New Limerick FC boss Neil McDonald was cut a frustrated figure after their 3-0 loss to Dundalk at the Markets Field. Limerick were forced to play with 10 men for 70 minutes of the game after their keeper Brendan Clarke was sent off for handling the
New Limerick FC boss Neil McDonald was cut a frustrated figure after their 3-0 loss to Dundalk at the Markets Field.
Limerick were forced to play with 10 men for 70 minutes of the game after their keeper Brendan Clarke was sent off for handling the ball outside his penalty area.
Limerick struggled from that moment and McDonald admitted that it was hard to analyse his team as a result.
“We started off ok and passed the ball quite well but when you lose your goalkeeper it gives you an uphill battle,” he said.
They (Dundalk) obviously pass the ball quite well and I was quite impressed with them and the way they play. They punished us any time they got behind the back four.
“We can certainly defend better for the three goals but on the whole it was a difficult night after going down to 10 men."
Given the nature of the defeat, positives were few and far between but McDonald took solace in the way his new players went about their task after the break with Dundalk two goals in front.
“I asked for a clean sheet in the second half and we almost got there. The lads showed lots of enthusiasm and hard work and they didn’t give up.
“It’s easy to drop your head when you lose one or two goals and to feel sorry for yourself but I thought they battled away in the second half and all credit to them for that.
McDonald was in the dugout for the game but Willie Boland took charge of the side in the lead up to the Dundalk game and will have a similar role in Limerick’s preparation for Tuesday night’s trip to Bohemians.
However, he will be in full control of operations by the time Limerick visit Finn Harps on Friday night. The new Limerick manager also admitted that he is in the process of bringing an assistant manager into the club and that he has already began the task of strengthening his squad.
“I have had a couple of decent replies from the people I have been speaking to so fingers crossed that we can push that forward.
“We have a few weeks to try and bring players in to strengthen the squad. We will be looking to sign them on permanent deals, that would be perfect but it isn’t always the scenario,” McDonald added.
