogheda United | 36 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 32 | 77 | −45 | 25 | |
| 10 | Galway United | 36 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 20 | 115 | −95 | 6 | Qualification to Relegation play-off |
* ↑ Sligo Rovers qualified for the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round after winning the 2011 FAI Cup Final.
* ↑ Derry City were banned from European competitions for three seasons after going into liquidation.
* ↑ Galway United were originally relegated but subsequently withdrew from the league.

## 2011 squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | SCO | Peter Cherrie |
| 2 | DF | IRL | Simon Madden |
| 3 | DF | IRL | Eoghan Osborne |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Dean Bennett |
| 5 | DF | IRL | Colin Hawkins |
| 8 | MF | IRL | Stephen Maher |
| 9 | FW | IRL | Mark Quigley |
| 10 | FW | IRL | Jason Byrne |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 11 | MF | IRL | Ross Gaynor |
| 12 | GK | IRL | Paul Murphy |
| 13 | DF | IRL | Nathan Murphy |
| 14 | MF | IRL | Greg Bolger |
| 16 | MF | IRL | Stephen McDonnell |
| 17 | MF | IRL | Keith Ward |
| 18 | FW | IRL | Mark Griffin |
| 19 | FW | IRL | Johnny Breen |

### 2011 pre-season transfers

| In: Jason Byrne from Bohemians (Free transfer) Mark Quigley from Bohemians (Free transfer) Keith Ward from UCD (Free transfer) Eoghan Osborne from Drogheda United (Free transfer) Michael Hector from Reading (On loan) Greg Bolger from Sporting Fingal (Free transfer) Colin Hawkins from Sporting Fingal (Free transfer) Shane Guthrie from St. Patrick's Athletic (On loan) | Out: Shaun Kelly (Released) Matthew Tipton to Portadown (Free transfer) Fahrudin Kuduzović to SV Eintracht Trier 05 (Free transfer) Wayne Hatswell to Newport County (Free transfer) Garry Breen to Portadown (Free transfer) Ciarán McGuigan to Syrianska (Free transfer) Tom Miller to Newport County (Undisclosed) Alan Cawley to Portadown (Free transfer) Steven Lennon to Newport County (Free transfer) Liam Burns to Bohemians (Free transfer) |

### 2011 mid-season transfers

| In: | Out: Michael Hector to Reading (Loan ended) Shane Guthrie to St. Patrick's Athletic (Loan ended) |