Selection headaches please Foster
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Dundalk's Ian Foster spoke exclusively to Extratime on Monday night as he reflected on his team's narrow Louth Derby victory over struggling Drogheda United.
Dundalk had been in a poor run of form either side of the mid-season break and the manager was obviously delighted to claim the three points: "We needed to get out of the rut that we were in and we needed for a few of the young lads to get in and get a little bit of confidence," the boss stated.
Dundalk were missing eight first team players for the game and he singled out the two goal scorers for special praise.
"It was great that [Stephen] McDonnell and [Tiarnan] Mulvenna made their first league starts of the season," Foster continued. "And both got goals so that was nice for them as well. I thought they both played really well.
"Both played out of position with Tiarnan being a centre forward and Stephen being a central midfield player (both played in wider positions than they would usually), but they did a job for the team. I thought Stephen took his goal really well and Tiarnan's movement to get in was fantastic."
The equalising goal was indeed a thing of beauty, as Dundalk took advantage of a four-on-two counter attack.
"We hit them quickly on the break, they've both got pace. Stevie in fairness wouldn't be renowned for his, he's more of a technical player, but we broke with pace and he supported Tiarnan when he got in there really well," he said.
Several squad members came into the team and performed well, and Foster was also positive about the potential selectorial problem.
"Brilliant, that's what it's about. We've got a huge game on Thursday night and now they're looking at things. No one has got a guaranteed place in this squad and yes, we get [Gary] Breen, [Ciaran] McGuigan, [Michael] McGowan and [Ross] Gaynor back but the lads that played did brilliant."
The Dundalk management team both know their Drogheda counterpart well and have a great deal of sympathy for the situation that Darius Kierans finds himself in.
"Darius was in here last night and he's working hard to get his badges and it's not easy for the young fellas trying to get involved in the game.
"I hope that he passes his A licence and that the Drogheda people hold on to him and that he gets a job. Young coaches need a start in the game and it's not like he's not trying to get his badges. He's working hard and he's 50% of the way through.
"He's trying to do things the right way, obviously he's not allowed to manage this season, I'm sure that at the end of the year he'll get his A licence and maybe he'll get the job then."
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The Dundalk management team now turn their attention to the task of progressing to the next round of the Europa League at the expense of Luxembourg's CS Grevenmacher on Thursday evening.
Dundalk had been in a poor run of form either side of the mid-season break and the manager was obviously delighted to claim the three points: "We needed to get out of the rut that we were in and we needed for a few of the young lads to get in and get a little bit of confidence," the boss stated.
Dundalk were missing eight first team players for the game and he singled out the two goal scorers for special praise.
"It was great that [Stephen] McDonnell and [Tiarnan] Mulvenna made their first league starts of the season," Foster continued. "And both got goals so that was nice for them as well. I thought they both played really well.
"Both played out of position with Tiarnan being a centre forward and Stephen being a central midfield player (both played in wider positions than they would usually), but they did a job for the team. I thought Stephen took his goal really well and Tiarnan's movement to get in was fantastic."
The equalising goal was indeed a thing of beauty, as Dundalk took advantage of a four-on-two counter attack.
"We hit them quickly on the break, they've both got pace. Stevie in fairness wouldn't be renowned for his, he's more of a technical player, but we broke with pace and he supported Tiarnan when he got in there really well," he said.
Several squad members came into the team and performed well, and Foster was also positive about the potential selectorial problem.
"Brilliant, that's what it's about. We've got a huge game on Thursday night and now they're looking at things. No one has got a guaranteed place in this squad and yes, we get [Gary] Breen, [Ciaran] McGuigan, [Michael] McGowan and [Ross] Gaynor back but the lads that played did brilliant."
The Dundalk management team both know their Drogheda counterpart well and have a great deal of sympathy for the situation that Darius Kierans finds himself in.
"Darius was in here last night and he's working hard to get his badges and it's not easy for the young fellas trying to get involved in the game.
"I hope that he passes his A licence and that the Drogheda people hold on to him and that he gets a job. Young coaches need a start in the game and it's not like he's not trying to get his badges. He's working hard and he's 50% of the way through.
"He's trying to do things the right way, obviously he's not allowed to manage this season, I'm sure that at the end of the year he'll get his A licence and maybe he'll get the job then."
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The Dundalk management team now turn their attention to the task of progressing to the next round of the Europa League at the expense of Luxembourg's CS Grevenmacher on Thursday evening.
