Stephen Kenny confident Dundalk can prevail

Dundalk face FH Hafnarfjordur in Iceland this evening knowing that they have to score to have any chance of progressing to the third qualifying round.

A late Steven Lennon goal cancelled out David McMillan’s opener at Oriel Park last week to leave the advantage with the Icelandic champions going into the second leg at the Kaplakriki.

Dundalk will be without the services of Brian Gartland, who fractured his wrist in last week's tie, but otherwise Stephen Kenny has a full deck to choose from.

The manager – who is now in his fourth season at Oriel Park and who has extensive European experience with Derry City, Bohemians and Longford Town – believes the players are determined to gain another big victory.

“We have to win the game in Iceland and we are capable of that.

“We have got to get a fantastic win over here and we have shown that we can do that,” he said.

The back-to-back League of Ireland champions have shown that they are capable of going away from home and winning.

They came from behind to defeat Croatian giants Hajduk Split in 2014 at the Stadion Poljud, while they also put in a fine display at the Borisov Arena last summer against BATE, even if they went down 2-1.

They can get another crack at BATE with a favourable result tonight. However, the focus is on the job in hand and they will be aiming for a win and the financial rewards of at least €1.2 million that goes with that.

Challenge

“It’s a challenge for us. It’s one that the players are determined to achieve.

“The players have shown a capacity to put in big performances and get big results in the past few years and we are determined to do so again to get the win,” said Kenny.

Their away form has been better domestically and on the continent under Kenny. They will be hoping this continues in Iceland as Kenny dreams up another European odyssey.