Stephen Kenny: ‘Devastated’ Dundalk will bounce back

Stephen Kenny has admitted that the Dundalk dressing room was “devastated” after the scoreless draw with BATE Borisov which saw his side exit Europe on Wednesday night.

But the manager insists that the defending champions can lift themselves for one of the biggest games of the domestic season when Cork City, currently six points behind the leaders, arrive at Oriel Park for a top two head-to-head clash in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on Sunday.

“One thing the players are, they are quite a humble group and level-headed,” says Kenny. “They will digest the disappointment of losing as it is disappointing — we had high hopes and were very focused on trying to win the game. The players are devastated. But there is time before Sunday to regroup and we know it’s a big game for us. We’ll need to perform again.”

In the meantime, third-placed St Patrick’s Athletic, 13 points behind Dundalk, will be looking to close the gap on the leading pair when they travel to the Showgrounds to take on Sligo Rovers tonight in a game which will be screened live on Setanta Ireland (kick-off 8pm).

Pat’s go into the game on a six-game domestic winning streak, with manager Liam Buckley especially pleased with their 2-0 away win at United Park.

“We were delighted to get the points last week against a really tough Drogheda side,” he says. “They didn’t make things easy for us, and after a few chances hadn’t gone in, some teams would’ve ended up with a point. But the lads kept plugging away, stayed positive and eventually got their reward for their efforts. We’re now focused on facing Sligo who are starting to get some results together so we’ll need to make sure we apply ourselves right and are ready for the game.”

For the Bit O’Red, it’s been a case of one step forward, one back, after they followed a morale-boosting 3-2 home win against Longford with a 1-0 defeat away to Bohemians. But, hard to beat at home, Gavin Peers is hoping that for second from bottom Sligo, “tonight can be a time to start this run we need”.

Bohs are at home to free-falling Derry City at Dalymount Park but manager Keith Long will have to plan without suspended striker Anto Murphy after his red card against Sligo, while Galway United and Bray Wanderers, separated by just two points in the congested middle of the table, do battle at Eamonn Deasy Park, with Tribesman boss Tommy Dunne saying the promoted club’s aim for the rest of the season is to consolidate its place in the top-flight.

“We’re six points away from the play-off position but we’re not that far away from Bohemians either,” he says. “It will be a big ask to catch them, but that’s our aim, we’re looking up. We’re determined to consolidate our position in the Premier Division.”

In the First Division, this evening’s action sees Athlone Town host Wexford Youths at the Athlone Town Stadium and Waterford United entertain Shelbourne at the RSC.

Tonight’s games kick off at 7:45pm unless otherwise indicated.