CUP FIRST: Derry City boss stands by St Pat's call

​The Brandywell club was originally scheduled to host the new league leaders at Brandywell on Friday, October 9th but with the Candy Stripes' FAI Cup semi-final against Galway United fixed for Saturday, October 10th, it was moved to Monday, October 19th.

That means Derry won't have a fixture until that cup clash with Galway while St Pat's will also be idle until resuming after the international break with a home clash against Shelbourne on October 16th before that meeting with Connolly's troops on Foyleside three days later. “We’ve no game for four weeks," said Kenny. "I think if the league could look at it again, you’d have the FAI Cup semi-finals the second week after the break. "That way, everyone gets a game after three weeks. It doesn’t make sense. “We did ask Derry to play during the break but it didn’t suit them, and they have to look after themselves; I'm not criticising them," added the former Derry boss.

"It didn’t suit them and that’s fair enough; they're firmly fixed on their semi-final which is a big game for them and I understand that completely. “But you wouldn’t choose to have four weeks at the end of the season without a game.” When Connolly was asked why he didn't reschedule the game, he felt a high intensity league clash before their biggest game of the season wouldn't be in the best interests of his squad, as several key players are carrying niggles.

"It was basically the FAI, they put the game in for that Monday and we were happy to stay with it. With the knocks and bruises we have it probably wouldn't have been right for us. The semi-final is a massive game for us.

"We understand if the shoe was on the other foot for us and that was the conversation we had with the other team but it is what it is. We move on and get ready for the semi-final. "It is what it is. We can't change that now. We could've potentially played a game closer to the cup game but I think with the niggles we've had I think it's best we recover.

"If we didn't have a cup semi-final it might be different but we have a cup semi-final to focus on. We will give the boys a few days off. We will try and organise a game, or something, even in-house, to keep the boys ready for the next game."

Derry navigated a tricky seven day fixture schedule away to Shelbourne and Waterford before hosting Galway ahead of the three-week international break and with seven points from nine in the bag, they moved into fourth spot.

Connolly is delighted with the recent resurgence since he took the reins on an interim basis after Tiernan Lynch's sacking at the beginning of August and 'proud' of his players' efforts.

"It's not about me," he insisted. "It's all about the football club. I've been asked to step in and it's the players who go on the pitch. I was a player myself here not so long ago. It's down to you.

"We can give them messages and help them in certain ways but it's down to them. The bravery, commitment, and desire to put their bodies on the line and go to the well in the last few games have been really tough so it's all on the players and I'm so proud.

"The character they've shown. There were questions asked about whether they could be consistent or do this or that and they're showing it now. They've been excellent. They're really digging in, working hard and showing their quality and bravery on the ball.

"Second half, you're 1-0 up you could maybe sit in a little bit and catch them on the break but they were brave and took risks. It's risky at times but we want a Derry City team that plays good football, works hard and gets after teams and the boys did that."