We were left to rue missed first half chances as Cork City scored a late equaliser to deny us the three points on Friday. Is it fair to say your post-match comments suggested you were irritated at the late equaliser?
“Yes, I think that’s fair to say. I think we all were because it’s a really basic goal to give away from our point of view. That’s the frustrating bit, sometimes you concede goals and that’s football, but not in the manner or type we did. So that’s the frustration and that’s where that came from. You’ll draw games and lose games, but it was the manner of the goal we gave away. Darragh Crowley hits it well, but there are so many areas where we should stop it, which was really frustrating. It’s very unlike us, but it again shows, if you switch off for a moment, you get punished and we did.”
Despite the loss of two points, was it just the finishing let us down as much of our play, especially first half, and Danny Grant’s goal, was of a high level?
“Our first half was really high level football. We created a number of really good chances and we’ve just reviewed the game this morning. On another day, it’s three or four nil and the game is done. That’s what it should’ve been, but we didn’t take those chances. Cork were always in the game at 1-0, but our first half was really high level.”
But as always, whether we win, lose or draw, the group and management will have already reviewed the Cork game, learned from it and moved on to preparing for tomorrow’s trip to Waterford. There’s no time to dwell on late setbacks like Friday.
“We never do. I say it all the time, regardless of the result, it’s about reviewing and moving on quickly. It’s not about dwelling on what happened or why it happened, it’s about understanding it, trying to make sure it doesn’t happen again and moving on. These players are very good at that and will need to be tomorrow. We’re going into a tough game. I watched Waterford’s game against Bohs on Friday and I’m sure Waterford will feel they were very unlucky not to win the game, they were excellent. So we know we need to move on and be ready for Waterford tomorrow.”
As you mentioned, Waterford lost 2-1 to Bohs on Friday in a game their manager, John Coleman felt they deserved something from. And with Padraig Amond still scoring goals, another difficult game awaits us on Monday.
“I’d agree with John. As I said, I watched the game and I’m sure they will feel hard-done by not coming away with the three points. They were very good in the game and shows the quality they have. We’ve seen it first hand and we know we need to be ready tomorrow night.”
Lee Grace and Michael Noonan both missed the Cork game. Are either available for Waterford and did everyone emerge ok from the Cork game and what’s the latest on Connor Malley?
“Lee won’t be available. Michael’s was a strange one; he clashed heads with Callum Honohan on Thursday in training which ruled him out. It was the doctor’s call and we have to respect that as it was concussion. So again, the doctor will make the call on Michael for tomorrow but hopefully we’ll have him available. It’s nothing serious but when it’s that type of injury, you can’t take any chances. Connor Malley is there, it’s just a matter of getting him back up to speed again and everyone else is fine.”
