DALYMOUNT VICTORY WAS THE BIG ONE
DUNDALK midfielder Chris Shields is thankful for more reasons than one to see Pat Hoban on the scoresheet regularly.
The striker notched his 12th of the season to date with the opener in the 2-0 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday.
While it got Dundalk off to a dream start, it also ensured an easier time in the dressing room for Shields and co with the club’s joint longest serving player revealing Hoban can be tough to be around when he isn’t on the scoresheet.
That said, Shields was full of praise for his side’s number 9 for not just his goals but his all round game.
“If he keeps scoring he’ll be happy and he might stop bleeding moaning,” he smiled.
“It’s good to see him score. I’m sure every striker has the aim of being the top goalscorer in the league and Pat is going about his business right well.
“It’s not only about his goalscoring though. It’s his hold up play, his workrate and everything about him is just right at the minute. We see him off the pitch and how hard he works for it and he’s getting his deserved rewards. Long may that continue.”
If Hoban has bemoaning a lack of goals then for the back four, Friday’s win was a welcome return to keeping clean sheets having kept just one in the previous six league matches before that.
“It’s a good win and it’s good to have got a clean sheet again. The important thing was nine points within seven days. That was job done.
“Not keeping clean sheets for a while does get to you but you can’t really get bogged down about it because we’ve been getting results at the same time. If you were going to be picky about these things you’d drive yourself demented but it was good to get another clean sheet tonight for Gary and the back four.”
Shields hailed it as a big week for his side following wins over Sligo Rovers, Derry City and Bohemians in the space of seven days. While the most eye-catching result was undoubtedly the 4-1 win in the Brandywell last Monday, the 27-year-old said it was following it up in Dalymount that was most impressive for him.
“It was a statement of intent in Derry but I think it was an even bigger statement to come and win here tonight.
“You’re backing it up here because it’s often easy to go and get a win in the big games but you can have a lull then after that but we backed it up tonight and that’s great.”
The midfielder had a big say in that win when he cleared a Dinny Corcoran effort off the line just before half-time.
“I thought I was moving in slow motion! I thought I was never going to get my toe to it. Thankfully I did and it cleared two of their players as well. The boys have dug me out of trouble many a time so it was good to return the favour.”
Despite some suspicion from the Bohs fans that the effort may have crossed the line, Shields was adamant it didn’t.
“No it actually wasn’t across. I said to Dinny as were heading off at half-time that maybe at best it was half way over but it definitely wasn’t fully over. It could have been controversial but the refs got it right.”
It’s another busy week for Shields and co with Monday’s game against Waterford being followed up by the visit of his old club Bray Wanderers to Oriel on Friday. The Seagulls might be bottom but Shields insists you can take no team for granted in this league.
“I said at the start of the year that it looked like being the toughest league I’ve played in and that’s kind of shown now.
“It is no shock to the system at this stage but thankfully this is the last Friday-Monday for a few weeks. You just have to keep on going, get your recovery in and go again,” he said.