Interim manager Mark Connolly was thrilled that Derry City ended their home campaign with another win, this time seeing off Dundalk at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday evening.
Goals from James Clarke and MIchael Duffy gave City a 2-0 lead before Shane Tracey’s late strike offered the Lilywhites a lifeline.
In truth the home side should have won by a bigger margin, as they dominated for long periods with some slick flowing football.
“For me it’s all about winning football matches,” insisted Connolly.
“Make winning football matches a habit so that it becomes natural. When you’re winning it becomes infectious around everyone...
“I’m just delighted for the boys, they’ve been incredible and the performances that they’ve been putting in have been brilliant.
The quality at times against Dundalk was absolutely outstanding, so overall I’m just delighted that we finished off our home campaign with another win.”
The 34-year-old continued to praise his side, who again produced a free-flowing performance to see off Ciaran Kilduff’s side.
“Some of our football was a joy to watch and it’s good to see.
“That’s what fans want to see: free-flowing football, people working hard. Yes, there’s going to be mistakes, that’s life, but we just need to make sure that people understand that we’re going to make mistakes because we’re trying to do the right things.
“We’re trying to play the right way but I can guarantee you that every single one of them will give everything and that’s personally how I think I was as a player.
“I also think that’s the bare minimum and exactly what Derry people want.
“The whole squad have played their part in every game, which is brilliant for me. All the players are buying into what we’re trying to do and they’re working extremely hard.
“There are some lads who are getting some minutes now, they’re getting their chance to play and they’re doing really well, which means it’s difficult for me to pick the team.
“The togetherness in the dressing room amongst the boys is just coming together every single week and they’re all becoming tighter and that’s what we want at this football club.”
The Clones native’s 12-game record since replacing Tiernan Lynch is an impressive one - eight wins, two draws, and only two defeats - and another big reason for that is the new grass surface at the Brandywell.
Derry have won seven games out of nine since returning to the Brandywell in June and Connolly admits the new pitch has been great.
“The pitch is incredible. We’re extremely lucky to have Philip (O’Doherty, Chairman) to invest to put this grass pitch in, because a lot of clubs don’t do that.
“We’ve the best pitch in the country so we’ve got to be extremely thankful for that.
“The players just love playing on it and it shows the quality of football that we can play whenever we’re on a grass pitch.
“The flip on that, we have to make sure that when we go to places next season we have to be better and get our away record better, which I know we will.”
FAI Cup final fever certainly has gripped the Maiden City, as Connolly, his coaching staff and players have seen first-hand during their visits to schools throughout the area last week.
“The players, especially the new ones, are going around the schools and seeing what Derry City is all about. What an amazing city. What a passionate city,” he added.
“Looking at all the videos, I’m sitting waiting for the next video to come up to see who’s doing the next dance or who’s doing whatever.
”The boys are now seeing that this club is a monster. This is an amazing club, this city is amazing, and thank you to all the people who are showing that.
“Now these new players, I’ve been saying to them ‘Wait until you see’, and now they’re coming in and going ‘Wow’. Wait until November 8th and they’ll see something else as well. It’s amazing.”
