Dundalk will head to Limerick tonight to take on the home side with new manager Neil McDonald on the bench, but interim coach Willie Boland will lead the team.
Stephen Kenny’s side will have to do without the injured Steven Kinsella who has a hamstring injury, while Brian Gartland will likely miss out with his nerve issue although he has resumed training.
Some good news for the Lilywhites as Chris Shields and Niclas Vemmelund are nursing groin injuries however they will be fit to play. Shane Grimes played his first match in over six months on Monday as he completed his comeback from the hamstring tear he sustained last October against St. Patrick’s Athletic. Sean Gannon returned from an ankle injury on Monday against Thomastown United playing 90 minutes while last Friday Robbie Benson made a welcome appearance after a hamstring tear also and has shown no ill effects.
Sean Hoare when speaking to dundalkfc.com said, “It was a good win for us last week against Sligo Rovers and it was a win that we needed. We played well on the night and didn’t give away any chances during the game.”
“Things maybe haven’t gone as well for us as they could have the last few weeks but it’s wins like last week that can get confidence going and we are all delighted with the three points.”
“We have a few coming back from injury now so hopefully we can build on that and get a bit of form going.”
“We haven’t been scoring the chances that we had been creating this season which has been our biggest issue. We went on to score the four goals last week which was very important. When we have been winning we haven’t been cut throat enough to go and get more.”
“That is what this team have been good at over the last few years. It’s how they have been so successful, going on and killing the game off. We need to do more of that now.”
Lots of games coming up now in the next fortnight and Hoare is looking forward to them, “It’s good to have three games in a week at times and we are aiming for the nine points from the games but we can only take it one game at a time.”
“Limerick are a good side and it won’t be easy down there in Markets Field. It’s going to be a difficult test for us, we know that but we put in a good performance last week and hopefully we can take that form into this week.”
“We showed that ruthlessness that we have been missing against Sligo last week and we want to continue that. “