Derry City manager Kenny Shiels feels Dundalk’s travel concerns are a “myth” and bemoaned his own side’s burden after the two teams were paired together in this morning’s FAI Cup semi-final draw.
The Lilywhites begin their Europa League campaign on Thursday away to AZ Alkmaar in what will be their seventh European tie of the year so far, with five more games to come at least. Stephen Kenny’s side face a backlog of Premier Division games as a result.
But for Shiels, a forthcoming second trip to Wexford in the space of a week is a much bigger hindrance in comparison and more travelling will follow with two trips to Oriel Park to come.
He told BBC Radio Foyle: "It's going to be difficult for us because our players will be tired when you consider the amount of travelling they have done through September. Six hours on a bus down to Wexford and six hours back, we repeat that this week again and then we go to Dundalk ironically which is another double-header because we go to them in the Cup.
"They will be crying about being tired travelling. Would you rather sit on a plane for an hour and a half to go to Amsterdam and an hour and a half back or sit on a bus six hours down and six hours up and then do that again. We have been disadvantaged with the fixtures in this month especially."
Asked if Dundalk's hectic schedule would help Derry in their quest to cause a surprise in the Cup fixture in October and if the Louth side will cite tiredness, he dismissed the notion and said the Candystripes excursions have been just as difficult, if not more so.
"Therein lies the myth [about tiredness]," Shiels said.
"If you go on about being tired, then psychologically that will have an effect on how you think and that will make you tired. But they have two squads basically.
"We had played four more games in the league, I think it's down to three now, this is our second semi-final after a run in the League Cup as well which they haven’t had.
"If you put all that together, we have played as many games if not more than Dundalk this season. They have a massive squad.
"I don't think their tiredness will kick in until they start going place like St Petersburg two or three days before the Cup final. Their big journeys are all after the semi-finals."
