Brian Maher knows Sunday night’s FAI Cup tie against St Patrick’s Athletic is a massive game in Derry City’s season.
The Candystripes host the Cup holders after suffering European heartache in midweek when they were knocked out of the UEFA Conference League by Gibraltarian part-timers Bruno’s Magpies.
It’s a case of déjà vu as last season the Foylesiders lost to Tobol in Europe before enduring a shootout defeat to the Saints in the Cup a few days later — and Maher is in no mood for a repeat.
“It’s a huge game for us,” he stated.
“We obviously have to pick ourselves back up and, like last season, we’ve gone through 120 minutes and St Pat’s will probably be rubbing their hands together at that as well, but we’ve recovered and prepared properly.
“St Pat’s have had two weeks getting ready for the tie and it will be very difficult for us and they’re coming up fresh, but we’ve done our work, which we always do and we’re ready for the tie.”
Since the transfer window has opened, Pat’s chief Stephen Kenny has added the likes of goalkeeper Joseph Anang and former Republic of Ireland Under-21 winger Zach Elbouzedi to his squad and the ex-Republic of Ireland gaffer has been talking about this tie for a number of weeks.
“Obviously they’re investing really heavily and they’re signing top players and we knew that was going to happen once Stephen walked through the door,” added Maher. “Some of those new signings are players that Stephen has worked with before.
“So yeah, they’ll be really prepared for the tie, especially as they’ve had a week or two to get ready for it, so it’s going to be a challenge but it’s one that we’re ready for.
“We won at the Brandywell earlier in the season when we played them. We know what it’s going to take and our group of players are very tight, we gave everything on Thursday night but things just didn’t go our way, but we’ve a chance to put things right.”