Danny Mullen's Derry City regret fuels Dundalk FAI Cup dream

​​The former Brandywell favourite spent two-and-a-half years on Foyleside and his youngest daughter Freya [2] was born in the city.

The Scotsman still lives in Derry with his young family and keeps a keen eye on developments at the club, which is currently guided by his good friend, former teammate and neighbour Mark Connolly.

Mullen, who signed for Dundalk when his Derry contract expired at the end of last season, won't be involved on Sunday having undergone surgery last Thursday after sustaining ankle ligament damage that rules him out for the rest of the campaign.

However, the striker [31], who has scored a respectable four goals in 12 appearances for the Lilywhites during an injury-disrupted season, will be in attendance to cheer on the Co. Louth side as he looks to end the year with an appearance at the Aviva Stadium.

"It's a game we're looking forward to," Mullen said on this week's Talking Derry City podcast. "It's a big game for both clubs and obviously a big reward at the end to get to a semi-final and one game away from the Aviva.

"It's going to be a big game, a big day and hopefully Dundalk come out the winners," he smiled. "I've not been back at Brandywell since the grass has been laid and it looks incredible. It's going to be a good game, a tough game for both sides.

"It's an incredible atmosphere when everyone turns up. It's unreal when you're playing and hear that noise in the background but it's one the boys will look forward to. "We want to win every game - that's the mentality driven into us and it won't change on Sunday. The quarter-final of the cup—there's no bigger reward for winning it. We will come with a game plan, but it will be a tough game.

"We've had a good run-in to this point in the cup. You get picked to go to Derry and it's going to be a tough one.

"Both sides will be thinking the same thing. Get through this one and you're one game away from the Aviva. Another one of the so-called bigger teams will be out of the cup when Bohs play Pats. So it will be a huge incentive to get through this round."

It's been a hugely frustrating season for Mullen who initially missed nine games across March, April and May due to a flare-up of osteitis pubis.

He scored against Bohemians at Dalymount Park in June before sustaining ankle ligament damage that ruled him out for a further two months.

Returning in the FAI Cup third round clash with Castlebar Celtic on August 15th, Mullen scored once again before aggravating the same ankle - a freak injury when stepping on the goalkeeper's foot which has effectively ended his season.

"Initially I was out for two months with osteitis pubis and was just getting back into the swing of things. Then I did my ankle at Bohs. "I came back from that, did it again, and then had to get surgery.

"So it's been a frustrating season. Hopefully the surgery makes it stronger than ever so I can get back fit. Hopefully it's sorted this time and I don't have any other problems with it.

"It was tough but I've been spending time back in Scotland, spending time with Kelsey [his wife] and the kids. Now is all about resting it and when I can actually get back on my feet I can get some proper work on it. I know my season is done but even watching the games gives me that buzz.

"I got surgery on it last Thursday. I flew back to Ireland on Monday so haven't been down to see the lads. I'll see them on Sunday at the game as it's only a 10 minute drive for me."

Mullen faces another close season of uncertainty as he is out of contract at the end of the campaign. The ex-Partick Thistle striker will no doubt have plenty of options for next year and Ciaran Kilduff could yet table a new deal for the player at Oriel Park.

With his family settled in Derry, worrying about his future is certainly not ideal but it comes with the territory.

At the end of last year it was a similar situation but Mullen felt he was ‘strung along’ by ex-City boss Tiernan Lynch at the time as he experienced the 'cut throat' nature of football.

"It was a bit up and down," he recalled. "I was told that I was wanted at Derry and I was quite open, saying I enjoyed my time here and loved it here.

"Once I go to a club I'm all in and I was quite happy to stay but Tiernan had other ideas and football's that way, it's cut throat so you just need to move on once the deal's not on the table.

"It wasn't a nice time to be uncertain, especially when I moved over here, had my family over here and we're all in. That's football. You have to deal with it and take it in your stride.

"I think it's fair to say I was strung along a little bit. Towards the end you get the feeling you're not going to be there and you can start to make plans then.

"There was a period I was told I was going to be there and it just didn't happen. That's the way some people work but obviously I've moved on from that now and I'm at Dundalk.

"As I say, when I go to a club I'm all in. I'm living down there a few nights of the week. It is tough with the travelling but you've got to do it and there's no better way for it to pay off than winning games at the weekend."

Mullen, who scored 20 goals in 83 appearances, has fond memories of playing with Derry but his biggest regret was not winning silverware having come so close in the league and cup.

"I just loved being at Derry. My time here was brilliant. It was a great changing room. We came second and the next year were close to winning the league, but we ended up finishing fourth.

"I always pride myself on my goal-to-game ratio and it wasn't bad at Derry either. At Dundalk I've had a terrible season with injury but I've had four goals in 12 games.

"I pride myself on being a goalscorer and being a nuisance up top and maybe that's why the fans liked me at Derry because I gave everything and also chipped in with some big goals.

"We got so close to winning the league with Derry and we ended up falling so far. Maybe another year with the same squad of players, but they changed a lot of players and had a lot of incomings and outgoings, maybe disrupting it a wee bit.

"When I came to Derry, one of the big pulls for me was their ambition to win something. To get to the final and fall short in that was a bit of regret that I didn't come here and win something.

"I still watch the games when I can. I live here in the city so I have a soft spot for Derry. I loved my time here."

Mullen joined Kilduff's First Division champions Dundalk and they've enjoyed an impressive first season back in the top flight.

They are currently fourth in the table and in the last eight of the cup.

The striker hopes the team can finish the season with a trip to the National Stadium but knows Sunday will be one of their biggest tests yet.

"I'd like to get there again and on the right end of a result this time," added Mullen who was part of the Derry team that lost to Drogheda in the 2024 Final.

"That's one regret from my time at Derry, I should've won something. There's an opportunity to do that in Dundalk and hopefully the boys can go and do that.

"We've been brilliant this season. Obviously in recent times we've struggled a little bit but it hasn't been down to a lack of effort.

"We've got a win at the weekend [against Drogheda] and hopefully that can spring us back into step and we can go on a wee run as it's the business end of the season.

"Getting promoted last season and now sitting fourth is a great season and hopefully after the weekend we're in the semi-final of the cup as well."

With Connolly taking charge at Brandywell on an interim basis, Mullen has been impressed with how the former defender has shifted the mood.

"Since Mark's come in and taken over you can see the freedom that they're playing with. So looking to Sunday, it will be a big game, a hard game but I think Mark's done brilliantly since he's come in and really helped the club out.

"For Mark, he loves the club, and to be asked to be the manager is a huge privilege for him. He will give it everything he's got. Mark was in the same boat as me as a player at Derry last year.

"He was told he wanted him to stay and he ended up not being here, so it's probably been a whirlwind for him. Going to Coleraine and shortly after returning as Tiernan's boss, then Tiernan getting let go. So it's been mad for him.

"When I've been speaking to him he's saying he's non-stop and that's the way he is. I'm sure he will do a good job for however long he's manager.

"Even when I first moved over he made sure you're settled. His whole family looks after you. He's got that leadership quality and is a really nice guy. He's brilliant at what he does so I can see him doing well.

"Derry has always had quality players. Mark noticed that and took on board they needed to change something. He's told the lads

'You're going to make mistakes', and you can see the way it's turned. The results have picked up and he's doing a good job but hopefully not this Sunday," he smiled.

"The games we've played against Derry have all been tight, but I feel we've edged them. Now with Mark in it will probably be that wee bit tougher.

"It's two big-hitters and it will be an exciting one to watch."