28 Days Later: Derry City emerge from Covid-19 lockdown on FAI Cup quest

The Brandywell boss oversaw his first training session in two weeks yesterday morning ahead of tonight’s FAI Cup quarter-final at the Showgrounds following what he described as, ‘an horrendous’ second lockdown. (K.o. 7.30p.m.)

The odds are heavily stacked against City who have been hit hard by two Covid-19 outbreaks which have forced players and staff to self-isolate in their homes for an incredible 28 days over the past month!

One training session since their 1-1 draw against Cork City on November 9th last certainly isn’t the best preparation for a crunch cup clash with the Bit O’Red but it’s a challenge Devine believes his players must embrace.

“That’s 28 days out of the last 31 days or something like that we’ve been stuck in the house and I actually really feel for the players,” said the City boss.

“It’s been a horrendous couple of weeks. To think we played two games in two days against Shamrock Rovers and Cork and you’re thinking ultimately we’re over the worst of it.

“To get back the next day after Cork and we’re told we have to go back into a scenario where the players must lock themselves down again for another two weeks. It was unimaginable.

“And to be stuck in isolation for four weeks in total, I think that was just incredible for the players. It’s okay for the local based players who have their families but the likes of Cameron McJannett is here on his own in a house and has no form of contact.

“There are a lot of players who haven’t seen their family in a long time. They’re stuck in a house and can’t visit or see people. That’s been extremely tough and that’s just the life side of things.

“In terms of the football side of things this is just going on so long it’s incredible. We’ve had no training and it feels as if we haven’t seen each other in so long.

“Just to get a bit of match prep will be great but first and foremost we have to make sure everyone is alright and everyone’s mental wellbeing is okay. We have to make sure we’re physically able to go to Sligo and compete in a quarter-final.”

Anyone who contracted the virus has thankfully fully recovered and Devine expects his team to be ‘chomping at the bit’ to get back on the pitch.

He has challenged them to leave everything on the pitch tonight as they bid to reach the cup semi-final where holders, Shamrock Rovers await.

“I’m sure the players will be really looking forward to getting a game of football under their belts but it’s just been absolutely unprecedented in terms of preparation for games.

“It is what it is. We have to suck it up. We have to deal with it. It’s the quarter-final of the FAI Cup. We’ve had a disappointing season but by the end of this week you could be in a cup final.

“ So that’s the way we have to embrace it. We have to try and take all the positives we can. Players will be fresh and I’m sure they’ll all be chomping at the bit to get on a football pitch come Wednesday night on the back of such a disappointing couple of weeks.

“This is an opportunity for us to salvage something. It’s an opportunity to get to the semi-final of the FAI Cup. So adrenaline alone should get you by.

“There’s been lots of surprises throughout all forms of sport during the last few weeks and months and why shouldn’t we try to cause a surprise?

“We have to go away to Sligo Rovers. If we win that we have to go away to Shamrock Rovers but that’s something we have to embrace. We’ve been locked up so we have to use all our energy and ability to try and get through.

“At least if we come off that pitch on Wednesday knowing we’ve given it absolutely everything then I can look the boys in the eye and say, ‘fair enough’.

"Hopefully we can get through a training session tomorrow with all the bodies still intact and go down there and give as good an account of ourselves as we possibly can,” added Devine.