O'Brien happy with a draw

The first leg of the Airtricity League promotion/relegation playoff between Dundalk and Waterford United took place at Oriel Park on Tuesday evening and it finished in a 2-2 draw.

It's hard to know who would be the happier of the two managers however speaking to extratime.ie after the full-time whistle, Waterford United boss Paul O'Brien was visibly delighted with the result and despite a little disappointment that they missed chances, he is happy to take it back home to the RSC.

"If somebody had to tell me coming up here (Oriel Park) we would have got a 2-2 draw I would have took it. We went behind then got back into it and got in front, but to be fair to them, they kept playing. You have to hand it to them. They went down to 10 men but created a few chances. I thought we had a few decent chances but 2-2 we'll take it and bring it back to the RSC."

Peter Cherrie was in fine form for the Lilyhwhites on Tuesday evening, denying Waterford on numerous occasions and the visiting manager was full of praise for the Scottish 'keeper before conceding that Stephen McDonnell's goal was impossible to prevent.

"He's (Peter Cherrie) a great lad. He's got a great presence about him. That's what he's there for. I suppose, when we look back at it, yeah we could have been (a few goals up). The ball broke and he (Stephen McDonnell) caught it really clean. We tried to close him down but he hit it really well and you can't do anything about those unfortunately."

O'Brien would be forgiven for thinking that his side are now in the driving seat having got the home leg to come and after such a good performance away however, he doesn't see it that way at all but is taking a lot of positives from the trip and knows whoever makes the fewer mistakes on Friday evening will emerge on the winning side.

"I don't know. I never take anything for granted. It's going to be a big game down there. There's a lot at stake and a lot to play for. That'll be the big thing, if we can minimise our mistakes then we'll have a great chance but we've nothing to be afraid of. I thought we competed very well and took the game to them and could have came away with the spoils.

"It's winner takes all. If someone had to tell me at the start we'd be going back to the RSC with a 2-2 draw then I would have taken it with both hands. I think we have a great chance though."

Waterford were without two players through suspension for the first leg and they will be available for the second leg confirmed the manager, however they picked up two injuries during the encounter and O'Brien was reluctant to blame the pitch but admitted it may be a factor before going on to say it is 'game on' for the second leg.

"Seamus Long and John Frost are back from suspension but the only thing about it though is that we have picked up a few injuries here. Peter Higgins went off with a hamstring injury and Peter Keegan in the corner tried to cross the ball and unfortunately twisted his own knee. He can't put his leg on the ground.

"I think so, but what can you do. The two teams have to play on it so look, it's artificial. It's not true to the bounce and the ball flies off it. You have to be used to playing on it and Dundalk are more used to it than we are but we came up and it's a 2-2 draw - it's game on next Friday night!"