A special commemorative programme for our Memorial Day is available for purchase online

Kick off in Tallaght Stadium this Friday is at 8pm. Coverage on LOITV. Tickets remain on sale

We suffered a 1-0 defeat last Friday to Dundalk. Having watched it back and reviewed it, what’s your reaction to the defeat?

“A lot of it was good. Dundalk played how we felt they would. We created the opportunities we felt we would, we just didn’t take them. On another evening we win the game quite comfortably. Dundalk had one chance in the second half and they took it. But it was just one of those nights that we just couldn’t take our opportunities, but in terms of the vast majority of what we did, that was good and sometimes you just have to take it.”

It has been decided that Pico Lopes won’t return to action after his withdrawal a few weeks ago against Waterford, before he joins up for the World Cup with Cape Verde. Was it a difficult conversation?

“Pico is the type who wants to play every minute he’s available. He’s been back running this week and the injury wasn’t bad, but we have to look at the bigger picture here, as a staff and a club. Personally, I couldn’t live with myself if we asked Pico to play tomorrow and he had a reoccurrence of that injury, which kept him out of something he will never have the opportunity to do again; something he can talk about with his children and grandchildren in the future. For me, that’s special. We’re in sport and life in general to make memories and at the end of the day, that’s all we have. So I couldn’t live with myself if I was the one to take that away from him. So Pico definitely won’t be involved against Sligo tomorrow.”

This week also sees Ed McGinty and Adam Brennan being called up for the Irish senior international team for the upcoming friendlies against Qatar and Canada. It’s a big deal for the players, their families and the club.

“I’m delighted for them, their families. Hopefully both will be capped, that it will be the first of many. We should be proud as a football club, that we have another two players who could be capped for Ireland. It shows the growth in the team and the club and we should be really proud as a collective. I’m sure their families are and we certainly are as a club.”

Back to our own league action as Sligo Rovers come to Tallaght as we reach the halfway point of the league. Despite their league position, John Russell is a fine coach and Sligo will be a difficult game for us.

“It will be difficult. If you watch Sligo’s games, the majority of them, they’re in them. I know last Friday against Galway, it’s a derby and that can happen (losing 4-1) and things can get away from you quickly. We need to make sure we’re focussed, we know there’s a lot of talk with Pico going away and the lads called up for Ireland, we understand all that. So we need to focus on what’s in front of us, that’s the game and if we don’t respect in every way what Sligo are about, you’ll get beaten. We know that’s this league. We need to be ready and sometimes that’s not even enough, we saw that last Friday. A lot of that was good but sometimes that’s not enough to win games in this league. So we need to be right on it tomorrow.”

How is the progress of Rory Gaffney, Danny Grant and Cory O’Sullivan and anyone else unavailable for the Sligo game?

“Danny was ready to be back last week, we just wanted to build him back up a bit, he’s trained the past ten days. There was no need to rush Danny and he’ll be back involved. With Rory, it looks like all is going as it should. He’s back in with the doctor next week to get a clearer indication of his path back.  Cory also trained last week with Danny so he’s also back, which is good. Maleace Asamoah picked up a knock the day before the Dundalk game, so he’ll be out until after the break. That’s unfortunate as Maleace was getting there, but he’ll be ok and will be back after that break and get him going again.”