‘No shame’ in Oriel Park hammering, says Dorrian
DUNDALK SLIGO ROVERS
SLIGO Rovers interim manager Brian Dorrian said his youthful side had nothing to be ashamed of when leaving Oriel Park on Friday night, despite the not-very-pretty 5-0 scoreline.
Rovers endured a difficult week with manager Gerard Lyttle departing on Monday. Numerous injuries sustained in the aftermath of the Motherwell Colts defeat meant Dorrian had to make do with a smaller squad.
“It hasn’t been the easiest week. I thought the lads did well against an extremely good team, and they were 2-0 up after 17 minutes and Ed’s pushed a penalty on to the post,” Dorrian told The Sligo Champion.
He added: “I’m not making excuses, there was a lot of young lads out there tonight and as I said to them they will learn a lot from more than 5-0 defeat than in an u19s game. The young lads are devastated but the older lads are trying to keep it together. There’s no shame in leaving here and getting beaten 5-0. We have two big games coming up and we have to prepare for those.”
Things were not made any easier with a lengthy injury list, with Regan Donelon’s injury meaning that winger Adam Wixted was forced to play left-back.
“That was the gist of it all week. Regan was struggling all week from the Motherwell game. Paddy McClean was struggling, Raff was struggling and Caolan McAleer was suspended and David Cawley was 50/50. We had three centre backs in our backline and a left winger at left back and Niall Morahan, a central midfielder had to play at left back. Liam Kerrigan, who’s a natural central player played left side of midfield and Darren Collins came on and it was the same. On a positive note we had five of the under 19s in the first team panel. That’s the positive thing going forward. It’s not nice going home getting beaten 5-0. We’ll take it and we’ll get on with it.”
The Donegal man praised the contribution of goalkeeper Ed McGinty, who did well despite conceding five.
“He’s a wee bit down in himself, he thinks he should have got his fist to the third goal. He needs to learn from that, he said himself if he made a proper connection they may not have conceded that one but listen it’s a learning process for those boys. He’s only turned 19. John Mahon was immense again tonight, up against Pat Hoban, an unbelievable centre forward.”
Rovers took on Bohs last night at The Showgrounds, and their final game of the season is against Shamrock Rovers, again at The Showgrounds this Friday evening.
Dorrian said preparation was not made easy with all that was happening behind the scenes, but they got on with it as best they could.
“It’s not nice when your manager leaves. We’re all fond of the gaffer. It happens. He was more worried about the players than about himself. We tried to prepare the players the best we could. We came in on Wednesday and yesterday (Thursday) and we had a few injuries so some of the boys couldn’t train so we’ll be back at it now over the weekend and we’ll prepare for Bohs.”
There were fireworks over Oriel Park in celebration of Dundalk’s title win as Dorrian conducted this interview, with the dejected faces of Rovers players a stark contrast to that of their Dundalk counterparts.
Dundalk’s players are mostly aware of their future, some have new contracts, some are going into another year of their contract and so on and so forth. But most Rovers players are likely to be unemployed come Friday, with little idea as to whether or not they will have a club come January.
“It’s extremely hard for players. I said to them to go out and do the professional job that they’re paid to do, they’re playing professionally at a very good football club and I don’t think they did themselves any harm. The incoming manager is going to inherit a decent squad of young players. There’s nine players signed for next year. It’s not all doom and gloom.”
He wants his players to go out and give it everything this Friday as they take on Shamrock Rovers, who have confirmed European football for next season.
“Shams are the third most in form team in the league in the last few months so it’s not going to be easy. We’ll give it our all.”