DFC | Kenny thrilled with his side’s display
Lilywhites make it two wins on the bounce with rout in Limerick
Dundalk FC manager Stephen Kenny was thrilled with his side’s display in the 3–0 win against Limerick at the Markets Field on Friday night.
The Lilywhites followed up their 4–0 victory over Sligo Rovers a week earlier with a comfortable win over the Blues, who had goalkeeper Brendan Clarke sent-off in the first half.
And with games against Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic to come in the next six days, Kenny said Friday’s win was a fine beginning to what could be a defining week for the league champions.
“It’s a great start,” he agreed. “We’ve bounced back from a setback with a 4–0 and now a 3–0 win, comprehensive wins really.
“It was an all-round good team performance and I don’t think there was one outstanding individual tonight. Everybody played well and it was a really good performance.
“We felt this would be a really difficult game. Obviously, we got a break with the goalkeeper handling it outside the box but we capitalised on it against Limerick, a team who have a fair degree of talent. I think a lot of teams will find it difficult here this season.”
David McMillan’s first-half brace put Dundalk FC in the driving seat. The striker bagged his first from the penalty spot after Robbie Williams upended Patrick McEleney in the area before he claimed his second with a thumping header from a Michael Duffy cross.
“It was a great bit of skill by Patrick for the first goal,” said Kenny. “He double checked and took two players on. It was brilliant.
“The second goal was a fantastic team goal. A real quality pass from Niclas Vemmelund to Michael Duffy and a great cross from him that David attacked really well.
“Until you get the third goal it is always in the balance,” he added. “We missed a lot of chances in the second half and our finishing just let us down but Sean Gannon, having been out for so long, coming back and getting the third goal was terrific.
“It was a very important win because we hadn’t beaten a top-six side away from home before tonight.”
Derry City are next up at Oriel Park on Tuesday night and Kenny said that the fitness of Niclas Vemmelund and Robbie Benson would be assessed in the coming days. Brian Gartland is out but Steven Kinsella could return.
“It’s a quick turnaround and we can’t get too high about tonight’s win,” he warned. “We better get ready for Tuesday and see how Benson and Vemmelund are.
“Derry City are a very good team and players like Aaron McEniff and Barry MacNamee in the midfield are very good,” said Kenny.
“They have a very good team and they beat Shamrock Rovers 3–1 tonight which is a great result for them so we will have to raise our game.”
