MICHAEL WILSON reports

O’Flynn, who was released by former City boss Pat Fenlon before the start of the 2007 season, still has a strong affinity with the ‘Candy Stripes’ but he claimed his side’s unlikely point on Friday night was fully deserved and he paid tribute to the influence of new Terryland Park boss, Jeff Kenna.

"It was brilliant to get the draw. Any club coming up here is always going to be happy to go away with a point,” declared the Mallow man.

"Jeff has changed the tempo in training since he’s arrived. It's shorter, but the quality is probably higher. We are still doing double sessions but he demands high quality and concentration, which is a big aspect and that has paid off against Derry City.

"We were possibly the better side in the first half as we created more chances. But the boss coming in has given us that bit of confidence to go and play while cutting out the stupid mistakes.

“Overall it was a great performance as we had been conceding goals late on in games and that’s not good for any side's confidence but, hopefully, we can now push on from this result,” he added.

The Galway striker, who was at the Brandywell during Stephen Kenny’s first reign as Derry City manager four years ago, said he could see similarities between the side he played in and the one currently developing under the Dubliner’s watchful eye.

"Derry are a top side and are going to be pushing for the league title, yet we came up here and gave as good as we got,” he insisted.

"There doesn't seem to have been too many changes in the way Derry play since my time here. Obviously there have been a few personnel changes, but they still want to get the ball down and play and they still want to make the Brandywell a fortress.

"No-one gave us a chance coming up against them, but we showed people how we can play and we probably had the best chance of the game in the second half.”

Despite his delight at the result, O’Flynn openly admitted that the Derry City score was always one of the first he looked for when checking eircom league results each weekend.

“It was brilliant to hear the crowd chanting my name at the Brandywell. The club means so much to me. I spent two great years at Derry City and I was very disappointed to be released but it was a great feeling to hear the reception I received when I came back.

"I don't think I had a point to prove or anything like that. The fans know what I gave the club, but it is always good to come back and be appreciated as a former player," he concluded.

Didn’t do enough

For Peter Hutton the result was particularly disappointing, the influential team captain suggesting that Derry’s play was ‘too slow at times’ not to mention the fact that goal-scoring chances has not been taken.

"We just didn't do enough,” he claimed.