Away fan tickets for this fixture are NOW SOLD OUT. The match is available to stream on LOITV. Kickoff is at 7.45pm
How disappointed was everyone to go out of the FAI Cup, a competition that means something to us and we’ve a history with?
“We’re obviously disappointed because it’s a competition we wanted to win. Everyone was frustrated and really disappointed afterwards.”
The big talking point from Sunday was the penalty and red card decision which changed the tie. What was your view?
“I think if the incident happened for you, you’d be screaming for a penalty kick. I can understand why he’s given the penalty but it’s never a sending-off. I think that’s a terrible decision from the referee.”
How do you think we had performed in the first half up until that point?
“I thought up until the sending off we were really poor. We were lucky to still be in the game. Derry deserved to be two or three ahead at that point and strangely enough, the sending-off shook us into life, and with ten men we were excellent.”
Rory Gaffney scored to make it 1-1 in the second half. Do the players deserve a lot of credit for equalising and taking it to extra-time with only ten men?
“The players were brilliant. Up until the sending-off we were poor but after that, with ten men we were excellent right through. The character they showed, their desire and their work rate. Their togetherness was brilliant, and you couldn’t fault any player in the team. They did so well to get back in the game and stay in the game. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough to go on and win it. Simon Power came on and looked good but obviously got injured straight away and we had to reshuffle again. But with ten men we were very good.”
How important is it to respond well to the results this past week in these big league games coming up Thursday and Monday?
“We know that this is a big week for us, the next three games but this is what you want. You want big games and we’ve got that this week. They’re games we want to go and try and take maximum points from, but we also know that they’ll be difficult. We can’t start like we did in Derry or Gent or we won’t win either game but if we hit our levels we can go and win all three.”
What danger will Shelbourne pose on Thursday in terms of their strengths?
“They’ve just come off the back of a brilliant win. They deserved to win 3-0 so we know that they’re coming into the game full of confidence and looking to go and take us on and win the game. So we’ve got to be ready for that and respect it, and make sure we’re at our best levels as a team.”
We played well on our previous visit to Tolka Park, decided by a late Aaron Greene goal. Will you be hoping to assert ourselves on their turf and be as creative again?
“Of course, that’s always the aim, to try and impose ourselves on the game as soon as possible. There’ll be a big crowd and they’ll be up for it so it’ll be difficult, but we’ll obviously try and impose ourselves on the game as quickly as possible on Thursday.”
Lee Grace is suspended, and Andy Lyons and Justin Ferizaj are on international duty. Simon Power was unlucky to suffer a groin injury in Derry. How is he along with Sean Hoare, Richie Towell and Pico Lopes?
“Simon won’t be available but Sean, Richie and Pico, they’re all right there, so we’ll just have to make a decision on them today after training.”
