DEFENDER Cameron McJannet believes Derry City missed a good chance to win the Premier Division title this season.
The 25-year-old, who has played a major role at the heart of the Candystripes’ defence in this year’s campaign, concedes that Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side have had opportunities to really put pressure on champions Shamrock Rovers.
The Brandywell men currently sit in third place, some six points behind the Tallaght men, who have played a game less, and McJannet feels that Derry have somewhat missed the boat this year, watching the Dubliners stumble over the line to claim their fourth title in a row.
“I feel it’s a missed opportunity this season, especially as we had started so well and then we had a blip,” he insisted.
“Throughout the summer we were brilliant but at times we just didn’t help ourselves, we had chances to either close the gap on Rovers or move further ahead of them, but look as a season as a whole, we’ve had small moments which have cost us.
“Like a few weeks ago Shamrock Rovers drew at the Brandywell, if we had won that then you never know, but to be fair the season is more than one game, but yeah it does feel like a missed opportunity and it’s disappointing that we didn’t do it.
“We played well enough but just didn’t do enough for it to happen this year.
“I feel we aren’t that far away, the squad we have is brilliant and since I’ve come to Derry, ourselves and the league in general has gone multiple steps forward.
“When I came we nearly got relegated to put it bluntly, yes I know it hasn’t gone as well as we would have liked the last two seasons, in terms of winning the league, but we’re now competing for the title, so it’s some change and we just have to keep going.”
The former Stoke City youngster, who joined the Foylesiders in 2020, believes while Derry are focusing on their final two league games of this season – starting at Cork City tomorrow night – he and the squad are already excited about next year’s campaign.
McJannet insists Rovers won’t get everything their own way in 2024 and feels that it will be a more competitive top flight next year.
“Every team that has been up there this year is going to be there next year and in some cases be possibly even better,” he stated.
“Plus you add Galway into the mix, who let’s be honest about it walked the First Division this year and then you’ll have either Cork or Waterford or one of those play-off teams like Cobh Ramblers or whoever, so yeah it’s going to be more of a competitive league next season.
“Every game is going to be a fight, but it’s a challenge that I’m already looking forward to, although we still have two massive games this season to worry about starting with Cork on Friday and once they are finished we can then start to think about next season.”
