Michael Duffy feeling refreshed and revitalised to renew Derry City's title push
The Candystripes resume against Galway United at the Brandywell on Friday night, with Duffy and his team-mates aware that they have a mountain to climb if they are to catch or stay in touch with leaders Shamrock Rovers.
Nine points separate the two rivals following back-to-back reverses for Tiernan Lynch's men, a double setback which has stopped City's momentum in its tracks after a run of five wins in six games.
Duffy, who is City's top scorer with six League goals, has also failed to find the net in any of his last five games but he is hoping the break will help him get back to his previous levels.
'It's not great ending on a loss before you go away on your break because you can't put it right for another two weeks and it plays on your mind, but I think the break was needed too,' he said.
'You play a lot of games in the first three months of the season and there's loads of ups and downs and sometimes you just need that break to reset and get that time away from football, and we all enjoyed it, but we're back in this week and it's been a good week's training so far and we're looking forward to Friday and getting back to winning ways is the main thing.
'The last few games haven't really been good enough and obviously I want to put that right as soon as I can. Every week I want to be scoring or setting up goals or at least playing well, and I don't think that I have done that in the last few games, so I can't wait for Friday so I can personally go and try and put my own performances right and help us get back to winning ways.'
Last season, Derry took just two points from four games against Galway, but they have already doubled that in 2025; a 1-1 draw at the Brandywell in March followed by a memorable 3-2 win at Eamon Deacy Park in April. That victory in Galway was the spark for City's best form of the season, winning five out of six League games.
'We know how tough it's going to be, but the two times we've played against them, we've done really well,' he said.
'Down in Galway, we had a massive win, and it turned our season a wee bit because we went on a bit of a run. We were brilliant that night so we can look at the games we've played, because we stopped their threats, we affected them the whole game and we'll be looking to do the same again.'
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Belfast Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Derry City suffer more frustration as Galway United ease to draw at Brandywell
The Candystripes, who lost successive games before the mid-season break, did fight back quickly from the concession of an early goal, with Kevin Holt's second goal of the season wiping out David Hurley's early penalty. But despite an encouraging first-half from the home side, they were unable to replicate it in a forgettable second period, with the Candystripes now 11 points off Shamrock Rovers at the top of the Premier Division. Galway scored courtesy of a long throw-in on their last visit to the Brandywell back in March and they very nearly did so again after just four minutes, Edward McCarthy's throw flicked on by Pat Hickey into the path of Moses Dyer, but the striker fired over from close range, much to the relief of the City defenders. The home side should have had the lead just 90 seconds later, however, when Sam Todd broke into the area from the left wing and his ball right across goal somehow missed Michael Duffy and then Gavin Whyte, with any touch needed to take the ball over the line from two yards out. The Derry defence just couldn't handle the Galway long throw and it cost them again on 10 minutes when McCarthy's throw was again flicked on by Hickey and the players all stopped stunned when referee Declan Toland pointed to the penalty spot, signalling that Holt had his arms around Dyer. Hurley stepped up to send Brian Maher the wrong way to give Galway the lead. Derry drew level in fortuitous circumstances quickly however. Whyte brought the ball down well in the area before turning to fire the ball across goal, where Gregory Cunningham attempted to clear it, but only cannoned the ball off Holt, sending it spiralling back into the net past Evann Watts. Neither side could really take control despite that hectic start to the game, but there were chances at both ends, Duffy curling a superb effort just past the upright from 20 yards before Jeannot Esua crossed for Hickey to send a header just wide for Galway. Danny Mullen was beginning to make his presence felt as the game approached half-time, but his finishing was eluding him as he shot over twice in quick succession, the second of which was a real opening after more good work from Todd. The home side had one final chance at the end of a busy first half when Duffy's free-kick found Todd rising high at the back post, but the defender headed over. It was close, but not close enough, which summed up the first-half for Lynch's side. With little happening in the second-half, Lynch made a number of changes, the most notable of which was Sadou Diallo returning after a long spell out with a broken arm, the midfielder making his first appearance in 13 games. But the home side were unable to break Galway down, with the frustration in the stands translating to the players on the pitch, who looked bereft of ideas in the closing stages of a disappointing performance. Derry now face a double trip to Dublin to face champions Shelbourne and St. Patrick's Athletic over the space of four days next weekend. Derry City: Maher, Cann, Connolly, Holt, R Boyce (Diallo 76), Winchester, O'Reilly, Whyte (McMullan 64), Todd, Duffy (Thomas 86), Mullen (L Boyce 76). Galway United: Watts, Byrne, Slevin, Esua, Cunningham (Brouder HT), Buckley, Hurley (Burns HT), Borden (McCormack 56), McCarthy (Walsh 87), Hickey, Dyer (Shaw 88). Man of the Match: Sam Todd (Derry City) Match Rating: 5/10
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Jack Grealish has gone from eye-catching showman and heartthrob to miserable bench warmer – and I know who's to blame
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That was never going to be the case with England, who are blessed with so much talent in wide and attacking midfield positions — nor at Guardiola's City. England's new manager Thomas Tuchel has said: 'I love Jack. 'I love everything about him. 'I love his personality, I love his quality. 'The guy has courage.' And yet Tuchel hasn't picked Grealish in either of the two squads he has named because of his severe lack of game time at City. Last season, Grealish started just seven Premier League games — and only one after Tuchel started the England job in January. He managed just one goal and one assist in the entire league campaign. Grealish has told Tuchel he is 'not a stop-start player', that he craves rhythm — and Guardiola simply hasn't allowed that to happen during the past two seasons. In January, Guardiola said he wanted to see 'the Jack Grealish that won the Treble'. 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Whoever does sign Grealish will be recruiting a gem of a player, desperate to express himself after two seasons of torment under Guardiola. Any lover of football — any lover of life — will enjoy seeing him play with a smile on his face again. 6 Jack is held up and steadied by teammate Kyle Walker in Ibiza, after a three-day bender Credit: Splash 6 Jack's partner, Sasha Attwood, is a model — like many a Premier League Wag — but the couple are childhood sweethearts who met at school in Solihull Credit: Refer to Caption 6 Jack and Sasha welcomed their first child, Mila, in September Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Just ban this guy from the Etihad' – Man City fans FUME at Kyle Walker over his astonishing Tottenham claim
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KYLE WALKER angered Manchester City fans after admitting he would sacrifice one of his Premier League medals to have been part of Tottenham's Europa League triumph. The Etihad club captain left Pep Guardiola stunned when he asked for a move away in January — when City were right in the middle of a crisis. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Kyle Walker said he would give up one of his Prem titles to have won the Europa League with Spurs Credit: YouTube/BBC Sounds 3 Walker won the league with City six times Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 3 Spurs ended their 17-year trophy drought by beating United in the final Credit: Shutterstock Editorial He joined AC Milan on loan but the Italians turned down the option to sign him permanently. And boss Pep left the 35-year-old right-back out of his Club World Cup squad, meaning he is free to find a new club. But City fans were angry when Walker revealed on his BBC podcast he would have loved to have been with former club Spurs as they ended their 17-year trophy drought. Walker has won six Premier League titles at City and was part of their Treble-winning side in 2022-23. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 'harsh and unfair' Club kicked out of Europe by Uefa in Crystal Palace-style case He said: 'I'd probably give up one Premier League title, not the first, to have won that Europa League with Tottenham because I know what it means. "Probably my second — although that was the 'Four-midables' [when they won all four domestic trophies]. 'It's hard to give one away but for what that moment meant, to say I was in that Spurs squad that won a trophy.' City fans slammed Walker, with one saying: "Just ban this guy from the Etihad and get it over and done with. He's already freely hating us, why protect whatever is left of his relationship with the club." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Another added: "Mental. I could never ever imagine John Stones, Nathan Ake, Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez ever coming out and saying they would give up even a Community Shield to win a trophy at a former club." Tottenham supporters were delighted to see that he still loves the club, as one commented: "Great to hear you say 'we' when referring to Spurs." Roy Keane slams 'LAZY' Kyle Walker for role in Senegal goal vs England as ITV star says 'can't make mistakes like that' A second said: "As a Spurs fan, it was really heartwarming to hear Kyle's words and his feelings connected to the Europa League final. I was gutted when he left for Man City, but I've always been happy seeing him win trophy after trophy." Walker — who spent eight years on Tottenham's books — admitted he was a bag of nerves watching his old club beat Manchester United 1-0 last month. He added: 'It was the first time in a long time I've been nervous — and I wasn't even playing. 'I was there with my iPad and I couldn't sit and watch it. I was walking up and down my room. 'We reached a lot of finals but against better teams who knew how to win. 'They've always been a club that nearly got over the line but not quite. I'm buzzing for them.' Walker joined City from Spurs in July 2017 and has a year left on his deal. Turkish giants Fenerbahce are the latest to show an interest in him.
