CAPTAIN’S CALL: JOHN MOUNTNEY
Dundalk FC captain John Mountney looks ahead to the visit of Derry City to Oriel Park on Friday night, where the 14-time League Champions must win to keep any hopes of top-flight survival alive.
Mountney was part of the 2012 squad that escaped relegation through a playoff with Waterford and spoke about the comparisons with that season, the rise and fall, and the importance of our supporters come Friday.
Listen to John’s interview below.
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On the mood in the camp…
“It has been good. We’re looking forward to a big game at home against Derry. We know what the situation is at the minute; of course, it’s out of our hand, but what’s in our hand is this game Friday night. We know we have to win.
“We’re looking forward to it. We hope there’ll be a big crowd, a good atmosphere, and like that, we just have to go and win.”
On Drogheda’s draw in Waterford last Friday…
“Of course, I was aware of it. We all knew the circumstances if Drogheda had won. It’s one of those ones, you’re checking the phone and keeping an eye on. It’s still alive. Mathematically, there’s nothing done yet.
“All we can now is focus on Friday, do our business and then hope that there are favours elsewhere in the league.”
On being realistic about the task ahead…
“It’s out of our control. We have to win all our games and we need Drogheda to lose – that side is out of our hand. Like I’ve said, all we can do is focus on what’s in our control and that starts with Derry at home.
“We haven’t put wins together on the bounce this year, we’re well aware of that, but stranger things have happened. Personally, and I know in the group, we have to believe that we can go and beat Derry.
“Like that, if you go and win on Friday, you have two games left. Obviously, results have to go your way elsewhere, and if they do then you never know what could happen going into the last two games. We just have to focus on Derry, come out the right side with three points and hope that everything else falls in place for us that night.”
On our home form falling off…
“I don’t know. Dundalk, playing in Oriel Park, has always been a fortress. I have always known it as that for us playing at home. We haven’t got enough wins at home this year and that has put us in the position that we’re in.
“Every time I come into Oriel Park, I look forward to it on a Friday night, the warm-up and the buzz, I always enjoy playing at Oriel. We fully believe we can come out the right side of it on Friday with three points and our season is still alive.”
On taking risks to win…
“It all depends how the game goes, however the game is. If we’re winning, we’ll be doing anything to hang on, and if we’re not, then we’ll be doing everything to throw the kitchen sink at winning.
“We’ll see what happens, but like I said, it just has to be full belief that we go and beat them. I know it’s Derry who are challenging for the league title, so it’s also a massive game for them, but we’re fighting for our life so it’s even more important for us.”
On comparing this to 2012 on a personal level…
“2012 was tough, but at the same time, I was only an 18-year-old kid looking to play football. Everything else that was happening behind the scenes at the club, I know there was trouble at the time, Save Our Club came out and paid wages and stuff.
“But back then, I had no responsibility as an 18-year-old lad, just innocent I suppose, just pure love for football. It’s been different this year because I’m one of the experienced lads, so you’re involved and you know everything that’s going on in the background.
“There has been a lot that has gone on this year, I’ve never witnessed anything like it before at a football club. Everyone is fully aware of that. It’s just as much as you can, put those distractions aside and enjoy the love of playing football.
“Of course, it has been tough because it has not gone well results wise, which leads to be being down and that affects your life, your home life, and fans are the same, it affects their mood too coming up and not getting the results and being in the position we’re in.
“It’s just like anything, you have to keep going. I still believe. It’s a slim chance, but it’s still a chance. I fully believe that there is a chance that we’ll come out the right side of it. That will be my mindset until it’s not possible.”
On being open to staying in 2025…
“To be honest, I haven’t though anything about next year at all. My main focus this year, I just signed a one-year, there were people that were questioning me signing back.
“I knew the fire I had in my stomach to come back playing. I hadn’t played properly in two years, I just missed that love of playing football. I signed a small contract just to be here and play here this year.
“I’ve accomplished that in terms of playing matches. I’ve played 25-26 competitive games this season, which is probably as many as I’ve had since 2018 or 2019. That side of it for me, and for my body to get through, has been massive.
“That’s the positive from an individual side. But obviously, it’s hard to take any positives individually when we’re in the position we’re in as a club.”
On the rise and fall over the past 12 years…
“It has been a rollercoaster, that’s for sure. Being at the club, hanging on by the skin of its teeth, and then going through all the success it’s gone through, and going back down to the dark part of it.
“The club is in a position now that it’s never been in before financially. Everyone is well aware of the position it’s in. It has definitely been tough, but you have to keep fighting, keep going.
“I know John (Temple) is trying to see what way we can get rid of the debts. That is the most important thing, that there is a football club, that there is a Dundalk FC, and it’s about rebuilding it, because there is a long way to go to get it back to where it potentially can be.”
On the importance of the crowd from the start on Friday…
“A huge part. Every interview I do, that is mentioned, the fans and the crowd, I’m repeating myself about how important the fans are, I think they know that.
“Everything that has happened at the club this year, everything that has happened off the pitch as well, you can see how important it has been with the fans staying together, for the love of it all.
“I just want to thank them for the support that they have shown personally and us as a team. Every fan comes and wants to see their team doing well. That’s not been a reality this year. But they’ve stuck with us, they’ve shown up in numbers and I think they’ll do the same Friday, because that’s just the fans we have.
“We’re lucky to have that support behind us.”
On Derry City…
“We drew with them here and up there this season. There’s no denying the quality they have, the players they’ve signed, they’re a very good team and they’re pushing to win the league, which looks like it’s going to go right down to the last day.
“But at the same time, it’s 11 v 11 on the pitch on the day, once decisions don’t go against you. We have full belief if we really back ourselves and the crowd really get behind us, all together, it’s not an easy place for any team to come with the pitch and the crowd.
“I just hope that there’s that whole togetherness and let’s have one of those big nights. We have to have one of those big nights, but also, we need favours elsewhere.”
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