Dundalk (A)

[culloty82]

The major challenge for Colin Healy and his staff will be how to tactically gauge this first ever trip to Oriel Park to meet the league leaders - on the one hand, we're not a side that generally fares well when sitting back and inviting teams onto us, but on the other, our scoring record is certainly at the lower end of the First Division scale! One suspects the compromise approach will be to pack both defence and midfield, given 5-3-2 worked well for us in previous games, and that in turn would allow us to counter when the opportunity presents. We'll be amply familiar with the challenges presented by Ebbe, Gaxha and Horgan, among others, but Treaty, Harps and Bray have all come away from the Wee County with draws already this season, so a share of the spoils is a realistic ambition if the entire team are in sync for the full 90 minutes on Friday.

[Zico]

5-3-1-1 set up probably, keep it tight and frustrate them and the longer the game goes on the harder it gets. Whatever way we go about it we need to make them earn it and not concede anything soft.

Dan is suspended and Kelliher still out I assume so most likely Palmer up top on his own. Dans pace will be a big loss unfortunately, would force Dundalk to sit a bit deeper (especially given how he tormented them in the first round game).

[legendz]

Dan will be a loss despite missing guilt edged chances in recent games. Hopefully will see smarter tactical changes this evening. A tactical change before last week's equaliser didn't seem to make sense.
Kerry have had a similar-ish approach in recent games and it has worked reasonably well. Will have to be ready for any approach Dundalk have to counter that. This game is the best challenge ahead of the FAI Cup later in the summer as well.

[Zico]

A good performance and all that it was, the reality is we need to move on from moral victories. If we took our chances in the first half we would have got a draw at the very least. That’s 4 points now dropped from not taking our chances in the last 2 games. At least we are creating them I suppose.

Need to take care of business next week at home to Longford to stay in touch for the playoff race before the mid season break. I’m assuming come July Healy will add more quality to the squad as well as move a few on too. Getting to July and remaining in the hunt for playoffs is important.

[legendz]

Any positive result would have been a bonus. They can take confidence from the performance but need to deliver in the bread and butter games. Without Dan or RK was always going to be difficult to offer a good threat last night. A good response to last will be learning from it and claiming a big scalp in the FAI Cup. The club could do with a result that sends shock waves and creates headlines!

[listowelceltic]

Definitely signs the team is improving. Very good first half . Should have been 2 up at half time.
Did Gaxha mean the goal? It looked a fluke.
Ronan very good again . Hope that's not the long term plan for him though. Big loss in the middle of the park. Luke wasn't getting any change from the 2 Dundalk centre halves. Slightly disappointed with his replacement Honkola. Didn't hold the ball up very well when Dundalk were on top. Still alot of positives.
Next week huge now. We have improved since the 3 2 loss in Longford while they look to have regressed. Should be interesting.

[Zico]

No way Ghaxa meant it - said in his post match interview that he did and practicing it in training. He was struggling to keep a straight face though!!! It really was a fluke and such a suker punch given how comfortable we looked.