RONAN FINN IS happy with how life at Dundalk has begun after playing a pivotal role in back-to-back league wins.
The reigning champions have opened their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title defence with 1-0 wins over Longford Town and Derry City with recent signing Finn providing the assists for both goals.
“I think we’re coming together,” Finn told The42. “Pre-season went well but you can’t replicate the intensity of proper games. I thought we were the better side up in Derry and were comfortable in possession. We had a couple of chances and fortunately we took one.
“Gary (Rogers) didn’t really have a save to make whereas Ger Doherty was quite busy and pulled off a couple. I thought it was a good performance and we’ve got two wins from two so you can’t be too negative.
“It’s been good to bed in and they are a really good group of lads,” he added.
“They obviously won the league last year and are top players so you want to come in and do well. Stephen signed me and it was nice to come and help the team win the two games. It’s early days and I’ve set me sights on what I want to achieve this season.
I like to score goals but it’s a team game and it doesn’t matter who scores them as long as we are winning. It’s nice to chip in with assists but Stephen signed me to score goals as well.”
Having spent four years at Shamrock Rovers, Finn took the chance to link up with manager Stephen Kenny once again by making the switch to Louth in the close season and the former UCD and Sporting Fingal man believes it was the right time for a new challenge.
“I’d been at Rovers for four years and it is a great club but I felt it was the right time to move. I had good communication with Stephen throughout the off-season and when we spoke I realised that I wanted to play for him again. He was good to me before and he can get the most out of me.”
Next up for the Lilywhites is the visit of FAI Cup champions St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night. Dundalk defeated the Saints 2-1 in the President’s Cup last month and Finn can’t wait to face them again at Oriel Park.
“We played them in the President’s Cup and that was a good test,” he said. “It was the first proper match because you go through pre-season but you can’t replicate the intensity of a competitive match.
“I thought we were the better side that day and we beat them well after they had gone a goal up against the run of play.
But this is the league and that win will mean nothing. They got beaten by Shamrock Rovers but won well (against Bray) last week so they will be coming up intent on avoiding defeat. They like to play so I’m looking forward to the game.”
