Lynch primed for 'historic occasion for the city'

Derry City boss Tiernan Lynch says his side are ready for an "historic occasion for the city" when they host League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers at Celtic Park on Friday night (20:00 BST).

The Candystripes will be playing at least five of their home fixtures at the GAA venue while a state-of-the-art hybrid pitch is installed at their Brandywell home.

Fans of the club will not have far to travel from their traditional base with only 400 yards separating the two grounds.

"It's a historic occasion for the city and hopefully we can give the fans something to be proud of and make it a memorable occasion as well as a historic occasion," Lynch told BBC Sport NI's Eric White.

"The players have, as they always do, worked extremely hard all week.

"Our preparation hasn't changed at all, apart from our match day minus one, we've got to get on the pitch for the first time today. Again, hopefully it won't have a huge bearing on the game.

"Hopefully we can use this to our benefit where there's a real excitement in coming here and more fans. Our big thing is hopefully we can start well, get the fans behind us and they can pull us over the line, which they've done brilliantly on so many occasions."

Shamrock Rovers are unbeaten in their last nine league games and have won three in a row to sit two points clear of St Patrick's Athletic at the top - and 11 points above fifth-placed Derry.

The Candystripes ended a seven-game winless run last time out with a 2-1 win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

"Everybody knows Rovers are a good side and everybody knows how they want to play and what their strengths are," added Lynch.

"Our job is one, to try and stop those strengths and two, implement our game.

"As I've said all along, it would have been very easy with some of the results and performances for the players to really lose heart and down tools and feel sorry for themselves and all the stuff goes with it.

"I think that last week will hopefully make a difference to us. I think to try and get that little bit of belief in the squad and in the team that when you keep working hard that it will eventually pay off.

"I think last week was very much about hunger and heart and desire and all going with it. I do think there's way more in us as far as performances are concerned, but as long as we keep fighting, as long as we keep giving 100%, I think we'll be okay."

In terms of squad news, Lynch says James McClean is a doubt for the Rovers game as he is carrying a knock after missing the Shelbourne game through suspension.

"Michael Duffy's still going to be out for a couple of weeks, Brian Maher's still a couple of weeks away, as is Rob Slevin," added the former Larne boss.

"Liam Boyce is back training with the team, albeit not ready to even make a substitute appearance, but hopefully that will be sooner rather than later."