McCaffrey pleased with Cup progression

Dundalk manager Sean McCaffrey was understandably delighted with his sides FAI Cup victory over non-league St. Patrick's CY on Friday night. The win was the Lilywhites second win in four days but McCaffrey told Extratime.ie that was just happy to get through to the third round and was ecstatic that they won at Oriel Park.
 

"It was a great result. It's very important that we are in the hat for the next round of the FAI Cup. We got a win in Oriel Park, we kept a clean sheet and we scored a goal. After winning on Monday night we have two wins on the trot, so lots and lots of positives. We missed a lot of chances but fortunately enough we got away with it."

Michael Rafter missed an 80th minute penalty and the Dundalk boss admitted that ensured that there was a nervy final ten minutes,

"When that didn't go in it kind of made you wonder would we get through it? But we were defending well, they weren't really creating chances and we saw it out well. Of course there's nerves, especially in these Cup matches you never know what can happen but I think we did well and we didn't let that miss bother us.

"It was a case whoever got the ball first took the penalty and Michael (Rafter) got it and he was nearly too confident, overconfident about it and that's why I think he missed it, but not to worry it didn't matter in the end."
 

McCaffrey then spoke about his own personal feelings on the FAI Cup and admitted it is high up in his priorities which can benefit the club.
 

"The FAI Cup has huge importance to me personally. I love the FAI Cup, always did. I'd love to do well in it. It's a romantic competition. From the club's point of view, it's important too, it's an opportunity to win a trophy, go on a run, play big matches and get more people through the turnstiles so it has a lot of positives. The other thing about it, it offers a break from the league if you're in it, which doesn't do any harm."

The Louth club are in a financial crisis and it was the end of a tough week where the on the field success was overshadowed by off the field news. Players wages couldn't be paid and an unpaid insurance claim came to light. The Monaghan native though was confident all will be sorted out soon.
 

"There is a cash flow problem in the club at the moment. We have been all told about the problems. Nobody is happy about it, the club aren't happy about it. I understand the position we're in. I know Gerry Matthews a couple of years now and any time that he has told me something would be done it has been. I would have faith in the club to turn around and to get everything sorted out. I'm hopeful it will be sorted out and I don't think I'll have my budget cut or lose players.

Despite the financial turmoil, McCaffrey praised the team spirit of his squad and doesn't think the players are affected by the problems.
 

"There's a great team spirit here. If we're kept together, we can build something very good here and everyone wants to be part of it but I don't think anyone wants to jump ship yet. Provided that financially they can survive, there's a lot of light on the horizon. The boys are enjoying the club, the facilities they are getting on themselves very well with each other. The people around the club are creating a good buzz an we're determined to stay together."
 

Back to the football and with Dundalk having won two matches on the bounce, the break looks as though it is coming at just the wrong time though. McCaffrey though has mixed feelings on the break but he isn't looking to the break just yet as they have the small matter of a Louth derby next weekend!

"I'm not looking forward to the break now that we're winning! A few weeks ago I would have been delighted with the break but now, no I would like for us to keep going. It's not a break yet. We will prepare and look forward to the Drogheda match and then we'll worry about the break. We will work and train very hard next week getting ready for the game."