And What a Week to Come

So the week just past we had two high profile games, home to PSG in the UEFA Cup and home in the League Cup Final to Shelbourne.

Almost the same in the week to come

Shelbourne v Derry
We play Shelbourne in Tolka Park tomorrow night in the league. This is another massive game, and Shelbourne have a solid record at home in the league this season. 11 played, 9 wins, 2 draws, 30 goals for and only 5 against. They beat us 1-0 earlier on in the season in Tolka in the league, but we have also beat them in the FAI Cup in Tolka this season, the same scoreline 1-0 in August.

Shels are currently 7 points clear of us, but we have 3 games in hand, a win here would be a fantastic result, as they still have to come to the Brandywell, although a draw would also suffice.

Checking on the forum it does look like we will have a good squad down for the game, although some fans won't be able to make it do to other commiments next week, which is totally understandable and will be explained shortly.

Now, to be honest, I do fancy Derry to come away with a result from the game and hopefully I'm right. Checking on the web, Derry are 21/10 with PaddyPower and 23/10 with William Hill for a win, which is very good odds for us, so I think I'll be calling up to my namesake Mr Hill and placing a few pounds on a Derry win.

Whatever the result - it looks like it's going to be one hell of a match, and I can't wait to get to it.

PSG v Derry
The away leg in the UEFA Cup. Next week, Thursday 28th September, 9.00pm KO (French Time) Parc de Princes - and the Dublin SC will be there in force.

With Derry getting a 0-0 scoreline at the Brandywell last week, this match is very much open, and hopefully this will make people's minds up on going to the match. Although, to be honest our flights and hotels were booked within a few days of the draw - so we were going no matter what.

I've already been away to the Gothenburg and Gretna games and the build up to this, it has to be said, is more intense. Derry's 12th man will be in Paris in force to cheer on the lads on the park, in what looks to be one of the biggest nights in the clubs history.

I remeber when the draw was made for the first qualifying round when we got Gothenburg, if anyone had of told me that come the end of September I'd be in Paris, watching Derry play PSG, with a 0-0 scoreline already secured in the Brandywell, I'd of be asking him what was he drinking and any chance of getting a pint.

As Stephen Kenny said at the Gretna match, Derry City is the fairytale this season. The fans are loving it, the team are loving it, you can see that in their expressions when they celebrate in front of the crowds both home and away after every match this season.

Of course, with this being a European away match, there is some rules that myself and the lads I'll be travelling with will be observing:

• After check-in and breakfast at the Airport, it will be on to the bar for a pint and the cards will be out to get the Maverick going
• Once on the plane and the nseat-belt sign is off, the cards will be out again
• At some stage in Paris, we'll have to buy a deck off cards to add to our growing collection
• Cocktails are a must before the game, this follows on from the Hard Rock Cafe in Gothenburg and Yeats in Glasgow - I think this is now a definite pre-match ritual

To be honest, the only thing I'm worrying about is the kick-off time - 9 bells, late kick-off for us now, a few pints of water will have to be drank during the day to slow things down - although, the adrenaline will be pumping all day - so we'll wait and see - oh my God, I can't wait.

So the roll call for the SC - The Child, Big Daddy, Morphy, Ratboy, The Twins, Twin's 1 Da, Stephen, Pauline & Lauren, Paddy, Big Daddy's bro - do we call him Big Uncle then????. And I'm sure I've left one or two out, but if you've travelled with me before, you'll now that me membering details on travel plans is sketchy at best.

So what a week it plans to be.

C'mon the Candystripes

What a Week Just Past

Well - a long time since the last post on this blog - it's just not on - but my head hasn't been in the right place to get round to doing it.

What about the last week. Two massive cup games in the Brandywell in the space of 5 days.

Derry v PSG
Firstly we were up against PSG in the UEFA Cup First Round Proper. Man, what a night at the Brandywell - traveled up from Dublin on the day with 4 lads from the Dublin SC, Darren "Morph" Smyth, Gary "Big Daddy" White, Stephen Large and Alan Walsh. (Don't worry Stephen and Alan, I'm sure you get landed with nicknames in the near future.)

Now, it has to be said, although I do strongly believe that Maverick is a great traveling game - it really sucks when I'm playing it on the way to Derry, were on two trips up, loses of €50 and €2o occurred, and Big Daddy played a huge part in them loses.

Anyhow, back to the game, the atmospherere, buzz, feeling around the Brandywell was immense, without doubt one of the biggest games in Derry City's history and a great game to be at. The eleven lads out on the field played their hearts out, Killian Brennan hitting the crossbar after 15 minutes with a superb volley, Kevin McHugh getting pulled down in the box and the ref not having the balls to give what was a stone cold penalty.

At the back there was some great defensive play with 2 clearances off the line and quite a number of saves made from Forde.

One part in these games that always stand out in my mind is the fans staying behind 20-30 minutes after the game calling out Stephen Kenny's name. It's great seeing TV interviews later on with Stephen talking and all you can here in the background is "There's only one Stephen Kenny, there's only one Stephen Kenny, walking along, singing a song, walking in the City Wonderland." And want an interview after the game, Kenny saying that PSG changed their approach in the game, played a more physical game, and then said they'd play a more open game in Paris, which would suit Derry's style of play better. It's been said a thousand times already, but the man is a LEGEND.

Derry v Shelbourne
League Cup Final, some changes to the team, Pat Jennings left out after keeping clean sheets in every game up to the final. Kenny came out and said it was a hard decision, but it had to be made.

Also quite an emotional night, with a minutes silence before the game for Gareth McGlynn's father Sean, who passed away at the weekend, may he rest in peace.

Due to two old chestnuts Time and Money (didn't have the money and couldn't afford the time off work) I wasn't able to make it up from Dublin to game. Instead, a strong contingent of the Dublin Supporters Club watched the game in Ryan's pub in Dublin, our usual haunt for SC meetings. The roll call Gary, Morph, his better half Gillian (although that's not what I was thinking when she won the sweepstake we had going), Paddy, Gareth, Graham, Davy, Paddy, Paddy Kavena, Graham, Rolan, Stephen and of course myself.

The banter was good craic, and the beer was flowing (which is never good when you mix me, watching football and drinking beer, as it usually gets messy, or should I say, I usually get messy). Chances at both ends, the clearest during the 90 minutes falling to the head off Darren Kelly who hit just wide.

The game looked like it was heading to extra-time when the first disaster (maybe a strong word, but when you're watching the match, it's the first thing that springs to mind) happened. Forde came out to clear outside the box and the ball hits off his hand when he goes to clear - and the ref has no hesitation in sending Forde off. Pat Jennings then get's his chance, and we make it to extra time.

In extra time the second disaster (read above) happens, with Killian Brennan getting sent off for lunging in. Now there's been a great debate about this on the DerryCityChat forum, Heary did get out of the way, no contact was made, but Killian did slide in with studs showing, the ref gave a red card, and I won't fault him for that. But Heary retaliating by punching Killian in the balls and the ref or linesman, who had to see it, did nothing, you could see that Kenny, on the side lines was fuming with the linesman for not reporting that dig.

So down to 9 men with 20 minutes to play, Shelbourne trying to make the advantage of the 2 extra men bombed forward, but the defending by the 8 outfield players was resolute, and Jennings made 3 great saves in extra time to take the game to penalties.

Shels up first, Pat guesses right and says to his right hand side. Can't remember the sequence of the first two Derry Penalties, I think Deery was up first and the ball hit the back of the net.

Shels up again, and same result, Pat dives to his right and saves. Thenm Higgins steps up and the ball hits the back of the net.

Shels up again and Pat pulls off another save to his right - you'd have thought the Shels player might of decided to go to the other side, but hey, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Darren Kelly then steps up, knowing if he scores, Derry win the cup, and scores he duly does. The Brandywell erupts, Ryans bar Dublin erupts and I'm sure there was bars all across the UK erupted when that ball hit the back of the net.

One of the best moments of the night was when Gareth McGlynn's number 14 jersey was draped over the Cup when the team collected it. It just goes to show the team spirit and bond between the team, the manager and the background staff - makes you proud to be supporting them.