Keirans looking forward to Linfield tie
Credit:
In the immediate aftermath of Dundalk’s latest successful pre-season
friendly against Monaghan United, ExtraTime caught up with their new
assistant Manager Darius Keirans to get his thoughts on the night and
the upcoming game against Linfield in the Setanta Cup.
“We started poorly probably for the first 15-20 minutes, defensively we looked like a makeshift back four, and it showed in the first 15 minutes. As the game went on, we settled down and probably looked a class above Monaghan... we’re back (in training) a couple of weeks earlier than them. We moved the ball a lot quicker and played at a lot higher tempo than maybe they could live with and in the end we probably could have got more.”
Dundalk went into the game threadbare with regard to central defenders, so the sight of Eoghan Osborne departing with a hamstring injury after only 21 minutes might have spoiled the Lilywhites preparations for Mondays game in Belfast. “Eoghan is fine, his hamstring was a bit tight it was more caution to take him off more than anything else, it hasn’t gone or anything so we’re expecting him to be ok,” Keirans said.
“Michael Hector can’t play against Linfield but I thought Dean Bennett played well in there tonight. As the game went on he looked more assured so hopefully he looks like he could be playing there on Monday night. You don’t know what’s going to happen between then and now.”
On that front, the news that Shaun Maher is having a medical and hopefully will be signing will be welcome news to Dundalk fans. With defensive resources stretched so thin will the team on Monday will be similar to last nights?
“We’re probably unsure of the team ourselves at the minute but there was a lot of good positive stuff to take out of tonight that could sway our minds one way or the other. Linfield will be a difficult test they are in the middle of their season, they are well clear at the top of their division and they are physically a very strong team, so it’s going to be a different test but we go in with a bit of confidence.”
Dunalk have a very young team but Jason Byrne, one of their older heads shone against Mons and has made a positive impression in his time so far at Oriel Park. “Jay has been very sharp in training and in the pre season games and he’s looking really sharp and he’s going to have a big year this year,” the assistant boss added. “For a seasoned professional, his workrate is unbelievable in games. He doesn’t stop. Johnny Breen and Mark Griffin get advice off of Jay. He’s been the top scorer and best striker in the league for a number of years and it’s great that he’s here and it’s great for the boys to learn off him as well.”
Darius was, of course, closely associated with and managed local rivals Drogheda United, so how has he been finding his time on the border to date? “I have to say I’m really enjoying it and everybody at the club has been fantastic, they’re a fantastic group of players, staff, Ian and the whole lot the office staff have all made me very welcome as well as the fans so I’m really, really enjoying it.”
“We started poorly probably for the first 15-20 minutes, defensively we looked like a makeshift back four, and it showed in the first 15 minutes. As the game went on, we settled down and probably looked a class above Monaghan... we’re back (in training) a couple of weeks earlier than them. We moved the ball a lot quicker and played at a lot higher tempo than maybe they could live with and in the end we probably could have got more.”
Dundalk went into the game threadbare with regard to central defenders, so the sight of Eoghan Osborne departing with a hamstring injury after only 21 minutes might have spoiled the Lilywhites preparations for Mondays game in Belfast. “Eoghan is fine, his hamstring was a bit tight it was more caution to take him off more than anything else, it hasn’t gone or anything so we’re expecting him to be ok,” Keirans said.
“Michael Hector can’t play against Linfield but I thought Dean Bennett played well in there tonight. As the game went on he looked more assured so hopefully he looks like he could be playing there on Monday night. You don’t know what’s going to happen between then and now.”
On that front, the news that Shaun Maher is having a medical and hopefully will be signing will be welcome news to Dundalk fans. With defensive resources stretched so thin will the team on Monday will be similar to last nights?
“We’re probably unsure of the team ourselves at the minute but there was a lot of good positive stuff to take out of tonight that could sway our minds one way or the other. Linfield will be a difficult test they are in the middle of their season, they are well clear at the top of their division and they are physically a very strong team, so it’s going to be a different test but we go in with a bit of confidence.”
Dunalk have a very young team but Jason Byrne, one of their older heads shone against Mons and has made a positive impression in his time so far at Oriel Park. “Jay has been very sharp in training and in the pre season games and he’s looking really sharp and he’s going to have a big year this year,” the assistant boss added. “For a seasoned professional, his workrate is unbelievable in games. He doesn’t stop. Johnny Breen and Mark Griffin get advice off of Jay. He’s been the top scorer and best striker in the league for a number of years and it’s great that he’s here and it’s great for the boys to learn off him as well.”
Darius was, of course, closely associated with and managed local rivals Drogheda United, so how has he been finding his time on the border to date? “I have to say I’m really enjoying it and everybody at the club has been fantastic, they’re a fantastic group of players, staff, Ian and the whole lot the office staff have all made me very welcome as well as the fans so I’m really, really enjoying it.”
