Concern growing over the League of Ireland's artificial pitches

Adam O’Reilly has wondered if playing on the Brandywell’s artificial pitch caused the hamstring injury which saw him miss six weeks of Derry City’s season recently.

The subject of artificial playing surfaces has again been raised this week with two League of Ireland managers speaking out against them. Dundalk boss Stephen O’Donnell vented his frustration this week after losing Andy Boyle during the warm-up and Greg Sloggett during the game against the Candystripes, suggesting it was no coincidence that the two teams with the most injury problems this year – Dundalk and Derry City – both have one thing in common – artificial pitches.

Those views were echoed by Cork City boss Colin Healy, who insisted that all League of Ireland pitches should be grass, with the likelihood of injury increased on 3G and 4G pitches.

O’Reilly is one of a number of Derry City players to suffer long-term injuries this season already, and he admits he wondered if the surface was indeed a factor.

“I’ll be honest, I’ve been thinking how did I injure myself?” he said. “I was thinking maybe I wasn’t used to the Astro ground because I was playing on grass last year. It’s something I’ve thought about since it happened. The way I’ve seen it this season, I’m thinking maybe the Astro ground did have something to do with it, I don’t know. Personally, I think it does affect the body a lot more than grass would. It’s a lot harder when it’s a hot day on Astro and the ball is bobbling around, but you have to adapt to that as well.”

“I don’t think any player wants to get injured, but unfortunately it happened to me, but I’m happy to be back now.

“The time out was longer than I thought it would be. I think it was six weeks in total which was the longest I’ve had so far in my career when it comes to injuries. Every game is a big game really but I missed out on the likes of Rovers and Shelbourne and teams like that. It’s tough to miss out on but it’s good to get it out of the way now and I can get back enjoying football.”

Despite his misgivings, O’Reilly does not believe that the surface can explain Derry City’s stuttering home form this season.

“It’s there for both teams so it’s 50/50,” he explained. “Everyone is just doing their best. Whenever I played at the Brandywell last year against Derry, they were battering teams left, right and centre, so you can also say that it doesn’t matter at all. This season as well, I think you can look and say that we can play some very good football on the artificial surface.”

O’Reilly made his return as a substitute against Drogheda United recently and has started the last two games against Bohemians and Dundalk. While the Candystripes have won just one in their last six, the combative midfielder has no doubt that things will improve on the pitch soon.

“In football, things happen unexpectedly, but things can change for the better quickly as well and that’s what me and the lads have been speaking about,” he continued. “It’s only a matter of time before we get back into the form that we know we can, especially with the quality of the players in the dressing room. Things can change very quickly.

“I think the league this year has blown a lot of people away. It’s very close, even looking at the table at the moment. We can only worry about ourselves and do the best we can to get to the top of the table.”

Cork City test

Derry City travel to Turner’s Cross tonight for what is traditionally a very tough test, and O’Reilly is looking forward to another big challenge as he works his way back to full fitness.

“Every team is trying their best to get the points so we’re going to go there and try and win also,” he stated. “It will be a difficult game but we’re all looking forward to it now. We all want to put things right as well and back into the form that supporters know we can play as well. I don’t think we are playing to the potential that I know we all can, but hopefully we can change that.

“I think in the last couple of games I’ve been getting the match fitness back in. I think a lot of people know that match fitness is different to training fitness so I’ve been getting that back in the last couple of games and that’s strengthened me a lot. Personally, I have a lot, lot more to give from what people have seen so far so I’m just excited to be back now and I want to push on.”