Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley and his Dundalk counterpart Shane Keegan disagreed over Sonni Nattestad's dismissal during a fiery President's Cup clash on Friday night, but both were more than happy with a rigorous workout ahead of the new Airtricity League Premier Division campaign.
The Lilywhites held their nerve in a penalty shootout to sink the reigning champions after the game had finished 1-1.
Nattestad, who also scored Dundalk's goal, was sent off in the second half following a challenge on Graham Burke which sparked a melee. Bradley also went in the book but he had no complaints, and praised the overall performance of referee Damien MacGraith.
"It was a yellow card, I stepped on to the pitch," he told RTÉ Sport.
"I shouldn't have stepped on to the pitch. That was the right decision by the referee.
"It was a red card [for Nattestad]. He's launched with two feet. It was a dangerous tackle. I thought the ref was very good, he managed the game really well. It was a sending-off.
"It was a really good game the week before the season, really competitive, high-tempo, and overall I thought we were really, really good.
"I thought we controlled the majority of the game. I think they had one or two spells in the first half... but for the majority of the game we were in full control, which was good to see.
"It was two good sides wanting to win the game. We're disappointed not to win but really pleased with large aspects of our game.
"It's hard to tell until you go into a game like that where exactly you are but I felt we were in a good place and I think that's proven we are in a good place. We're ready to go."
.@AdrianEames1 gets the reaction from Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley and Dundalk manager Shane Keegan after a fiery President's Cup contest at Tallaght Stadium #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/uBvIvP07eZ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 13, 2021
Keegan, meanwhile, suggested Dundalk may appeal the sending-off but overall he was satisfied with the display, particularly from some of the new faces.
"We'd have to be disappointed with [the sending-off]. Sonny's goal was brilliant. He's a big boy and we'd like to think he's going to give us that threat for most of this season.
"The red card, if it's for the tackle, I'm definitely disappointed with it. It's been commented that maybe it was for something he was involved in after the tackle in terms of the bit of a flare-up that went on with everybody.
"If that was the case then maybe there was something there that justified it, but if it's for the tackle... we'd need to look at it on video but there might be grounds for an appeal there. I certainly didn't think the tackle itself justified the red."
On goalkeeper Alessio Abibi, who proved to be hero in the shootout, Keegan added: "He's a big boy and he's athletic. You're always going to fancy your chances with him in a penalty shootout. He's also half mad as we probably all saw with his carry-on in the goal leading up the penalties but he'll argue it worked – and it did work! We done a hell of a lot of homework on their penalties.
"It'll help the boys gel, it'll help build that camaraderie. It'll be a big lift to them to battle, having had to dig really deep against a great side. It can only be a good thing. It sets us up well for next weekend."
