McDaid aiming to fire Derry into Cup Final

DAVID MCDAID is enjoying life back at Derry City - and the diminutive striker is aiming to fire his hometown club into the EA Sports League Cup final.

City welcome Drogheda United to the Brandywell for a semi-final on Monday night looking to get back to the final of a competition the Candystripes have had a real love affair with over the years.

Derry have won the League Cup a record ten times - including four-in-a-row from 2005-08 - and Declan Devine's side will hope to make home advantage count when they face the Drogs.

For McDaid, the intent is clear.

"The most important thing is that we bounce back from the Sligo defeat," he said.

"There's a Cup final there to be got to. We'll take the positives out of the Sligo game and take them into Monday. We have to win on Monday, simple as."

McDaid is back in the Candystripes after a brief spell at York City. The 22-year old has been showing good form, coming off the bench last Sunday to score the winner at Limerick having scored a cracker in the Europa League away leg against Trabzonspor.

McDaid said: "I love it here. It's good to get back and I can feel myself getting fitter and fitter. I'm looking forward to the run-in; hopefully I can keep performing well.

"We're looking forward to the semi-final. We'll hope to come back strong."

McDaid won the League Cup with Derry in 2011 - but City also have eyes on bringing the League title back to Foyleside for the first time in 16 years and face a mammoth run-in.

Defeat to Sligo might have lengthened their odds, though the mood within appears one of confidence.

"That won't be the end of us - we'll still be there at the end of the League," McDaid, who spent some time on loan at Sligo, said.

"That's our third defeat to Sligo, but I think that's been a bit uneven the way the play has gone, especially in this one. 

"I reckon it's going to go down to the last game of the season.

"That defeat won't put us out of it. We'll regroup and hopefully get back to winning ways.

"We had a lot of chances. As we opened up, they got chances and they took them. We had numerous chances that we didn't take.

"That's what it comes down to - you have to score when you're on top, especially against good teams.

"I thought we were excellent up until they scored. We gave away two sloppy goals, but you have to take your chances at this level or you'll be punished."