Thursday’s match in Estádio de São Miguel, Ponta Delgada, Azores, kicks off at 7pm Irish time, 8pm local time. The match stream will be available for purchase on loitv.ie

As you said before the game on Saturday, getting into the hat for the FAI cup quarter final was the bottom line against Longford Town on Sunday. We managed that.

“That was the objective. I said after the game, when you make nine changes, you disrupt the rhythm and flow of the team. I think that was quite obvious. At times it was good, to be fair to the players who came in, they worked extremely hard. But just that timing and rhythm was a bit off and that comes down to me making so many changes. But I’m delighted we’re into the quarter finals.”

Making nine changes, as you said post-match and above, makes flow and rhythm very difficult to find. Longford’s performance, with their very young team, also really put it up to us.

“You have to give Longford credit. We’ve had Wexford in the previous round and then Longford and both played really well and gave a really good account of themselves. So credit to Wayne Groves, his players and staff for the type of game it was.”

Those nine changes for the Longford game meant the vast majority of the team involved in the 4-0 win over FK Ballkani got a breather, mental and physical. How important is that ahead of this week’s conference league play-off trip to play Santa Clara of the Portuguese league?

“It’s important when you have the squad that we have, when it’s in a good place and everyone wants to play, that we use it, particularly with the heavy fixture load. It was used on Sunday, then we have another Thursday/Sunday coming up. So I’m sure it will be used again. It’s important everyone remains ready to play as we’ll need everyone.”

So, we’re safely into the FAI Cup quarter final. We now face an awkward trip to the Azores in terms of logistics and a very difficult away first leg of that Conference League play-off against Santa Clara. What have you been able to learn about their playing style?

“We’ve watched quite a number of their games. Alan Mannus was over there last week and we’ve spoken to Alan, who gave me a good insight into them. They are a dangerous attacking team, but there are areas we feel where we can go and hurt them also. It’s a tough game, but one we’re very much looking forward to.”

Santa Clara also joined the Conference league qualifiers in the second round, knocking out Varaždin of Croatia 4-1 on aggregate, winning home and away, then accounting for Larne, winning 3-0 away with a scoreless second leg at home (similar to us against St Joseph’s). But they’ve lost their opening two Portuguese league games so far this season, 1-0 and 3-0. Can you read anything or maybe too much into their domestic start?

“You have to look at both the European and the domestic games, to see what differences there are in those games, why they’ve won certain games and lost others. It’s fine margins. You look at their league game on Sunday and Santa Clara had chances to win the game. But their style doesn’t change, they have a very clear way and identity of playing. At the top end of the pitch, they have speed and are good. So whichever way you look at it, it’s a tough game.”

Is anyone unavailable for the first leg away to Santa Clara?

“Connor Malley hurt his knee against Ballkani, when he set up Rory Gaffney for the second goal. It’s a strange one, he kicked the ground when he passed the ball, so that will put him out for a couple of weeks. It’s a pity as Connor was really getting up to speed, so he’s gutted. Everyone else is available for Santa Clara.”