Stephen O’Donnell praised his players for the perseverance they showed against Bray Wanderers on Friday night.
With Storm Betty throwing torrential rain and gale force winds at The Carlisle Grounds, the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup tie turned into a slog.
Extra-time loomed large as the game ticked into the 86th-minute but Daryl Horgan’s 86th-minute winner secured Dundalk’s place in Tuesday’s quarter final draw, leaving the loyal band of travelling supporters singing in the rain at full time.
O’Donnell on the weather…
“It was pretty extreme. We had the wind in the first half and it doubled down in the second half but we showed a good level of cohesion in our play. The pitch and the surface was very good and helped in that regard. If it was of lesser standard, I don’t think the game would have finished.”
On Dundalk’s performance…
“I was very happy with the performance. Despite the conditions, we controlled the game and created a lot of chances. On another night, we would have gone in a few goals up at half time. At the other end, we only gave up one chance which came on the counter.”
On being patient…
“We showed good perseverance and patience. We kept trying to probe even though it wasn’t easy. Bray sat off the game and tried to soak up the pressure by defending from the halfway line back but we showed good composure and waited for our moment.”
On the prospect of extra time…
“You obviously fear that it could be one of those nights and it’s not going to happen for you but we got our just rewards. We went a bit more direct for the goal. It was a good angled ball by Connor, a great cushioned header by Pat and a good strike by Horgs, which took a little nick. It’s great for Daryl to get off the mark again.”
On Sam Durrant’s display…
“I was very happy with Sam. He wouldn’t have been expecting to come on in the first half but he was really sharp and ready to go. He was very dangerous in one versus one situations with his left peg or when he chopped back on to his right. He will come on an awful from that. He had not played a lot of minutes at Sheffield Wednesday so to get 60 minutes is brilliant.”
