Mark Connolly: FAI Cup semi-final will be a different ball game after Derry win dress rehearsal

​Derry City's recent resurgence under their caretaker boss continued with a fifth victory from eight in all competitions as Connolly can now account for ONE THIRD of the club's league wins this season!

Adam O'Reilly's close-range strike on the stroke of half-time - his sixth of the campaign - ultimately decided the match at a rain-soaked Brandywell but the scoreline didn't reflect Derry's dominance. The win moved the Candy Stripes into fourth spot as they have taken 11 points from 18 since Connolly took charge at the start of August. This opened up a four-point cushion on the seventh-placed Galwegians who threatened to leapfrog them had they earned a third victory over the Foylesiders this term.

This was a pseudo-dress rehearsal for that Cup semi-final clash on October 10th, and Connolly expects a totally different test of his team's new-found resolve when they re-engage in battle.

"It will be a totally different game down there," predicted the Monaghan man.

"It's an extremely difficult place to go to. We saw there tonight, big pitch, the pitch was lovely and they got into a really difficult shape to play against.

"Tonight showed the boys how tough it will be. They are a really tough team to play against. Especially going down there. It's one we look forward to when it comes, but the boys will take a few days off and then we'll get preparing for that.

"So it will be a different game down there. It's a cup semi-final and one we're looking forward to but there's another couple of weeks before that." Galway won't have as long to prepare as they host Shelbourne in a crunch clash on Friday in the league with both teams hoping to steer away from trouble at the bottom.

For Derry, they've been building momentum and with four league matches to go they're seven points clear of the play-off spot and unlikely to get dragged back into a dogfight with Drogheda, Waterford, Galway and perhaps even Shelbourne.

After a difficult week which saw them collect seven points from nine after back-to-back away trips to Shels and Waterford before entertaining Galway, Connolly has welcomed the international break before entering a final straight with plenty to play for.

Friday night was just the club's NINTH league win of 2026 and Connolly doesn't need to be told that return simply isn't good enough for a club with lofty ambitions.

"We need to win matches in the league because we haven't won enough this season. The boys are starting to turn that around, picking up results and our next focus will be the semi-final.

"I'll start focusing on that tonight but I'm just delighted for them. "Listen, if I'm greedy I would've liked three points at Waterford but you have to be happy. It's tough. That travelling to Shelbourne and then not getting back until about 4.30am or 5am on Tuesday morning so it's tough.

"Even for myself, I'm not playing and you're tired the next few days after it so you could only imagine how the players feel. “They recovered well, looked after themselves and went again tonight. So it's testament to them. I'm so proud of them. "They're doing so well and giving everything for the football club and that's all I can ask."

Prior to Friday's 1-0 win, Derry were averaging three goals a game at Brandywell since Connolly took charge and while only one goal was scored on the night, he was delighted with how they continued to search for that insurance goal against a stubborn Galway outfit.

"It's not been easy at times but regardless of the results, the biggest thing for me is seeing the commitment and desire to work really hard for the team and their teammates and trying to get it down, playing through the lines and keep doing it, it's tough.

"You could go into your shell if you give away a pass and make a mistake but they're not doing that. I've told them that. If they make a mistake or do anything wrong or whatever it's on me because I've asked them to play, and I think they're enjoying it.

"These games against Galway are never easy. We're just delighted we got the three points. Delighted we got the clean sheet. I thought we deserved that and defended the box really well. "I thought we controlled the game for large periods. I thought some of the football . . . their bravery to get on the ball is difficult because of the way they play and press; it's hard to play against.

"I was really proud of the bravery they showed to keep getting on the ball especially when we went 1-0 up. You could potentially start kicking the ball long but the message was to keep playing, keep going through the lines and I thought they did that.

"It can be frustrating even when you're watching from the sidelines, not being able to break them down and I understand the fans, sometimes the fans are frustrated but when they (Galway) get into a shape it's really hard to break down at times. They go man-for-man at times and let you get to a certain point, making it hard to break down.

"When you're watching from the side and thinking, 'Move it and do this and do that,' but it's actually difficult. I've been on the pitch against them these last few years and it's hard.

"I was really proud of the patience to keep doing the right things, moving it and trying to get Mickey (Duffy) coming in and Ellis (Chapman) going out or Brandon (Fleming) going beyond Mickey. All those things and obviously Adam getting into the box and scoring the goal. All round, on the ball, off the ball, the effort, I can't ask for anymore."