Goalscorer Tam McManus believes Derry City’s Setanta Sports Cup hopes are still alive, following their well-deserved 1-1 draw at Windsor Park on Saturday.

The point, which is their second in the competition, means the Candystripes sit at the top of their group and with matches at St Patrick’s Athletic and a home encounter against the Blues remaining — and the Scottish striker believes they can stay top of the pile.

“It was a massive point for us,” admitted the ex-Dunfermline Athletic striker. “If Linfield had have beaten us then we would have been really struggling to get out of our group, but getting a point and having to play St Pat’s away and Linfield at home, both matches which we are capable of winning, we won’t be too far away from being top of the group.

“In my opinion the group is still wide open; as I have already said we are away to St Pat’s in our next game, then finish with Linfield at the Brandywell, so we have a chance of going through.”

The former Colorado Rapids frontman did concede he was disappointed to start Saturday’s encounter at Windsor Park on the bench, but he admitted he could see why Stephen Kenny tried to freshen things up.

“We have had a lot of crucial games recently so Stephen (Kenny) told me he was resting me for the big match at Cork and to be honest, I have a broken finger and I have had a lot of other niggling injuries so I have no problem with his decision.

“We also have some quality strikers all looking to play and they are also fresh, so I had no problem being on the bench, but I was glad to come off the bench and score.”

In fact Blues boss David Jeffrey felt McManus took his celebrations a bit far, but the striker doesn’t agree.

“I had a wee chance just before my goal, with my left foot, but the keeper made a good save; as for the goal itself, the ball just came through to me and I hit it into the corner, which I was happy about. I was delighted to have scored, there were a lot of Derry fans who attended the game and it was a frustrating night for them, so it was good to give them something to shout about.”

City now turn their attentions to the bread and butter of the league this week, with two massive matches against Cork City tomorrow night before hosting league leaders Shamrock Rovers on Friday evening and McManus feels these are the type of matches he and his team-mates want to be involved in.

“We know that it’s going to be tough at Cork, because we haven’t beaten them at their place in a while, then we face Shamrock Rovers, but they are all big games and matches which we all like to play in.

“At the end of the day that’s why we are playing football in the first place, to play in big matches, starting with Saturday where we got a good point at Linfield and then two games against sides who are either fighting for a Europa League spot or the championship.”