Ben Doherty reacts to stalemate with Shelbourne

Derry Journal

It's been a big week for Derry City's Ben Doherty who became a father for the first time.

Transcript

00:00 I suppose just after 0-0, 10 men, what was your initial thoughts after the match?

00:08 A good result in the end given the 10 men.

00:12 It probably wasn't the game we wanted tonight. We had a game plan and we tried to implement it.

00:19 Obviously when you get that setback after 20-25 minutes in the game, it's something you have to deal with.

00:28 Personally I don't think it was a sending off from where I was in the practice, I was close to it.

00:32 But it's an all-in-one decision so you have to handle it well. It's sort of baffled everybody.

00:38 But with the 10 men I thought we bounced back very well.

00:41 I thought there was massive leadership shown throughout the squad and even the players that came on.

00:46 We dug deep to get a point here tonight.

00:49 So all things considered, it probably was a good point for us in where we wanted to be.

00:52 Not easy, they've had seven-year-old months. The Fenton obviously created a couple of openings as well, two, three.

01:00 But it's not easy, it's a hard slog, especially in conditions like this.

01:06 You're under the breeze in the second half.

01:08 Probably with the magnitude of the game and the sending off, we knew it was at risk if we didn't at least come away with a point.

01:15 If we had a good beat here tonight, it's a different story.

01:18 The pressure mounts back on us then with the two games remaining.

01:21 We kept Shelburne at arm's length and it's up to us to finish the job now.

01:25 A point needed to guarantee Europe.

01:27 It's up to us, as I say. People might see it as pressure but we're all in that changing.

01:33 We're all looking for the one thing and that's European football next year.

01:36 As you say, on the Al Ossenton half, which was harsh, I think that's a consensus.

01:40 Rory was saying something, a lot of these big decisions have really cost you this season in numerous games.

01:47 We've seen it back but we can't make excuses.

01:52 They do go against you and it swings around the box.

01:55 You just hope that, looking back, we have got something.

02:00 It's the way it is. It's football and it's why we play it.

02:03 It's because it's so unpredictable.

02:05 As I say, I don't think it was a sending off and it's not the first decision that's went against us this year.

02:11 It's been a big week for you in terms of personally.

02:16 Congratulations. You've become a father as well this week.

02:21 Bring it on the personal side of things too.

02:25 You're leading on 100 appearances for Derry and coming up against Cork, which would be fantastic.

02:31 It's hugely satisfying for you this week.

02:35 It's been a big week and it's been a life-changing week.

02:40 Monday evening, Rieger was born.

02:43 As I say, all the staff and the players have been very supportive and the club have been very supportive.

02:48 Obviously my partner Shannon.

02:51 You don't get anywhere without the women.

02:54 It's definitely a man's life, I've learned that.

02:57 Two games left now, the end of the season, and then I can enjoy a bit of family time.

03:03 Between now and the end of the season, it's just full focus here and obviously enjoy time with the wee one.

03:08 Keeping a good book there, but as you said, it's just about finishing as strong as possible.

03:13 Obviously, Pat's up there levelling points now in third, but it's about cementing second, getting European football, and that's job done.

03:21 That's it. As I said to the gaffer, I was in training the next day because I wanted to be involved tonight.

03:27 I wanted to be with the team and preparing the way we wanted to play tonight.

03:31 Obviously it didn't go that way, but I'm committed to here and obviously this is my job.

03:37 I think everybody in there, we're all just striving for that one thing.

03:41 When that's secured, then we can sort of not relax or take the foot off, but we can look forward to next year then.

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