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After last week’s disappointing defeat away to Dundalk, the team responded really well with the 1-0 home win over Derry City. We looked dangerous in the final third and solid defensively, so you must have been really happy afterwards?

“Yes, really happy with the performance. Off the back of the Dundalk defeat, we were disappointed to lose a poor game, but on Monday I thought we looked back to ourselves. We created a number of opportunities, possibly could’ve been a few goals ahead and we didn’t give up any clear-cut opportunities to Derry which was pleasing. All they had were longer shots and one or two crosses but in general, we defended really well as a team.”

In the first half in particular we really imposed our game on Derry with the tempo of our play and chances created with Johnny Kenny at times unmanageable for Derry in that first half.

“In general, our play in the first half was really good. The game should’ve been over at halftime. Johnny caused them real problems all night. His movement was brilliant, and how aggressive he was in the final third in terms of his runs and the timing of them was brilliant. You could see his all-round game is improving week by week. I said after the Derry game he’s in a different place to where he was last year which is pleasing.”

The level of performance certainly lifted the fans on Monday night, with a big crowd expected for the Shelbourne game, the team will need that support again from the fans.

“Yes, we will. I was surprised when I heard the attendance on Monday was only just over four thousand as the atmosphere they created was brilliant. It was like they knew that we needed them, so they really showed up, they were brilliant. They could be forgiven for showing up on a Monday and being quiet or lethargic, especially after losing in Dundalk the previous Friday. But they were anything but that. You can’t underestimate how big a part that plays in the performances, and the energy it gives us, so we’ll definitely need that tomorrow night. Sometimes when it’s a bigger crowd it can be a bit quieter in terms of atmosphere, but the fans need to know we need that atmosphere and energy against Shels.”

So, to the Shelbourne game, they’ve taken four points off us in the two Tolka games, so it’s great for us to face them now on our patch as we begin the second half of the season.

“Yes, it is. There wasn’t much in the two away games. We know with the last game in Tolka, the pitch effectively killed the game as a spectacle. There was no quality in the game at all and there was nothing either team could do about it. In the first game, we didn’t start for the first twenty minutes and they punished us. So we know we need to focus and be ready for Shels. They’re top of the league on merit and there for a reason. We need to be ready for them and respect them.”

Shelbourne found a late winner at St. Pat’s on Monday night, they’re currently top of the table, what if anything do you see differently with Shelbourne this season as against previous seasons?

“They’ve improved season on season. They’ve scored a lot of late goals and stay in games. And when they stay in games they have quality. So, if you don’t respect Shels and what they’re really good at in the game, you get punished and beaten. We have to make sure that we’re really focussed from the first minute.”

Seán Kavanagh went off injured after 35 minutes on Monday. How is he and what’s the current injury situation?

“Seán will miss tomorrow. He got a knock and we’re not too sure about it. Today we’ll check on Dylan Watts, Richie Towell, Lee Grace and possibly Seán Hoare. Rory Gaffney is nearly there, possibly next week. Darragh Burns will be a bit longer and Gary O’Neill is doing well and going in the right direction, maybe another two or three weeks”