Patrick McEleney wary of Tobol threat as boss Higgins hails his talismanic leader

Patrick McEleney has established himself as a real leader for Derry City in recent times

Patrick McEleney has established himself as a real leader for Derry City in recent times Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)

Patrick McEleney has plenty of good memories when it comes to big European nights.

And he will be hoping that he can inspire another one with his hometown club Derry City.

In 2016, McEleney helped Dundalk to a 3-0 second-leg win over BATE Borisov at Tallaght Stadium in a Champions League qualifier – securing the Lilywhites place in the group stages of a European competition for the first time.

In fact, the then Stephen Kenny managed side trailed that tie 1-0 after the first-leg before winning 3-1 on aggregate.

On Thursday night, the Candystripes visit Tallaght Stadium in the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League after losing their first-leg 1-0 on their travels.

Can they do it? Who knows, but history suggests it is not beyond the realms of possibility.

“I’d be lying if I was saying that I wasn’t thinking about that game against BATE,” the former Lilywhites midfielder said.

“We need to get out on the front foot and make it a proper game. The players are looking forward to it and we were good against Drogheda so we will be ready to go.”

McEleney returned to the Candystripes ahead of the 2022 campaign after ending a near five-year stint with Dundalk at the end of 2021.



His time at Oriel Park was spent over two spells and it was a trophy-laden one.

He won three Premier Division titles, two FAI Cup’s and also reached the group stages of the Europa League twice – but he is looking to do the same with Derry City now on the European stage as he closes in on his 50th European appearance.

Only Ronan Finn, Sean Gannon and Gary Rogers have reached the feat before.

Finn is the most-capped with 63 appearances in Europe, while Gannon is on 55 and Rogers retired with 54.

But McEleney is not far behind any of them and also soldiered with each of the trio during one point of his career.

“He’s had an amazing career and he still has so much more to give,” Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins said when asked about McEleney. 



“I played with him when he was in the early stages of his career (at Derry City) and I coached him when he was at Dundalk. I am now his manager so I have been through it all with him.

“For me he is within the very top echelon of players in the League of Ireland over the last 15 years. I know he has had injury issues and we have only been able to spring him off the bench in games but the impact he has on and off the pitch is something people don’t see.

“People only see matches but they don’t see what he does in the dressing room and behind the scenes. He is so hungry to win and has an unbelievable appetite for it. He has a huge impact on our dressing room.”

And while platitudes may come Derry City's way if they qualify for the play-off round, McEleney is wary of the threat that Tobol pose to the Candystripes.

“They have their own qualities and you have to respect them,” he explained. 

“The second you don’t (respect them) you are going to get picked off at this level so we have to respect that.

“But we are at home and we will be setting out to win the game. You can’t get away from how good these teams are for a second or else you will get killed.”

About Andrew Dempsey

View Full Profile