A downcast Gareth Cronin at full-time. | photo: Jim O'Sullivan
Despite the heartbreak of losing out to a very late goal, Waterford United manager Gareth Cronin was trying to maintain a positive approach when he spoke after the game against Dundalk.
“Of course it is bitterly disappointing to lose such an important game in that fashion. We had to overcome all sorts of problems out there tonight and I am proud of my players because they gave everything I asked for and a manager cannot ask for anymore.
“We were poor against Limerick last week but all of the lads in the squad worked hard all week and we deserved something from the game this evening. We had to change things around and we played a different formation but when Willie John Kiely got sent off we had to change things once again.
“How the linesman could see what happened is beyond me because he was 50 yards away from the incident. On the other hand the referee was right up with the play and he saw nothing wrong. We probably won’t win the league now but we will keep going and try and win our last three games.
“We owe that to Dundalk and Shelbourne. There are a lot of local players in the team now, lads like Kieran Fitzgerald, David Grincell, Vinny Sullivan, Kenny Browne and of course David Breen and Paul McCarthy so I believe the future is bright for the club.
“To lose our last three games in the manner we did and at such an important time is hard to take, but we will just get on with it and see what the future holds,” concluded the Blues boss on what was a very tense evening to say the very least.
