Thursday’s Europa League play-off first leg kicks off at the earlier time of 5.30pm Irish time. TV Coverage is available on RTE2, coverage begins at 5.15pm
**A scoreless draw in Derry last Friday. What did you think of our performance?
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“I thought first half we were very good. We looked very bright, created some good opportunities and controlled the game. They were obviously the better team in the second half. You could see that we tired but I thought the players were brilliant considering the quick turnaround.”
What was your view of the penalty decision?
“It’s a penalty. A silly decision from us and it’s a penalty but you always fancy Alan in those situations and thankfully he’s pulled off another great save for us.”
And Alan Mannus just continuing his brilliant form this season with the penalty save and then the one from Duffy in the second half…
“I’m like a broken record at this stage, I’ve been saying that I think he’s the best in the country. He’s proven that time and time again and I think he’s better now than when I played with him all those years back. He shows it time and time again, he shows up and makes big saves.”
**Did the group feel it was a very good point in the circumstances, considering the heavy schedule and the way we dug in second half?
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“If you want to compete and try and win things, you’ve got to show different aspects of your game at different points. That’s why the best team wins the league and we did that in the second half. We had to show tremendous character, togetherness and game management.”
**How good was it to get Jack back on the pitch?
**
“We only wanted to play him for 25 minutes but Graham came off injured so we got him on and thankfully he came through it really well. Hopefully we build his minutes up as we go.”
What do we know about Ferencvaros and their style of play?
“They’re very similar to Ludogorets in how they play. They’re a very good team, we know that at this level. They’re very dangerous going forward which was similar to Ludogorets.”
It’s an impressive-looking stadium we’re playing in. Have you had a chance to take it in and what will the conditions be like to deal with?
“It’ll be difficult, it’s an earlier kickoff and it’s supposed to be 35 or 36 degrees on Thursday so it’s going to be very difficult in that regard but the players have played in stadiums like this the last few years. They’ll enjoy it and embrace it.”
**Ronan Finn is suspended. Has anyone not travelled to Hungary?
**
“Ronan hasn’t travelled and neither has Aidomo, he picked up a bug.”
How is Graham Burke after Derry and are there any other injury doubts?
“Graham and Simon won’t be involved so we’re down a few bodies, but that’s the way it goes.”
