SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: Finn Harps v Derry City (tomorrow, 6pm)
Patrick McEleney admits Derry City have no time to feel sorry for themselves after their Europa Conference League exit to Riga, as they prepare for tomorrow's Northwest derby at Finn Harps.
The Brandywell men, who had great chances to cause an upset in Riga, will be looking to maintain their recent good league form.
Ruaidhrí Higgins's side, have picked up six points from their two games played, since returning from the mid-season break, defeating UCD and Bohemians and McEleney feels the derby is the exactly what the Candystripes need to get over their European disappointment.
“I feel playing Harps is probably the best game out of the whole fixture list for us after Europe," conceded the talented midfielder.
"We know it's going to be tough and we have to be ready for a battle, but look, it's a derby and we just have to be ready to roll our sleeves up."
City have secured seven victories on the road this season and McEleney would love another away success tomorrow evening.
"We've been great away from home and I definitely feel that the grass pitch helps us," he said.
"I don't think the eye lies about the pitch the other night, but what can we do as it's our home pitch."
McEleney feels that Derry now need to maintain their focus on trying to catch champions and leaders Shamrock Rovers and second-placed Dundalk and guarantee European football for next season.
With the FAI Cup campaign getting underway in a few weeks time when they host junior Dublin side Oliver Bond in the first round, the former Dundalk man knows there's still a lot to play for in the second half of the campaign.
“We have our own aspirations in the league and I think if you break it down now the next maybe four or five games you can put yourself in a position and that’s the way you have to be thinking,” he insisted.
“It’s a derby and everything goes out the window, form or positions in the league, it doesn’t matter.”
The 29-year-old, who has had a few injury plagued seasons, is happy with his current form and hopes his recent run of games continue.
"I'm happy and getting the 90 minutes is huge for me and last Thursday night was my fourth 90 minutes in a row," he stated.
"And that's the first time in a year that I have been able to do that, so yeah I just want to keep things going."
Meanwhile, Harps will be hoping that Derry City’s European exploits during the week might leave the Brandywell outfit slightly drained ahead of tomorrow's contest in Ballybofey.
Although City won 2-1 at Finn Park earlier in the season, Harps were much the better team in the 2-2 draw in Derry in May. Harps manager Ollie Horgan will be hoping to instill the belief in his side that they can get one over their great rivals.
Harps, occupying the relegation play-off spot, go into the game without a win in their last nine league outings.
“We have to improve, we have to start getting points,” Horgan stated.
With UCD only three points behind them, Horgan is conscious that even getting a relegation play-off at the end of the season is by no means a certainty.
Harps have added four new players to the panel over the past 10 days, namely Adam McCaffrey, Robert Jones. Liam McGing, and Harry Nicholson.
After last week’s disappointing 3-1 defeat away to Shelbourne, some shuffling of the team selection is expected.
Meanwhile, former Harps captain Gavin Cullen believes that Harps will have to pick up some momentum.
“They don’t want to be going into any play-off with such poor form, and coming up against a team like Cork or Galway who will be trying to get up.”
That said, he reckons that while the game against Derry this weekend will be “tough going” it is “also as good an opportunity as Harps will have” against their great rivals.
