Kenny: Without persistence we'd have nothing

Dundalk staged a dramatic late comeback to salvage a point in the first Louth derby of the season at Oriel Park on Thursday night. Speaking to Extratime.ie after the match, Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny felt his side didn't play well in the first half but praised the response in the second half. 

"We didn't play well first half. I didn't think we played well at all. We made mistakes. We looked nervous. We weren't able to complete our five yard passes, we just looked off. Having said all of that, their first goal looked offside and we had chances too. Tiarnan (Mulvenna) had a great chance just before half-time to equalise. 

"In the second half we played much better, we passed the ball much better and I felt Drogheda's second goal was somewhat against the run of play. We had been playing well at that point. Most teams would have lay down then but we have a persistent group of players."

Kenny is delighted with one of the big traits his squad are displaying - persistence - but also feels that they need to score goals earlier to take the pressure off.

"We did really well to come back into it. You can't underestimate the value of persistence. Without that persistence we would have nothing, we wouldn't have a point!

"All our goals have come late, maybe we'll have to start scoring goals in the first 15 minutes of games to help us and to give us a better chance of winning games. It was great the way we came back though. Keith Ward's free-kick was a brilliant goal. Then we backed it up and we could have won it then with John Sullivan at the end so we were very unlucky not to win it in that sense but we'll take the draw."

Three home games so far have yielded two draws, a defeat and zero wins. For the first time in 10 years, the Lilywhites haven't won any of their first three home encounters, however this isn't something the former Derry City manager is concerned about and feels that his side are still improving.

"Form wise, we have been very good. The second half tonight was very good. We haven't won at home yet but we have got those two away wins which are important so we are picking up points. It's not a concern about home form but we will get a win soon, I have no doubt about that. 

"A lot of our players are still learning about themselves, their team mates and the Airtricity League. It's massive for them. There are areas of improvement and we will improve. We are progressing all the time and each game is helping."

2,198 turned out to see the pulsating affair and the 41 year-old is delighted with the crowds that have come out so far but knows that they have to win games to keep the crowds at a high.

"The support once again has been fantastic. I know we have played against three of the top four at home so far but the people still have to come out for the games. Over 2,000 at the three home games has been brilliant. That's up there with the champions Sligo Rovers. For a club that was on its knees last year, it shows the great potential and support that there is around the town. 

"We have to win games though to keep them coming. Winning and good crowds go hand in hand. It's up to us to ensure we keep getting good crowds. It's something we can control. It's massively important that they stick with us and we'll be doing our best to win as many games as possible to keep them here."

Overall, the former Shamrock Rovers gaffer is pleased with how his team battled and conceded it was an important point with the big games coming up.

"We didn't play well tonight. We know we didn't play well but none of the players lay down. They still tried to pass the ball, we didn't just kick it aimlessly, they still wanted it, we didn't hide, we kept playing the heads didn't drop and that is very pleasing.  It's definitely a point gained. We have a hectic run of games now and we knew this when the season started so it is important that we got the point.

"We could have got three but it is another point on the board and we are pleased with that."