Stephen Kenny reacts as Dundalk are knocked out of Europe

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny was understandably disappointed after his side’s 2-1 defeat away to Maccabi Tel-Aviv, a result which knocked them out of the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv took the lead through a penalty from Tal Ben-Haim, a penalty that resulted from an individual error by Brian Gartland.

"In the first half we started well enough and just the goal we conceded was a really poor goal from our point of view and I'm disappointed we conceded a goal like that, but the players showed their character. Even coming back in the manner they did it was terrific worked goal really.”

Despite his pride at his side’s willingness to fight and battle to get back into the game in Israel, Kenny was quick to acknowledge that the hosts were the better team on the night.

"I felt we were well in the game at 1-1, it looked like we were going to create more chances so it was so disappointing to concede the second goal. I felt once Maccabi went 2-1 up they became more confident and we seen in the second half they played very well and there is no question they deservedly won the game.

Along with needing to get a result in Israel, Dundalk were also hoping for AZ Alkmaar to drop points at home to Group D winners Zenit St. Petersburg, a result that didn’t come to fruition.

"The score in Holland in half time (AZ Alkmaar 2-0 Zenit St. Petersburg) was not ideal either, but I think Maccabi stepped it up and Ben Chaim showed how quick he is, and he was electric on the wing for them. They played well and we had to do some last ditch defending. We needed some good goalkeeping to keep us in it,” Kenny continued.

Despite being gutted to be eliminated from European football for 2016, the Lilywhites boss was full of praise for his tightknit Dundalk side.

"To be fair I have to salute my players to go right to the end two great chances in injury time from David McMillian and Ciaran Kilduff we could have equalised really.

"It was a penalty on Daryl Horgan but he didn't go down, he did put a cross in for David but he was definitely clipped. In three years, he has never won a penalty for us despite being the best dribbler in the country, he just refuses to go down. It would have been harsh on Maccabi if we had of drawn the game, but we showed our ability to keep going and that was a positive trait.

From a Dundalk point of view, on the whole Europa League experience, he said every result was decent and respectable; even if some of the goals conceded could have been avoided.

"We have given soft goals away?  Maybe it's a valid point, but we beat FH Hafnarfarjordur over the two legs and Bate Borisov 3-0 to qualify plus we ran Legia Warsaw really close and even in the group from every match Zenit, Maccabi and AZ, they were all very very close contests. So, to only be a goal in it in every game it's a high standard.”

This has been a remarkable season for Irish football and Stephen Kenny and his Lilywhites class of 2016 have done the league a dignified display in every match. After an 11 month season the squad now have a short break before the SSE Airtricity League restarts in February.