Fenlon happy with Rovers five goal display

After watching his side score five goals for the first time, in a 5-1 victory over Sligo Rovers, a delighted Shamrock Rovers Manager Pat Fenlon spoke to Extratime.ie about his side’s performance.

“I’m delighted to score five goals and get three points, were delighted with it to be honest and it’s a big three points for us obviously the way the other results[Dundalk loss to Bohs] have gone. We haven't been scoring enough goals, and we’ve corrected that tonight- we had a good balance about our play going forward.”

Despite bouncing back from a defeat to St Pats, Fenlon was keen to look at the bigger picture rather than to dwell on a single result.

“I think we’ve been looking to find a balance in the side since we’ve brought in a lot of new players, we’ve been trying to find a balance at the top end of the pitch and tonight we looked like we had a bit about us.”

On Friday evening Hoops forward Michael Drennan ended a run of six games without a goal and manager Fenlon was delighted to see his striker return to the scoresheet, but was also quick to praise others who contributed to a great team display.

“We know Mikey is going to score goals, he had a little bit of a dry spell but we are delighted for him to get the two goals because it's important for strikers to be scoring goals.

“I thought Marty [Kieran Waters] came in and done well for us, we also moved Brandon [Miele] into the centre position and he can see a pass while also been aware of what's around him.”

Goalkeeper Craig Hyland was one of several players who left Richmond Park disappointed just seven days previously, after he failed to gather a Jason McGuinness header for St Pats goal. Despite the error Fenlon was pleased with how his young keeper bounced back to form with a strong goalkeeping display.

“I think that was a test for Craig, he’s a young goalkeeper who is having his real first spell in the team and had a little bit of a dodgy moment last week but he’s bounced back tonight with a good performance which is great.”

Nonetheless scoring five goals against Sligo came with a price as three Hoops players left the field early due to injury, Fenlon was unable to give a positive update on the bulging injury list, which sees Max Blanchard, Ryan Brennan and Sean O’Connor all join Keith Fahey and Danny North on the treatment table.

“I think Max has pulled his hamstring, Sean O’Connor we are not sure of yet we have to wait and see whether it’s his ankle or achilles, Ryan Brennan’s injury is very badly swollen, Keith Fahey is out and Danny North is out so we’re a little bit under the cosh injury wise at the moment but we’ll wait till Sunday and assess them all and see where they are.”

Although an ever growing injury list, the Hoops must attempt to push on from Friday’s result when they host Derry City on Monday Evening in Tallaght Stadium, a game that Fenlon describes as another big fixture which they aim to secure another three points.

“Of course they're all big games, I’m sure Derry will be coming here looking to get something from the game, while making it difficult for us so we got to approach it in the right manner and back tonight’s performance up with another three points to be a great weekend for us.”