| Mansaram and O'Grady gear up for semi-final |
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| Thursday, 26 October 2006 | |
  The countdown is almost over and following one of the last training sessions before the big game, Conor O' Grady and Darren Manseram tell sligorovers.com what Sunday's game means to them.
For O'Grady it is his 3rd FAI Cup semi-final, his previous experiences both ending in heartbreak as he lost out with Cork City and Sunday 's opponents Derry City. Playing a part in taking his hometown club to the final after previous disappointments would surely make up for it,he gave his thoughts on the big game. "I really am looking forward to the game and have been for the last few weeks. We really need a result because our season is over if we don't not get one. This chance may never come around again. I particularly do not want to lose a 3rd semi-final."  Poor league form recently has increased the pressure on Rovers players but O'Grady puts these into perspective. "We have had a lot of injuries and suspensions and our squad has been stretched in the last few weeks. I do not think people have been looking at it from that context. Maybe some players have been looking at the cup. I personally haven 't. The league is sort of winding down so hopefully we get the result Sunday and get to the final." A sell-out crowd is expected and O'Grady took the opportunity to appeal to the fans who made the Killester United replay game so special to again congregate together and create an atmosphere to help the players and be the 12th man. "There will be a great crowd, a good atmosphere. Derry will bring a crowd. Their fans were brilliant in the Brandywell last week but our fans were great too, even though we were getting hammered. Hopefully we can create an atmosphere because it has been pretty dead here all season to be honest. There were 1 or 2 games with a decent atmosphere, but that is about it. "The fans up in Killester were brilliant because they were all together. It really helped because you do recognise the noise when you are on the pitch and when it is coming from your own it lifts you,so hopefully we can have that sort of backing on Sunday,” concluded the former Derry player. In contrast leading scorer Darren Manseram will be taking part in his first semi-final Sunday. “It is a nice experience for me and the lads. I have never been in a semi final before and I'm just looking forward to it now."  It was only last week when Rovers succumbed to their worst defeat of the season against the team they are trying to overcome Sunday, Derry City. "I would be lying if I said it (the 4-0 defeat) was not playing on my mind, of course it is because it was only last week. We just have to get that out of our minds because this is a one off game. It is a cup game and it will be a different atmosphere. We have only been beaten twice at home and we beat them down here 3-1, so we are confident and positive of getting a result. “We have had a great season whatever happens and I think the pressure is on Derry. Hopefully we can put in a another good performance and get the result to get us through." By Rory Houston |
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