Dundalk manager Vinny Perth has spoken of his positivity around Irish football at the moment, despite the negative headlines around John Delaney's departure as FAI Executive Vice-President.
Perth's side progressed to the FAI Cup final last night after an 89th-minute Michael Duffy strike sealed a 1-0 win over Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
Perth spoke after the game about his pride in Irish football, regardless of the negative publicity surrounding Delaney's eventual exit from the organisation.
"You get that news last night, Irish football has had a difficult, difficult day. But what the Sligo football community has put on today, I was really proud to be part of that, a proud League of Ireland and soccer man. That was an amazing night. It probably wasn't an amazing spectacle on the pitch, I accept that.
"But [there were] sold-out signs up, it just shows you what we can do. Irish football is in a good place, people need to [have] a bit of calmness about all the rubbish that's going on. Trust the people here, there are a lot of good people making big inroads.
"You've seen the big Rovers games, the big European games, you've seen this tonight. You look at the under-21s, the under-19s, we're doing okay, we're on the way back."
"Instead of the FAI giving Sligo money for getting to the Cup semi-final, they're giving the FAI money..."
Brian Kerr gives his take on #Delaney, his departure and the #FAI.@paddypower
Full thoughts from Brian: https://t.co/adq2E1bosd pic.twitter.com/5Jb9LE6hc9— Off The Ball (@offtheball) September 29, 2019
Perth said too that all issues in the FAI need to be thoroughly investigated.
"We need to listen and investigate stuff that's gone on in the last few hours and get to the bottom of it and ask all the questions. I accept people have to ask questions and I want them to ask questions - why has this happened?
"My personal view is there are more people culpable than just John Delaney because people allowed certain things [to] happen.
The Dundalk boss, whose side are aiming to secure a domestic treble of trophies, added that the Mick McCarthy / Stephen Kenny-era could yield wonderful results at international level.
"I hope that's not lost - we could be heading to a golden era of Irish football. I hope that's not lost because of the negativity and the rubbish... it is bad in one sense but the football is bloody brilliant at the minute."
🏆🏆 Down
🏆 To go#CmonTheTown pic.twitter.com/PGlJiecBNu— Dundalk FC (@DundalkFC) September 29, 2019
Stephen Bradley's Shamrock Rovers will stand in Dundalk's way of clinching their treble in the FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium on November 3rd, and yet Perth says his side will be calm heading into the fixture.
"I don't see any pressure - we've more or less achieved all of our goals. Listen, it's 90 minutes and anything can happen in a cup final.
"It's not a season-defining game for us in any way, shape, or form. If the worst thing we do is achieve what we've achieved now it's been a pretty special season.
"It's an opportunity to have a brilliant final, I hope it's a safe final, but I think it will be a brilliant spectacle on the pitch."
