Football pitches can be places full of memories but they can also be the loneliest places in the world. For Eoghan Stokes his foot hadn’t even touched the ball on the Oriel Park pitch before he was placed with a very important duty, to despatch the
Football pitches can be places full of memories but they can also be the loneliest places in the world. For Eoghan Stokes his foot hadn’t even touched the ball on the Oriel Park pitch before he was placed with a very important duty, to despatch the penalty that could equalise the game, ensure the comeback for Derry City and take a point back to Foyleside. Despite the weight on his shoulders it was all that lonely out there. “I hadn’t even touched the ball,” Stokes revealed following the 2-2 draw in Oriel Park last night. “I was standing there on the edge of the box talking to Dano Kelly.” And what did his former Bohemians team mate talk to him about in those minutes leading up to penalty… “He was saying ‘You haven’t even touched the ball yet’. I said back to him ‘I know!’ “So he goes “Where are you putting the ball?’ and I said “I can’t tell you that!’” “I just cleared the head, I was calm and I am working every day on that technique taking penalties after training and I knew what I was going to do myself so I was happy with the goal.” Stokes felt that Declan Devine's side were well-worthy of the draw and show the character that has been evident this season from the men of the Brandywell. “I though we deserved the draw anyway, to come here it’s a tough place to come. It was disappointing to go down the two goals. "In the first-half, I thought the boys defended well and then to concede two goals within ten minutes of each other, we showed good character to come back and get the draw here.” Derry have shown inconsistent form of late but Stokes believes this result can be a catalyst to kick on as they look to push up the Premier Division table. “It’s been a tough couple of weeks for everyone boys are getting tired with the way the schedule is. We have a few weeks now where its just Friday to Friday and we are happy with that and hopefully we can pick up some good form.”
