Andy Boyle says that Friday’s 5-0 win over St Patrick’s Athletic will count for nothing if Dundalk don’t follow it up with another positive result against Shelbourne on Monday night.
After picking up one point from their opening two games, the Lilywhites took flight with a blistering display against Pat’s and Boyle said Dundalk’s aim was to back it up with another win when his old club come to town.
“The result against Pat’s will only be a good result if we go out and do it again on Monday night,” he said. “We know what Shelbourne are about, they’re a real dogged side, they usually set up quite well and obviously they’ll try and make it as hard as they can.
“It’s up to us to replicate the energy that we showed on Friday and I’m sure the gaffer will make a couple of changes to just freshen things up slightly.”
Keith Ward, Cameron Elliott, Ryan O’Kane, John Martin and centre-back Wasiri Williams all came off the bench against Pat’s and Boyle said that showed the strength of depth in the Dundalk squad.
“We’re going to need that across the course of a long season,” he said. “The likes of Wasiri has come in and that keeps everyone on their toes.
Wasiri Williams made his Dundalk debut against St Patrick’s Athletic. Photo by Gerry Scully
“Any successful team has real competition for places and with the amount of games we’ll probably play over the course of season, Friday, Mondays, Fridays, they’ll all be needed. The good thing now is that when you take a player out and put another one in, you’re not taking away from the quality.”
One player who made a big impact on Friday night was Daniel Kelly who marked his first start since going off with a serious hamstring injury last summer with Dundalk’s fourth goal – and a celebration to match!
“It was a great moment,” said Boyle. “He’s a great fella to have in the dressing room and I think he gives us something totally different with the real pace. He took his goal really well and please God, he can keep himself right and kick on because he’s a good player.”
Dundalk’s opening two games of the season at Oriel Park have seen the attendances break the 3,250 mark and Boyle is hoping that the Black and White Army will be out in force again on Monday.
“On Friday night, the fans fed off the energy that we gave on the pitch and it makes a massive difference when Oriel is like that,” he said.
“There’ll be a period in any game where you need the fans and when they’re with you like that, it’s brilliant. Oriel Park is a unique place and we’ve got to make it as tough and as difficult for teams to come to as we did last season.”
