Mahon hoping to score on derby date with Dundalk
THERE’S nothing like a Louth derby at United Park to shake off the summer break cobwebs and Drogheda will look to stretch their unbeaten home record to six games when they host Dundalk on Friday (7.45pm).
Three successive scoreless draws have helped steady the ship after the 5-0 mauling by Cork City, but Pete Mahon’s team have failed to score in their last five games and the manager says the Drogs must address that weakness or face the prospect of another potentially damaging defeat at the hands of their neighbours.
Looking ahead to the game following training on Sunday, Mahon said: ‘It’s hard to know whether the break came at a good or bad time. Obviously we got a few half-positive results in the last couple of games. We seem to have stopped the goals going in against us in such numbers, but the downside is that we have not scored.
‘This match on Friday will be hugely important for us, to see where we are and if we are making progress, and I think we’ll have to score at least twice to beat these.’
Shooting practice wasn’t high on the agenda in the training sessions on Sunday and last night, but Mahon said that would become a focus in Wednesday’s training, by which time he should have a good idea of his starting XI.
The big question is whether he continues with Marc Griffin in attack, or turns to Stephen Elliott who has had to kick his heels on the bench over the past few weeks.
‘Stephen will be there or thereabouts on Friday,’ Mahon responded. ‘He is due a goal and needs to be given a chance. Ryan Masterson had not played for almost two years and still needs a bit of work, so we don’t want to rush him back too early, but he will play some part on Friday as well.’
Killian Brennan, whose shoulder continues to cause some discomfort, was confined to gym work at the weekend but is expected to return to full training tomorrow, as is Kevin Farragher (groin), Richie Purdy is also fit again, but Lloyd Buckley remains out.
Mahon was pleased to see his squad back in good physical nick after the mini break.
‘We were back this morning and there was a full turnout and it was a good session,’ he continued. ‘We got a lot of work into them to get the cobwebs off and we’re looking forward to another session tomorrow night.
‘They were in very good condition. In fairness, football has changed and players in general look after themselves. There’s a few you have to keep an eye on, but in general it’s much better than the old days.
‘They went on their week’s holidays, which was important so that they could get some rest, they didn’t over-indulge and they did a bit of swimming and jogging when the weather allowed.’
Mahon acknowledged that Dundalk weren’t the force they were 12 months ago, but having won their last two away games before the break convincingly, against Limerick and St Pat’s, they have shown significant signs of improvement on their travels.
‘The break came at a good time for Dundalk and they couldn’t be the team they were last season, with the players they lost,’ Mahon insisted. ‘Towell, Finn, Horgan and Boyle were the spine of the team and it’s going to take them a while to get back to where they were.
‘Cork will lose a few players as well and that could be an opportunity for Dundalk, but as regards this season it’s done and dusted.
‘But we have to concentrate on ourselves. It’s a local derby and we’re at home, and it’s a while since we beat them.
‘We have to try and win all our games, but the home games will be crucial for us and this is a good one to start back with because players won’t need any incentive. You could see that they were really focused in training this morning and that’s good.’
A haul of 13 points from the first series of 11 games put Drogheda slightly ahead of schedule in terms of targets, but the subsequent six games have yielded just four points and Mahon conceded that the shortage of goals and corresponding seven-match winless run had proved costly.
‘We need another 10 points minimum [from this series], but two wins can soon get us back on track,’ he said.
‘We have to concentrate on scoring a few goals and defending the way we have been. It we play well and give ourselves a chance of winning the game, then I’ll be happy.’