Derry City’s Michael Duffy wants to finish the season strong and follow up last week’s FAI Cup win over Shelbourne, with another big performance against champions Shamrock Rovers, on Friday night.
The talented winger netted the crucial opening goal against Damien Duff’s side last Saturday, but it was his and the team’s overall performance, which has given them a spring in their step ahead of tomorrow evening’s encounter at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
“I was due one of them, as I’ve had a few frustrating weeks in front of the net, so yeah that was a good feeling on Saturday night getting that goal,” he explained.
“Just for my own point of view I need to be playing like that every game until the end of the season and that’s the way I want to play every week, I want to be getting involved with our goals and scoring goals and getting a lot of the ball, so hopefully I can push on now and I can finish the season strong.”
Rovers, who are aiming for their fifth Premier Division title in a row, sit eight points behind table toppers Shels and four behind adrift of the Candy Stripes and Duffy knows Stephen Bradley will have his players fully charged up for the game.
The 30-year-old also believes the Tallaght men will be coming to Foyleside with their chest pumped out and they also will be looking for a positive result.
“It’s another big for us and we’re at that stage of the season where every game is big,” he added.
“There aren’t many matches to go and after a big win last Saturday, we’ve another massive game with Rovers at home and it could really push us on going into the last seven league games.
“To be fair I didn’t write them out at any stage, because I knew they would hit far and they would come with a run of victories.
“Look, they’ve won the league four years in a row, so I knew with the squad they have that they could never be written off, but look I just focus on us and I’m not thinking about anyone else.
“We just need to go and win on Friday and worry about ourselves and just keep winning every game that we can between now and the end of the season and I feel if we do that we’ll be in a good position.”
Duffy concedes the momentum win over Shelbourne combined by the performance, is something which was needed at the Brandywell and he hopes that display will kick them on into the Rovers game.
“We needed a night like that at the Brandywell, it had been a while since we played at home and getting a packed house last Saturday, us playing well and getting the big win, just sets us up lovely now going into the Rovers game,” he explained.
“Everyone was brilliant on Saturday, right from the back through midfield and up front, we all worked our socks off and everything just went for us and I think it showed.
“There was a good buzz around the place after the game and all the fans were delighted with the win and as players that performance will build confidence for us.
“We knew how big the game was and how big the FAI Cup is obviously and now we move on back to the league with another big home game against Rovers.
“We want to get back to winning ways in terms of the league and having lost to Galway in our last league game we want to put that right and get back by getting three points on Friday night.
“Everyone in the dressing room knows how important the Rovers match is and we have to win it, because there aren’t many games left. We want to keep pushing ourselves now, as we know what’s at stake.
“As I said we’re just focusing on ourselves and we’re just trying our best to get the win, which is needed at this stage of the season.
”The former Dundalk man was also pleased that his old club’s future looks to be saved, the Oriel Park men were close to going into liquidation but on Tuesday the club confirmed a takeover was agreed between Brian Ainscough and local man John Temple, much to Duffy’s delight.
“I’m delighted that they seem to have got something sorted,” he insisted.
“No one wants to see that happen to any club in this league but obviously especially to Dundalk, because I spent a lot of years down there and a lot of my best memories in football were at Dundalk, so it would have been sad to see if they hadn’t been able to get things sorted.
“I still have a good few mates playing for Dundalk and it would have been very scary for them and everyone involved with the club, so it’s great to see that it looks like they’ve got sorted out and they’re staying in the league for the rest of the season.”
