The League of Ireland Champions return home tomorrow after a run of testing fixtures on the road.
Joey O’Brien’s side look to get back to winning ways against Waterford FC as the season enters its decisive final stretch.
Reds boss O’Brien says his side are in good shape going into the clash, with only long-term absentee Conor Kearns unavailable for selection:
“Conor is still out, he’s working hard on his rehab and it’s going to take time, so we won’t have him available. Sean Moore has tweaked a groin in training during the week, so unfortunately he’ll miss out as well.”
“Other than that we’re in good shape, the lads are fit and pushing to be involved, which is exactly what you want going into this stage of the season.”
The Reds look to quickly park the disappointment of the defeat to Drogheda United on Monday, when they return to home comforts after successive away games, in Derry last Friday, and Drogheda on Monday. Reflecting on the weekend, O’Brien says:
“Monday was a disappointing result, no doubt about it. You have that 24 hours where you’re thinking about the game, what went wrong, what we did well, but then you have to park it and move on. The focus straight away turns to Waterford and how massive this game is for us.
“After that initial emotion, you sit down and watch it back and see how we actually played. We created three or four really good chances, 2 yards out, so the opportunities were there. We coughed up bad goals, which was frustrating, but there were positives in the performance too. It’s one thing having possession, but another to create those chances, we just didn’t take them, and it cost us.”
“We know, we can’t leave those chances behind and expect to win games, so now it’s about preparing for Waterford. It’s going to be a really tough game. They’re fighting for their lives to avoid being dragged into the race at the bottom, they’ve had some results where they’ll probably feel hard done by, so we know exactly what to expect and what we have to be ready for.”
Waterford begin the night in 8th after a tricky run of results, despite their position in the table, O’Brien knows they are a formidable side:
“Waterford’s recent games, unlucky not to be taking points, should’ve been winning before Bohs scored, they had chances in that game and then conceded a mad goal. Going into the Rovers game it was the same, they had a few opportunities on the break before Rovers really tested them, and then they get done off a long throw and a set play.”
“That’s how tight it is, small margins. We’ve seen it ourselves and they’ve seen it too. They’ll feel hard done by in both of those matches, so we know exactly how dangerous they are and how much of a test this will be.”
Defeat on Monday proved a setback for a Reds side in the hunt to bring European football to Tolka in 2026, O’Brien has urged his players to embrace the pressure cooker that will be the run in this year:
“We took the disappointment, spoke to the lads about it during the week. There’s pressure, and I’ve never been afraid to use that word in a football sense. To be at this stage of the season with still so much to play for, in the league and with a European campaign ahead, isn’t that exactly what you want as a footballer?
“We’ve been fortunate over the last couple of years that it’s gone right down to the last game, 2023 in Drogheda, 2024 to win the league in Derry. We’ve had setbacks, we have never given up, and that has got us to the last day the last two years, with a lot on the line, and that experience is something we’ll lean on. Tomorrow night is another big step, there is pressure, we have to embrace it, enjoy it, and be ready for it.”
As well as asking players and staff to embrace the pressure that comes with a high stakes final charge, O’Brien has urged the Tolka faithful to play their part:
“There are a lot of similarities to this time last year. We were playing Waterford, Drogheda at home, and they were huge games where if you didn’t win, it could have been all over. But you never felt any nervousness from the supporters, you never felt that pressure coming from them.
“They loved it, because they know what this club has been through, right down to the brink at times. So to be on the run in 2024 fighting for the title and fighting for Europe, that’s a pressure they’d take any day of the week over the worries they had in the past about if there’d be a Shels and the club’s future.”
“The fans were so important last year, the displays, the noise, the colour, the atmosphere at Tolka was special, it all helped the lads get over the line. I think they can be just as important this year as well, and I know they’ll be with us.”