The Commentary Box: Dundalk are down to the bare bones in regards to injuries

Dundalk served up their most emphatic performance of the season so far when they beat Bray Wanderers, by three goals to one at the Carlisle Grounds.

It's a ground that Dundalk teams have had great difficulty in the past to get a win. But Dundalk had this game sewn up early, within the first eleven minutes of the Daryl Horgan after eight minutes.

Dean Ebbe struck for the second goal on 11 minutes while Eoin Kenny got his league goal-scoring campaign up and running on 32 minutes with a well-struck volley from outside the box.

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At times Ciaran Kilduff's side were simply awesome. They could have been four, five or six nil up such was their domination.

But meanwhile two hundred miles away in Ballybofey, Cobh Ramblers got a late winner which keeps them breathing down Dundalk's necks and is ensuring that the race for the automatic promotion place will more than likely be between the Cork side and Dundalk.

Of course there is so much left to go in the season that other contenders could change the pattern of this Division re the promotion race upside down.

Dundalk were without the injured Enda Minogue, Conor O'Keefe, Mayowa and Norman Garbett. They were also without the suspended Leo Gaxa.

He will return for the Longford game on Friday. I was keen to find out from the manager what the latest news was on his players who were missing.

It was the first question I asked him when I got to the interview room. Kilduff seemed to be in a pensive mood even though he was after seeing his side put in a great performance.

''How long have you got for me to tell you the news on the injured list. Enda Minogue has had a fair bit of a setback. He will need surgery which will keep him out for a further two weeks. There is a possibility now that Enda may be out for six weeks.''

The Dundalk boss explained that Minogue would have surgery the next day, which was last Saturday.

''Enda got a scan and we were told that it would take six weeks to heal. When Enda went to see the specialist he was told that he needed surgery. It was too much of a risk letting it heal for six weeks and the problem remaining.

"Surgery was the best advice. Mayowa has been out for three weeks, now since he hurt his hamstring. We are hopeful that he will be returning next week. We will assess him as the week goes on and then decide what will happen.

"He is up to 80 percent work issue. We are not too worried about the hamstring issue. We also have an issue with our full-back Sean Keogh being away with Ireland.

"He will not be available to play for us against Longford. Vinny Leonard is also away on international duty while Sean Spaight is on international standby. Vinny and Sean will be playing at under 17 and under 19 levels.

"We wish the lads well. We always want our players to represent the country. We will of course be lighter on the pitch with these players away. But we just have to take it on the chin.

''In relation to Conor O'Keefe, he did some running before the game. He was on the bench tonight. He should be okay for next week. Leo Gaxa's suspension is up thank God. So he will be back for the Longford game.

"Ethan Vaughan is out long-term with a hamstring injury. He picked up the injury after training in Oriel following the Shamrock Rovers friendly. The news on Norman Garbett is not good either.

He came on in the Treaty game last week. He picked up the same injury he had last year which finished his season. Norman will now be out for months. He is due to have surgery as well.

"We do not know yet if he will be returning home to New Zealand. This news is all new to us and is a bit raw. Hopefully we will put a plan in place for Norman and see where we go from there.''

The biggest news that Ciaran Kilduff had was of course that of Enda Minogue. He has shown in the short time he has been at Oriel that he is an exceptional keeper.

The fact he will now be out longer than was first feared is a blow. However, despite this, the injury could have been much worse. Enda will be returning as quickly as he can.

Dundalk have been swift to act on this injury. Although the surgery took place last Saturday morning, it's believed that it will take a couple of days to know how quickly the Dundalk keeper will be to full recovery.

Ethan Vaughan looks like he will be out for the rest of the season. This is a huge blow to the youngster's hopes of settling in at Dundalk. Norman Garbett is the player one would feel sorry for most.

He was only on the pitch against Treaty last Friday week for ten minutes when he picked up the same horrific injury that ended his season last year.

Now Norman knows he will be out again for the long term. He travelled back from New Zealand to Dundalk in December for the new season. Now it appears that it may have all been in vain. His season too looks to be over.

Next weekend there are no games in the Premier Division. This is because it's an international week from senior level down to practically all age levels.

The Premier teams affected will have most of their underage sections being played in by their own players. But many teams in the First Division also fit this category as well.

Dundalk lose two key players if not three for underage international duty. Sean Keogh and Vinny Leonard are both away next weekend. Sean Spaight is on international standby.

Why have the FAI just not cancelled all League of Ireland games next weekend for both divisions. Dundalk are down to the bare bones in regards to injuries.

With two if not three players away on international duty, surely they would have a very valid reason in getting the Longford game postponed.

They should not even have to be put in this position. If Premier Division games are off for international week, then so should First Division games.

Bray were playing their first home game of the season. This was because they were completing work from the Sports Capital Grant they got two years ago.

They have a brand new state-of-the-art floodlight system and have installed a new astro turf pitch. They have a second press box open along with a TV gantry.

The floodlights are top-class. They make a huge difference to the ground. But it's the new pitch that takes the eye. It looked magnificent. Dundalk of course are well used to the astro in Oriel.

It's no wonder they took to the Carlisle Grounds pitch like ducks to water. The fact that they were three nil up after thirty-two minutes should come as no surprise.

However, I think the Seagulls of Bray will also quickly get used to their new playing surface and take to it like water as well.

It's my understanding that the new pitch cost half a million euro and the new floodlighting system was around 150,000 euro. If the grant was for around 400,000 from the FAI, then Bray had to make up the rest.

Dundalk were awarded the grant last season, but could not take up the extra money needed because of the precarious financial situation it was in.

Had they not been relegated, Dundalk would have had to install new lights and a pitch for this season. The fact that they are in the First Division gave them a stay of execution on the pitch and lights.

The grant is there for Dundalk to use. But it will be taken from them unless they may make use of it within a certain time period. 

Bray are raising money from the continued growth of the film industry in Ireland from the Ardmore Studios in Wicklow. At the moment a new film is being shot in and around Bray.

Jane Seymour is the principal actress, She was the Bond girl in the James Bond movie Live and Let Die. The cast and crew from the new film pay Bray Wanderers for the use of their good sizeable car park when they are away for the day shooting the movie.

Jane Seymour is aged 71. The Carlisle Grounds itself was used for the Bloody Sunday scene in Croke Park for the film shot about Michael Collins.

The far side of the ground was made into an all-seater stadium. Over the years the seats eroded. But now Bray as part of their revitalisation of the ground has installed a complete set of new seating in the away end.

Derry City FC has been given the green light to press ahead with its bid for an eleven point eight million pound sterling share of the Northern Ireland British government football fund and enter into a minimum lease of a 25-year lease for the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

As Derry are entering into a long-term lease which will eventually lead to them becoming stadium owners they will only need to match 5 percent of the 11.8 million euro of the funding they will now qualify for.

Local media in Derry says that one of the first things the club intends to do is to lift the astro turf pitch and install a proper grass pitch in the Brandywell.

Derry City are in the lucky position where they can apply for funding in the north and the south. No other League of Ireland club can avail of this opportunity.

Dundalk opened the scoring after just eight minutes when Daryl Horgan shot home after taking full advantage of a mistake in the Bray defence. Three minutes later it was two.

Keith Ward's corner from the left found Aodh Dervin. He put in an excellent cross. Deane Ebbe was on hand to head to the net. Eoin Kenny made it three nil on 32 minutes.

Sean Keogh got in a great cross. Eoin Kenny got in a great shot that nearly burst the net. Bray got a late penalty in injury time. Max Murphy's shot beat Peter Cherrie and ended up in the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

The referee blew the whistle immediately afterwards. Dundalk had put in an excellent performance. Peter Cherrie did well with anything that was fired at him. Sean Keogh was excellent at left-back.

Aodh Dervin was the most hard-working Dundalk player on the pitch. The way he got in behind the Bray defence to cross the ball with Dean Ebbe heading home was magnificent. Dundalk have worked on this move on the training pitch over the weeks.

They got it right on Friday. Sean McHale and Vincent Leonard were once again rock solid in the centre of the Dundalk defence. Keith had a magnificent opening half hour and was involved in two of the goals. He was a real leader on the pitch.

Daryl Horgan showed huge determination. Last week he said that Dundalk would never settle for anything less than three points in any game. He got the opening goal on Friday to set Dundalk on their way.

Eoin Kenny got his first league goal of the season. The young Dundalk striker needed that goal so badly. As he celebrated and came over to the 500 or so travelling supporters to share his goal and this happiness with the fans, there is no doubt that plenty of goals will flow from young Eoin in the weeks ahead.

Andy Parashiv was also very good at centre midfield. 15-year-old Sean Spraight, 18-year-old Muhammad Harris, Trevor Joseph Molloy who is aged 16 and Shane Tracey who is also a young teenager were all used as subs from the midway point of the second half to the end of the game.

Dean Ebbe is really starting to bang in the goals now. Last Friday's goal was his third in as many weeks. Sean McHale, Keith Ward and Andy Parashiv were the other players who started that were replaced by subs.

I really like Ciaran Killduff's style of management. He believes in attractive attacking football. But he also sets up his midfield so well also. They attack when the opportunity arises.

The Dundalk defence is rock solid. Peter Cherrie also did what was asked of him. But the sooner Enda Minogue gets back to full fitness the better.

Eoin Kenny told me after the game that everybody knew he should have got goals in earlier games. ''It was just good to get over the hump and get the first league goal.

"I was delighted to get the goal and to do it on the side of the pitch where the Dundalk supporters were located was magnificent. Sean Keogh put the ball into me.

"I know Dean so well playing with him for the under 17's and 20's. I would like to think we have a good relationship. When he gets to the byline he puts in a great ball.

"Dean may also have got a touch to the ball. I am not sure. But the main thing was that I was able to score. I was really buzzing with that.

''The supporters mean so much to me. It was a relief to score. It's only a few games into the season. But it was still a relief to put the ball in the net. There is a massive support away at every game.

"It just makes it all the more special to score. I am sure that people could see that it meant a lot to me. It meant a lot to the fans. I was delighted. The ball came quite fast to me for my goal. I was thinking about hitting it with my left foot.

"But then I just let it run across my body. I saw an opening in the goal. I knew I would be able to put it in the corner where the keeper would not be able to get to it. I think it was a striker's instinct that got me the goal.

"The manager was also telling me to be calm in front of goal. That was also playing in my head. I took that extra second to settle myself and I was able to score. You are better off getting chances no matter if the goals are not going in.

"It was great to convert this chance. I have been frustrated missing chances in recent weeks. But I knew the goal would eventually come.

"It's part of football and part of being an attacker. I kept doing the right things and eventually, it happened. I am sure that I will kick on from this and get a lot more.

''We are a very young team. There is great camaraderie. This is especially among the younger members of the squad who have played together since before being on the Dundalk first team. It really makes a difference.

"There are a lot of local lads in the team who I went to school with in the Marist. I actually also was at school with Shane Tracey who made his debut tonight. He is a great technical player.

"I played with him since first year. We have a great football relationship together. The older lads on the team like Daryl Horgan and Dean Ebbe. Everybody just gets along so well.

"That showed on the pitch tonight,especially in the first half. The way we played in the first half is a testament as to how the complete group get along together, young and old.

''I have had no problem with the manager putting me out on the wing and Keith Ward playing in my position just behind Dean. There have been injuries and people have had to be placed in different positions.

"It's a pleasure to play with Keith. He is a very gifted player and is an attacker's dream to play with. He feeds the ball into people so well.

"He keeps the ball moving for you and is a real creator. He is also a very unselfish player. I have no problem playing in the 
wider role. I will play wherever the manager wants me to play.

''The supporters have been fantastic both home and away. They have been great, especially away. Kerry away was memorable. The trip to Finn Harps was also very special. The supporters just drive the entire team on.

"But I am not surprised at the support in one way as we are a massive club. But I do want to say that we are not going to allow ourselves get carried away. We are playing with a lot more confidence than we did last season.

"We are a full-time team. We are training just as hard as we did last season. Players are in Oriel in the morning and in the evening. It's a full-time gig. It's twenty-four seven around the clock.

"This is what I want. It's the only way a young player like myself can progress. To be fair to the management, they have a fair commute themselves. But they have made everything as professional as possible.

"Ronan Murray has been so good on the strength and conditioning side of things. We are all working as hard as possible. The manager, Liam Burns and Ken have been great. The coaching side of things at Oriel is at a very high level.''

Ciaran Kilduff told me the win in Bray was a great result. ''I would have taken that on the way down. I thought we were really good. We were excellent. We probably could have been more than three ahead at the break.

"We had opportunities to extend that lead in the second half. I think the players are really priding themselves what we are trying to do here as a group. There was a bit of frustration conceding a late goal and not going home with a clean sheet.

"The players were not disappointed about the late penalty, just a little bit of frustration. But the overall feeling is that it is a great win on the road.

"To get a result like that in Bray on the opening night of the revamp of their ground in front of a big crowd is great. Daryl's opening goal gave us such a platform for the rest of the game.

"He sniffs out opportunities from nothing. There was a lapse of concentration in the Bray defence. He was always going to score. Dean Ebbe's goal was a striker's score. He was in the right place.

"It was taken from a set piece we have been working on in training. We were working on the move-in training last night. We call it Ken's corner.

"We were working on ways we could get Aodh around the back. To get a goal from the move is testament to all the work everybody is doing in the background.

''Aodh has been exceptional for us. He is slotting in at right back for us right now. He is a great character and a great professional. You can see his concentration in the right full spot. He gives everything.

"Eoin Kenny took his goal really well. He is one of the first players who would put up their hands and say I want to get a few goals. It was a fantastic goal. It was an important goal for him as well, as it was a real striker's goal.

"I have one hundred percent confidence in Eoin as a striker. I also thought Keith Ward played very well tonight. Wardy has magic in his feet. You can see it in the way he has played in a more striker's role just in behind Dean.

"Keith really cares about the club. He is truly a great character. He has had a huge impact in the striker's role in the past two games. Eoin did so well on the wing. He plays like a striker no matter where he is.

"It just shows how gifted a player he is. For Eoin to get a goal tonight is well deserved for all the effort he has put in since before the start of the season to now.

''We are trying to get back to the Premier Division at some stage. We are training as hard as we can. But listen let's not get carried away. We are a First Division team right now. There are a lot of young lads in the team.

"Bringing on Shane Tracey and with Sean Spaight and TJ Molloy as subs. These are highly talented but really young players. If we were a Premier Division team, these young lads might not be getting the opportunity to play in the first team.

"I do not think that this is lost on any of these players. But there are loads of positives around the club right now. We have a bit to go before we go back to being a Premier Division club.

"We are going to have bad nights as well. They will come eventually. But the young lads will learn very quickly. But all in all, I think that it has been a great start for all of us at the club.

"We probably felt like we wanted to bounce back, after the turbulent last few minutes of last week where we conceded two goals in three minutes.''

It was great to see Blackrock man Jimmy Dunne getting called up for the Republic of Ireland squad for the Nations Cup games against Bulgaria this week. Jimmy says he is delighted and very happy to have got the call-up.

"I was called up by Stephen Kenny when I was much younger. I have been longing to get another call-up and now that I am older and have much more experience, it's just great.

"I am hoping that this time I can stamp myself on the game a lot more if given a chance. There are many younger players in the team to be fair. But it's very different going in slightly older and with more experience as I am now.

"This time now I am hoping to bring more value to the squad. I took my time in the squad when I was younger as a learning curve now.

"This will be the first time I will be going into the squad as a right back. This position has opened up a lot more doors for me. It allows me to get into more boxes.''

Jimmy played with Rock Celtic as a youngster. He moved to Manchester United in his mid teens. He is now with English Championship side QPR. Jimmy's dad passed away only a few months ago.

I knew Eamon very well. He was a teacher at the Patrician College in Carrickmacross. Eamon was magnificent as an underage GAA coach.

He achieved so much at college level. He progressed to coaching at senior club level where he had even more success. I also know Jimmy's mum Sharon Tracey.

She was a hugely talented music teacher at the Louis in Dundalk. Sharon set up the now famous cross-border orchestra. They have toured the world.

Dundalk play Longford on Friday at Oriel. They had a good win against Kerry on Saturday night. They will provide Dundalk with a strong challenge, as they always do.

Have a great week. Please look after each other. And remember to be very careful out there.