Ben Doherty targets milestone Derry City appearance in Cork after 'life-changing week'

​The 26-year-old Culmore man would've been forgiven for taking his eye off the ball ahead of last Friday's visit of Shelbourne to Brandywell as his partner Shannon delivered their first child, a beautiful baby daughter named Enya, the previous Monday evening.

It's been a 'life-changing' week for the wingback, however, he was back in training the following morning preparing for the game and played his part in a dogged defensive display which took 10 man Derry one point closer to their European goal.

Doherty, who clinched a league winners' medal with Larne this year, sadly won't be repeating that feat with his hometown this season with Shamrock Rovers needing just a point to bag their fourth successive top flight title.

All focus at the Brandywell club has turned to securing second spot and Europe which is now a 'minimum requirement' at the club according to Ruaidhri Higgins. Doherty will make his 100th club appearance at Turner's Cross, a proud milestone for the Derry man, and he insists the team will leave no stone unturned in their mission to qualify for European competition.

"It's been a big week," smiled Doherty. "It's been a life-changing week. Monday evening my wee girl was born. The staff, the players and the club have been very supportive. Obviously my partner Shannon, you don't get anywhere without the women,” he laughed. "It's definitely a man's life, I've learned that.

"I was in training the next day because I wanted to be involved (against Shelbourne). I wanted to be with the team and preparing the way we wanted to play. "I'm committed to here. This is my job and everyone in there is striving towards the one thing. Once that's secured we can look forward to next year.

"We've two games left in the season and then I can enjoy a bit of family time but until the end of the season it's all focus here and obviously enjoy time with the wee woman."

Victory last Friday would've guaranteed Europe for a third successive season but Sadou Diallo's 'baffling' dismissal on 24 minutes left Derry with an uphill battle.

The game plan went out the window after that and the players were fully aware of how harmful a defeat to Shelbourne would be given it would've taken them to just two points of Derry with two to play.

"It probably wasn't the game we wanted," added Doherty. "We had a gameplan and tried to implement it. Obviously when you get that kind of setback 25 minutes into the game it's something you have to deal with.

"Personally I don't think it was a sending off from where I was on the pitch. I was close enough to it but it's another one of those decisions here at the Brandywell that's sort of baffled everybody.

"I thought with the 10 men we bounced back well and there was massive leadership shown throughout the whole squad, even the players that came on, we dug deep to get a point.”

"All things considered it probably is a good point for us in where we want to be.

"You're into the breeze in the second half and given the magnitude of the game and the sending off we knew what was at risk if we didn't at least come away with a point. If we had got beat tonight it would be a different story and the pressure mounts on us with two games remaining.

"We've kept Shelbourne at arm's length and it's up to us to finish the job now. It's two games and it's up to us. We're all looking for one thing and that's European football for next year."