Jamie McGonigle: 'Being offered an extension so early into my contract gave me great confidence in how I was valued at Derry City'

After cutting his teeth in youth football with local side Dungiven Celtic, the striker signed for NIFL outfit Coleraine in 2014.

By the end of the 2017/18 campaign – a breakthrough season in many respects for the forward – Jamie scored against every top-flight club.

He also contributed to a sustained title charge – as he and Coleraine narrowly missed out on a league title, as they finished just two points adrift of Crusaders.

In addition, he played in Coleraine’s 3-1 Irish Cup final victory over Cliftonville and was named in that campaign’s team of the year.

“[That was] a very good season for us at Coleraine, and for me, personally,” he tells extratime.com.

“Getting 16 goals in the league and four in the cup meant that I hit my target of 20 for the season.

“Winning a trophy always breeds confidence within a group and adds even more belief during pre-season to go again.”

Prior to the 2019/20 season, the Derry native joined Crusaders at a cost of £60,000, breaking the previous record for a transfer fee between Northern Irish clubs, which stood for 21 years.

“To be fair to the Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter, he told me to forget about price tags and that he just wanted me to enjoy my football and not to change or feel pressure.

“I scored a decent number of goals for Crusaders, but it was one of those things where it just didn’t quite work out.”

A return to Derry arrived in 2021, but it was Derry City he joined – not Coleraine.

That move was one that meant a new league, more travelling for away games and adapting to a different set of challenges.

“I find it (League of Ireland football) a bit more tactical. There’s definitely more emphasis on team shape and things like that.

“A lot of teams play out from the back as well and like to build up play.”

In March this year, the 26-year old forward signed an extended deal, which will keep him at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium until the end of 2025.

“Being offered an extension so early into my contract gave me great confidence in how I was valued at the club,” he explains.

“It adds even more desire to do well for Derry, to repay the faith they have had in me. Thankfully I’ve scored a few goals this season and won the FAI Cup as a team.”

The aforementioned and recent FAI Cup triumph witnessed McGonigle open the scoring in what turned out to be a 4-0 final win against fellow Premier Division club Shelbourne.

“I think it did have a part to play in settling us into the game, although I felt we were ready for it anyway.

“Based on our four league encounters with Shels, they’ve all been tight, with maybe a goal separating us here or there.

“So to score early against them suited us, as they are a well-organised, compact team and this meant they had to come out.

“But I think our game plan was spot on and executed perfectly. Every person in the squad played their role to a tee.”