Dundalk bench full of praise for returning Robbie Benson

Stephen O’Donnell praised the impact of the returning Robbie Benson after Sunday afternoon’s 2-2 SSE Airtricity League draw between Dundalk FC and Derry City.

Having served a two-match suspension following his straight red card against Shamrock Rovers, Benson was back in the starting line-up, and equalised for The Lilywhites with a header on 71 minutes, after Ben Doherty had given The Candystripes a first-half lead.

Benson wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Andy Boyle, who pulled up with a calf injury in the warm-up, to play his first 90-minute match since last August when he also skippered the side, in a 3-0 loss against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

“It’s not a secret, what type of player Robbie is, what calibre he is,” said O’Donnell.

Jimmy Hasty story assured to live on via incredible documentary

The Commentary Box: The Gerry Malone Column

Dundalk and Derry City play out entertaining draw as Lilywhites end losing run

“It’s a testament to him fitness-wise, it’s a testament to the way he looks after himself. To play the way he played in that heat for 90 minutes, Robbie, and Keith Ward for 85 minutes, having not started since the Shelbourne game, I thought they were a credit. But again, this isn’t a secret in regards the group. It’s just as case of, can we stay healthy?

“You can see the impact Robbie has. At some stage, it goes beyond right place, right time. It comes to mentality. He’s a difference-maker, and for want of a better word, he just has big balls, in a more understated way than a bravado.

"He’s not that, but the end result is still the same. He’s a big man, he’s a big personality and he’s a difference-maker.”

Aproximately 50 seconds after Benson’s leveller, Oriel erupted when Johannes Yli-Kokko, who had earlier replaced the stricken Greg Sloggett, made it 2-1 to Dundalk.

“Johannes shouldn’t be lacking in confidence,” added O’Donnell.

“He done well in the second half as well. It’s not easy when you’re sitting on the bench midway through the first half. Obviously, you haven’t got the mentality of coming on. All of a sudden, you’re going from sitting on the bench to in amongst the game, so it took him a little while to warm up.

“Second half, I thought he was very good. That’s the team we want to be, front foot, lobbing the ball high up, and then he showed good running power and a good finish.”

Derry rescued a point through Cian Kavanagh, but while O’Donnell felt his side should have had a penalty, when Benson was fouled by Ronan Boyce, he had no complaints about Wasiri Williams receiving a straight red card in the 86th minute.

“I thought it was a penalty,” reflected the Galwegian.

“Looking back, I think it is a penalty, but I wouldn’t have any qualms with (the sending-off). Wasiri knows it was a bit late, and obviously when you lunge in like that, it looked a bit reckless.

“He didn’t go over the top of the ball. The player (Ollie O’Neill) got up and that, but it was late, and when you commit like that, you’re going to be walking a tight rope.”