Chambers sets sights on Cup victory

After cementing a place in the Europa League last Friday night, St Patrick's Athletic midfielder James Chambers now has his mind firmly set on winning the FAI Cup and ending the Saints' 51-year wait to get their hands on the blue riband trophy.

Pat's last lifted the trophy in 1961 and after a decent season which saw them run champions Sligo Rovers close up until the final three games of the season, silverware would provide the ideal ending.

Chambers insists, however, that despite the pressure of ending the wait for glory, the team will this week prepare like it was any other game.

“After securing the European spot on Friday, we can completely turn our attention to the cup final," the Dubliner said on Monday. "But everything will stay the same, we will train our normal days that we usually would this week and then look to put on a performance.”

Chambers knows what losing a cup final feels like having played in the decider with Shamrock Rovers in 2010, defeated by a Sligo side which included fellow St Pat’s midfielder John Russell.

It goes without saying the 25 year old, who was last week named in the PFAI team of the year, wants to put that right on Sunday.

“It’s not a nice feeling to go there and lose, I’ll be looking to put that right," he added. "But our performance is first and foremost. If we perform as we know we can we have enough to win the game.”

Liam Buckley’s team sealed third with a win over Cork City in their final league game but could have run Sligo all the way in the title race if one or two other results had gone their way in recent weeks.

Having just completed his first league season with the Saints, Chambers feels content with how the campaign has gone, though feels the team fell short during their Europa League qualifiers in the summer.

“We could have pushed more, but the games we played in Europe killed us, we didn’t pick up enough points in that period and that’s where we suffered, but getting to a cup final and finishing third is relatively good for a new group of players.

“I have enjoyed this year, I think I have had a half decent season and there is an awful lot more to come from me. It has been the first time I’ve played as a defensive midfielder and I’ve enjoyed it, I think it suits me down to the ground.”

With many players out of contract and signing on the dole, this time of the year is usually filled with transfer talk and rumours, but according to the former Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne and Drogheda midfielder the Saints players will be putting all that to the side for a week or so.

“All the talk of players re-signing is put to the side this week; we just want to focus on the cup final.” On his own personal situation, adding: “I’ll sit down and have a chat with the manager next week and see what his plans are, and we’ll go from there.”

As for the opposition, Derry had the upper hand the last time the sides met in the Brandywell on October 19. That was the Candystripes’ last game, having had an enforced bye-week due to Monaghan United’s demise.

Chambers, however, doesn’t think that will have any influence on Sunday, particularly when the previous two meetings in 2012 saw the Saints come away with six points.

“They will fancy their chances having beating us more recently but I don’t think the last game will have any effect.”