Derry City kick off second half of the season knowing what's at stake against Cork City

Derry City vs. Cork City

Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Friday, 7:45pm

All the talk amongst Derry City fans is about Europe this week, but for Ruaidhri Higgins and his team, the only thing that matters is beating Cork City tonight.

A sudden drop in form means that the Candystripes are under immense pressure to win tonight, especially with a trip to Shamrock Rovers looming on Monday night. What could have been a four-point advantage at the top just a few weeks ago, has become a six-point deficit after defeats at Sligo Rovers and St. Patrick’s Athletic and draws with Shelbourne and Bohemians at home. Further dropped points this weekend could well leave Derry City with too much to do in the title race this season.

Higgins though is confident that the recent two-week break will see his players begin to improve performances and results on the pitch.

“It was probably welcome for everybody, but there has been a real intensity about it this week, there has been a freshness about it and certain players look like the break has done them the world of good,” he said. “There’s a few who look revitalised and ready to go.

“It was been intense and it’s been difficult and our form has been patchy to say the least. We’ve had good runs, we’ve had bad runs and we haven’t been able to sustain any real, genuine consistency. That’s what we will be looking to do now in the upcoming matches.”

Cork City come to the Brandywell very much a different team to the one which lost 2-0 in Derry back in February. A run of twelve points from the last 15 has given them real hope of preserving their Premier Division status this season.  

“They are one of the form teams in the league at the minute,” Higgins agreed. “The league table will show that they are second bottom, but in terms of form over the last five or six games, they have been outstanding and really, really threatening. It’s a game we need to be ready for and prepared for and we will be.

“One of the players Jamie McGonigle has looked absolutely top, top drawer this week in training. He looks like the Jamie McGonigle of the first half pf last season. He’s been electric this week and hopefully the breakaway has done him the world of good and he’s coming back with the bit between his teeth and hopefully we can see that.”

New faces

Former Dundee United winger Paul McMullan could well be imminent at the Brandywell as players look set to come and go in the transfer window. But Higgins hinted that some players’ destinies could change depending on performances over the next few weeks.  

“We would like three probably and a few might leave,” he explained. “Form at the minute could change things. I’ve looked at certain players this week and the sharpness and energy that they’ve brough to training has been excellent so we won’t make any decision on anyone going out until the very last minute because we don’t need to at the minute. As it stands, we haven’t brought anyone in, so no-one will be going out until that happens.”

Higgins is focused on Cork City only, but he did reveal his excitant at the thought of meeting Faroe Islands side HB Torshavn after the draw for the first qualifying round of the Europa Conference League paired the teams together.

“The thing about Europe these days is that there are very, very few gimmes,” he stated. “Only five or six years ago, teams from Luxembourg would have been seen as a walkover for example, whereas ow they are very, very competitive. That’s the way football has gone so these things aren’t forgone conclusions anymore. This is going to be a really difficult fixture and we know that and we’ll prepare in the best way possible and we’ll get eyes on them in person. We’ll get over and see them at close quarters and we’ll organise that over the next few days.

“We are really looking forward to it because, even as a player, some of my greatest memories at this club were through European football; it captures the imagination.”