Mark Connolly has urged his Derry City side to chase a fourth-place finish in the League of Ireland Premier Division with four games of the season remaining. The manager confirmed the immediate focus is now on the league run-in, with talk of next month's FAI Cup final against Waterford parked for the time being.
"Our target is fourth and we’ll be giving everything to try and get that," Connolly said. Derry City currently sit fifth in the table with 41 points from 33 matches, two points behind Shelbourne but with a game in hand. Their record of nine wins, fourteen draws, and ten losses leaves them 24 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. Their next chance to close that gap comes at home to third-placed St Patrick's Athletic this weekend, a fixture scheduled for Friday at 19:45.
The manager outlined plans for limited rotation over the final four fixtures to reward players and maintain momentum. Connolly indicated changes would be measured rather than wholesale. "To be honest, we won’t be making drastic changes," he stated.
This approach aims to keep the squad fresh and competitive as they handle a tight finish. The team's recent form has been strong, with three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five league outings. This sequence includes a 2-0 win at Galway United on Saturday 10 October, a 1-0 home win over Galway United, a 2-2 draw at Waterford, a 1-0 win at Shelbourne, and a 4-2 home win over Dundalk. Top scorer M. Duffy, who has 12 goals this season, will be central to their push, having netted a brace in the recent cup semi-final win over Galway United and both goals in the league win at Galway United.
Connolly also pointed to the team's defensive record as a foundation, noting they have conceded 46 goals so far this campaign. He stressed the importance of game management in the final stages, where every minute counts.
The quest for fourth place follows a disappointing 2-0 away defeat to Drogheda United in their most recent league fixture on Friday 16 October, where Brandon Kavanagh and Mark Doyle scored for the hosts. That result serves as a reminder of the challenge in every match during the run-in. The team has scored 45 goals and conceded 44 this season.
Connolly's side face a tough test immediately, hosting a St Patrick's Athletic team that is third in the standings. The last meeting between the sides ended in a 1-1 draw. After that, three more league games will decide if Derry City can achieve their manager's target and secure a top-four finish ahead of the cup final.
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