Deasy admits that Drogheda were the deserving winners
REACTION
Daire Walsh
FOLLOWING their four-goal defeat to Drogheda United in the FAI Cup at United Park last night, Cobh Wanderers manager Michael Deasy admitted that they were beaten by a better side.
The Leesiders were always chasing the game after Shane Elworthy broke the deadlock in the 39th-minute, and though David Stack had an opportunity to claim his second goal of the game when the score was 3-1 to Drogheda, Deasy felt the Premier Division outfit were that bit sharper.
“The first half we set up defensively, and then at half-time we were 2-0 down. We said ‘look, we might as well go for it now, and try to get ourselves into the game’.
‘Which we did, and David Stack had a great chance to make it 3-2,” Deasy remarked.
“I think if that goes in, it’s a different game, but to be fair they were better than us tonight.
“It’s only our third competitive game of the season, after Killarney in the last round.
“Look, we’re not going to win the FAI Cup.
“It’s not going to define our season by any stretch of the imagination.”
An impressive display from the bench by Stack was capped off by his excellent goal on 55 minutes, but because of an injury to Martin Deady he was called into the action quite early.
Deasy explained that both players had hamstring complaints coming into the game, and that they had taken a chance by starting Deady.
“Would you believe two of them, Martin Deady and David Stack, were both carrying little hamstring injuries.
“They both had a fitness test before the game, and they both felt fine.
“We went with Deady, and unfortunately, he went seven or eight minutes, and that’s disappointing.
“Because you’re down a sub straight away, and you still have 80 minutes left, and you’ve two subs only left to make.
“We just took a chance, and that didn’t work out for us tonight.”
Given their status as a non-league side, it was a major step up for Wanderers to be facing a team that are currently plying their trade in the top division of Irish soccer.
Deasy believes this experience will stand to them, and once again reiterated how well Drogheda had played on the night.
“It’s huge, and to be fair we’d a young lad, George Keating, right-full. 17 years of age.
“I thought he did very well, and a few of the other lads are young as well.”