DUNDALK MANAGER STEPHEN Kenny lauded the performance of goalkeeper Gary Rogers after his late heroics at Oriel Park.
Daryl Horgan put the champions 1-0 up against Longford Town in the first half but they were unable to add a second despite numerous chances after the break.
Instead, it was the visitors who could have snatched a point — first through substitute David O’Sullivan and then Gary Shaw in injury time. However, Rogers, making his league debut after arriving from Sligo Rovers, matched both efforts with two excellent saves to ensure victory for the Lilywhites.
“It’s an important win for us,” Kenny said after the final whistle. “The conditions were difficult and it was such a windy night.
“We scored a great goal. It was good interchanging play, a terrific run and cross by Ronan Finn and a great finish by Daryl Horgan. We didn’t create many chances in the first half but that was a real bit of quality.
In the second half we had several chances to get that second goal. We had one cleared off the line and also a brilliant save from Paul Skinner from Richie Towell.
“But in the last five minutes Longford had two good opportunities. We didn’t defend too well in those situations but Gary Rogers made two great saves. That’s why we signed him – to turn the one points into threes.
“We know we didn’t play as well as we can. Some of the players have had interrupted pre-seasons and come back late. Some of them look like they have missed a little bit but that game will have done them the world of good.
“We weren’t at our best and they were difficult conditions but when that is the case, it is very important that you win. And we did win, against a good, experienced Longford team who will take points off all the top teams this year for sure.”
Midfielder Towell also praised 33-year-old stopper Rogers.
“We were probably lucky towards the end and Gary made an unbelievable save so it could have ended in a draw even though we were comfortable in the game,” he said.
“That is what he was brought to the club for. You can see it in training when he is pulling saves out of the top corner.
I don’t think we really got out of second or third gear and there is a lot more from us. Hopefully over the course of the next few games we can get some free-flowing football and get back to doing what we were doing last year.
“I suppose it’s an improvement on how we started last year, when we got beaten 4-1 (by Drogheda) in our first game.”
