Substitute Paul Smyth proved the saviour for Dundalk at Dalymount Park on Tuesday evening, as John Gill’s troops earned a hard fought draw with Bohemians. Smyth entered from the bench and netted an equaliser within four minutes as he fired home from close range after latching on to a Robbie Martin overhead kick, and afterwards, like his manager, the Monaghan-born winger, who scored his first goal in eight months, was delighted with the result.
 
“It was nice to score,” Smythy admitted to dundalkfc.com. “It has been a long time since I got one, so I’m delighted to get that. Hopefully, maybe, it will be the start of a few - sometimes, when you get one, it starts off something. I got in around the back and pulled it back to Paul Crowley, he had a shot and the ‘keeper blocked it, and whatever way it rebounded, it just came back to me - it was a tight angle but it just managed to go in.”
 
A triple substitution by Gill halfway through the second period appeared to inject much needed energy into Dundalk, and Smyth was of the same opinion that the subs changed the game. “I think we did - there wasn’t much happening. I don’t think we were getting the ball in quick enough, so Giller said to me when I was coming on to just get the crosses in. Obviously, as you seen there, it causes panic and danger in the box when you get it in. The goal gave us a good boost. Against Bohs, again it was tough, it’s hard to get any sort of chances, but we’re delighted with that result tonight.
 
“Derry is going to be another tough game - there are no easy games in pre-season, but we’re all confident in ourselves. It’s not going to be about the result up there, you’re looking at the performance again. It’s good at the moment; we’re all fit, eager and keen, and everybody’s looking good, so it looks well for the season ahead. Everyone’s looking very fit and very sharp, and training is going well - you have Flano and Cassidy to come back in as well, so the team is looking good. We have twenty good players this season, so if we keep them all fit, we should be able to, hopefully, do the business.”
 
So far in pre-season, Smyth has only been handed one start - up front in the defeat of Saint Patrick’s Athletic - however, the 26-year-old is determined to earn himself a regular spot when the league kicks-off. “I’m going to keep knocking at that door anyway,” Smyth affirmed. “I’m not going to lie down. If I don’t start the season, I’ll come on and make an impact and do whatever has to be done, and then it’s a matter of when you get in, you make sure you stay in.”