Tickets are still on sale for Sunday’s FAI Cup semi-final. Kick off is at 6pm, with coverage on RTE2

It was a disappointing start to our league phase of the UEFA Conference League, losing 4-1 away to Sparta Prague. Does the nature of Sparta’s first three goals frustrate you above everything?

“Yes, that’s the really frustrating part. I said after the game and still feel it after watching it back, we were very comfortable in the game. We gave up no opportunities. I know Sparta had all the game, but we were fine with that up to a certain point. But then the goals we gave up were really soft. In any game, you’ll get punished for it, but especially against that level of opposition. They were really soft goals from our point of view and you just can’t do that at that level.”

As you said above, we were looking comfortable in terms of not being carved open by Sparta for much of the first half. Predictably, as you also said, Sparta had the majority of possession. Were we a bit impatient with the ball when we did have it, or was Sparta’s press and urgency out of possession forcing us to give up the ball?

“I think it’s a bit of everything. You also have to look at Sparta’s strengths, they’re a very good pressing team, but the spaces were there. We could obviously be better on the ball, especially first half, but the disappointing part is what we gave up. It doesn’t matter what you do in possession if you give up goals at set plays. But there’s no doubt that Sparta are a good team, a good pressing team in and out of possession, but it was just sloppy from our point of view.”

Credit to us in the second half, the team didn’t throw in the towel and Danny Mandroiu’s goal was the look of a player coming back to his best.

“I think when the four changes were made, it was quite clear to see the difference in the game. That’s why it’s so frustrating with the goals we gave up. You stay in the game until you make those changes and then for me it’s a different game. From our point of view, there was a difference when the four lads came on, with Danny scoring. We’ve seen it now for quite some time, Danny is getting back to what looks like his best. That’s really pleasing.”

We now look forward to the FAI Cup semi-final at home to Kerry F.C. Is such a big game after the Sparta defeat exactly what we need to focus minds and energy?“

We’ll be ready. I say it every time about this group, we move on quickly whether we win, lose or draw. We need to learn from Thursday night, in terms of how we know what it takes to go to these places and get results. It’s not about dwelling on it, or feeling sorry for ourselves. We know what we did wrong, it’s about learning from it and making sure we’re better. These players move on better than any group in the country.”

Cork’s comprehensive defeat of St Pat’s in the other semi-final displays once again that you get one chance in this competition. Again, will that result focus minds even more or is that needed with this group? “

No, we don’t look at anyone else. I watched that game, Cork were brilliant and thoroughly deserved to win. But this group has been the best for a reason. We don’t look at other teams, what they do or don’t do. It’s about us respecting Kerry tomorrow, what they do, respecting that their manager, Colin Healy, who is very good. Their players work extremely hard for each other, they’re together and you can see that from the quarter-final result against Sligo. If you don’t respect them, you’ll get beaten and it’s that simple. You’ve no second chances, so it’s about going in and respecting the game.”

What kind of approach or style are you expecting from a Kerry team who are bringing a big support to Tallaght in the biggest game in their short history?

“I don’t know, it’ll be interesting to see how they set up. What I do know is, as I’ve said before, Colin Healy is very good. He knows his football inside out, and he’ll have Kerry ready to go. You watch them against Sligo, and other games; they were down and out against Sligo but showed the character to keep going and win that game. Kerry will be ready to go. I’ve no doubt they’ll have a game plan to try and win the game, so we need to be ready for that.”

Did everyone come out of the Prague game ok, how is Lee Grace and is anyone unavailable for the semi-final? “

Lee is unavailable for tomorrow, Aaron Greene is back in this morning which is good, and we’ve two knocks that we need to check on today from Thursday to see how they are.,