Daire Doyle: 'We need to pick up results against teams around us'

Daire Doyle

Daire Doyle Credit: Gerry Shanahan (ETPhotos)

Deniese O'Flaherty reports from Bishopsgate

Longford Town boss Daire Doyle was delighted with the way his players bounced back from the disappointment of Saturday’s late to Shamrock Rovers, to claim a point against Finn Harps on Tuesday night at Bishopsgate.

Town performed very well against Rovers but were denied a point when the champions got a late winner.

Doyle said: “We played very well and did deserve more and didn’t get it. There is no point looking back; a few decisions didn’t go our way but what’s important was the next game, that was tonight and getting a performance from the team. We have got a 0-0 result with a Finn Harps team, they are really difficult to play against.

"They had a really good start to the season and it was a close fought game. I felt we matched them in all departments. It was a game of few chances from either side.”

It was a tough game against Harps and was scrappy. Harps will feel aggrieved they didn’t get the win. Town were happy with the point after not creating too many chances of note throughout the game.

The Town boss said: “They are a Finn Harps team that started to drop deep together as a force. We had Rob (Manley) and he likes to find them spaces in behind and they made it difficult. They are a difficult team to play against, again we had one of few chances, not enough to win the game. To take a point and build into the next game. We’d be happy enough with that.”

Town are away to Waterford on Saturday evening. Doyle admitted it’s important his side get something out of the game before they face two tough games over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

He said: “These are games that we are looking at going in to win the game. Like today, we wanted to win this evening. So we will do likewise at the weekend. Waterford are down there around us. I think they’re on three points after tonight, so if we can get a win down there, it’s going to really stand to us for the games ahead. Once the weekend is over there’s games against Pat’s and Dundalk.”

Just two points separate Town and Waterford and Doyle knows how important three points are to either side: “It looks like they are going to be down around that part of the table, we need to pick up results against teams around us. That’s going to be key when it comes to the final stages of the season. These are the games that we need to be taking something out of.



"We have to give Waerford all the respect they deserve. We’ve got to approach that game like it means everything, 'cause it does.”

Town picked up a few injuries in recent weeks but their manager revealed that things are looking more positive on that front. He said: “Still have the injuries. Looking a bit more positive on Dean Byrne and Dean Zambra. Could be the case maybe one of the two being available for the weekend. We will see how we get on over the next 48 hours.”

Six games into the season and one very noticeable thing in games is Town’s fitness and it’s something Doyle and his management team pride themselves on.

“It’s something we hugely pride ourselves on. We put a lot of work in. We have Stephen Maher, John Martin and all the coaching staff. There is so much work that goes into what we do. It’s a team effort with everything doing what they are good at.

"A lot of time has gone into getting these lads to the conditioning that they are in. We want to be the fittest part-time team in the league, I think we are one of the fittest teams.” 

 



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