"WE HAVE TO BE TOGETHER" – MOUNTNEY

Dundalk captain John Mountney says that everyone must “be together” to lift the club in the final quarter of the season, after his first-half header saw them deservedly take a precious point away from title-chasing Derry City in the North on Friday night.

Mountney powered in from Daryl Horgan’s corner before the midway point of the opening period, and that lead could well have been extended by half-time but Jamie Gullan’s shot was saved by Brian Maher and then Robbie Mahon fired over with only the ‘keeper to beat.

Substitute Danny Mullen equalised for Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side past the hour mark and he will feel he should have sealed all three points for the Candystripes in the final ten minutes, but he was denied by a super Felix Goddard stop before, shortly after, lifting the ball onto the roof of the net.

John Mountney of Dundalk celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s first goal in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Derry City and Dundalk at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo by Gerry Scully.

In the end, it was probably a fair result, as ninth-placed Dundalk picked up just their seventh point away from Oriel Park in 2024, with the Louth men now unbeaten in two on the road for the first time this year.

While the draw stopped Derry from climbing to the top of the table ahead of Shelbourne who do not play until Saturday night in Sligo, it was more importantly a result that moved Dundalk (24) a point closer to eighth-placed Bohemians (28), who collapsed at home to Waterford, losing having led 2-0 at the break.

Dundalk – who have next weekend off as it is the FAI Cup last 16 – can now look forward to back-to-back home league games against Saint Patrick’s Athletic and Shels before the end of August, as they enter the final nine games of the 36-match season.

“No chance anyone in this group is going to give up. I hope the fans see that,” Mountney told dundalkfc.com after the final whistle in Derry. “Of course, it’s been up and down, it’s been disappointing, it’s not where we want to be and we all know that.

“But it’s where we’re at and we have to be together, players, fans, everyone as a community that Dundalk is, and get ourselves out of this position and then we can move forward and build on it as a club.

“As players, we’re in control on the pitch so we need to show the fans that we’ll fight, that we’ll do everything for the crest, for the club, and that’s the first performance of the ten that were left. First and foremost, we want to show that fight.”

John Mountney of Dundalk has his shirt pulled by Ciarán Coll of Derry City during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Derry City and Dundalk at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo by Gerry Scully.

The Bohola native continued: “There is character and we do have togetherness in the group, so it’s just about building on that. We have no game next week, we need to regroup, train well and then get ourselves ready to go again for two home games on the bounce.

“It was a disappointing result at home to Galway, we want to put that right and give the fans something to cheer for the next time we’re up in Oriel.”

Derry City goalkeeper Brian Maher fails to stop a goal by John Mountney of Dundalk during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Derry City and Dundalk at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.

On the point…

“We had ten games left going into tonight, and we put an aim between ourselves as players of how many points we can get out of these ten games. That was important making sure we came up here and got something out of it.

“Of course, we’re disappointed not to get the three, but we had to defend a lot and see it out to get the point in the end.”

On his goal…

“We were well overdue one from a set-piece. The manager works hard with us on the training ground on set-pieces and that finally paid off tonight scoring from one. It was a brilliant ball by Daryl, it worked well, we got that space and lucky enough got the head on the end of it.”

Robbie Mahon of Dundalk in action during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Derry City and Dundalk at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo by Gerry Scully.

On Dundalk’s other first-half chances…

“When you have pace in your team, you always have a chance. Coming up here to Derry, they’re challenging for the league, we knew it was going to be a tough game. They were all out to win it tonight, it was a very attacking team they played.

“We knew with the players we had on the pitch in attacking areas, like Robbie Mahon, the quality of Daryl Horgan then on the other side and Jamie Gullan up front, that we could hurt them on the break.

“I think we had the best chances in the first half. That one in particular where Daryl did brilliantly, Dan Pike won the flick-on and Robbie Benson went over it for Robbie Mahon. It was a massive chance to go 2-0 up.”

Hayden Cann of Dundalk applauds supporters after the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Derry City and Dundalk at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo by Gerry Scully.

On Felix Goddard’s performance and Hayden Cann’s debut…

“In goal is the toughest position. Outfield lads, myself playing midfield tonight, you make a mistake, you have your defenders to get you out of trouble. As a ‘keeper, it’s a lonely place if you make a mistake.

“He showed great character tonight to put in a good performance. I felt really assured, even going to left-back, with him in goal. He made a massive save to keep us in the game. That can only bring us on as a group. Obviously, it’s big for him as well going into the run-in of games.

“Hayden came in, he had to be patient. The manager touched on it in the dressing-room. He has really trained hard, done everything right, went about his business right, he didn’t complain, he just got on with it and he earned himself that position by how he’s trained.

“He was brilliant tonight. We know about Hayden from playing against him in the league, we know his qualities and it was effortless him coming in tonight.”

Dundalk’s next game is against St Pat’s at Oriel Park on Friday, August 23rd (kick-off 7.45pm).