Kierans - Focus now on playoffs

Dundalk crashed out of the FAI Cup on Sunday afternoon at the semi-final stage to St. Patrick's Athletic losing by three goals to nil at Oriel Park. Speaking to Extratime.ie after the match, manager Darius Kierans expressed his disappointment with the result but couldn't fault his players for their performance.

"Yeah, disappointed is the overriding feeling at the moment. It's a semi-final, you are 90 minutes away from the Aviva Stadium. Disappointed for the players. They gave it everything, effort, commitment. I don't think there was a whole lot in it in the first half. We give away a soft goal, Barry's(Conlon) missed a sitter."

We came out in the second half to have a go but we gave away another soft goal. From then on, Pat's never dominated us at any stage. Even at 2-0. Michael's(Rafter) missed a big chance. The difference is they took their chances."

The Lilywhites went 2-0 early in the second half and as chance after chance came and went, it wasn't until the closing stages that Kierans really felt it wasn't going to be his side's day. 

"You're hopeful right until the end. Only when the 3rd goal went in it was when we really felt we were dead and buried. I thought it was offside from where I was but that doesn't matter. I am delighted with the effort and commitment the boys have given us everything and we have a couple of players to come back in now as well. Mark (Griffin) will be back after the Bohs' game, Stephen Maher and Paul Whelan will come back in which will be a good boost for us."

With three games still left to play, Dundalk are rooted to the bottom of the table and the Drogheda native knows his side has to pick themselves up for the remaining games going into the relegation playoff and for himself, it will be an opportunity to try change things up in a bid to keep the club in the top flight.

"Of course we do. We have three games now to finish and it's a chance for us to look at things. Some of the boys are carrying knocks. We can rest one or two players as well. It will give them a great opportunity. These are young players. It should be there life to go out and play football and try to win football matches."

The former Drogheda United boss admitted that a final would have been great for the club but conceded that the relegation playoffs were the most important thing and the prospect of having to play 'three Cup finals in a week' would not have been ideal.

"We all wanted to get to the final and it would have been brilliant for the club. We needed it, but in saying  that it wouldn't have been an ideal situation playing three Cup finals in a week. Our main goal and focus is the playoffs now and I believe with that effort and commitment and we bring in the boys that weren't available tonight, I tell you, we'll be OK."