Dane looking forward to a new era at Oriel
There will be lots of targets throughout the year but the league is your bread and butter
DANE Massey played more league games than any other player under Stephen Kenny but as Dundalk begin life without their former boss, the left back says he isn’t missing him.
The December 2012 signing from Bray Wanderers played in 181 of the new Republic of Ireland U-21 manager’s 201 league games in charge at Oriel Park.
While the pair enjoyed unprecedented success in that period, Massey is looking forward to a new era at the club and pushing on to reach new heights in 2019 and beyond.
‘I think it’s gone now,’ he said of the shock of Kenny’s departure.
‘Stephen has got an amazing job and best of luck to him but we’ve Vinny now. He’s the gaffer and that’s how it’s going to be this year.
‘I think we’ve the best squad in the league and we just need to improve on what we’ve done before.
‘There will be lots of targets throughout the year but the league is your bread and butter and we’re all dying to get going now on Friday. All our goals have been set, we know what we have to do and we’re looking forward to getting going,’ he said.
Massey had the perfect start to the year when he notched the opening goal in last Saturday’s 2-1 President’s Cup win away to Cork City. While there are bigger honours to aim for, he said it was a statement of intent that Dundalk want to win everything this year.
‘I got a goal and lost my front tooth again,’ he laughed.
‘Hopefully I score more this year because I only got one last year. I’m thrilled though to be off the mark.
‘At the end of the day it’s still pre-season for us but it’s always nice to get a win down here. You can make a statement of your intentions for the year and I think we did that today.
‘I thought we were very good in the first half but I think we played on the edge of our own box too deep at times in the second half. We still have areas to improve on but we’re getting there.
‘It’s the President’s Cup at the end of the day and it’s another trophy for us to collect because we didn’t win it last year so we were hungry to get it this year,’ he said.
After illness affected the camp this time last year, Massey said things couldn’t be going much better so far this season.
‘Pre-season has gone brilliantly,’ he said.
‘Everyone is feeling great and there hasn’t really been any muscle injuries. There have
been a few good additions this year so it’s exciting times.
‘There is a certain continuity there but Vinny has added his own touch to it and it has been brilliant to be honest.
‘We had a bit of a disaster last year with the flu and the snow. That disrupted our preparations a little but this year has been spot on. Everyone is fighting fit so Vinny has a difficult decision to put 11 on the pitch now.’
Regardless of what team is picked for Friday’s league opener at home to Sligo Rovers, Massey is taking nothing for granted.
‘Liam Buckley is up there now and you have to give him credit because he has won a league at Pat’s so he’s a good manager.
‘I’m sure he’ll have some good players. We have one of our own up there in Ronan Murray and he’s a fantastic player so it’s going to be a tough game but we’re more than ready for it,’ said the 30-year-old.