Q&A with Dundalk midfielder Robbie Benson - 'Last year is in the past'

Q: Firstly Robbie, reflecting on last season, what a fantastic year it was for the club and you must have been so proud to be a part of that.

ROBBIE: It was brilliant, especially for me in my first season to come in and be a part of what the club achieved in both the league campaign and in Europe. It was a fantastic year and one we’ll never forget but that’s in the past now and we need to start focusing on the season ahead. We’ll hope to do it all again.

Q: Is the confidence in the squad that what was achieved last season can be repeated next season?

ROBBIE: Yes, last year proved it is possible so we need to take that into the season. It’s no longer a glass ceiling there, we’ve broken through it now and that is the challenge to do it again. Stephen said last year the challenge was to get three in a row but now we need to look for the fourth. It’s a new challenge and one we’re all looking forward to.

Q: Of course, Daryl Horgan, Andy Boyle and Ronan Finn have all left the club. There will a dependence on the other players to step up, do you think there is the strength in the squad to do that?

ROBBIE: Absolutely, we had a lot of games and injuries last year so plenty of players in the squad got great exposure with the team. We’ve made some really good signings and obviously, the lads who have left, have left big boots to fill but I’m sure the quality is there to do that.

Q: Finally, Cork City, Shamrock Rovers and the rest of the chasing pack have all strengthened. It might be quite tough to continue you’re league title run but are you up for the challenge?

ROBBIE: Definitely, the league is getting stronger and stronger. You look at the likes of Bray Wanderers and the way they finished last year and the business they’ve done, everyone is trying to strengthen. The onus is on us to defend what we have and we’re not going to give it up easily.