Paul Smyth

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Paul Smyth is an Irish soccer player currently playing for Dundalk F.C. in the FAI First Division.

Paul began football with his home club, Monaghan United and made his senior debut for them during the 1998/99 season. From four appearances that season he scored two goals, and the following year became an ever-present in the side. Smyth made 35 appearances and scored six goals in the campaign, but it was to end in disappointment as Monaghan finished a lowly ninth. The following season was a total transformation for the Ulster club, and with the help of Smyth (34 appearances/6 goals), they finished second to Dundalk and were promoted to the Premier Division.

Smyth was unable to enjoy the experience of top flight football however, as he departed Monaghan at the end of that season to take up a college scholarship in the United States at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. While there, he won the 'Rookie of the Year' for his division and was his team's top scorer. Smyth returned home and spent part of the 2003 season at Finn Harps - scoring against Monaghan in the League Cup - before arriving at Irish League side Ballinamallard United in 2004, where he scored one goal in 16 appearances. The attacking player remained at the northern club for the following season and netted twice in eighteen outings before he made a return to Monaghan at the beginning of the 2006 season.

2006 saw Smyth play in 34 of Monaghan’s 36 league matches, a period in which he scored three goals. Two of those strikes came against Dundalk and it was the second one that proved the most damaging as it cost the Lilywhites the league crown. Smyth’s 6th minute strike fired Monaghan to a shock 1-0 win to end their near neighbour’s 20-match unbeaten run on November 3rd in the third last game of the season, a defeat which handed the title to Shamrock Rovers. Paul signed on again for 2007 at Kingspan Century Park but when John Gill enquired about his availability - due mainly to Wayne Griffin’s sudden departure - near the end of the close-season transfer window, Monaghan agreed to release Smyth from his contract. Smyth made his debut for Dundalk when he came on as a second-half substitute in the opening day 3-2 win over Finn Harps at Oriel Park on 8 March and made his first start a week later in Kilkenny. He found his first goal for the club on 24 May in the 3-0 home win over Shelbourne.

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