Dundalk's title challenge is starting to Boyle

Dundalk defender Andy Boyle praised his side for picking up a potentially “massive” three points away to Shels, a game in which he scored to set them on their way.


He also admitted the importance of these points is based upon the fact that these are the kind of fixtures his side are expected to win, which they duly did thanks to his mature man of the match performance.


"It is a massive three points for us and I think in the first half we were very good,” he said afterwards. “It probably could have been more and in the second half we battled hard for it but I thought we held out well as they never put us under real pressure apart from Pete’s great save and I don’t remember them having too many chances so I thought we were good value for it.


“People probably say it is easier to get up for the big games like Rovers and Pat’s but winning these games gives you the same three points and they really are massive for us to come away from home and win and keep the pressure on and it shows that we won’t go away.”


Boyle’s 75 second header from a Darren Meenan corner opened his side’s account for the day and helped them on the way to an important win against his former club and he was very pleased at having finally broken his duck.


He said of the early strike: “I am absolutely delighted with it because it has been a long time coming and I was getting a bit of stick about it so it was great to get it although it was more important to get the three points and keep the little run that we have going and keep the pressure on the teams above us and continue pushing on.”


‘Mr Consistent’ as he was labelled afterwards by his manager Stephen Kenny is no stranger to playing at Tolka Park having spent two seasons there, leaving at the end of last season to link up with the Lilywhites.


“I really enjoyed my time here and had a great one here and I hope they get out of the trouble they are in and it looks like with the form they are in they might do that and it is a good club where I thoroughly enjoyed my football.”


Every good central defence though is made of two key players often forming the cornerstone of any successful side and the former UCD man was also happy to heap praise upon his defensive partner Brian Gartland with whom he has already struck up a formidable partnership with the Lilywhites having picked up maximum points from every game for which they have been paired together.


“They did put us under pressure for the past few minutes but it is great to play alongside him and hopefully he feels the same and having won every game we have played alongside each other is a good little stat to have,” he smiled. “As long as we keep winning games though that is the main thing and as a back four we will keep working hard because that is what the team is built on.”


Dead balls again caused a great deal of problems with both Boyle and Gartland’s goals coming from corners and they created numerous other chances from set pieces with the central defender admitting that it is something his side work hard at.


“It is all about the delivery from these set plays and Meenan’s deliveries are excellent and they are right on the money more often than not which makes our job of converting them a lot easier,” he continued.


With reigning champions Sligo Rovers heading to the north east next weekend to take on Boyle and his cohorts in a fixture of massive importance, he insisted his side will be out to take home nothing less than all three points.


“We have played all of the top teams and gotten results against them all so we are not afraid to play anyone,” the Dubliner stated. “We know we can beat anyone and will go into like any other.


“Don’t get me wrong they are a good team but we have as good a chance as anyone so we will go into it and do our best to come out with the win.”