Drogheda United boss Kevin Doherty tells story to explain his shock at Euro expulsion
KEVIN DOHERTY revealed he was so sure Drogheda United would be given the all-clear in Conference League that he did give Silkeborg's Euro qualification no moment's thought.
The Drogs are
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Investors Trivela own both Drogheda and Silkeborg, but the Danes are allowed into the Conference League instead as they finished higher in their league table.
Drogheda appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration in Sport who ruled in favour of UEFA on Monday which exhausted the Drogs' chances of a reprieve.
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Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty talks to media about his club's CAS appeal after Monday night's 2-1 loss to Shamrock Rovers
And stunned Drogheda United manager Doherty admitted that he never, ever thought that the decision would go against his side.
He said: 'I may as well be honest. I was so confident I was in the airport (during the summer break).
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'I was looking at the result from Silkeborg and I thought 'Fair play to them' when they won (a Euro play-off).
'That's how…I was so confident and obviously the club were too.
'On Friday night, I wasn't bulls****ing you. Everything I said on Friday still applies today based on the information I had.
'I said that about 100 times. I was confident, very confident. We're heartbroken.'
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Doherty said it is for the club to discuss whether there were financial implications - European football would have meant a guaranteed €525,000 in prize money.
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Kevin Doherty led Drogheda United to FAI Cup glory last season
But he praised his players for how they performed in last night's 2-1 loss to Shamrock Rovers as proving they can qualify for Europe again this season.
He said: 'Everything around the club on the pitch is on the up. CAS doesn't change that. Look, have a look around, how positive that is.
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'But it was certainly something that I had to dig deep myself, to go into dressing room and try and motivate lads to play a football match.'
That Drogheda lost infuriated Doherty who believes that Shamrock Rovers' equaliser by Graham Burke came from a free kick that should never have been given.
He said: 'I know managers sometimes do this to deflect. It's mental. I don't know how many away fans there is, 650? I didn't hear one Rovers supporter looking for a free kick.
'It absolutely kills you. You are playing the best team in the country by a mile, you are coming out playing like that and after the day we've had.
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'I thought we deserved something out of the game.'
Doherty also highlighted that his squad is stretched at the moment with last night's game being the second of a run of five matches in 15 days.
And he pointed out that the Shamrock Rovers game was brought forward because both sides are meant to be in Europe next month.
He said: 'I am just sick. The ironic thing is the reason we're playing this game is (Europe). We've five games in 14 days and we're picking up knocks and we're picking up injuries.
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'The only reason we're playing this game now (is Europe, and we've) one league game in July.'
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The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Drogheda United boss Kevin Doherty tells story to explain his shock at Euro expulsion
KEVIN DOHERTY revealed he was so sure Drogheda United would be given the all-clear in Conference League that he did give Silkeborg's Euro qualification no moment's thought. The Drogs are Advertisement Investors Trivela own both Drogheda and Silkeborg, but the Danes are allowed into the Conference League instead as they finished higher in their league table. Drogheda appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration in Sport who ruled in favour of UEFA on Monday which exhausted the Drogs' chances of a reprieve. 2 Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty talks to media about his club's CAS appeal after Monday night's 2-1 loss to Shamrock Rovers And stunned Drogheda United manager Doherty admitted that he never, ever thought that the decision would go against his side. He said: 'I may as well be honest. I was so confident I was in the airport (during the summer break). Advertisement Read More On Football 'I was looking at the result from Silkeborg and I thought 'Fair play to them' when they won (a Euro play-off). 'That's how…I was so confident and obviously the club were too. 'On Friday night, I wasn't bulls****ing you. Everything I said on Friday still applies today based on the information I had. 'I said that about 100 times. I was confident, very confident. We're heartbroken.' Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog Exclusive Breaking Doherty said it is for the club to discuss whether there were financial implications - European football would have meant a guaranteed €525,000 in prize money. 2 Kevin Doherty led Drogheda United to FAI Cup glory last season But he praised his players for how they performed in last night's 2-1 loss to Shamrock Rovers as proving they can qualify for Europe again this season. He said: 'Everything around the club on the pitch is on the up. CAS doesn't change that. Look, have a look around, how positive that is. Advertisement 'But it was certainly something that I had to dig deep myself, to go into dressing room and try and motivate lads to play a football match.' That Drogheda lost infuriated Doherty who believes that Shamrock Rovers' equaliser by Graham Burke came from a free kick that should never have been given. He said: 'I know managers sometimes do this to deflect. It's mental. I don't know how many away fans there is, 650? I didn't hear one Rovers supporter looking for a free kick. 'It absolutely kills you. You are playing the best team in the country by a mile, you are coming out playing like that and after the day we've had. Advertisement 'I thought we deserved something out of the game.' Doherty also highlighted that his squad is stretched at the moment with last night's game being the second of a run of five matches in 15 days. And he pointed out that the Shamrock Rovers game was brought forward because both sides are meant to be in Europe next month. He said: 'I am just sick. The ironic thing is the reason we're playing this game is (Europe). We've five games in 14 days and we're picking up knocks and we're picking up injuries. Advertisement 'The only reason we're playing this game now (is Europe, and we've) one league game in July.'
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'The result was taken away from us' - Pride, shock and anger all present for Drogheda boss Kevin Doherty
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Grit and guile sees Shelbourne inflict first home defeat in a year on St Patrick's Athletic
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Shels started like a side who had no time to feel sorry for themselves after Friday's loss. Even without the injured Kerr McInroy, absent through injury for the first time this season, in the middle of the park the visitors assumed control with a tempo and confidence that the passive hosts just didn't match. Shels might have had reason to go into their shell and think the world was against them on seven minute when a lovely piece of one touch passing involving Mark Coyle, Sean Boyd and Coote opened up the Saints defence with the Scot's run from deep putting him through on goal. Advertisement Shelbourne's JJ Lunney is tackled by Jamie Lennon of St Pat's. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO Referee Paul Norton was quick to blow his whistle for a foul on Boyd, though, and rather than allow play develop he brought it back. Duff and the Shels bench were rightly aggrieved but, three minutes later, they were celebrating when Coote found the net. It was a passage of play that summed up the difference between the sides during the first-half; Shels were positive and front-footed, taking the initiative and punishing their standoffish opponents. Coyle drove from the middle of the Pat's half, made it into the box without a challenge and practically bumped into Harry Wood who then was able to take possession and feed Evan Caffrey on the right. Again, pressure was non existent and he was able to pick out a deep cross to the opposite side where Tyreke Wilson was unmarked could concentrate on his deft first-time lay off for Coote eight yards out. He got his left-footed shot off straight away and the lunging Tom Grivosti deflected it just to the right of Joey Anang. From that point on Shels maintained control in and out of possession, every misplaced pass or missed opportunity to attack adding to that sense of restlessness and frustration among the home fans. Even the one half chance Pat's mustered on 23 minutes came when Aidan Keena couldn't control a cross from the right, the ball trickled on to Jay McClelland and his shot from the edge of the area was deflected over. Boyd had a great chance to double Shels' lead 10 minutes before the break when Caffrey's dinked cross from the right found Boyd in acres of space in the box. The striker opted to shoot with his left as the ball came over his shoulder and couldn't direct it on target. Kenny responded to his side's lethargy with a triple substitution at half-time. Mason Melia joined Keena in attack with Jake Mulraney making way along with both full backs, Anto Breslin and Ryan McLaughlin. They were replaced by Barry Baggley and Axel Sjoberg, respectively, with McClelland going to left back and Baggley into midfield. It was scrappy and fraught as the game crept beyond the hour mark with only Conor Kearns needing to get down low to save from Keena's long-distance effort. Just when a lull began to linger in the play the Pat's crowd in the main stand were on the feet in anger demanding Sam Bone be shown a red card for a late, sliding tackle on Melia that sent the young forward into the air after he nicked the ball past him towards goal. The covering Paddy Barrett ensured a sending off was never on the cards with just a yellow shown. Pats did force Shels onto their 18-yard box for the final 20 minutes but the champions were comfortable in their defensive shape barring one scramble in the box that saw substitute Zach Elbouzedi see his rebound shot blocked in the six-yard box by Caffrey. There were still moments of danger, like when Melia went down in the box under little pressure and Duff was shown a yellow card for his complaints, and Jamie Lennon's strike from 20 yards that had a lovely bit of fade to take it away from Kearns but grazed the top of the crossbar. The Shels keeper did have to make a superb save from Baggley at the end of normal time and once the five minutes of injury time were up Shels could celebrate a win that was produced through grit and guile. St Patrick's Athletic: Joey Anang; Ryan McLaughlin (Axel Sjoberg HT), Joe Redmond (captain), Tom Grivosti, Anto Breslin (Barry Baggley HT); Simon Power, Jamie Lennon, Jay McClelland, Kian Leavy (Zach Elbouzedi 71), Jake Mulraney (Mason Melia HT); Aidan Keena (Conor Carty 85). Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Evan Caffrey (Sean Gannon 75), Paddy Barrett, Sam Bone, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson (James Norris 75); Harry Wood, Mark Coyle (captain), JJ Lunney (Dan Kelly 70), Ali Coote (Ellis Chapman 60), Sean Boyd (John Martin 70). Referee: Paul Norton. Attendance: 4,421
