Joey O’Brien: ‘We can’t want it too bad against St Joseph’s, that’s when mistakes are made’

Shels are 2-1 up after the opening 90 minutes and seeing off their first-round opposition St Joseph’s (5pm) would square them up against Swiss giants Zurich FC, regular participants in European group and knockout stages

Gibraltarian resistance must be shattered by Shelbourne and Derry City on Thursday to set up glamour Europa League Conference League ties next week.

Damien Duff’s Reds will experience the 85-degree heat by the Rock that stifled Derry into submission in last week’s first leg. The Candystripes are chasing a 2-0 deficit against Magpies at the Ryan McBride Brandywell (7.45pm).

Shels are 2-1 up after the opening 90 minutes and seeing off their first-round opposition St Joseph’s (5pm) would square them up against Swiss giants Zurich FC, regular participants in European group and knockout stages.

For Derry, the motivation to overturn their deficit is not only the prize money offsetting the losses of benefactor Philip O’Doherty but welcoming Copenhagen to Foyleside. The Danes slayed Manchester United in last season’s Champions League.

“There’s been no talk about the league since the day after our last game against Drogheda a few weeks ago,” Duff’s assistant Joey O’Brien said from a sun-drenched Gibraltar on the eve of the second half about their status as Premier Division leaders.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s not an option to start prioritising.

“This is the biggest game of the season for us. As soon as it’s done, either way it’s getting parked for focusing on Sunday’s FAI Cup tie against Bray Wanderers. That’s the way we work here.”

O’Brien enjoyed European nights in England, with both Bolton Wanderers and Sligo Rovers, before more recent occasions in the twilight of his playing career at Shamrock Rovers. His exchanges with Zlatan Ibrahimović during the meeting with AC Milan during the Covid era made it into the public arena.

“I was 19 facing Marseille, Sporting Lisbon and Atletico Madrid, huge games that I look back fondly on because that message hit home with me. You may never get it again.

“That’s what the Bolton manager Sam Allardyce emphasised – embrace these moments because you don’t know when they’ll come back around again.

“It’s about making sure you don’t have any regrets. Seize the moment without allowing it to freeze you. You’ve got to raise your level but don’t go into battle too tight because when you want it too badly, foreseeing the outcome, that’s when you can’t perform and mistakes are made.”

Ruaidhrí Higgins has urged his Derry side to atone for a disastrous first-leg reverse. “We let everybody down last week,” he admitted.

“It doesn’t really matter when we get the opening goal. As long as we get it, we give ourselves a chance. We’ve scored 12 goals in our last four games.”