A massive game for Dundalk - Andy Boyle on Dundalk v Derry semi

It is a quick turnaround for Dundalk following their historic Europa League group stage win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv in Tallaght on Thursday night. The Lilywhites take on Derry City this afternoon in domestic action but it won’t feel like a come down when there is a place at the FAI Cup Final at stake.

Dundalk vice-captain Andy Boyle told extratime.ie that the reigning cup holders after their European win in Tallaght were set to train Friday morning with their focus fully now on the cup semi-final.

“We’ll enjoy tonight,” said Boyle speaking after the Europa League victory earned from Ciarán Kilduff’s second half goal. “We are going to be back in in the morning to prepare for Sunday. It’s going to be a massive game.

“You always want to be in a cup final at the Aviva. We got a taste of it last year and it’s something that we’ll look forward to.”

There won’t be countenancing a draw which would add to their fixture headache. A replay, if required, is scheduled for next Tuesday. Should the Lilywhites progress to the FAI Cup Final in the Aviva Stadium on November 6, that fixture will come just three days after their away game in Russia.

Boyle insists that although the SSE Airtricity League champions sit second in Group D after two games, nothing has been achieved yet.

The centre-back was outstanding for the Lilywhites during their win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv, giving a captain’s performance in the absence of regular skipper Stephen O’Donnell.

Boyle admitted that it was a great result and signalled the progression that the club has made. He told extratime.ie that “it is massive for us as a club.

"We have worked very hard to get to this stage and to have four points after the first two group games is something to be proud of. It’s a good return.”

The defender praised the Lilywhites’ manager Stephen Kenny before talking about his side’s chances in the upcoming Europa League matches versus Zenit St. Petersburg (home on 20 October and away on 3 November).

“Every game we go into, the manager instils confidence in us and we go out and play football the right way and create chances. We know that Zenit are a massive club, but we’ll go into it full of confidence and we have nothing to lose I suppose,” Boyle said.

“I think at the start of the year the manager looked at trying to put more strength and depth into the squad so that we could push on all fronts. We can now put a player in from the bench and it will be like-for-like.”

Despite Maccabi holding more possession, the Israelis created very few opportunities. Dundalk ‘keeper Gary Rogers was left to spectate for most of the night and Boyle believes that his side merited the three-points.

“We managed the game very well, going 1-0 up and we limited them to very few chances throughout the game. On reflection it was a deserved three points for us.”

For are full FAI Cup semi-final preview, see here.