‘I can never go onto the pitch without praying and bible study'

IT’S FAIR to say that Drogheda United’s South Africa international goalkeeper Jethren Barr will be praying – quite literally – for a home victory against Derry City on Friday evening.

The 28-year-old, who hails from Pinetown in Kwa-Zulu Natal province, made his league debut in last week’s 2-2 draw against leaders Shelbourne and if Andrew Wogan is not passed fit then Barr will retain his place between the sticks.

Ironically, Derry is the club Barr almost joined last December, after being released by Portadown following their relegation from the Sports Direct NIFL Premiership. He trained with the Foylesiders for a number of weeks during the autumn and would love to have another opportunity to show what he can do with the Drogs, but if Wogan gets the nod he’ll be willing on his teammates from the substitutes bench.

Either way he’ll be going through his usual pre-match ritual, part of which he says involves reaching out to God.

Barr, whose only previous appearance for Drogheda came in the Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final against Athlone Town, got less than 24 hours notice that he’d be starting against Shelbourne, but for one reason or another he wasn’t fazed by the situation.

Asked about how he prepares for a typical match, Barr told the Drogheda Independent:

“I think I’m quite experienced enough now and I’ve been in situations where I’ve got thrown in and have to play and perform. I’ve been around for a bit. I know it’s my first game this side (of the border), but it is something that I’m experienced in, so it’s nothing new to me.

“On a personal note I probably do a bit of bible study and pray before a game and that kind of gets me going and focused.

“It’s just my career and the path I’ve been on. I’ve realised that without God things just aren’t possible for me, so I can never go onto the pitch without praying and doing bible study.

“It’s not something that I’ve really shared with my teammates. I just felt that with the different situations since I’ve been in the country, I’ve learned not to really talk about that too much, but it is a big part of who I am.”

Drogheda supporters could be forgiven for having concerns when they learned of U19 international Wogan’s injury ahead of the Shelbourne match, but Barr - who himself missed most of pre-season through injury - looked composed throughout and said he enjoyed the experience, if not the result.

“I think Andy said just after training on Thursday night that his hamstring was a bit tight, so the coach said we won’t risk it, we’ll just throw you in.

“Obviously I was delighted to make my League of Ireland debut. I’ve been patient waiting for a chance and I’m delighted to show the Drogs fans what I’m all about.

“I just feel it should have been three points and not one, but that’s how football goes.

“The first game I played against Athlone I probably had to make eight or nine saves, so I came in today thinking that’s what I’d have to do, but barring two moments the guys were really solid defensively, you know.

“It’s just so unfortunate that we let ourselves down with two slips at the back at the end of both halves. It’s something we’re going to have to work on, but credit to the lads. They didn’t make me work.”

Shelbourne’s first goal in particular was of the soft variety and Barr agreed that it could have been avoided.

“As a goalkeeper in that scenario we want the defenders realistically putting their body in front of the man so we can come and collect those straight balls into the box.

“It’s obviously just not worked for us there. Credit to Coyle for getting a foot in there and being quick. It’s a scenario we should be dealing with, but again it’s nit-picking, so we’ll work on it and move on.

“I know my mum is at home as well and she was probably a nervous wreck praying the whole game for me. She was probably so mad when she saw that 94th-minute equaliser, but I’ll calm her down on the way home and be like, ‘don’t worry, we’ll get the next one!’

“But I don’t think any footballer involved in that match in Drogheda will say they’ve gained a point. I think realistically we’ve lost two. I think everyone in the stadium will say that.

“It was actually heartbreaking. We went up there now and you could see the atmosphere in the dressing-room. Everyone was really upset about it, but that’s football.

“I’d heard there’s great rivalry between these clubs and I’ve now experienced it first-hand as well. I thought the fans were great. It was unfortunate what happened at the end there, but barring that the atmosphere was great and I enjoyed it.”

Coming from a country where vuvuzelas are more a thing in terms

of creating atmosphere, seeing pyrotechnics close at hand is a relatively new experience for Barr and he feels that safety is paramount even though flares at matches can be visually appealing.

“It’s a tricky question. It looks great and it creates a nice atmosphere, especially when you’re on the pitch,” he said in the aftermath of the incident in which assistant referee Dermot Broughton was struck by a pyrotechnic thrown by a Shelbourne supporter.

“Players enjoy having an atmosphere, but at the end of the day when scenarios like this happen it’s evident that maybe what the FAI is doing is right in barring these kinds of things.

“I’m glad to see we were able to finish the game and he got on with it, so credit to him.”

With the visit of Derry just a couple of days away, Drogheda supporters will already be wondering who will be wearing the goalkeeper’s gloves, but whether he starts or sits on the bench watching Wogan at work, Barr will be happy to be involved on match day.

“I’m not taking any start for granted and don’t expect to be in the next game. I conceded two goals and that’s the reality of it, but if the coach throws me in again I’ll step up and do the job for the team,” he said.

“I don’t know what’s happening with Andy, or if he’ll even be training this week, but we’ll take it one day at a time and see how things go during the week.

“Andy is a very, very humble lad and a very talented goalkeeper and I think we get on well together. Realistically speaking we’re two first-choice keepers at a club where only one can play.

“So I think it’s important for us to realise that it’s not always about who is playing. It’s a team sport and we’re here to help the team and I think we’ll both be happy if we see Drogheda climb up the table.

“That’s the important thing that we’ve got to keep in mind. Whether I’m playing or he is playing, we’ve both got to be supporting each other.”

As for Derry City, well Barr feels the Drogs can take confidence from going so close to ending Shelbourne’s unbeaten start to the campaign.

“It’s a team I know very well obviously,” he said.

“I was training there in the past couple of weeks before I ended up with Drogheda. I think it was going to happen, but Drogheda stepped in and I just thought this was a great project to be a part of, so I’m happy to be here.

“I know how Derry shoot and how they play, so I think I would fancy myself in that game if it did come to that.

“It is Derry City. We know they are a talented squad, but you’ve seen our performances at our home pitch. We’re not scared of anyone and we can really go at any team and get a result against them, so three points will be the target.”