The allocation of away tickets is SOLD OUT. The match is televised live on RTE with coverage beginning at 1.45pm. Kickoff in Richmond Park is at 2pm
We exited the Europa League on Thursday night with a hugely disappointing 5-1 second leg defeat to Egnatia in the 3rd qualifying round, losing the tie 6-4 on aggregate. It must’ve been a long journey home for everyone.
“Yes, of course. It’s a difficult one to take, but we have to. We’re big boys and we need to accept it. It’s our responsibility that we didn’t perform against Egnatia.”
You’ve said often after a defeat that it’s football, it happens, and you need to move on quickly. Did the manner of Thursday night’s defeat change that outlook and does it need further reflection to understand how and why it happened as it did?
“We always try and understand it. It was so far off our levels that we really need to look at every detail and try and understand why. But we’ve no time to dwell. It’s Saturday today, we’ve an FAI Cup game tomorrow against Pat’s so there’s no time to sit and mope and feel sorry for ourselves. It won’t change the result, that’s happened so we need to accept it and move on.”
There is nothing to gain as you said, by feeling sorry for ourselves as there’s always that next game, which is the FAI Cup third round away to St Patrick’s Athletic. Nothing like a one-off cup tie and Dublin Derby to refocus minds to defending the Cup.
“That’s the beauty of football. It gives you second chances, gives you the next opportunity and when it’s so quick like this, the next thing you want after a game like Thursday is to get back on the pitch and do our stuff so tomorrow allows us that opportunity. A Dublin derby, FAI Cup, tomorrow gives us the opportunity to go and play again. That is what you want after a performance like last Thursday.”
St Patrick’s Athletic are second, seven points behind us in the league. We know each other well and both teams will attack. It has the makings of a great game.
“I think it will be a good game. Two good teams, Pat’s second in the league, we know they’ve got good players and that’s obvious. So it all has the makings of a good game tomorrow.”
How did the players come back physically after the Egnatia game and are any injured players back available for St Pats? Is there a verdict on Cian Barrett’s injury?
“We’ve a few knocks from Thursday we need to look at today, a couple of 50/50 calls. Cian Barrett unfortunately will be a long-term absence, 5-6 months. He had surgery yesterday and we think that went well for Cian. He’s a strong kid, strong character and there’s no doubt he’ll come back fitter and stronger than ever. He was only getting going and then obviously that happened against Dundalk recently and that puts him out till next year. We’re getting there with the other lads, but none are back yet (Dan Cleary, Danny Grant, John McGovern, Victor Ozhianvuna or Naj Razi).”
