DERRY City manager Tiernan Lynch laughed off talk that there were arguments or fall-outs following the hard-fought 1-1 draw at Drogheda United.
Prior to the contest at Sullivan Lambe Park on Friday night, rumours circulated that the ex-Larne gaffer had fallen out with some of his Candystripes players – but he would not get drawn on anything and stated after the game that his players once again gave their all.
“I know there’s other people talking and I keep saying they are as good a bunch that you’ll work with,” he said.
“Anybody that comes to our training any day of the week, they’ll see the work that these boys put in on a daily basis and the effort and when somebody throws their body on the line like Mark Connolly (against Drogheda) and so many others all season.
“There were also people who played that maybe hadn’t played in a couple of weeks and it would have been easy for them to huff, if that was the type of character they were and that was the type of culture that we had here.
“Hayden Cann threw his body on the line in the 91st minute and that’s great credit to him and all the boys.
“Look, if there’s any critics or if there’s any mumbling or rumours or whatever, I don’t think I need to come out and say anything, I think they do their talking on the pitch.”
Read More: Derry City go second in the standings after draw with Drogheda
With the likes of Sam Todd, Ronan Boyce, Hayden Cann, Arlo Doherty and Friday night’s goalscorer Danny Mullen just some of the players out of contract at the end of the season, Lynch stresses this is the case for all clubs throughout the League of Ireland top flight.
“I think the big thing in all of this is that this is going on across all 10 clubs – all 10 clubs are in the same position,” he stated.
“There’s always players who are out of contract at this time of the season and I think at this stage there’s lots of things going on and we’ve four games left and we have to get our heads down, work towards those last four games and try to get this club into Europe – and that’s got to be the be all and end all.
“I totally get the other things, managers and players we’re all in the same boat and I think the big thing is – which I’m hugely proud of and I told the boys this after the game – that our performance and togetherness was the most important thing and what will be, will be and things will work themselves out.”
Read More: Foylesiders disappointed after Shels draw, says boss Tiernan Lynch
The Derry gaffer also confirmed that centre-back Todd might be available for Friday’s home clash against Sligo Rovers after he missed the Drogheda game with a slight hamstring problem.
“Sam got a scan last Wednesday or Thursday and he has a little hamstring strain and it’s only a strain,” he explained.
“So, I think just where we are at the moment with injuries and people out for the rest of the season, it probably wasn’t worth taking the risk on him.
“However we’re hoping and praying that he’ll be back and ready to go again next week.”
Lynch believes Mullen’s goal to cancel out Fuhad Kareem’s opener to ensure City secured a point could be a massive result once the season comes to an end.
The draw combined with Bohemians losing to soon-to-be-crowned champions Shamrock Rovers means the Foylesiders slot into second spot and more importantly sit four points ahead of Kevin Doherty’s men and five clear of St Patrick’s Athletic and Shelbourne, although the deposed champions have played a game less.
