Molloy in confident mood ahead of Turkish challenge

There are very few players still at Derry City that were a part of the club’s historic European campaign of 2006. In fact, it is central midfield trio of Ruaidhri Higgins, Kevin Deery and Barry Molloy who are still at the club, albeit with Higgins having spent a season away with Bohemians in between.

Derry fans will reminisce about Stephen O’Flynn’s winner against Gothenburg; Deery’s double and Ciaran Martyn’s double against Gretna; the 0-0 draw with Paris St Germain at the Brandywell. Indeed, Barry Molloy was a key part of the Derry machine that season, and will play a similar role this year, instead a seasoned veteran in a vibrant, young side.

Speaking to extratime.ie, Molloy said: “The European ties have all been unbelievable in the past. It's a great learning curve especially for the younger players. It’s also a great opportunity to pit yourself against top players who have international experience and to try to show that you can perform in that level of competition.”

On Molloy’s list of opposing players, he can count Manchester City’s Gareth Barry, former PSG midfielder Edouard Cisse and Ireland international Keith Fahey among others, but he will face another tough task when Derry take on this year’s Europa League opponents, Trabzonspor, with Ivorian Didier Zokora set to be his opposite number.

“To be honest, I don’t know a lot about them. I know they've been involved quite consistently in European football recently so they have a lot of experience from that point of view. The player that would stick out is obviously Didier Zokora, who played for Spurs previously, but I’m excited about the challenge ahead.”

If you type a quick Google search of Trabzonspor, as numerous Irish football fans would have done in the last day, the one notable facet of the club is its’ fans. Like all big clubs in Turkey, their fans’ die-hard nature is one which is renowned throughout Europe, and must be a daunting prospect for the City players.

“I think the big thing on Trabzonspor is that they have a very passionate fan base and it will be a huge challenge for us. Most football people will know about the passionate crowd at most of the top Turkish clubs and I’m sure Trabzonspor will be no different.

“It will certainly be an occasion to enjoy and a really memorable experience. It’s also a different country that personally I haven’t played in before, so looking I’m forward to it.   It would be a major achievement if we could come out on top over two legs”, he said.

Like his team-mates, Molloy will be happy to play the role of the underdog in this tie. But to him, this may not necessarily be a bad thing.

“Obviously we will be underdogs.

“But having played in previous European campaigns where we were undoubtedly underdogs, it can give us encouragement that nothing is unachievable. We have to believe we can win the tie. I think it will be extremely difficult, especially in Turkey, but in saying that we must use the Brandywell to our full advantage and hope the twelfth man can pull us through to a famous victory, and another memorable night”, he said.

Being a veteran of Derry City’s European ties, Molloy is fully aware of what attributes his team-mates must show in such a fixture.

“Usually, against teams of this quality you have to be very concentrated and committed for every minute of the game. This game will be very difficult as you would expect them to have a lot of possession out in Turkey, so it will mean the whole team must be disciplined right to the final whistle if we are to have any chance.

“In the past, when we've had positive results in Europe it has really helped build confidence and hopefully that will be the case this season also as we look to achieve something special”, he said.