CHARLIE: From the Stands - European nights at the Brandywell stem from Internal Competition

There have been very few nights at the Brandywell in my memory that have provided as much enjoyment and entertainment as last week's win over KuPS.

In this week's column, we delve into the historic night on Lone Moor Road, what Ruaidhri Higgins got right, and how some individual brilliance throughout contributed to the momentous win for the Candystripes.

In the opening stages, KuPS seemed comfortable, relaxed, assured and it looked like they had done some homework in doubling up on City dangerman, Michael Duffy. They had everything you would expect from a Nordic region side - precise in their passing, technically sound, tactically disciplined, and very comfortable on the artificial pitch.

Having matched their on-paper 'superior' opposition during the first half, Derry's misfortune began to tell when after striking the woodwork twice, they conceded a 44th minute penalty - which was duly converted. 1-0 down on the stroke of half-time. At this point, you'd have been forgiven for thinking it would be one of those nights.

Instead, two pieces of brilliance changed the whole tie in Derry's favour.

The first was an eye-catching, one-handed save by Brian Maher, denying the big striker Tete Yengi who had created a half-yard of space before firing a strike that was destined for the top corner, only for Maher to somehow brilliantly push it just past the post. For me, if that goes in and Derry goes 2-0 down, it's a tough task, as KuPS would have probably retreated and defended much deeper. However, at 1-0, PuKS kept pushing for the second, which then allowed Derry the space in between the lines to carve their own openings.

The second moment of brilliance, which largely went unnoticed, was a Mark Connolly pass into Paul McMullan before Will Patching’s goal. Perhaps an assist of the assist. People talk about bravery on the ball out wide, taking the ball in tight spaces, or not being afraid to go one on one and lose the ball - these are all well and good when you are 50/60 yards from your own goal with 80% of your team behind you. The real bravery is when a goalkeeper or centre-half attempts those high-risk, high-reward, line-breaking passes, aware that if they are intercepted with both your fullbacks advancing - you are in bother. Connolly’s execution however was inch-perfect.

After conceding their lead initially, and then going behind, KuPS were hanging on in the end with their keeper Kreidl making a string of saves to keep the score 2-1.

As a fan, there is no question that European nights at the Brandywell are special. However, on this certain occasion, it was as if the energy from the crowd came from the players on the pitch. Particularly in the second half, the tempo, aggression, and desire were very evident, and the crowd started to feed off it; then in turn the players began to feed off the crowd. When this happens, it’s a powerful feeling as a player.

It looked very much like KuPS couldn’t handle the increased tempo and the less structured, aggressive style that Derry brought in the second half. You would think that to progress, Derry needs to simply replicate this style for 90 minutes in Finland, but unfortunately, it isn’t that easy. As a fan, I hope to see more of what I watched in the second half of last week.

So what can we expect out in Finland tonight?

For starters, I see Derry scoring. If Derry’s away record over the last few years is anything to go by, I see Derry progressing by picking up a draw in Finland. But it will be far from easy. They will need to show mental resolve and the collective spirit from the first leg, have their quality players available, and channel that internal competition which is bubbling inside the dressing room.

I mentioned in last week's column that I would discuss the importance of this internal competition and how that ingredient in the overall recipe can build unshakable confidence.

Some of you will be familiar with my football background and the fact that I had the good fortune to play in some very good teams between 1999-2016. That, coupled with my corporate experience of working with some of the finest salespeople in Perth and New York, has given me a different perspective on the importance of internal competition.

During my career on and off the pitch, I played with various collections of players, some good and some not so good; the 2005/2006 squad was indisputably the best and most competitive. We won trophies, had that run in Europe and, most disappointingly, agonisingly missed out on the Treble by goal difference. Fierce internal competition was the springboard for success with that team.

Competitive environment

One of the questions I get asked most is “What makes Stephen Kenny so good?” To me, it is his ability to create a competitive environment through astute recruitment, and then his ability to man manage within that environment.

This wasn’t always an easy task for the current Ireland boss. One instance was between Brian Cash and Sean Hargan.

It was a normal Wednesday training session, where the squad would be split for an internal 11v11 match. These sessions were used to put shape on what would likely be the starting team on the Friday night; the starting lineup against the rest.

You can imagine that the players who were part of the ‘rest’ and just learned that they weren’t going to be starting on Friday, had a point to prove in these games. That particular day tensions were at an all-time high. With tackles flying and the match running the risk of boiling over, the ball broke between ‘Hargy’ and ‘Cashey’. In a normal setting, it looked like a regular 50/50 that Hargy would be fancied to win. But Cashey had other ideas.

I can only describe it like a train hitting a salmon jumping upstream. Cashey came down from the clouds like Tom Daley hitting the water, but instantly bounced up and set his sights on Hargy. The rest of us got the popcorn out. Hardly a rumble in the jungle, after a few handbag swings out of nowhere, the management team of Declan Devine and Stephen came running over to get things under control. Honestly, Hargy was very lucky it was broke up - Cashey had him on the ropes.

The game of football isn't just about the 11 players battling it out on the pitch. It's also about the competitive undercurrents, the silent tussles within the team that arguably shape those battles. The importance of internal competition within a team can't be overstated.

It acts as a catalyst for individual growth. It pushes players to up their game, to strive for that extra ounce of fitness, that additional hour of practice. It's a challenge to outdo oneself and each other, shaping well-rounded individuals and enhancing the team's overall talent pool.

There are examples of that throughout that successful time. It seemed like the management team had two top players for every position. For example, in centre half where we had Peter Hutton and Clive Delaney play during a Cup semi-final, and then three days later, Ken Oman and Darren Kelly started in a big European game.

Motivation and effort are direct offsprings of internal competition. Players don't just train for the love of the game or the spirit of sportsmanship - they train to earn and keep their spots. The competitive environment within the team acts as a powerful motivator, driving players to do their best during every training session and match. This effort usually translates into better on-field performances and breeds a winning mentality - one that I witnessed last Thursday and see bubbling at Derry City.

Special mention 

A special mention to the Republic of Ireland WNT who bowed out of the Women's World Cup on Monday, after some gallant performances against some of the best teams in the game. After narrow defeats to the hosts Australia and Olympic champions Canada, Vera Pauw's side turned in an impressive showing against Nigeria - a powerhouse of African football, coming away with their only point from this campaign. Players such as Katie McCabe, Courtney Brosnan and Megan Connolly showed their quality in each game, and with the national interest significantly increasing in the WNT, this first World Cup will undoubtedly inspire many young girls throughout Ireland to follow in their heroes' footsteps, which will only mean good things for the women's game here. Let's hope we see the legacy effects of this campaign in World Cups to come.

Happy Birthday Bing!

And finally, a huge shout out to Gary Beckett who celebrated his 50th Birthday last week, I could put up a few stories about Gary, but I am looking to continue with the column for a few more weeks at least.