'We're going flat out for the league'

Dundalk vs. Derry City

Oriel Park

Tonight, 7:45pm

Adam O’Reilly believes that the recent penalty shoot-out devastation at Derry City has only brought the players closer together, and insists the team is now going ‘flat out for the league’.

The Candystripes head into tonight’s game with Dundalk hoping to stay in touch with Shamrock Rovers, who sit seven points ahead having played a game more than Ruaidhri Higgins’ side ahead of a game against the champions at the Brandywell on September 15.

Those penalty shoot-out defeats, against Tobol Lostanay in the Europa Conference League, and St. Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Cup, were devastating blows to Derry City, but O’Reilly believes the experience has only strengthened the group.

“I said it when I came here that we were a very close group anyway, probably one of the closest teams as a group that I’ve been at, but even after those penalty shoot-outs, that has brought us closer together,” he explained.  “You take the wins and you take the losses, but everyone has got the same mindset now that we’re going flat out for the league so that has brought us a bit closer now and we’re all looking forward to Friday night.”

After that extraordinary 2-2 game at Dalymount Park last week, City face another significant test when they travel to Dundalk, with Stephen O’Donnell’s side fighting hard for a European place this season.

“I think every game towards the end of the season is huge for us,” O’Reilly said. “No matter if they are near the top of the table or near the bottom, we have to win every game really and that’s the goal for us.

“The Bohs game was a bit frustrating for us, but we can put it right against Dundalk now. We still have a game against Rovers as well so there’s still a lot to play for. Our confidence at the moment is very high; people can see that we’re playing some good football and we’re getting our chances, so we just need to stick them away now.”

Only nine points separate the top six in the Premier Division, and with Rovers hosting Bohemians at Tallaght, this could well be a pivotal weekend in the title race. With so many teams fighting for position at the top, each point is precious.

“There will be teams taking points off each other, so we just need to make sure we are the ones taking the points off other teams,” O’Reilly added.

“Even our performance against Bohs sent a statement out because we played some great football in that game as well. Obviously, we were unlucky with a couple of chances, but I think our performances are sending a bit of notice around the league that we are in very good form, and I think teams will start to fear that.”

Rare win

Derry City have won just once at Oriel Park in the past 10 years, a ground that has been a notoriously difficult venue for the Candystripes. But O’Reilly is confident that not only can Derry City win, but that he may even chip in with a goal.

“Football is unpredictable,” he said. “Dundalk have obviously signed Daryl Horgan as well. I played with Daryl Horgan when I was in England, and he is very, very sharp so he is probably one of the danger men for them. As I keep saying though, if we keep playing the way we’re playing, I don’t have any worries at all. We’re very confident, myself and the boys, that we can get the job done.

“At the start of the season, I started off slowly and then the injury game and the suspension which I won’t say much about. I think now, after getting a run of games, I have come back to myself almost. I just want to keep pushing on now for the team. I would like to chip in with a few more goals as well and I have a weird feeling about Friday that I might get one, so fingers crossed.”