O'Keeffe happy with draw

Avondale United manager Dave O’ Keeffe today spoke to extratime.ie in the immediate aftermath of his side’s scoreless draw with current FAI Junior Cup champions St Michaels in Cooke Park, Tipperary.

He appeared pleased with his side’s performance especially the way they stood up to some intense attacking pressure from Michael’s in the second half to ensure a draw was a fair result.

“Yeah I think we played better in the first half than in the second half but it was backs to the wall in the second half. I thought defensively we were magnificent but a few of the decisions weren’t going our way but we battled away and we came out the right side of a good result not a great result. But we live to fight another day next Saturday down in Avondale Park should be interesting”.

However there was a slight tinge of regret for his side’s failure to convert chances in the first half with Eoghan Lougheed’s singled out in particular. However O’Keeffe knows improvement will be needed in order for his side to remain in the competition as the final non-league team.

“Eoghan Lougheed had a great chance and Graham had a great chance as well but he pulled it a bit to the far post. I thought Lougheed could have taken it on a bit and maybe got a penalty if he did but then these things happen. As I said our first half performance was much better than our second half which was very defensive”.

His Avondale side won’t be underestimating the challenge of Michael’s who will get treated with the utmost of respect while he explained possible tactical changes that could take place in the side ahead of the replay next Saturday.

“We brought David Spratt on to hold on to the ball in the second half and try and get our defence up the pitch as we were camped in defence for the second half. St Michaels are a very good side like there not FAI Junior Cup champions for nothing. Get all the respect they deserve the next day.”

Of course the clean sheet Avondale got against Michael’s would not have been possible were it not for the performance of Irish Amateur International keeper Danny O'Leary who was praised by O'Keefe for his performance.

“We dealt with all the corners very well and Danny O'Leary made some very good saves”.

Lastly he appealed to the Cork soccer community to come out in force for next Saturday’s replay which has a kick off of 6pm in Avondale Park.

Hopefully we’ll get a big local crowd out to Avondale Park to support us as they had a very good crowd out supporting them today.

But before the replay takes place Avondale United will play their first Munster senior league game against College Corinthians next Wednesday. So there will be no let up for the Cork side before they entertain St Michael’s next Saturday evening.