SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: UCD v Derry City (Monday, 7.45pm)
GOALKEEPER Brian Maher believes the experienced players in the Derry City dressing room won’t let them get complacent going into Monday's encounter at bottom side UCD.
The City number one feels that the likes of Shane McEleney, Mark Connolly, Ciaran Coll and skipper Patrick McEleney will be making sure the side are ready right from the off at the Belfield Bowl.
The Candystripes moved into top spot in the table with a hard-earned victory at champions Shamrock Rovers on Friday night, while the Students sit at the bottom of the league, but Maher isn’t taking anything for granted.
“Our dressing room is happy and ready to go again,” insisted Maher.
“We need to be focused and ready to go on Monday night, but we have got good people in our dressing room who continue to drive our standards up and we know that we need to win at UCD.
“We had a full recovery session on Saturday and we did our work on UCD on Sunday.”
City boss Ruaidhrí Higgins may change things up against Andy Myler’s side as the likes of Ronan Boyce, Brandon Kavanagh and Cian Kavanagh will all be itching to get their first starts of the 2023 campaign. Midfielder Adam O’Reilly may also return to the squad, after missing the last two games with a slight hamstring problem.
Maher played a big role in City’s narrow 2-1 win at Tallaght Stadium, making a host of big saves to deny the likes of Trevor Clarke and Graham Burke.
While the City netminder was keeping the ball out, the Brandywell men always looked a threat on the counter and that was perfectly summed up by Ben Doherty’s opener, which was cancelled out by Johnny Kenny, before Jamie McGonigle’s second-half strike sealed the points.
The former Republic of Ireland U21 international admits the victory at the home of the champions was a big win, but he wasn’t getting carried away with things as the season is only three games old.
“It was a big win, but it’s early days,” he added.
“However, having not won at Tallaght last year and it has been a few years since we won at Rovers, it’s big for us and I think, especially in the second half, we were outstanding.
“I think in the first half we just didn’t get going properly and it wasn’t for the lack of trying.
“There were a few things fixed at half-time and that really got us a foothold in the game in the second half and I think in the end we deserved to win.”
MONDAY'S FIXTURES
(7.45pm unless stated)
Bohemians v Drogheda United
Dundalk v Shelbourne
Shamrock Rovers v Cork City (8pm)
Sligo Rovers v St Patrick’s Athletic
UCD v Derry City
