O’Donnell laments Oriel surface as injury list increases

Stephen O’Donnell blamed the artificial playing surface at Oriel Park for his ever-growing list of injuries.

With Louie Annesley, Daniel Kelly, Cameron Elliott, Paul Doyle and John Mountney already on the Oriel treatment table, Dundalk FC were hit with further woes after Andy Boyle (calf) pulled up prior to their clash with Derry City.

Adding to that, just past the half-hour mark against Derry, Greg Sloggett (ankle) was stretchered off, with the midfielder landing awkwardly after attempting to win a header.

However, head coach O’Donnell, when addressing local media on Sunday, was certainly of the belief the pitch at Oriel is having a direct impact on the wellbeing of his players, before going on to reference Derry, who play on a similar surface, and their injury crisis.

“There’s talk of it obviously, but it’s just the correlation,” he said.

“They’re the two teams that get the most injuries and I think we know what the correlation is. It’s hard to tell (with Boyle). It’s not a serious one. We had a view that if he had played, I think it could have potentially been serious. Then Greg goes up for a header and rolls his ankle.

“With the ownership or that, obviously (the pitch) is a massive cost. Can we get the council involved where they help out and do something? Because it’s gone beyond probably a point of not a great surface to watch football, it’s actually injuring players.

“Muscle injuries, there’s no give in that. So muscle injuries, you’re pounding on it and you go up for a header, then ligament, bone injuries. If you don’t land square on it with your sole or your foot, you’re doing your ankle ligaments, or you’re doing your knee.

“All I know is, we get a load of injuries, and Derry get a lot of injuries. That’s all I know.”

Despite the condition of the pitch, O’Donnell was pleased that those in attendance were treated to what was an excellent game of football. But he didn’t hide his frustration at not taking all three points in a contest they were winning 2-1 coming into the closing stages.

“It’s all credit to both teams. That pitch is bone dry. It’s hot and it served up a good game. It would have all the makings pre-game of a shocking game, but it was exciting.

“I’m delighted with the second-half performance of what we want to look like as a team. Obviously, when you get in front, 70-odd minutes, you’re looking to win the game.

“I thought we were tentative maybe for the first 10 minutes in the second half, and then you could sense the crowd getting behind us, and you could sense we were getting a foothold of the game.

“We were the dominant team then. Obviously, the pitch is quite dry. It’s mid-afternoon. It’s a warm day. It’s not conducive to slick football.

“They probably had the better moments in the first half. We were probably a little bit tentative. But from an honesty point of view, in the first half, I was happy with us, our competing. And then we took over the game as the second half went on.”

Now third from bottom in the table, Dundalk next travel to Tolka Park on Friday night (kick-off, 7.45pm) to take on Shelbourne, who are only a point ahead of The Lilywhites.

O’Donnell’s side may find themselves eighth after ten matches, but such is the nature of this season’s Premier Division, they are only five points behind St Patrick’s Athletic in second.

Dundalk came from behind to beat Shels 2-1 at Oriel at the start of last month in a game which sparked ugly scenes outside the tunnel after the final whistle, while Damien Duff’s side recorded a 4-0 win at the same venue in the Leinster Senior Cup, also in March.

“They were good (against Shamrock Rovers last Friday). It will be a tough game. It always is. The league, every game’s a tough game. The league hasn’t taken shape and it won’t take shape. It’s a pick’em, and I think it’s going to stay a pick’em, to be honest.

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“I think it’s going to be like that. There is 10 games in, it’s taking no pattern and I’m not sure if it will take a pattern. So you saw with St Pats, struggling, go on a mini run of four games and they’re second, four points behind top.

“It’s a quick turnaround Sunday to Friday. It’ll be on us before we know it, and we need to be ready to rock.”