Derry City manager Mark Connolly has defended the club's decision to postpone a league fixture to prioritise their FAI Cup semi-final. The Candystripes' Premier Division match against St Patrick's Athletic, originally set for Friday, October 9th at the Brandywell, was moved to Monday, October 19th to allow more preparation time for their cup clash with Galway United on Saturday, October 10th.

The rescheduling was agreed with the Football Association of Ireland and leaves Derry City without a league game for four weeks. Connolly, who took interim charge after Tiernan Lynch's departure in August, stated the move was essential given the squad's injury situation. "It was basically the FAI, they put the game in for that Monday and we were happy to stay with it," Connolly said. "With the knocks and bruises we have it probably wouldn't have been right for us. The semi-final is a massive game for us."

This break follows a demanding seven-day period that included away trips to Shelbourne and Waterford. The team's recent form has been strong, going unbeaten in their last five league matches, a run that includes a 1-0 win over Galway United and a 2-2 draw with Waterford. You can review the full sequence of results on our fixtures page. Currently sitting fourth in the Premier Division with 41 points from 32 games, Derry City are 18 points behind leaders St Patrick's Athletic, their next league opponents.

St Patrick's Athletic manager Stephen Kenny acknowledged the unusual gap, noting his side will face Shelbourne on October 16th before travelling to face Derry City three days later. "We’ve no game for four weeks," Kenny said of the delay. The last meeting between the sides ended in a 1-1 draw back in August.

Connolly emphasised that the extra recovery time is vital for several key players carrying niggles. He plans to organise an in-house game to maintain match sharpness during the extended break. The interim boss praised his squad's recent application. He stressed that the players are ultimately responsible for their performance when they step onto the pitch for the season's biggest game.

Derry City's next competitive action is the FAI Cup semi-final against Galway United at the Brandywell on October 10th. Their rearranged league fixture against St Patrick's Athletic is scheduled for October 19th, a match that will see the fourth-placed Candystripes host the league leaders.

Read the full report at Derry Journal