Derry City assistant boss Paul Hegarty insists full focus on the pitch for Waterford test
Derry City assistant coach Paul Hegarty is expecting a tough contest against Waterford
Derry City are hoping to return focus to events on the pitch when they take on Waterford at the RSC on Friday night.
The club have been in the news for the wrong reasons after an independent disciplinary committee imposed fines and a suspended stadium closure in light of the trouble which marred the end of the game on April 19 against Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell.
But while the club is focusing on that behind the scenes, Ruaidhri Higgins and Paul Hegarty are hoping to lead the Candystripes to successive League wins, something which has continued to elude them in the 2024 season.
Danny Mullen celebrates hitting the target during Derry City's victory over St Patrick's Athletic
Monday night’s 3-1 win over St Patrick’s Athletic, coupled with results elsewhere, meant that City are now just three points off League leaders Shelbourne, but consistency is desperately needed in what is now game 13 of the 2024 season.
“We’ve got good footballers, and we can mix it when we need to mix it,” Hegarty said.
“It doesn’t really matter to us where it is and who we play against. Waterford are a really, really good side, as you’ve seen, and they have goals on their team, and they don’t concede too many in that as well.
“There are no bad sides in that Premier League this year. No matter where you go, the good thing about that is you can’t be complacent and think we can pick our foot off the pedal. You just can’t. If you do, you’re just going to get turned over.”
Patrick Hoban celebrates hitting the target during Derry City's victory over Waterford at the Brandywell
One huge positive for Derry is the form of strike duo Pat Hoban and Danny Mullen, who have scored 13 League goals between them, the first City strike partnership to hit such numbers this early into a campaign since Owen Da Gama and Johnny Speak back in 1988.
“To be fair, they are two different types of players,” Hegarty said. “Pat has scored goals for years, and he probably always will score goals. Danny is a different type of player. He’s a very, very clever player. He picks up spaces, and I think there’s a lot more in him yet.
“When I look at him, and when I looked at him even before I came in, I thought he was an absolutely fantastic footballer.
“I know at the time, boys would probably say he’s not scoring goals. But when you see somebody that’s really, really good, you know that there’s goals there.
“And when you watch him in training and the way he conducts himself around the place, it’s been absolutely fantastic since I’ve come on here.”
