JOEY O’Brien has hailed Seán Boyd’s reaction to being left out of his starting line-up.
O’Brien made Boyd Shelbourne’s captain for their game against Galway United a fortnight ago but the striker was on the bench last Friday against Cork City.
It was thought that might have been to rest him ahead of their Champions League clash against Linfield on Wednesday.
But Boyd again had to be content with a place among the substitutes before he was summoned into action early in the second half in Drumcondra.
Within two minutes of coming on, he had gotten the better of two opponents to set up Mipo Odubeko for the only goal of the first leg at Tolka Park.
And O’Brien said: “I’m sure of it, I know he was really disappointed, it was a really hard team to pick, because everyone wants to play in this game. Like, as young players, that’s what it’s about, playing Champions League football.
“I said that before the game, not many players get that opportunity, and I had to break a few of their hearts I suppose, by not playing them.
“So I’m sure he was one of them that was really disappointed, but listen, that sums him up.
“I suppose he was a person, and the relationship that I have with him, to be able to put it aside and put the team ahead of himself, and to go out and perform the way he did. He’s a brilliant player in this league.
“I was delighted with his impact and I suppose on another night he probably would have scored another one himself.
“As I said to them before, it’s about the squad for me. We have a super squad. Sometimes lads are going to get disappointed but they all have to be ready.
“We made five subs. Next week, we’ll be making five subs again. It’s a squad game. Over the next few days, training is going to be really good because they’re all going to be wanting to play next week.
“That competition, to try to get into that team next week, will keep all the lads tuned in.”
O’Brien was also chuffed with Odubeko who scored for the third game running, having netted just five times in his previous 23 appearances.
The boss said: “He’s been brilliant the last few weeks. He’s caused serious problems to teams. I think he’s on a nice little run there with goals and all that.
“His overall play I thought was very good. It was difficult for him in the first half just with how deep they were defending.
“For that second half, he came out well and linked with Seán then going up to him. They’re up there, sometimes one, two people are looking after Seán and then it creates one-v-ones with him. I thought he was brilliant.”
SUBBED OFF?
But Odubeko admitted he thought his night might have been over when he saw Boyd limbering up.
He said: “I was thinking that, to be fair. The two up front works well. We’ve a good relationship, a great understanding of each other, both on and off the pitch. That does help. Credit to him.
“He’s sort of like a big brother figure for me. When we’re on the pitch together we work really well. I was happy to see him come on. He did the right thing and I scored. I’m happy for me but also him.”
For O’Brien, there was relief that the focus was on players before with the spotlight having been on Damien Duff’s shock departure and him stepping up to replace him.
The former Ireland, West Ham and Shamrock Rovers player, 39, said: “There’s been so much talk about this football club over the last few weeks, about myself, the manager leaving, all that sort of stuff. I wanted the focus to be on them.
“I said to them, ‘At 7.45pm, make sure you’re ready to rock, go out and do your talking out on the pitch. There’s too much noise around this football club. Let’s show everyone how good of players we are’. And I thought they did that.”
