Derry City defender Colm Horgan confident ahead of Tallaght test

The City defender hopes the club can build on the impressive 2-0 victory over Shelbourne and ‘attack the game’ against 2020 champions, Shamrock Rovers.

Victory over the Hoops would leave the Candy Stripes in a promising position going into the final league match of the season against Cork City and Horgan insists the Brandywell men will go into Wednesday's match in Dublin with confidence.

“It’s just a shame it was such a long time after the Waterford win before we played Dundalk and we couldn’t build on that game,” reflected the Galwegian. “You could see when we got into our stride against Dundalk we played really well and it was unfortunate we gave ourselves too much to do at the time.

“If we play the way we did against Shelbourne, move the ball we did and defend the way we did then we will have a good chance on Wednesday.

“We have to be confident. We’ve got to attack the game on Wednesday and play to win the game which would give us an unbelievable chance going down to Cork.

“We can still get to fourth place which potentially could be a European spot,” he added. “We can build on tonight hopefully and build some momentum going into the cup game at Sligo.”

The former Cork City man has been battling it out with Darren Cole for the right back position since the Scotsman’s return from an ACL injury. And having replaced Cole, who sustained a hamstring injury, during the latter stages of Monday night’s game against Dundalk, Horgan was recalled to the starting line-up for the visit of Shels.

Horgan now hopes he can keep hold of the jersey until the end of the season.

“Darren has been brilliant too when he’s been playing,” he said. “He got the goal against Dundalk and was unfortunate with his hamstring.

“I’m obviously upset for him but buzzing for myself. I just have to grab my chance now when I have it and make sure the spot is mine if he gets fit again before the end of the season.”

The defender produced another assured display and even when he was forced to switch to the left back position after the interval following a head injury sustained by Ciaron Coll, he was never troubled by the Shelbourne attack.

“It’s a little different at left-back and I wouldn’t say my left foot is great to be fair but it is what it is and you’ve just got to do it. It was enjoyable. I thought we played some really good football and it’s good fun when you do that and we deserved to win. It was a good night’s work and it’s always good to come away with a clean sheet.

“We were always in control of the game but Shelbourne have some dangerous players as well and they’re always a threat from set-pieces so we knew we had to see the game out. It’s something we weren’t able to do up there (in the 1-1 draw at Tolka Park) so we were determined to put that right tonight.”

It was imperative Derry got the win to stop Finn Harps from breathing down their necks but the result was never in doubt from the outset.

“We said before the game that it was a game we needed to win. I think we’ve done that a lot of the time when people have asked questions of us during the season or when we needed to get a result, we’ve pulled it out of the bag.

“It’s just a shame that consistency might not have been there this year but that’s just the way the year is, you can see that right across the board apart from Bohs and Shamrock Rovers, everyone is in the same boat. Consistency has been hard to find. But we can build on this on Wednesday.”

Horgan has shown he can link up well when transitioning from defence to attack and he has full confidence that Derry have the attacking talent to break down any team in the country.

“We’ve got brilliant players in the forward line and I think we can hurt anyone on our day. We have been inconsistent at times and that comes from back to front. We have to help the boys create chances by playing better and giving them better service of the ball.

“We did that tonight and Walter (Figueira) shows his class every time he plays. Adam (Hammill) as well and Stephen (Mallon) when he came on worked as hard as he could have so we can’t ask for any more.”

It was the final match of the season at Brandywell and while Horgan has had a taste of playing in front of a full house at the stadium several times as both a visitor and while representing the home team during the start of the 2020 season, regrettably some of his teammates have yet to experience that proper matchday atmosphere at the venue.

“It’s not even just results, the whole season has been absolutely mental,” he said. “Tonight there was such a difference from when we played Bohs here and the place was absolutely buzzing and it would’ve been tonight which would’ve been unbelievable, especially for the guys who haven’t got to experience that.

“I’ve only experienced it a few times and I’m itching to get that back again.”

Two away fixtures conclude the 2020 league campaign and Horgan is aiming high.

“We’re looking up the table now which is nice. We’re not looking down and hopefully we can catch Waterford and get that fourth spot.”