Derry City captain McEleney on cloud nine

Patrick McEleney admits that Derry City have fallen short this season, but believes that will only motivate the players to get their hands on the FAI Cup this Sunday.

The City captain is hoping to participate in his ninth FAI Cup final this weekend, putting him just one behind the all-time record held by Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne's William Glen.

Victories with his hometown club in 2012 and 2022, and victories with Dundalk in 2018 and 2020, McEleney has one of the most decorated careers of any player in League of Ireland history, but despite an injury-plagued two seasons, he insists he is not done yet.

“I think I said previously, this one just seems a bit more special,” he said. “I don't know why. I think it's because I'm getting older maybe, I don't know, but I'm just really looking forward to it now.

“I didn't know about the appearances in the cup, I knew about the actual winning of it. I think I was second or third or something like that.

“I’ve won four out of eight and I'm trying to turn it to five to be honest, to try and get it into the positive side of it. I've experienced everything to be honest at the Aviva; obviously winning it and losing it on penalties, losing in extra time, I understand it, so I'm just excited for everybody and excited for the city, I think it needs this day to be honest, so let's all go together.”

“It's obviously a proud achievement. My main focus now is just getting to lift it again. I'll be doing everything and the players will be doing everything this week, now to make sure that come Sunday we're fully prepared for it. I'm just really looking forward to it now.”

McEleney wasn’t able to feature as Derry City let the title slip from their grasp with successive 1-0 defeats in their last two league games, and he admits that he and his team mates are still very much hurt by what happened.

“Of course,” he stated. “I think people kind of forget sometimes that we're humans as well and we're going to hurt as players and as staff. But aye, we fell short, and Shelbourne deservedly won it.

“I think naturally you're going to be hurting. It was a long weekend. But look, if it fuels you, brilliant. But then you have to put it across in the right manner come Sunday. I know the players better than anybody.

“As I said, it's been a long weekend, but we have a chance now to make things right, and look, we'll be winning hopefully one out of the two trophies that was available to us at the start of the season. That's our target.”

Special

McEleney held the FAI Cup aloft just two years ago after a one-sided win over Shelbourne, and while the wait for a trophy has gone on since then, it remains a special memory for the 32-year-old.

“It was special,” he agreed. “From that I was hoping there would be a wee bit more, but look we just fell short over the last couple of years in that sense, and obviously we were put out by Pats at the Brandywell in the cup at that stage, and they went on to win it.

“I actually thought on that night we were excellent, we just got beat on penalties, but look we're back here now again, and we're 90 minutes away from it, so we'll do everything we can.”

WINNER… Patrick McEleney has won two FAI Cups with his hometown team. (Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)

McEleney believes the excitement of an upcoming cup final will help galvanise a squad which desperately needs a lift.

“I think training, naturally will do that, and I think even days like this now that we're in here, it kind of refocuses you, it'll reset,” he said. “I'll just do my best for the players now in a sense of trying to get us ready, and mentally switch. It's in the past now, and we can't change anything that's happened, but we can change things on Sunday, so we may as well look forward to it and do it properly.”

McEleney is currently in talks with Derry City over a new contract, and he insists he wants to stay at the club beyond this year.

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“Of course, I'm from here, I've said this before, so I'm sure that I'll get something,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of chats and stuff, so it's in the process, let's just hope something comes to a good end. All that's in my head now is Sunday, and making sure I'm out there.”

“Look, if we win one trophy out of the two, is it successful? It is for us, I'm not sure it'll be for everyone, but it can definitely be a positive end for us.”