A Look Back at Derry City’s 2019 Squad

 

A Look Back at Derry City’s 2019 Squad 

 

Kenny Shiels left his role as manager of Derry City at the end of the 2018 season, with his final game a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of St. Patrick’s Athletic in Inchicore. Declan Devine, who had won the FAI Cup as manager of his local club in 2012, was tasked with improving a lowly eighth placed finish. Inheriting a squad stripped of the majority of its players, Devine set about rebuilding the side through shrewd signings, young local talent and experienced League of Ireland veterans. City came second in the EA Sports Cup and finished fourth in the league that year, qualifying for the first round of Europa League qualification for the 2020 season. Seven of the City starting eleven for the first game of the season, a 3-0 win over UCD, were making their Derry City debuts. I’ll have a look at that squad first, before comparing it to the squad for the final day of the season – a 4-0 home win over Finn Harps.

 

 

Derry City 3-0 UCD, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 1, 15 February 2019

 

(GK) Peter Cherrie – Veteran Scottish goalkeeper signed to replace Gerard Doherty, who had left in the off-season for Crusaders after making 448 appearances for Derry. Then 35, Cherrie had joined City after spells at Airdrie United, Ayr United, Clyde, Dundalk, Cliftonville, Bray Wanderers and Cork City. He was Declan Devine’s number one for the 2019 and 2020 seasons but most recently spent the 2023 campaign as back-up to Nathan Shepperd at Dundalk, aged 40.

 

(RB) Josh Kerr – Derry signed the 19 year old on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, where he had impressed for their U23 side. Another Scotsman, Kerr started his youth career at Hamilton Academical before joining Celtic’s academy, where he spent four years. After making eleven appearances for City, he returned to Brighton in the summer of 2019 and signed for Airdrieonians. Kerr returned to Ireland with Bohemians in 2022 and now finds himself at Cove Rangers in the Scottish League One.

 

(CB) Eoin Toal - Eoin Toal made his Armagh City debut at 16 after captaining the youth team and was signed by Kenny Shiels in 2017. He became a first team regular for Derry in 2018 before being made City's youngest ever captain in 2021. Toal made his last appearance for the Candystripes in a 2-0 defeat to Riga FC in UECL qualifying in 2022 before switching to Bolton Wanderers, for a fee rumoured to be around £125,000. The 24 year old has since made over 40 appearances for the Trotters and has played twice in Northern Ireland’s EURO 2024 Qualifying campaign.

 

(CB) Darren Cole - The third Scotsman in the lineup, Darren Cole signed for Derry City in the summer of 2017. 25 at the time, the defender had appeared for Rangers, Partick Thistle, Greenock Morton, Livingston and Broxburn Athletic. In fact, his professional debut came in a UEFA Champions League group stage game against Bursaspor for Rangers in 2010. Cole, who also captained Livingston, made 109 appearances for Derry City and scored in the 2018 EA Sports Cup Final against Cobh Ramblers. After a stint on the sidelines, the former Scottish U21 international left to join Glentoran in 2021. He now plays for Coleraine aged 31.

 

(LB) Patrick McClean – Back for his second stint at Derry City, Patrick McClean came through the youth ranks at the Brandywell and was involved in the senior team in 2015 and 2016. He joined Waterford in the First Division in 2017, before moving to Sligo Rovers in February 2018. Just seven months after rejoining City in 2019, the defender left to join Glentoran and has since captained the club. After calling time on his career earlier this year, the now 26 year old is back at Glentoran after coming out of retirement during the summer.

 

(CM) Greg Sloggett – Making his Derry City debut against the team whom Declan Devine signed him from, Greg Sloggett was integral in the City midfield in 2019. He appeared in 37 games that season, assisting six goals and scoring once before moving to reigning champions Dundalk ahead of the 2020 season. He has since captained Dundalk and came off the bench in a Europa League group stage defeat against Arsenal later that year. After more than 130 appearances for the Lilywhites, Sloggett’s contract was up at the end of November, with Shelbourne rumoured to be interested in the 27 year old’s signature.

 

(CM) Ciaron Harkin – Another local Derry man, Declan Devine made sure to bring Ciaron Harkin to the Brandywell to bolster his midfield. A Derry City youth player, Harkin was central to the midfields of both Institute and Coleraine and won an Irish Cup medal with the latter. The former Northern Ireland youth international is closing in on 100 appearances in red and white but suffered two devastating ACL injuries in 2022 which have kept him out of action for the best part of twenty months. Ruaidhrí Higgins highlighted the 27 year old’s importance to the dressing room and renewed his contract for the 2024, as  Harkin will look to break back into the City midfield.

 

(AM) Barry McNamee – After a spell at Cork City, Barry McNamee moved back up north to re-join Derry, where he was part of Declan Devine’s FAI Cup winning squad in 2012. The Ramelton man made his breakthrough into the City first-team earlier that season but moved to then League of Ireland champions Cork City ahead of the 2018 campaign and scored against Derry in October. He started thirty league games and scored twice in 2019 as Devine made him captain. After 241 appearances in both spells at Derry City, registering 73 goal involvements, McNamee joined Finn Harps in 2020 before leaving in 2023.

 

(RW) Eoghan Stokes – The former Leeds United youngster joined Derry City in 2019 after making 31 appearances for Bohemians in 2018. The forward scored a wondergoal on his debut against UCD but proceeded to score just two more before joining Cork City on transfer deadline day in July 2019. He left Cork for Airdrieonians at the end of the season after failing to score for the Rebels. Another goalless spell saw him depart for Dumbarton in the Scottish League One, where he netted five goals before leaving due to his side’s relegation. Stokes, now 27, plays for Christchurch United in New Zealand and scored fifteen goals in sixteen games this term, guiding his new side to the 2023 Chatham Cup.

 

(LW) Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe – English journeyman Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe joined Derry City on-loan from Colchester United after impressing on trial. 26 goals in 25 games for Maldon & Tiptree in the Isthmian League North Division showed the forward had something about him and, after spells in Cyprus as well as the English lower leagues, his loan at Derry City was extended until the end of the 2019 season. A tricky winger, Junior finished the campaign as the Premier Division top scorer, bagging a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Finn Harps on the final day. He left Colchester for Hapoel Hadera in Israel in 2020, but returned to Ireland with Sligo Rovers later that year. Junior joined Dundalk in 2021 as cover for Pat Hoban, before rejoining Derry on-loan in the summer. Six goals in fifteen on loan at the Brandywell helped City to a higher league finish than his parent club. After a spell at Bohemians, Junior is now playing for Glentoran aged 29.

 

(ST) David Parkhouse – An exciting striker, Declan Devine had signed David Parkhouse on loan from Sheffield United in January 2019. He bagged his first goal in senior football on his debut against UCD, before going on to score another eighteen goals in all competitions – including a four-goal haul in the EA Sports Cup semi-final against Waterford. Nominated for PFAI Young Player of the Year alongside Danny Mandroiu and Jack Byrne, Parkhouse attracted attention from Everton, Celtic and Blackburn Rovers. Loan moves to Stevenage and Hartlepool United followed his move to Derry. The then 21 year old signed permanently for the Candystripes in 2021 but left in the summer after failing to score in seventeen appearances. After spells at Ballymena United and Cliftonville, the 24 year old plies his trade for Harland & Wolff Welders.

Substitutes:

Jamie McDonagh - Known best for his work-rate and overlapping runs down the right wing, McDonagh signed for Derry City in 2018 after a spell at Sligo Rovers. Beginning his career at Sheffield United, from where he made loan moves to Matlock Town, Chester and Alfreton Town, McDonagh made twenty-five appearances for Greenock Morton before moving back to Ireland in 2017. After playing 78 games for Derry, McDonagh moved to Belfast to join Glentoran in the summer of 2020. A move to Cliftonville followed in 2021 and he now finds himself on loan at Glenavon.

 

Gerardo Bruna - Argentine midfielder Gerardo Bruna was dubbed ‘The Next Messi’ during his time in the academy of Real Madrid. He joined Liverpool and won the Premier Reserve League in 2007/08 before moving to Blackpool. After making just four appearances in two years, he signed for SD Huesca in the Spanish Segunda Division. Spells at Whitehawk, Accrington Stanley, Tranmere Rovers and Ottawa Fury preceded a move to Derry City in 2019. With wand of a left foot, his standout moment in a Derry shirt was a free-kick from distance in Inchicore against St. Pat’s in April 2019. He left for Shelbourne in 2021 but suffered an ACL tear before the season began. After time at Dungannon Swifts, he is now at Unión Puerto del Rosario in Spain’s fifth tier.

 

Nathan Gartside - After overcoming both myocarditis and a deflated lung, Nathan Gartside signed for Derry City in the summer of 2018 to rival Gerard Doherty for the number one spot. Once back-up to Heurelho Gomes at Watford, he became City’s first choice keeper ahead of the 2021 season after being the cup goalkeeper in his first two-and-a-half years. He made 46 appearances for Derry, where also he also lined out for Northern Ireland’s U21s. A paperwork error denied him a call-up to the senior team after he was named in the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Bulgaria in 2021. Gartside moved to Cliftonville in July 2022 and rivals St. Pat’s loanee David Odumosu for the number one jersey.

 

Ciarán Coll - One of just two players from 2019 who are still with Derry City, Ciarán Coll joined the Candystripes in 2019 after a decade with Finn Harps. The Letterkenny man captained Harps during his spell in Donegal and his switch to their north-west rivals caused a stir. Harps were rumoured to be interested in re-signing Coll in 2021 before the defender put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal at the Brandywell. He has since won the FAI Cup with the Candystripes and his solidity at the back has earned him a contract extension which will see him enter his sixth season as a Derry City player in 2024.

 

Ally Gilchrist - Edinburgh born Gilchrist started his career at St. Johnstone and, after loans to Elgin City and Peterhead, he signed for Shamrock Rovers in 2018. He was ever-present on the left-side of the Derry City defence after joining in 2019, but a foot injury limited his involvement in 2020 to just six games. He dropped down to the First Division in 2021 and helped Shelbourne to the title before repeating the same feat in 2022 with Cork City. Gilchrist was part of the Cork City squad which got relegated from the Premier Division in 2023 and his contract with The Rebels expired in November.

 

Aidy Delap – Adrian Delap came through the Derry youth ranks as a right-back, but featured more on the wing after breaking into the senior squad in 2018. He played 35 games for Derry City, scoring twice - the highlight of which coming in a 3-2 win against Finn Harps in April 2019. After 36 appearances for Derry, Delap joined Harps on loan for the 2020 season. He now plays for Letterkenny Rovers after leaving City in 2021.

 

Shane McNamee – Brother of Barry McNamee and Tony McNamee (currently at Finn Harps), Shane played youth football for Swilly Rovers before joining Derry’s academy. He made two substitute appearances in the Premier Division in 2019, coming in wins against Cork City and Finn Harps, alongside featuring in a 3-0 win over Longford Town in the EA Sports Cup. McNamee also made seven appearances in all competitions during the 2018 campaign. He made sixteen appearances on-loan at Institute during the second half of 2019 and now plays for Swilly Rovers.

 

There are only five players in the squad for the final game of the 2019 season against Finn Harps who I haven’t already covered. I’ll have a look at them, alongside summer arrival Gianni Seraf.

Derry City 4-0 Finn Harps, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 36, 25 October 2019

(CM) Grant Gillespie – Scottish midfielder Grant Gillespie signed for City in July 2019 after leaving Raith Rovers in Scotland’s third tier. The 28 year old made nearly 200 appearances for Hamilton Academical between 2009 and 2018. A short-term move to Dundee United preceded his transfer to Raith Rovers in 2018. The midfielder made ten appearances for Derry in 2019, scoring his only goal in this 4-0 win over Finn Harps. He played in the EA Sports Cup final loss over Dundalk but received a second yellow for a late tackle on Jamie McGrath. He left Derry for Ayr United and is now Greenock Morton’s captain, aged 32, after a spell at Queen’s Park.

Substitutes:

 

Mark McChrystal - Declan Devine brought Derry native and experienced defender Mark McChrystal back to the club ahead of the 2019 campaign. The centre back began his career at Wolves but signed for his local club in 2003 after his release from Molineux, going on to make 43 appearances before signing for Partick Thistle in 2007. McChrystal was released and re-joined Derry City later that year, making 58 appearances between then and winning the First Division in 2010. A period in England followed, which included 114 appearances for Bristol Rovers, alongside spells at Tranmere Rovers and Scunthorpe United. Crusaders signed the then 33 year old in 2017, before rejoining City yet again two years later. McChrystal is now on Ruaidhrí Higgins coaching staff at the Brandywell. 

 

Michael McCrudden – After starting his youth career at Top of the Hill Celtic, McCrudden was signed by Newcastle United in 2007. He joined Derry City in July 2010 before moving to Institute 18 months later. After 29 goals in 56 games in Drumahoe, either side of a year at Ballinamallard, Derry City resigned the striker in the summer of 2019. He was given the number 10 shirt but failed to score in twenty league appearances. He joined Cliftonville in 2020 and now finds himself at Coleraine, where he has made four appearances this term.

 

Darren McCauley – Another former Top of the Hill Celtic man, Darren McCauley made twelve appearances for Derry City between 2008 and 2010 and moved to Celtic on loan in 2010. He had spells at Coleraine and Institute between 2011 and 2018, scoring 41 goals in 146 games for the former and 21 in 55 for the latter. McCauley made history for Coleraine as his goal against Spartak Subotica in Europa League qualifying in 2018 was their first since 2003. He scored twice in thirteen appearances for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Championship before Derry City beat Irish League clubs to his signature in the summer of 2019. One goal followed before the winger signed for Australian side Essendon Royals in 2020. After a spell with St. Alban’s in the National Premier Leagues – Victoria, he is now without a club at 31.

Conor Davis – Former Reading youth player Conor Davis joined UCD in the summer of 2018. After eight goals and three assists in twenty three games for the Students, he signed for Derry City in 2019. After netting once for City, Davis left for Cork City in 2020. Spells at Longford Town and Wexford FC resulted in a combined eight goals and, at 25, the forward plies his trade for Bray Wanderers in the first division.

 

(Honourable Mention) Gianni Seraf –Montpellier youth product Gianni Seraf signed for Derry City in the summer of 2019 in the most left-field signing of the year. After 33 appearances for Montpellier’s B team, he joined Vilanova in the Spanish fifth tier before signing for JS Saoura in Algeria in 2016. After a spell at Tarbes in the French lower leagues, Seraf made the move to Panionios in the Greek top flight in 2018. After four appearances for Derry in 2019, he switched to Saint-Geneviève then Paris 13 Atletico. Since 2021, he has lined out for Thonon Evian in the Championnant National 2 (France’s fourth tier).