Dundalk boss finds encouragement in Grivosti debut after Sligo draw
Lilywhites manager Ciaran Kilduff shares his thoughts on new signing Tom Grivosti
Fresh defensive reinforcements have given Ciaran Kilduff reason for optimism despite the disappointment of seeing his side concede a stoppage-time equaliser in Friday night’s 1-1 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division draw with Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park.
The Lilywhites completed the signing of Tom Grivosti on deadline day, with the 27-year-old defender joining from St Patrick’s Athletic on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
The Liverpudlian made more than 100 appearances for the Saints after arriving from Ross County, having previously come through the academy at Bolton Wanderers.
Grivosti made his Dundalk FC debut after coming off the bench for the final half hour against Sligo, and Kilduff felt there were encouraging signs from both the new arrival and the club’s other recent additions, despite the late setback.
“He’s a brilliant defender and that’s why I just felt at the death we had the right people out there to see that out.
“It’s a gut-wrenching one because Tom came in and settled well. I thought Egor Vassenin looked a threat. Leo Gaxha was lively. We looked like we’d go on and see the game out.
“There were positives in getting these lads onto the pitch. It’s not an excuse or anything like that, but there’s obviously been a lot of interchange back there all year, from Vinnie Leonard to Mayowa Animasahun to Bobby Burns, et cetera.
“There are some huge positives in that tonight, but right now you can’t really feel them.”
Kilduff also confirmed that teenage forward TJ Molloy has joined NIFL Championship side Armagh City on loan until the end of the season. The 17-year-old could make his debut in Saturday’s league opener at home to Queen’s University, with the Dundalk manager hopeful the temporary move will aid his development in the same way Mayowa Animasahun’s loan spell at Dungannon Swifts did before he established himself at Oriel Park.
“TJ needed it. You can see the level when we went up here. His opportunities were going to be limited.
“It’s not that he doesn’t have a future here, but he definitely needs to play some men’s football.
“We see him every day in training and you can see him in the 20s. He’s in that development phase.
“Mayowa went on loan up there back in the day and it was brilliant for his development. We’re hoping the same for TJ.
“He’s obviously got a bit of development to do. He’s so young. I’m delighted for him. Hopefully he goes up, scores some goals and comes back.”
The Dundalk boss also reflected on a demanding summer transfer window, which saw Vinnie Leonard depart for Norwich City, Eoin Kenny join Portsmouth and Gbemi Arubi move to Burton Albion.
The arrivals of Egor Vassenin on loan from Shamrock Rovers, Cian Dillon from Queens Park Rangers, Trevor Clarke from Shamrock Rovers, and Grivosti from St Patrick’s Athletic, together with Declan McDaid signing a contract extension until the end of next season, have reshaped the squad, but Kilduff admitted time is required for the new-look group to settle.
“It’s been tough. I said to their manager before the game, they’ve had a lot of turnover and so have we.
“We’ve lost three or four key players. Obviously I knew Vinnie was going, but then we lose Eoin, we lose Gbemi, Danny Mullen’s injury in Dalymount.
“We’ve had a huge upheaval, and then you’re bringing in Egor, Cian, Trevor and Tom.
“And I’m literally going, ‘Brilliant reinforcements,’ but some of them aren’t in the building a week yet. They’re probably figuring the place out and meeting people around the place for the first time.
“There’s a huge bedding-in period and we’re in our infancy in terms of a Premier Division outfit.
“But we dropped two big points tonight. We knew the importance of those points. We just need to hopefully maybe go and get them back next week if we can.”