Mahon - We deserved the win
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
In recent games the second half has been the downfall for Pats but on Friday night they hit Drogheda for two quick goals in the second period to claim a vital three points. Pats interim manager Pete Mahon admits he had no real inspirational speech at half time to inspire such a fight back.
“I was trying to hone in on the positives in the first half, there wasn’t much to say apart from our play in the last ten minutes of the first half.
And I just said if we continued to do that we would create chances and it was important we did that because Drogheda started off very well and scored the goal and we were lucky not to concede another. On another night we might have been two down,” he concluded.
On paper Pats have one of the best squads in the league and this is something that frustrates Mahon when you see their performances and league position.
“The players are a contradiction. We can play so badly in some games, and then we can play like we did for an hour tonight and that’s been the frustrating thing this season. We have to show this on a more regular basis but now we have one game left. I don’t know what’s going to happen but we may have one more game after that.
Last week against Derry the team was just flat and tonight we played very very well.”
Overall this was a game Mahon said that Pats deserved the win, “We started to play, towards the end of the first half, with more conviction and then in the second half we just played a lot better and deserved the win.
Overall with the chances we created tonight we deserved the win.”
They now face a Rovers side with nothing but pride to play for. “You would expect it would be a little more relaxed from Rovers, but once they get over the disappointment of tonight then you expect them to start to prepare for the game. But they are a very professional side and they won’t want to do us any favours.”
With their hopes of survival still alive I asked Pete if he would continue in the job if Pats were a Premier Division side next season.
“What I did say when I took the job was it was always manners to wait until you’re asked. I was given this job for seven weeks, my brief was to keep the team in the league. We have done all we can, we have worked really hard and we are mentally drained, it’s only been six weeks but it feels like six years. It’s hard going when you come from a situation like mine, I’ve been out of the game for 11 months and then next of all you’re bang straight back into it.
Obviously we get the season over first and then Pats will make a decision and if I’m part of that grand and if not then well sure we’ll move on.”
“I was trying to hone in on the positives in the first half, there wasn’t much to say apart from our play in the last ten minutes of the first half.
And I just said if we continued to do that we would create chances and it was important we did that because Drogheda started off very well and scored the goal and we were lucky not to concede another. On another night we might have been two down,” he concluded.
On paper Pats have one of the best squads in the league and this is something that frustrates Mahon when you see their performances and league position.
“The players are a contradiction. We can play so badly in some games, and then we can play like we did for an hour tonight and that’s been the frustrating thing this season. We have to show this on a more regular basis but now we have one game left. I don’t know what’s going to happen but we may have one more game after that.
Last week against Derry the team was just flat and tonight we played very very well.”
Overall this was a game Mahon said that Pats deserved the win, “We started to play, towards the end of the first half, with more conviction and then in the second half we just played a lot better and deserved the win.
Overall with the chances we created tonight we deserved the win.”
They now face a Rovers side with nothing but pride to play for. “You would expect it would be a little more relaxed from Rovers, but once they get over the disappointment of tonight then you expect them to start to prepare for the game. But they are a very professional side and they won’t want to do us any favours.”
With their hopes of survival still alive I asked Pete if he would continue in the job if Pats were a Premier Division side next season.
“What I did say when I took the job was it was always manners to wait until you’re asked. I was given this job for seven weeks, my brief was to keep the team in the league. We have done all we can, we have worked really hard and we are mentally drained, it’s only been six weeks but it feels like six years. It’s hard going when you come from a situation like mine, I’ve been out of the game for 11 months and then next of all you’re bang straight back into it.
Obviously we get the season over first and then Pats will make a decision and if I’m part of that grand and if not then well sure we’ll move on.”
About P.J. Murray
P.J. generally covers Drogheda games at HD Park and can generally be found at any Dublin ground when of a loose end on a Friday night. View Full Profile