Practise makes perfect for Derry's Morrison

Owen Morrison has revealed the secret behind his recent stunning free-kicks - practise, practise, practise! On Tuesday night, the Derry City winger brilliantly curled home from 20 yards to set the Candystripes on their way to a derby win over Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

Tuesday evening's was a replica of his classy strike against UCD at Brandywell four days earlier.

After netting a second at Finn Park, riffling home a superb half-volley from 15 yards, Morrison said that his free-kicks are very much a case of adhering to the age-old prophecy of practise making perfect.

He said: "Myself, Mark Farren and Kevin McHugh, we stay behind and we hit some balls. It's going well and it's good that them free kicks are going in - they're great goals to get."

The pair of wins against UCD and Harps, allied to other results, have significantly strengthened Derry's position in the standings. They go into this weekend's series a mere four points adrift of leaders Bohemians.

On Sunday evening, in the live TV game on Setanta, Derry tackle old rivals Cork on Foyleside in a game Owen Morrison feels Stephen Kenny's side must take maximum dividends.

The 26-year old said: "I think if we beat Cork on Sunday, people will stand up and say that 'Derry are the business now.'

"So far this season, people haven't really been talking about Derry, it's been all Pat's, Bohs and Cork. But, we have played everyone now and we have played teams off the park at times. If we can just keep it going now.

"We know that Sunday is going to be massive, but if we can beat them that would be some result for us."

A decade ago, Morrison left his native Derry to begin life across the water and in his ten years or so abroad he has had spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City, Sheffield United, Stockport County and Bradford before moving to Dunfermline in 2006.

After spending two seasons at the Pars, Morrison was brought back to Derry by the returned Stephen Kenny, whom the former Northern Ireland U21 international worked with in Scotland.

Morrison has bedded in well and his four-goal haul so far this season that sees him second in the club scoring chart behind Mark Farren have outline his value to the club.

He is quite content to see other clubs hogging the limelight at the moment - but hopes to see the Candystripes hit the headlines towards the business end of the campaign.

He said: "We would like it that way to be honest, up to the last ten games of the season. If no one wants to talk about us, that's fine. "If we can just stay within the pack and keep grinding out results we'll be fine. There's nobody getting many goals against us and we've the players to go out and attack so I think we'll win more games than we'll lose."