Kenny may rotate team for trip to Limerick
SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
DUNDALK manager Stephen Kenny admits he may rotate his side this week with two big fixtures to play.
The Lilywhites departed on Monday for tonight’s (Tuesday) match with Limerick FC at the Markets Field before welcoming in-form Derry City to Oriel Park this Friday night.
Following a tough test away to Bray Wanderers last weekend and with a trip to Turner’s Cross to face Cork City on Friday week no doubt in the back of his mind, Kenny admitted he may change things up for the trip to Shannonside.
‘We have to have a look at it and see,’ he said.
‘There are things that we have to consider.
‘Krisztián Adorján got a knock on the head and we’re not sure if it’s possible concussion. We withdrew him and then a couple of other fellas got knocks so we will have to assess it and see where we are.’
Adorján is not expected to be risked for the match with Tommy Barrett’s side while a comeback for Sean Hoare is unlikely this early. Karolis Chvedukas remains sidelined with a hamstring problem.
While Limerick lost at home to Sligo Rovers on Saturday, Kenny is wary of the threat they pose at the Markets Field.
‘It’s going to be a tough game,’ he said.
‘The pitch is going to be heavy again. Limerick have had most of their good results at home. They drew with Cork there, Rovers only got a late penalty and they beat Bray there. I was at the 1-1 draw with Bohs as well when Bohs scored in the 92nd minute down there so they have done well at home.
‘We’ll have to get ready for it. It’s a quick turnover with Derry on Friday too. It’s a run of 12 games in 42 days so it’s a good run and one that will challenge us physically and mentally but also strategically so you have to plan very well and make sure we’re right.’
There will be a familiar face in the Limerick ranks for Lilywhites supporters who make the 558km round trip with Conor Clifford signing for the Shannonsiders last week after his six month worldwide ban for betting offences came to an end.
Kenny said he was delighted to see his former midfielder back in football.
‘I’m delighted to see him back. I’m thrilled and I hope he does well,’ he said, before admitting he considered re-signing him also.
‘We’re just overstocked in that area and Conor needs to go and play. The last thing he needs is to come into a squad and have to fight for his place and come in at the back of the queue. At this stage of his career time is slipping by so he needs to go and play and it’s a great move for him.’
Reflecting on the victory away to Bray Wanderers, Kenny said it was ‘probably our toughest game all season.’
He said: ‘Nearly in every game we have been in the ascendancy. Against Shamrock Rovers last week it was a 50/50 game. They had probably a little bit more chances than us overall but in every other game we have sort of had 70/30 and 60/40. Today that was our toughest game of the season.
‘We didn’t start well and when you don’t start well it’s hard to pick it up. Obviously Aaron Greene over the top is a threat and Gary McCabe. They were quite motivated with a new management team coming in and they had a game plan. We weren’t very cohesive. The pitch was heavy and we were caught between two stools. We wanted to try and play it on the deck and get playing but we were quite erratic at times.
‘We have a few new players coming into the team and one of the things that we have established early in the season is real fighting qualities for each other. The players are willing to fight for each other and defend for each other and work hard for each other. I could speak about that but if they had taken one of those early chances that would have been different but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’ve only conceded one goal in 10 games
‘That was probably our least impressive performance overall but we have the capacity to win games and we know how to win games and that helps.’
Kenny praised Pat Hoban for the moment of magic that gave Dundalk a 26th minute lead.
‘It was a set play and from the second phase he finished it well. Pat had a full calendar year without a competitive game. He had no pre-season games so it has been a big challenge for him to hit the ground running.
‘He’s not where I think he can be but he is still leading the line to great effect and he’s a very determined character. I knew that when I signed him and that was important. I do feel he will get better when he gets fitter and sharper and quicker. We threw him in a bit at the deep end which was a bit unfair to him but it was a necessity really. Six goals is a great return on top of his all-round effort. He is leading from the front.’
Kenny was also thrilled to see John Mountney back on the scoresheet after his recent injury problems and hinted he could be set for a first-team return soon.
‘John had an osteo pubis injury for a long part of last season from the European run the year before. Him and Chris Shields had two interrupted seasons from that but he sorted it out and then done his medial ligament against Drogheda in the Malone Cup so it has been a tough time for him but to come back and get the goal is a great boost for him because his first start was the League Cup game the other day. That was 120 minutes and it’s a credit to him because he’s a very dedicated lad who always gives you everything.
‘He hasn’t done his chances of a start any harm. He has a lot of qualities and he can play in a lot of positions. He’s an important part of the squad and a very underrated part of the squad I feel. He’s been a very underrated player in my time here.’
Kenny said he was happy to be two points clear at the top but admitted there was still work to be done
‘We’re working on combinations and who is playing with who and just getting that quite right. You can’t say the balance is perfect at the moment so we’ve a little bit of work still to do.’
Limerick have had most of their good results at home. They drew with Cork there, Rovers only got a late penalty and they beat Bray there.