Dundalk’s loss in Derry brought to an end their pre-season friendlies for 2008, as the Lilywhites prepare to go into real battle for the first time next Friday when they make the trip to expected title rivals Shelbourne. The Lilywhites have taken one win, two draws and three losses from their six warm-up games, and though disappointed with his side’s defensive display in Derry, manager John Gill was pleased with the overall performance of his troops and delighted with how the build-up to the new season has gone.
 
Speaking to dundalkfc.com in the Brandywell after the 3-2 defeat, Gill said: “I thought the performance was very, very good. For patches in the first-half, we were excellent as well. We’ve shown a huge amount of character in every one of the games, and we’ve finished every second-half, I think, stronger than some of the full-time teams. But like we have throughout the pre-season programme, we gave away another two presents - one was a ball played back which Chris (Bennion) should have put into the stand, and then Davy (Crawley) gives away a needless free-kick - we spoke about that before the game because they have such height in their side. We were 1-0 down after two minutes, we could have capitulated - they had the gale with them - but we didn’t. Then we gave away another, young Ian (Ryan) makes a bad mistake, we get caught out of position and we were punished again, 2-0.
 
“We came in, and I had a little bit of a go at half-time. I asked them to go win the second-half. I said ‘have you got any balls? Because,’ I said, ‘if you don’t, you’re going to be on the receiving end of a tanking.’ And in fairness to us, I thought we were excellent, and again, I thought we finished the game really, really strongly. I’m very, very pleased. I’m very happy with the versatility of the squad. We had a few problems again tonight - John Flanagan didn’t play, Ben Whelehan didn’t play and Paul Crowley didn’t play. We finished the game there with a lot of young lads on the pitch, who done really, really well. We probably should have got a draw out of the game, but overall, I’m pleased with the performance and I’m pleased with the attitude of the players.
 
“We’ll get back to training on Sunday, we’ll train Monday and next Wednesday; that’s three more training sessions before the game. We’ll be in good fettle for the match against Shels. But, again, maybe people are putting too much emphasis on this one game - it’s not about one game, I feel we’ve got a squad to compete throughout the season. There’s great versatility, there’s good competition for places, fitness levels are excellent, organisationally we’re good as well - we just need to tidy up on a few little areas where we’re overplaying in areas you shouldn’t overplay in. I don’t want us to stop playing football, but there’s areas that you don’t play in - when you’re playing against a gale and you need to put the ball into C section, then that’s what you do. Then you regroup and you organise, and you get in at half-time one goal down instead of two.
 
“But, overall, I’m very, very pleased and very happy, and I’m looking forward now to next Friday - I think we all are now. The jousting has stopped and now it’s time for the real stuff.”