O'Donnell insists Lilies steeled for derby tussle
drogheda utd v DUNDALK, LIVE SETANTA IRL (KO 8.05)
A Champions League-bound Dundalk side are ready for their local derby battle with Drogheda United tonight.
As they gear up for that European battle with BATE Borisov later this month, Dundalk cannot afford to take their eye off the ball in the league and they face an in-form Drogheda side who have dropped just two points from their last four games.
"It's going to be a really difficult match for us, the derbies are always tough but they're the games you want to play in," says Dundalk midfielder Stephen O'Donnell (below).
"We don't have a great recent record there so we're going to try set that straight," added the midfielder, Dundalk content with their form after the mid-season break, with a 6-2 win over Limerick last weekend.
"We're happy with the way the game went against Limerick. It wasn't like us to concede two goals like we did but it wasn't that important. We prepared right over the break, we came back in and we put the work in. We have a lot of things we can tidy up on but we are pleased with how the game went and it was a great result for us.
"We want to win every game. We are looking forward to it."
Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny has had mixed results from the local derby so he's wary of the threat from John McDonnell's side.
"We are looking forward to the derby. It is always a great occasion and we are playing well. We put in a great performance last week against Limerick and we want to take that into this week against Drogheda United. We have everyone fit which is a plus and we are ready to go in the match," said Kenny.
"We will get a really difficult game in the Louth derby. We wouldn't expect anything else. We know we are going to get a really tough game, they always are but the players are in good form and we're looking forward to it."