Morrison ‘just glad to be back’
�/Lorcan Doherty Photography - May 25TH 2012. FAI Ford Cup Round 2. Derry City V Finn Harps. Photo Credit Lorcan Doherty Photography
Derry City player, Owen Morrison, beamed with delight after his side’s 4-0 win over Finn Harps at the Brandywell in the second round of F.A.I. Cup on Friday.
The 30 year-old attacking midfielder was the stand out player during the North West derby. Morrison pulled the creative strings for Derry on Friday and he set-up Stephen McLaughlin for his second goal and his pass which led to Rory Patterson finding the back of the net was nothing short of brilliant.
Morrison, who signed for the Candy Stripes a third time when he left FC New York last year has been on the periphery of Declan Devine’s starting XI but his performance against Harps was a welcome reminder that he can still “make things happen” on the pitch.
“On a personal level, I am just glad to be back on the pitch with the boys,” said Morrison after the game.
“I am happy to be part of the team again because if I am honest the last eight months have been a nightmare for me.
“When I am playing football and when I am training every day is when I am happiest. It’s all good.
“I think it’s been the best part of a year that I have played a game and afterwards I was happy with my performance. It’s also been a year since I have managed to play in several consecutive games. So this has been a long time coming.”
He added: “I have been training hard for the last three weeks but it takes time to get back to where you want to be. If I am honest, I feel I am only 50 per cent of the way there but when I get the ball on the pitch I still feel I can make something happen. I think the boys know how I play and I am still learning how they play but it’s good, I am enjoying it.”
The league will take a break in two weeks’ time and Morrison said that he intends to use the reprieve to improve upon his fitness.
“I think the way I get to where I want to be is more games and more training. There’s a break coming up soon and I think that it’ll do me the world of good because I will be able to let my legs recover, work at the gym and I still feel that I can get sharper and I want to get my weight down a wee bit too. When I injured my calf it hindered me in terms of what I was able to do and as I say I am only back training three weeks but I am delighted to be back playing again.
The former Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City player went on praise the performance of team mate Stephen McLaughlin and added the team have their sights set on taking all three points when they clash with Shelbourne at the Brandywell next Friday.
“We scored a few good goals tonight and it’s great to see a player like Stephen McLaughlin come into his own - he’s in great form at the minute and long may it continue.
“It’d be great if we could push on now and beat Shelbourne at the Brandywell next Friday night. Everyone’s looking forward to the game and everyone wants us to win and see what happens to the other teams around us in the league.”
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Weather for Derry
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
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