The Dugout
Ronan O’Flaherty
Alan Mathews & Stephen O’Donnell
Five games into the season and 11 points have been accumulated. It's a decent start and one that we are quietly satisfied with. However, there remains much to improve on. The
The current schedule is hectic. Kick-off tonight,
games are coming thick and fast and everybody –
against Waterford, comes less than 72 hours after
from the backroom staff to the players – is working
the final whistle at Oriel Park. On Friday, we will
hard to ensure we keep moving in the right
make the long trek to Donegal. When the gap
direction.
between games is so tight, recovery becomes just as important as training. The morning after the
It's always disappointing to concede late, which is
Dundalk game, the players took a dip in the sea in
what happened at Oriel Park last Saturday evening.
Portmarnock. Yesterday, they had a good recovery
For the most part, we bossed the game against
session. They are all working hard, in games and at
Dundalk. They have some very talented players but
training. Competition for places is intense, which is
we imposed our game to good effect and it forced
exactly what you want.
them to go more direct than they are accustomed to. By the time Sam Bone put us in front, 11 minutes
We would like to welcome the management,
into the second half, we felt the goal had been
players and everyone connected with Waterford FC
coming.
to Richmond Park. Waterford manager, Kevin Sheedy, is a legend of Irish football and it's great to
Conceding an equaliser with five minutes of normal
get the opportunity to pit our wits against such an
time to go was hard to take, although Dundalk
accomplished football man.
deserve credit for upping the ante late into proceedings. They really came to life in those
We watched Waterford in action against Bohemians
closing stages and, after equalising, had chances to
last Friday and it confirmed what we already know:
win it. From our perspective, it would have been
they are a good, well-drilled team who have the
very harsh to leave Dundalk without at least a point.
players to cause problems if they are afforded time and space on the ball. They had a good win at the
OUR GAME IS ON THE BALL
Eight days earlier, the team earned a 2-0 win over
Brandywell, which is never an easy place to get a
Derry City. It was a professional performance and,
result, and could consider themselves unfortunate
even though Derry were reduced to ten men after
to concede a last-minute winner against Finn Harps.
32 minutes, we already had a strong foothold in the game. Both goals were well taken and it was nice to
Enjoy the game, wherever you are watching.
see young Darragh Burns get off the mark at senior
UMBRO TEAMWEAR
level. A proud moment for Darragh and his family,
Stephen O'Donnell and Alan Mathews
no doubt.
TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT UMBRO.IE OR CONTACT ALAN (086 7880808)/ RICHY (086 0317672) 2021 Season • Vol. 33 • No.32 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Waterford
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