'The players have to realise the magnitude of what's at stake'

Sean Hargan believes that the current Derry City squad needs to understand the magnitude of what can be achieved this season, with a league and FAI Cup double within their grasp.

The Candystripes head to Dalymount Park on Friday night hoping to reach a second FAI Cup final in three years, but they do so on the back of just one win in seven league games. They currently sit four points behind Shelbourne with a game in hand with five league games left to play and a potential winner take all game against Damien Duff’s side at the Brandywell on November 1.

Rarely has the club been in such a promising position as now, and after such a disappointing display at Drogheda last week, Hargan, a league and multiple FAI Cup winner over 429 appearances for his home town club, has asked if he players really understand what they can achieve.

“I think the players have to realise the magnitude of what's at stake here,” he said. “Managers can only do so much and coaches can only do so much. When you cross that white line, it's up to the team to put it on the park and perform and win your battles all over the pitch and make sure that you get the three points or get that victory to get to the end of the final.

“I think if any of these teams at the minute won three matches, they could nearly do it. Derry could do the double if they won three or four games and I think the players need to realise that.”

Derry City’s FAI Cup record at Dalymount Park over the years has been almost flawless. In seven games played at Dalymount, the Candystripes have won five and lost just once, as a First Division team back in 1987.

Friday’s game will be the fourth time that Derry City play an FAI Cup semi-final against Bohemians, two of which have been decided at Dalymount, with Derry yet to lose. Hargan even scored one of the goals in a 2-0 win in Dublin the last time the two teams met in the semi-final.

“It'll be a difficult game down there at Bohemians,” Hargan continued. “Unfortunately, I was the one that drew the team out that got us that away fixture. But listen, it's a fixture that Derry can go down and win.

“I remember back in 1997, we went down there and beat them to get into the final of the FAI Cup and we lost it then to Shels. But it's a great opportunity for the club and for the fans to get to another Cup final. I think they're on the cusp of a wave if the team can go on now and go on a good run.”

‘Great job’

Hargan, who scored 14 goals to help Derry City to the league title 27 years ago, is desperate to see the club succeed after so many barren years.

“Ruaidhri’s done a great job,” he insisted. “It was a three-year plan and he's on the cusp of achieving what he wanted to achieve. I know a lot of people are very critical of the team and of the management and all this, but listen, we could be sitting with two trophies at the end of the season if we could just get a wee run together now.

“And no team has been going on any kind of run at the minute. Shels are sitting top of the league and I don't think they've won in seven or eight games, and Derry's been the same. Rovers slipped up last week. Pats could end up third in the league by the end of the season. And I think if Derry can go on a bit of a run and these players realise what's at stake- I'm not saying they don't, but I think they just need that extra bit of hunger and battle and get into the trenches and get the results that they need.”

“It's on the cusp for Derry, and as I said, the magnitude of what can be achieved.

“We haven't won a league in 27 years. Especially for local lads. I'm not saying it doesn't mean as much to the players that don't come from the city, but it's a massive occasion. Everybody you meet is talking about it. Every ex-player, every fan you meet and older people, that's all they're talking about. Can we get this over the line? I think it's there for the taking if the players put the work in and get it over the line for us.”