Stephen Kenny: 'You're going into the Europa League with both hands tied behind your back.'

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny says his side are going into the Europa League group stages with ‘both hands tied behind their backs’ as their fixture backlog mounts.

The Lilywhites progression in Europe was were aided by the ability to postpone games in the lead-up to their Champions League qualifiers against FH, BATE and Legia Warsaw. They won the first two ties outright before losing the third which saw them drop into the group stages of Europe's second tier competition.

Those group games do need to be played before the end of the season, however, which is set to end with the FAI's showpiece event at the Aviva Stadium, the FAI Cup final on Sunday 6 November.

Dundalk looked into the possibility of having the season extended by a week or two in which to accommodate the extra games, but were told it is not possible.

“We did have matches cancelled, that’s true – that should be a given,” Kenny told reporters following his side’s 2-1 over Bohemians at Dalymount Park last Friday night.

“We did proactively try to use the rule to get the Sligo Rovers game on Tuesday moved forward.

“We gave six possible dates when we could have played it and that did not happen for whatever reason.

“I have been looking at this since last January, trying to organise this. So this is not something that happened this week – we have been proactive.

“It is what it is. We are in a good position but it just means that you are going into the Europa League with both arms tied behind your back.

“And there’s no way you can play to the level that you need to play to if it’s your fifth game in 13 days.”

The match in Dalymount was yet another rescheduled fixture, after the original meeting between Dundalk and Cork City was postponed when City had Sean Maguire and Kevin O'Connor away with the Ireland under-21s.

As a measure of how complicated the fixture schedule has become (City and Dundalk have each played four more games than third-placed Derry City), Bohs’ clash with Wexford Youths had to be moved to bring Friday’s game forward.

“It’s a tough schedule but not one I want to start complaining about. I think we’ve got to make the best plans that we can.

“I’m just disappointed we’re going into the Europa League games and we’re nearly throwing the white towel in before we even go into them.

“We’re going in being forced to play games on the Monday because there is no other option. It’s not just playing on the Monday, it’s five game in two weeks.

“I’m disappointed with that but I don’t have an alternative. The option to extend the season by a couple of weeks would seem logical to me.

“Clubs might have an extra week’s wages or something but I’m sure that could be sorted out.”

However Kenny laughed at the suggestion Dundalk might dip into their European kitty to help clubs meet the extra financial commitment required to stretch out the season.

“I think we would like it to go back a couple of weeks because we’ll be going into the Europa League games very ill-prepared, very poorly prepared. And that’s what kills me.

“We had a week to prepare for the other games and we needed it because we are looking to play at a level way beyond ourselves, the absolute optimum level of performance to go and beat BATE Borisov 3-0.

“We beat them out the door and then go toe to toe with Legia and push the tie into injury time over two legs when we were quite unlucky.

“To beat FH we had to prepare quite well, so to go into games with fellows who cannot even train because they’ve played so many matches.

“[To have] no preparation and that we cannot even show them any of the opposition where as normally I am showing them the opposition five or six days beforehand.

“We’re usually in training, saying ‘this is what we can do’. Instead, what we are doing is showing them the night before.

“I haven’t been able to watch every detail [of European opponents].

“I have pencilled in Wednesday to watch four of their matches (AZ) as we have Sligo on Tuesday. We have to prepare for Sligo and UCD, so we have two preparations this week.

“But we won’t be able to speak about AZ until after the Finn Harps’ match on Monday. We’ll be in Holland on Wednesday saying, ‘this is who AZ are!'"

Dundalk’s predicament isn’t without precedent in League of Ireland terms – Shamrock Rovers had to play 60 games en route to the Europa League group stages and retaining the league.

The Lilywhites – owing to the cancellation of the Setanta Sports Cup – face a maximum of 54 games should they make it to the cup final (assuming no replays or extra Europa League games).

Nevertheless, the fact they face the prospect of playing up to three games per week for the remainder of the League of Ireland season brings into focus the difficulty created by a 40-week season.

However it’s the financial precariousness that lies at the heart of the curtailed 40-week calendar (several clubs would prefer a lengthier one) that would nix the idea of pushing the season out this year.

Unlike the wealthier clubs at the top of the table, smaller clubs live hand to mouth, and the likes of Finn Harps and Wexford Youths are disadvantaged enough as it is by forced postponements.

“There is no real option because we are victims of our own success. I’m not whining about it and I don’t want any moaning.

“It’s just a reality. There are only two options - extend the season or don’t.

“And they are not going to favour Dundalk – they certainly have to liaise with the other clubs.

“So there has to be fairness in that regard and it’s just a challenge to get them in any way.

“But there does not seem to be an option to extend the season so that’s the way we are. We have to accept that.

“We have a tough FAI Cup run as well. We’ve said to the players what a finale to the season to fly home from Russia into Lansdowne – land on the pitch and get ready!”