Eddie Beach hoping Celtic Park can be Derry City's 'paradise' over the next month

​The Englishman [22] was key to securing that timely, morale-boosting victory over Shelbourne at Tolka Park which lifted Derry into fifth place ahead of Friday’s crunch clash after producing some top class saves in either half.

He was also Derry's 'man of the match' in the 2-2 draw at Oriel Park the previous week as he grows in confidence in that No.1 role in the absence of Brian Maher.

The ex-Chelsea and Southampton youth admits the 2-1 win in Dublin last Friday night was a 'massive relief' for the players who have faced their fair share of adversity over the opening weeks of the campaign.

"Relief but also excitement and happiness for sure," he explained. "It's been a long time coming. We've faced adversity but working hard to get those three points means a lot for myself and everyone associated with the club.

"It's amazing to help the team and push us up the table, and get to where we need to be and where we belong. On a personal note I'm absolutely buzzing. It was a big game and I felt good out there.

"You come to Shels away and it's going to be a difficult game. We knew what we had to do and we've faced adversity throughout the game, just as we have all season, and I think the boys should all be really proud of themselves.

"We're all in it together. Every time we've come into training we have our heads down and are ready to correct it. This is the start and hopefully we push on from here.

"In terms of application and what we're trying to do and become, they've been absolutely brilliant, and we can't do much more in that sense."

It will count for nothing if they fail to back it up on Friday night in front of what's expected to be a significant attendance at Celtic Park.

"Momentum is a funny thing," said the goalkeeper. "You get the win and there's something within you. It's like anything in life, when you get a bit of success it puts a spring in your step and I think we can go into Friday full of confidence and hopefully get a result." With just 35 tickets sold for the away end at Tolka Park last week and a growing sense of frustration amongst the fanbase, ending the seven-match winless run was crucial for attracting a big crowd to their temporary home 400 yards up the road from Brandywell.

The novelty factor and the historic nature of playing a soccer game at the home of Derry GAA would have surely boosted attendance regardless. But now Derry fans have something to shout about ahead of the visit of last year's double winners.

Beach has played at Celtic Park before but it was in the East End of Glasgow with his parent club Kilmarnock. He’s hoping the Lone Moor Road venue can be Derry’s ‘Paradise’ over the next month.

"We're going into Celtic Park and hopefully it's going to be a really good atmosphere in there.

"We needed to win it and we can tick that off now. It's a relief off our shoulders and the fans' shoulders, and hopefully we can go and really kick on now." Beach has never been to a GAA game but teammate James Clarke has promised to take him to one over the coming weeks. He'll play on a GAA pitch himself before then but he's hoping the groundsmen remember to adjust the pitch dimensions - although he would benefit from the slightly smaller GAA goalposts.

"I still need to go to a GAA game. I think 'Clarkey' told me he will take me so I'm looking forward to that. I'm told it's a slightly bigger pitch but I'm hoping it's still going to be football size dimensions," he smiled.

"And the nets especially. I'm looking forward to it, it should be good. I've had a look at the stadium and it looks really cool. Hopefully, we can get a good crowd in so the fans can help us get a big result on Friday.

“We’re all look­ing for­ward to Rovers com­ing, these are the reas­ons why you play foot­ball, you get big occa­sions and those occa­sions are what every­one gets up for."

Being a goalkeeper can be a lonely role at times but Beach is grateful to the small tight-knit team he's got around him including Maher who has been a mentor over the past few weeks alongside goalie coach Anthony Fennelly and young 'keeper Shay Callister.

"He's the best ever," Beach said of Maher. "You couldn’t ask for a better goalie to be alongside and Shay and obviously 'Fenners', the goalie coach. It's such a tight knit group. It's a weird position being a goalie at times.

"It can be lonely at times and you can be out there on your own but they make you really feel together and it's a really great group and credit to Brian he's been brilliant in terms of everything he's doing on the mentorship side and helping me out.

"Little things that I ask him as a more senior goalie. He's played lots of games and it's amazing to hear from him - someone who's wanting me to improve and learn and help the team out."