Soccer

Derry City will be a different animal on grass against Dundalk - Kenny Shiels

Derry City manager Kenny Shiels
Derry City manager Kenny Shiels Derry City manager Kenny Shiels

FAI Cup semi-final replay: Derry City v Dundalk (Tuesday, 7.45pm)

DERRY CITY manager Kenny Shiels believes his side will be a different animal in Tuesday’s FAI Cup semi-final replay against holders Dundalk.

Shiels, who concedes Stephen Kenny’s side will also be happy to be playing on the Brandywell’s grass surface, feels his players will relish the challenge: “We will be different animal on grass and they’ll see that,” he said.

“We have a good way of playing and we have got good technical players. I thought we got our tactics bang on at Oriel Park and we were able to get more penetration in our play. On Sunday, we came in 2-0 down at half-time and we shouldn’t have been because we had given as good as we got and it was a fair-and-square match in the first-half.”

Shiels also admitted he was disappointed for the players during last Sunday’s half-time interval, but he was impressed by the character they showed to come from behind to earn Tuesday evening’s replay: “I felt for the players because we had come in 2-1 down to Dundalk the week before in the league and we hadn’t contributed to the game as much as we did on Sunday,” he added.

“I was really pleased at how the players had played in the first-half, but wasn’t happy with the two goals which we conceded. So if we eliminate those mistakes, then that gives us a better platform to play from.”

The Derry gaffer confirmed captain Ryan McBride will miss Tuesday evening’s replay, but fellow centre-back Maximilian Karner trained on Monday after recovering from flu-like symptoms: “Ryan is definitely out of the game and we can’t replace him as we haven’t got the strength in depth in our squad,” added Shiels.

“They are going to bring in Brian [Gartland], who is a menace at set-pieces and he’s a big unit, but we can’t do that. Yes, Max trained this morning, but we’ll have to wait and see how that goes.”

Shiels also feels young players like Conor McDermott, who links up with the Northern Ireland U21 squad later this week, Ronan Curtis and Ben Doherty are learning in every game: “When you look at Conor McDermott, he’s going to be a great player,” insisted the Derry boss.

“He’s one of the best young players I’ve seen in a long time. He’s got mental strength, he’s got pace, he’s got strength, he’s got presence of mind. He reads the game well too, he has got good anticipation, he’s great going forward and he just has got an awful lot going for him.

“I don’t say that about young players very much, but he’s got mental strength and he won’t let my praise affect him in any way. I trust him.”