Dundalk eyeing reinforcements ahead of Tolka Park trip

Dundalk FC manager Ciaran Kilduff suggested his side left Dalymount Park with a sense of what might have been after they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against SSE Airtricity League Premier Division leaders Bohemians on Friday night.

The Lilywhites, now fifth with 11 points from eight games and beaten just once since their promotion from the First Division, trailed at the interval following Patrick Hickey’s opener for the hosts. However, they responded in the second half, with Gbemi Arubi drawing them level.

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Dundalk pressed for a winner thereafter and came close to taking all three points, with Arubi and Eoin Kenny both denied in quick succession by Bohemians goalkeeper Kacper Chorazka, who produced a sharp double save.

Kilduff felt his side had done enough to merit victory, pointing to key moments that went against them, particularly in the opening period.

“I think it was there to be won,” he said. “I don’t know how we were going in behind at half-time. A few decisions at key moments went against us.

“But we know we’ve character. We showed that in Tallaght and again tonight. We had to dig deep, and even with young players like Sean Spaight coming on — only 17 in January — we stood up.

“Gbemi had a chance just after we equalised to put us 2-1 up, and it felt like we probably deserved to win.”

Arubi, whose equaliser was his third goal of the season, was later named player of the match by Virgin Media Television. Kilduff, however, maintained the striker might have added a decisive contribution to his tally.

“He’s been like that all season and most of last season,” the Dundalk manager said. “He’s a proper handful and can give anyone a tough time. We spoke about it all week — that’s what we wanted from him, and we felt we could get after them.

“I said it to him there when he came in with the award — he should have had the winner. He was laughing; he knows where I’m coming from. The striker in him probably wanted it all, and I want him like that. But he was exceptional tonight, a proper handful and the best player on the pitch.”

Dundalk now face a break in fixtures due to the international window before returning to action on Friday week away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park. Kilduff will hope the pause allows some of his injured players to return, with squad depth stretched in recent weeks.

“I’d like to see a few more bodies back, a bit more depth,” he said. “We couldn’t even fill the bench tonight. We had to bring in Max Ferguson and a few young lads like Shay Casey, who haven’t really been involved in the senior panel yet.

“We need the recovery. We’ve had a run of two- and three-game weeks at the start of the season, so it’s probably a welcome break. But we’ll be straight back at it as soon as we can because we know Shelbourne will be a really tough game.”