Saint John has no fear of the Town
FORMER LILY SAYS BELIEF IS SKY-HIGH IN PAT’S SQUAD
IT takes a certain type of character to walk around Dundalk town centre in St Patrick’s Athletic leisurewear. Then again, John Mountney has always had resolve in abundance.
For almost a decade the Mayo native served the Lilywhites with distinction, never quite sure of a starting place yet never out of the match-day squad either.
He collected 11 major trophies before his departure at the end of the 2020 season as part of the Oriel Park overhaul, signing up for a new challenge at St Pat’s under former Dundalk teammate Stephen O’Donnell.
Mountney lives in Dundalk, which means a short walk for tomorrow’s Premier Division game between the enterprising SSE Airtricity League leaders and FAI Cup holders.
‘Bump into anyone and that’s the conversation, it’s always a sports talk or football talk,’ he said.
‘Of course, there is a lot of talk at the minute but I think fans understand it’s only four games in, lots of time for Dundalk to turn it around and get the ball rolling.’
If the ball doesn’t ‘roll’ you wonder whether heads soon will, as the club’s ambitious US owners, Peak6, won’t tolerate failure. Vinny Perth experienced their ruthless edge last August, nine months after missing out on an historic treble on penalties. Since Perth’s parting, the club have won just three league games out of 12.
In these pages I’ve referenced the number of chiefs at Oriel. Jim Magilton is sporting director, Shane Keegan is first-team manager, Filippo Giovagnoli is first-team coach.
So far in 2021, this Holy Trinity isn’t delivering. Results have been grim as the batch of closeseason recruits struggle to live up to expectations.
Dundalk sources suggest Keegan has been promoted to manager as the club is fearful of a hefty fine from UEFA because Giovagnoli doesn’t have a Pro Licence coaching qualification.
But Dundalk don’t have to cross that bridge until the Europa League comes around in July. By then, what will the Premier Division table look like as Euro qualification is an absolute must?
If the club hierarchy retain their faith in Giovagnoli, shouldn’t he be on the touchline to call the plays?
At St Pat’s, everyone knows that O’Donnell is in charge, even if Pro Licence holder Alan Mathews is listed on the team sheet as manager.
It is O’Donnell who prepares and picks the team, who barks out orders from the touchline, and who oversees the substitutes.
The wily Mathews is the perfect sound-board for O’Donnell.
So how does Mountney find working under O’Donnell compared to Stephen Kenny, his former Dundalk manager?
‘Stephen O’Donnell is installing his own beliefs and the way he wants to play, it’s different to working under Stephen Kenny,’ observed Mountney.
‘He really challenges us, there is an intensity at training every day, standards are high. He’s pushing us hard, especially on understanding the game. ‘Stephen is a manager that wants to bring his own style, his own philosophies into the game, so I don’t think you can compare them and say they’re the same type. I just think they’re different personalities.’ Installed at right-back by O’Donnell, Mountney has benefited from Mathews’ experience as a title-winning defender and FAI Cup-winning manager. ‘There’s definitely a good balance with Stephen and Alan. In the position I’m playing in, Alan has been great. He’s been able to give myself and the other defenders great information. ‘There’s a good balance between the senior lads and young lads coming through. And there’s definitely a belief we can go and achieve something this season, but it’s too early to speak about league titles.’ As for the Saints clothing, Mountney makes no apologies for wearing it in the town. ‘I have been out plenty in it, with the facemask on and hoodie up, there is no problem with that. Whatever the result may be, I get on with everyone up here,’ he said. In ‘Camp Dundalk’ they will need everyone singing off the same team sheet ahead of five games in 16 crucial days.
‘We think we can achieve something’