Dundalk boss says “primary focus is to try and prepare for games”

Jon Daly was left furious at referee Rob Hennessy’s failure to award his Dundalk FC side a penalty in their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division fixture versus Waterford.

The Lilywhites found themselves 2-0 behind after just 16 minutes at The RSC, but should have been given a route back into the game from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark.

As Daryl Horgan raced away from Darragh Leahy on the right, his pull-back for Eoin Kenny gave the teenage forward an opportunity to hit a first-time attempt at target.

The shot was blocked out by Grant Horton’s outstretched arm – though no penalty was awarded by the ref, who added insult to injury by yellow-carding Kenny for his protests.

It was the second successive match in which bottom-of-the-table Dundalk were denied a stonewall penalty, with Dara Keane being upended inside the area by Aaron Bolger late on in their 2-1 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park a week beforehand.

Daly said afterwards at The RSC: “I’m standing here again talking about a referee not giving a blatant penalty, and if he gives the penalty then it’s arguably a red card.

“It’s a big decision that doesn’t go your way. I had a chat (with Hennessy) and he said it was a penalty, but that’s no use to me now. He said from his angle he couldn’t see it, but from my angle it was clear. The fourth official, for me, can see it.

“I don’t understand how they can’t see it. His arm is extended away from his body. I obviously have to take his word that he can’t see it, but I don’t necessarily agree with him that he can’t see it. It’s a clear penalty and it’s a big call that he doesn’t make.”

With the club embroiled in financial crisis, Dundalk were only able to make the trip to Waterford last Friday night after supporters raised the funds to run a bus to The RSC.

While Daly acknowledged the contribution made by the fundraiser, which as of Sunday evening had totted up over €20,000, he says his player’s focus remains intact, in spite of what are distressing clouds of uncertainty surrounding the Louth club at present.

“The lads have been great,” the Dundalk manager said. “I have to say they’ve prepared and they’ve planned and we’ve got ready for the game as normal. It’s not an ideal situation to be in, but our primary focus is to try and prepare for games.

“I don’t think the team looked like they weren’t a team that were motivated,” he continued. “They didn’t look like a team, to me anyway, that felt sorry for themselves or that weren’t up for the game.

“They certainly gave everything and you could see that from the fans at the end, the way they stayed and applauded them off. That’s been the same in most games, the boys have never been left wanting for effort, they’ve gave everything in the games.

“At times you could probably question the quality in the last actions in front of goal, but I don’t think it’s a team that wasn’t motivated.

“The situation we’re in, everybody’s focused on trying to do as well as they can. They’ve seen this week first-hand what the club means to the town and what it means to the people in the town, so they’re doing everything they can to try and get the results to get us out of the situation we’re in.”