Jon Daly wants to “build belief” in his forwards after Dundalk drew another blank in their 2-0 defeat by in-form Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night, where the new manager took charge for the first time.
With first-team coach Liam Burns serving a one-match touchline ban, Daly decided to take his place in the dugout just over 24 hours after being announced and having only met the squad at 4 o’clock.
Dundalk started well but Galway soon took control and led at the break through Ross Munro’s own-goal. A change of shape at half-time saw Daly’s men find a foothold in the game but they could not register a shot on target and eventually conceded again from another corner.
Daly was encouraged by his side’s second-half performance. But with just nine goals scored in 17 league games, the former striker knows where one of the main issues is, as he sets about the job of lifting Dundalk off the bottom of the table.
24 May 2024; Newly appointed Dundalk manager Jon Daly issues instructions to Hayden Muller during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Galway United and Dundalk at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
“I think it’s just that confidence in front of goal. There are some good players there that have scored plenty of goals throughout their career. So, it’s just trying to get that belief,” Daly said after the loss to European-chasing Galway.
“I was a striker myself and you go through periods where you’re not scoring goals and it just takes that one goal to go in off your backside and away you go.
“I think we seen enough in the second half when we changed the shape. For me, there’s enough in the changing room to get ourselves out of this difficult situation, difficult period that we’re in. It’s just now trying to build that belief and we’ll do some work towards the game next week and try to pick up three points against Derry.”
24 May 2024; Newly appointed Dundalk manager Jon Daly, right, with Galway United manager John Caulfield before the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Galway United and Dundalk at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
On the result…
“First and foremost, we need to be more aggressive at the set-plays defensively. They’ve been relatively good all season with them, but tonight we were found wanting in those situations.
“When you come to Galway and the side that they are, you need to defend those situations a lot, lot better. Unfortunately for us tonight, we’ve conceded two off corners, which is extremely disappointing.”
On John Mountney’s injury…
“He just said he felt his groin a little bit, so we’ll assess that over the weekend and see where he is. He’s obviously a big character and a good leader within the group. Hopefully, he’s not too long-term.”
24 May 2024; Andy Boyle of Dundalk in action against David Hurley of Galway United during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Galway United and Dundalk at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
On his initial thoughts on the job after that performance…
“I’ve seen a lot of the team over the season, I’ve seen their energy and the work-rate that they have, and the quality that they have. They’ve obviously just had that little bit of a hard time.
“I think the first goal in this league is massive. It’s trying to get that first goal. I said to them if I didn’t feel like we could get out of this situation, I wouldn’t have come in and taken the job.
“I’ve done a reasonably good job at Pat’s and I was in no rush to get back into work. I looked at the bigger picture of the club, the players and everything around it. I felt it was a good opportunity to get back in and get back in at a decent level with a very, very good club and good group.
“It’s now about trying to find that formula that works for us to get us picking up points. The same energy that they had last week I thought was lacking in the first 45 but in the second 45 I thought it was there. And as I said, ultimately, we need to be better at set-plays.”
