Kierans - We showed great character

AFTER seeing his Dundalk side secure a 1-1 draw, interim manager Darius Kierans was understandably delighted that his side survived the Derry City pressure in the second half and snatch the point he felt his side deserved.

"We could have won it. We gave away a soft goal but we were lucky to be still in the game and we contained them very well. There was a 20 minute period where Derry City were in the ascendancy and we dealt with it well. We managed to hit them on the break but we gave away silly possession at times on the ball when we had a chance.

"Our final ball at times was poor. They didn't really cause us any problems in the first half but at the beginning of the second they moved us about and we were far too deep, we recovered well and we had a great chance to win it at the end."

Kierans was full of praise for his young side as they battled to claim a point, in particular praising the character the Lilywhite's displayed in coming back from a goal down.

"We showed great character to come back after conceding the goal. The boys were fantastic they way they fought back into the game and battled together. In the end, we could have went on and won it but I definitely think we deserved a point."

The Drogheda United native also had a say on the Robert Waters' effort that caused controversy.

"I thought it was a goal. The players thought it was a goal, even the Derry players close to it thought it was over the line, but look, the linesman didn't think so, maybe it wasn't. I am just happy that we got a point and we are improving."

On Friday, Dundalk added William Woods and Philip McCabe to their ranks on amateur terms while the cash strapped club also let go Ger Hanley and Dan Cunningham during the week. Kierans is hopeful of bringing one or two more in but concedes that more players will have to leave to keep the club afloat.

"We are in a very tough financial situation, Ger Hanley and Dan Cunningham have left the club this week. We have to cut the budget further. We'll have to release one or two. I can't name them at the minute and I haven't spoken to them yet. It's going to be difficult, the survival of the club is paramount. There's no point in having
players here in five weeks time and no club.
 

"I am hopeful of bringing in one maybe two more but on the same kind of terms as William Woods and Philip McCabe. McCabe is in from Bohs, a good player, a left-back. He's played with the first team and is valuable to us. Woods I know from my time at Drogheda and he can really add something to us."
 

At the moment, the 33 year-old is interim manager but the smiling Kierans is looking to be made permanent and confirmed the club are talking to the FAI about clearing him for the rest of the season as he doesn't have the Pro Licence required.
 

"The club are talking with the FAI on a lot of issues. I am interim manager and I will continue doing my job. I will keep going at the job, I have no problem with that. I love working at this football club and I never wanted to leave. I don't think there should be any problem(with being manager until the end of the season)."