Whyte pleased with pre-season preparations
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Dundalk FC completed their pre-season programme on Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 victory away to Newry City. Speaking to extratime.ie after the game, former Newry player and current Dundalk assistant manager, John Whyte was pleased with the outing and felt that today was good preparation for Friday.
"Today was good. Very pleased. It was a good test. Again we didn't concede anything which is always a plus. It was similar to the Drogheda game, there was plenty of tackles, something we are going to be coming up against next Friday."
The former Dundalk player was delighted with the team today and thought some players stood out even playing out of position.
"I thought Michael Rafter was excellent. His touch and his goal was fantastic. Chris Shields put in alot of tackles and worked hard. Derek Foran was very good at the back, especially in the centre with Liam Burns. Young John Mountney did very well when he was put at right back."
Whyte was back at former club Newry for the cross-border match and admitted, with a smile, it was great to be back.
"Yeah it's great to be back. I loved it. Meeting alot of the old faces. Good lads, Seán Gaffney, Deccy McParland, Willy Young. Great to see them all. I hope to get back more often now.
Looking ahead to the season which starts on Friday, Whyte is looking for the team to work hard and hoping they can push as far up the table as possible.
"We're ready to go. We will work really hard and try to finish as high up the table as possible. We would be looking to maybe having a good cup run as well. You never know what can happen."
Whyte will be accompanying manager Seán McCaffrey and his troops to Gortakeegan on Friday night where Dundalk begin their 2012 League of Ireland campaign away to Monaghan United.
