Soccer

Kenny Shiels taking nothing for granted as Derry City tackle Bohs at Dalymount

Kenny Shiels takes his Derry side to Dalymount Park to face Bohemians in a season-opener<br />Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Kenny Shiels takes his Derry side to Dalymount Park to face Bohemians in a season-opener
Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Kenny Shiels takes his Derry side to Dalymount Park to face Bohemians in a season-opener
Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

DERRY City manager Kenny Shiels knows his side will not be an unknown quantity, as they start their 2017 season at Bohemians tonight.

Shiels is in the game long enough to admit that while the Candy Stripes had a good 2016 by securing European football, this season is going to be tougher for his squad.

Things are going to be even more difficult as they will be playing their home games at Maginn Park, in Buncrana, as the Brandywell is getting redeveloped.

“I think everyone is wary of each other. People will be more aware of us but we will be more aware of them and I don’t see that as a negative,” he said.

“We focus more on what we do and in every game we prepare to have an impact to see if it helps us get points.

“How other teams think of us shouldn’t affect how we approach the games. We have to try and have an edge on them.”

City have lost two key players in Conor McCormack and Niclas Vemmelund, but they have added the likes of Nicky Low and Mikhail Kennedy on-loan from Dundee and Charlton Athletic respectively, while Mark Timlin has re-joined from St Patrick’s Athletic and Israeli centre-back Alon Netzer joined earlier in the week.

Buts Shiels will continue in his policy of giving youth a chance with the likes of Ben Doherty, Rory Holden, Scott Whiteside and Sam Todd the latest batch of young players expected to get game time this campaign.

“I do things for my club and people’s views of me are not important,” he added.

“What I do for my club is be honest with them and be honest in every area of my work. I have to have integrity. If I lose that I’ll pack it in.

“At no stage will I ever deviate from that, ever. I will never sign a player because someone else likes him, that’s not the way I work. My decision has to be for the benefit of the club.

“We are looking at players improving, some more quickly than others. Player development doesn’t just happen.

“Hunger is very important and you need to sustain that. It’s okay having that for one year, but it has to be sustained and concerted for the players to do well with their local club. That’s what we’re looking for all the time.”

Having defeated the Dubliners each time they met them last season, Shiels isn’t taking anything for granted this evening at Dalymount.

“We beat Bohs four times last season and it’s very difficult to repeat that,” stated the City boss.

“It doesn’t happen in football that much where a team wins so many games on the bounce against another club.

“This season is a new season and it’s totally different. There are challenges out in front of us, and that’s what we want. You can’t ask for any more than that.”

Elsewhere tonight the champions Dundalk start their defence at home to title rivals Shamrock Rovers, in front of the eir Sport cameras.

Cork City, who are another side expected to be challenging for the title, begin the season with a tricky opener at Finn Harps, St Patrick’s Athletic face Bray Wanderers at Richmond Park, Galway United entertain Drogheda United, and Sligo Rovers make the trip to Markets Field to face Limerick.

In the First Division, title favourites Waterford are on the road at Athlone Town; Cabinteely have home advantage over UCD and title contenders Shelbourne and Longford Town meet at Tolka Park, while tomorrow afternoon Cobh Ramblers take on Wexford Youths at St. Colman’s Park.