Kenny astounded by Dundalk’s determination during fixture build-up
Daire Walsh
The Lilywhites boss has revealed his admiration for his squad as they close in on another League of Ireland title
Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny has praised his side’s determination as the Lilywhites face a hectic schedule between now and the end of the season.
The league leaders have five games still to play before the end of October, and also have an FAI Cup final date with Cork City just three days after a Europa League game with Zenit St Petersburg at the beginning of November. Despite acknowledging how difficult this could be, Kenny was quick to praise the attitude of his squad.
“Yeah, I think the thing with the Cup Final, you’re not going to complain about that, because that’s the way it is,” Kenny told reporters.
“I think that’s something that we sold the players a long time ago. Flying in from St Petersburg, landing in Ballsbridge, and walking down to the final! That’s what we spoke to them about, so they’re not going to complain about that.
“We only fight the battles we can win, we’re not going to win that one [fixture schedule]. I think obviously there’s other interests, invested interests, and for us we’ve just got to focus on the matches that we can win. The players are brilliant, and I’m delighted with them.
“Their attitude is first-class, and they continue to astound me really with their levels of determination and the positive attitude that they’ve shown. That’s a good thing,” Kenny added.
After seeing his side claim a 3-0 triumph against Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening, Kenny was pleased to move one step closer in their quest to retain the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division crown.
Second-half goals from Brian Gartland, Dane Massey and Ciaran Kilduff helped the Lilywhites to secure all three points (and remain four points clear of Cork City), and although the deadlock was unbroken prior to the interval, Kenny doesn’t believe that the final scoreline flattered them.
“I was always concerned that it would be a difficult game for us,” Kenny remarked.
“Such euphoria in the ground on Tuesday night against Cork, and it’s such a short turnaround, and to get ready to come away to Shamrock Rovers, who are playing for a place in Europe, and very motivated and had a week’s rest.”
“You’re always think it’ll be a difficult game tonight. We won 3-0, and that didn’t flatter us. We won very emphatically, and I think it was a terrific result really.”
The 52nd-minute opener was Gartland’s sixth league goal of 2016 for Dundalk, and Kenny felt that his partnership in defence with Andy Boyle was a key factor in keeping the Rovers attack at bay.
“Yeah, he really is a good player Brian. A really important player, and he gets very important goals. Him and Andy Boyle at the back, they [Rovers] play two players in front of them, two physical presences, and they got no change out of Brian and Andy. They just defended brilliantly, and that gave us a platform really to go on and win.”