Dunne hopeful that playing against the ‘big boys’ will stand to club’s play off bid

TOMMY Dunne says his players got the taste of playing with the ‘big boys’ in Friday night’s FAI Cup clash with Dundalk, and he has challenged them to use that experience to make sure his side face that level of opposition week-in, week-out next season.

Speaking after the 2-1 defeat at the hands of treble chasing Dundalk – they are top of the Premier Division and also into the final of the EA Sports Cup – Dunne said his side face a massive six weeks as the First Division campaign draws to a close, and he has urged his players to use the experience of Friday night to secure a promotion play-off spot.

“We’ve a huge six weeks ahead of us. The FAI Cup is a huge competition, and I’d love to be heading to the Aviva Stadium but for us the aim is to try and get a play off and if we can get a play off, who knows what will happen from there.

“We have Waterford at home on Friday, they are always a sticky opposition but I think we’re confident, I think we have enough about us to be able to compete for that play off spot, and I wouldn’t be fearing anything in the bottom half of the Premier Division, albeit you’ll be up against it, but we have a confidence in the squad,” Dunne said.

His side defied all predictions of a rout to give a solid defensive display, and they almost forced a replay after substitute Padraic Cunnigham pulled a goal back late on.

Cunningham, who is just 17, is in his first season in the League of Ireland, having joined Galway FC in June, and the Headford native made his mark with an 81st minute goal on Friday night, which he described as “a cracking feeling”.

“It’s a pity about the result, but it was nice to get my first goal. If I can help the team to push on and maybe get to the play offs and then maybe go on and play at the highest level, you can’t get any better than that,” he said after the game.

Dunne was also impressed by the teenager’s contribution on Friday night, and suggested he might have a big part to play in the remainder of the campaign.

“When he came on he was a threat, he’s a big boy and he looks physically like he can make the step up, he will play a part between now and the end of the season,” he said.