FAI Cup Final places up for grabs says Derry City boss Connolly

With The Bit O'Red relegated and league honours already handed out, there's little on the line in terms of the table but the approaching Aviva Stadium date with Waterford adds an extra dimension for Connolly's travelling Candy Stripes.

A clean bill of health would likely be close to top of the interim manager's preferred outcomes for what is expected to be a much changed City starting 11. However, with Connolly revealing he is yet to settle on his Cup final line-up, there's no shortage of motivation for any player hoping to force their way into the manager's plans for November 8th.

"There are a few that have their places nearly nailed down; then there are a few that still aren't so there are still places up for grabs," explained the former City captain, "That gives the opportunity now for boys this Friday against Sligo to go and stake a claim and potentially get in the cup final team.

"I want to win every game. I want to win - and I keep saying this to the boys - even if you are playing small sided games in training, you want to win them. That's the mentality we are trying to build. And we are slowing building that.

"It doesn't happen over night, you have to drip feed that and do it every day but the boys are buying into it. Friday night against Sligo is no different. We want to go win the football match against a Sligo team for whom it will be their last home game in the Premiership so I'm sure they'll want to finish off on a high."

Connolly rejected the suggestion Sligo was a difficult game to prepare for given much of the focus outside his squad has already switched to the FAI Cup final, the build-up to which is in full swing around the city.

"That's the job at the end of the day," he added, "You can't - and I keep stressing this to the players - but you can't pick and choose when you are going to turn up; you can't pick and choose when you are going to work hard... you can't pick and choose when all these things happen.

"If you do that and you turn up on a Friday night, and you're not at it, it doesn't work. You have to be doing it every single day no matter what game you are playing in or who you are playing against.

"That's the mindset going into Friday so psychologically it won't be any different to how we approach any other game. We want to win the game and we'll do absolutely everything we can to win it and if that's not enough, it won't be for the lack of trying."

Liam Boyce is expected to feature against the Bit O'Red as he seeks to prove his fitness ahead of the final while Brian Maher, who returned in last week's 2-1 victory over Dundalk, should get another game under his belt after his injury lay-off. And despite the lack of jeopardy, Connolly said he views every match an an opportunity to underline the culture he's been instilling since taking over in August.

"Sligo will be wanting to win this football match," added Connolly, "I imagine they will go very strong to try and see out the campaign on a high as much as they can, especially being at home in their last Premier Division game. Listen, they will be at it and it will be a tough game but one we are looking forward to.

"In all my time with the club, since I first signed as a player, my mantra has been that you have to give everything. You're going to have bad days, that's going to happen, it's a given, and that's not just in football; but if you're working hard and giving everything for the club and the badge, then I believe we will be in a really good place.

"Thankfully we're certainly there now. The players are giving everything they can to win football matches and get Derry City to be successful and there will be no change in that on Friday night. The boys who go out on the pitch give everything for the club and fingers crossed they get a result.

"The mood (in the squad) has been incredible. The mood have been as good as I have felt it in all my time here. The boys are really gelling together. They are going for coffees and doing all those things together because there's a real bond building.

"Yeah, the mood is really good. To be fair, the boys who have been playing quite a bit, they're always going to be happy and content but the boys who haven't been playing as much as they would have hoped for, they have smiles on their faces too and are working very hard so there's a good vibe at the moment.

"We want to finish off what has been an up and down season well. I don't know if the pitch is going to be great so we have to be careful but yeah, it's a good opportunity for boys that haven't played and hopefully we can keep our momentum going."