Town boss Mick McCarthy was pleased with his side’s display in their 5-0 victory over Drogheda in their opening pre-season friendly at United Park.
"It’s always nice to win the games. I thought we played well, to be honest, created some chances, scored some good goals.
"I think some of these played last night so it’s hard for them. But nevertheless, we’ve seen in the past, it’s not been easy when you play against them and I was pleased with the performances today.”
What does he take out of friendlies such as today’s match? "Well hopefully no injuries, we’ve scored some goals, I’m sure Joe Garner is delighted to get his first goal. Kieffer got one, lads who haven’t scored, it’s great to get their first ones.
"Flynn Downes, I really like him and Tristan Nydam playing at left-back was great. It was really nice to see the young ’uns involved, and hopefully no injuries, that’ll be the best thing, if we’ve got through it. They all had 45 minutes.”
While Tommy Smith, Emyr Huws, David McGoldrick and Monty Patterson were absent as they’d been given time off, skipper Luke Chambers was also among those not involved.
"Chambo had his tonsils out and he’s just been a bit out of sorts, that’s all,” McCarthy explained. "He’s not done any training yet.
"Having played every minute of every game he just needed a bit of TLC and then he had his tonsils out, that just put him back a bit further, but he’s all right, he’s fine.”
New signings Tom Adeyemi and Bersant Celina were also not in either of the two teams which played a half against Drogs, while defender Adam Webster was also missing as a precaution due to an ankle problem.
"They haven’t played, so they’ve not trained enough,” the Town boss added. "Bersant was poorly for three days. He wasn’t going to be involved anyway. He might have done if he had trained but then he was poorly.”
Luke Hyam remained at home as he is still recovering from the ankle injury which ended his season, while Kevin Bru has been injured but has been told he can find a new club.
McCarthy says the week training at the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare went well: "It was excellent, it always is. I’ve been going there for seven, eight, nine years.
"I think I went there with Sunderland, certainly with Wolves and four years with Ipswich and I’ve never had a complaint from any footballer, which is an incredible feat. To take footballers every year to the same place and nobody whinge about anything, it’s great.”
McCarthy says the squad will be back on the training field at Playford Road this week: "They’re off tomorrow because they’re travelling and then they’re back in on Monday. I won’t be because I’m speaking at the FAI’s Pro Licence course, so I’ll be back in on Monday afternoon.”
The next friendly is the double-header at Peterborough a week on Tuesday: "Two hours, two one-hour games. I like the idea, it was theirs, I think it’s a good idea. We’ll have to kick-off a bit earlier I think.
"It just starts to progress them, they get 60 minutes. It means two teams can play 60 minutes instead of one 60 and one 30.”