A Look Back at Derry City’s 2020
Squad
As Declan Devine prepares his Bohemians side for Sunday’s FAI Cup final, I got thinking about his last full season as Derry City manager. After entirely rebuilding ahead of the 2019 season, eventually finishing fourth and qualifying for Europe, Devine went into the 2020 season after losing his two top goalscorers, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe and David Parkhouse, along with midfield stalwarts Barry McNamee and Greg Sloggett. Another rebuild was needed in order to maintain top three ambitions. No one could have predicted the Covid pandemic and following lockdown, disrupting the League of Ireland campaign massively and a resulting in an 18-fixture season, but a seventh placed finish – just two points above the relegation zone – was surely a disappointment. 26 players lined out for the Candystripes in the Premier Division during the 2020 season and the poor league finish was likely a consequence of this lack of stability and consistency.
We were only permitted to see Derry in the Brandywell twice
that season, two home games against Finn Harps and Bohemians in February,
but there were some interesting signings to say the least. I’ll begin by
looking at the starting eleven and substitutes for that first game against Dundalk, and I’ll look at the squad from the final game of the season – a
penalty shootout defeat against Sligo Rovers in the FAI Cup quarter-finals afterwards.
Enjoy the throwback!
Dundalk 1-0 Derry City, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 1, 14 February 2020
(RB)
Jamie McDonagh - A fan’s favourite at the Brandywell, known
best for his work-rate and surging runs down the right flank, 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 more than 60 games for City,
McDonagh joined Glentoran in the summer of 2020. A move to Cliftonville
followed in 2021 and the 27 year old now finds himself on loan at Glenavon.
(RCB)
Danny Lupano –
Belgian defender Danny Lupano signed on a six month loan from Hull City in January
2020 after impressing for their U23 side. At 19, Lupano had just a few senior
appearances with Hednesford Town under his belt, but looked promising in his
short spell with Derry. Most remembered for his goal-line clearance against
Bohemians, the Belgian returned to Hull City after playing just four games.
Four more games followed for Lupano in 2020, on loan at Kings Lynn Town in the
English fifth tier. In 2021, he rejoined Derry for a second loan spell, before
leaving Hull City in the summer to join Greek side Kalamata, where he still
plies his trade.
(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 and
earned the captaincy in 2021. A modern centre-back, comfortable in defence and
on the ball, Toal made his last appearance for Derry in a 2-0 defeat to Riga FC
in UECL qualifying in 2022. After agreeing on a fee rumoured to be around the
£125k mark, he switched to Bolton Wanderers and signed a three year contract. The
24 year old has since made 31 appearances for The Trotters and recently made his
full Northern Ireland debut in October 2023, where he was tasked with keeping
RB Leipzig’s €24m Slovenian forward Benjamin Šeško
quiet.
(LCB) Ally
Gilchrist – Edinburgh born
Gilchrist started his career at St. Johnstone, where he made two appearances.
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 missed out on the Leesiders' promotion/relegation play-off against Waterford yesterday evening through injury and his contract expires at the end of the season.
(LB) Ciaran Coll – One of just two players in the starting
eleven against Finn Harps in 2020 who are still with Derry City, Ciaran Coll
joined the Candystripes in 2019 after a decade with Harps in Ballybofey. The
Letterkenny man captained Finn Harps during his spell in Donegal and his switch
to their fiercest north-west rivals certainly ruffled a few feathers. Harps
were rumoured to be interested in re-signing Coll in 2021 before the defender
put pen-to-paper on a new 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.
(CM) Ciaron
Harkin – Alongside the aforementioned Ciaran
Coll, Ciaron Harkin is the only other player in that starting eleven to still
be contracted to Derry City. The Creggan man was instrumental in the City
midfield between 2019 and 2021 after signing from Coleraine, but an ACL injury
at the start of the 2022 season, which then reoccurred later in the year, has seen
him out of action for nearly two years. With his contract expiring at the end
of the 2023 season, Ruaidhrí Higgins made sure to sign the midfielder for 2024 – commenting on his dedication to the club and hunger to come back
stronger.
(CM) Conor
Clifford – Former Chelsea youth player Conor
Clifford has had a journeyed career. He made senior appearances for Plymouth
Argyle, Notts County, Yeovil Town, Portsmouth, Crawley Town, Southend United,
Barnet and Boreham Wood before joining Dundalk in 2017. In late 2017 he was
banned for six months by the FA for a betting related charge during his time in
England. Clifford joined Limerick in April 2018 but was released in July after
the club ran into financial difficulties. After a spell at St. Pat’s, he joined
Derry City ahead of the 2020 season and made eleven appearances. An Ireland
youth international at U15, U17 and U21 level, Clifford was called into the
senior team for a friendly against Croatia in 2011 and a World Cup qualifier
against Germany in 2012. He’s now at Lucan United aged 32.
(CM) Conor
McCormack – Another product of a Premier League
academy, Conor McCormack left Manchester United in 2008 after a lack of
first-team opportunities, joining Triestina Calcio in Italy. After two and half
years and no senior appearances, he signed for Shamrock Rovers and played a
role in their Europa League group stage campaign in 2011. After a season and a
half at St. Pat’s, McCormack signed for Derry City for the first time in 2015
before leaving for Cork City in late 2016, where he would win the Premier
Division title a year later. A combative midfielder, the Louth native rejoined
the Candystripes in 2020 but left for Galway United in 2021 where he captained
the Tribesmen to the First Division title in 2023.
(AM) Walter
Figueira – Another Chelsea academy prospect,
Londoner Walter Figueira had experience playing in the English Conference
Leagues, Greece and Portugal before moving to Waterford in 2019. After
impressing in Munster, and scoring twice in the Brandywell during a League Cup
semi-final, Declan Devine moved to bring the Englishman up north. He
netted three goals in 2020, including a chip to seal the win against Bohemians
in February. Figueira moved to Sligo Rovers in 2021 and now finds himself at
Haringey Borough, who currently sit second bottom in the Isthmian League
Premier Division.
(ST) Tim Nilsen – An intriguing signing, Nilsen had an
experienced career playing in Scandinavia and joined Derry after netting 28
goals in 48 appearances for Fredrikstad between 2018 and 2019. There was an aspect of the unknown, but we had hopes that the high socked and long sleeved
Norwegian forward would replace the missing goals of Parkhouse and Junior. It
wasn’t to be though, as Nilsen returned to Norway due to the pandemic and
signed for Lysekloster IL. Now 31, Nilsen has scored nine goals in his last
seven games for Fana IL in the Norwegian third tier.
The 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.
Moussa Bakayoko –
After playing in the Ivory Coast, Morocco
and Armenia, the Ivorian winger signed for Derry City after impressing as a
trialist but didn’t make a professional appearance in red and white. Moves to
Dartford and Havant & Waterlooville resulted in just four combined
appearances. Spells in the Czech Republic and Ivory Coast followed before returning
to Shirak in Armenia. He now plays for Zhetysu Taldykorgan in Kazakhstan and came
on as a substitute in his side’s 2-1 win over Tobol Kostanay in September past – a
month after Tobol knocked Derry out of the Conference League.
Stephen Mallon – An exciting winger signed on-loan from Sheffield
United, Belfast native Mallon is best remembered on Foyleside for a curling shot
into the top corner on his first start against Bohemians. He scored again a
week later, this time against Waterford. After seventeen appearances he
returned to Sheffield United. Mallon signed permanently for Bohemians in January
2021 and scored once before joining Cliftonville in July 2022. He recently
scored against Institute in the League Cup, as did former City midfielder Rory Hale
and Derry native Ben Wilson.
Nathan Gartside – After overcoming both myocarditis and a deflated
lung, which saw him miss ten months of action, 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 limited to mostly cup games in his first two-and-a-half
seasons. He made 46 appearances for the Candystripes, and 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.
Colm Horgan – Colm Horgan came through the youth system at
Salthill Devon before signing for Galway United in 2014. After four years the defender
moved to Cork City and scored ten minutes into his debut against Bohemians in April
2018. Horgan wouldn’t score for Cork City again, but did net an own-goal
against Derry City in a 4-0 win for the Candystripes in September 2019. He
spent the 2020 season on Foyleside, before moving to Sligo Rovers in 2021. He
was part of the Galway United side that won the First Division this year,
alongside Conor McCormack.
Jack Malone – A product of Derry’s academy, midfielder Jack
Malone netted his first City goal in July 2019, a strong strike from distance
which beat Ed McGinty in the Sligo Rovers’ net. He featured in all 18 Premier Division
games in 2020 and played a large part in the 2021 campaign. The midfield
additions ahead of the 2022 season saw his gametime limited and Malone signed
for Glenavon, where he has featured in all but two Premiership games this
season.
Adam Liddle – Came off the bench to score a 95th
minute equaliser on his debut against Finn Harps, sending the Brandywell into
raptures. He joined Derry on loan from Reading, scoring once and assisting once
in four appearances before the season was halted. Liddle now plays for Farnham
Town after spells with Chelmsford, Walton Casuals, Hungerford and Hayes &
Yeading.
There are only three players in the starting line-up, and four on the bench, against Sligo Rovers who I haven’t already covered. One scored in Wembley and one is currently in prison, but I’ll focus on the starting players first.
(LCB) Cameron McJannet – A fans favourite and an astute signing from
Declan Devine, Cameron McJannet has nailed down that left sided centre back
spot since his arrival from Stoke City in the summer of 2020. He has since made
over 120 appearances for Derry and captains the side in Patrick McEleney’s
absence. Two goals and a MOTM award in the FAI Cup final will have Cameron
McJannet down as a club legend whenever he departs.
(RW) Adam Hammill – The English winger, who began his career at
Liverpool, made nineteen Premier League appearances with Wolves between 2010
and 2012. He has made over 360 appearances for fifteen clubs in career, and
aside from his time at Wolves, played for the likes of Southampton, Blackpool,
Barnsley, Middlesborough, Huddersfield Town and St. Mirren. (If you have a
spare few minutes I’d recommended googling his goal for Barnsley against Millwall
in the League One play-off final in 2018 because it’s an absolute rocket). After
eleven appearances and one goal for Derry, Hammill joined Prescot Cables, retired,
then rejoined Prescot Cables. He’s now at Maghull FC in the Carlsberg West
Cheshire League Division 1.
(ST) James Akintunde
– Another cult hero, and proud
receiver of the best player-specific Derry City chant in a while, James
Akintunde was brought to the club by Declan Devine in the summer of 2020 and
scored the on his debut against St. Pat’s. Three more goals followed in
2020 and it seemed that Devine had done some more wise business in bringing the
forward to the Brandywell. Some big goals from Akintunde followed in the next
two-and-a-half years, namely two 93rd minute winners against
Bohemians and Finn Harps in 2022. After twelve goals for Derry, Devine brought him
to Bohemians ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Substitutes:
Ibrahim Meite – Meite was brought on the 86th
minute of this game, got a yellow card and missed a penalty in the shootout. He
did, however, net a penalty against Shelbourne on his debut – which turned out
to be his only goal for City. He made his Cardiff City debut at 21 in 2017,
before joining Crawley Town. Loans to Woking and Pirin Blagoevgrad preceded his
move to Derry. Meite left the Candystripes for Wingate & Finchley in 2021
where he scored thrice. In December 2022, he was sentenced to fifteen months in
prison for a stabbing in London and is, unsurprisingly, retired.
Jake Dunwoody – City signed Dunwoody alongside Meite in July
2020. A Northern Ireland U21 international, Dunwoody played alongside Cameron
McJannet at Stoke City’s U21s. He also scored in a game against Reading U21 in
which Adam Liddle, who I mentioned earlier, came on as a substitute. After six appearances,
including a debut against FK Riteriai in the Europa League, the midfielder left
for IFK Helsingfors in Finland, before transferring to SJK Seinäjoki in 2022. He
scored against HJK Helsinki this season, as well as assisting Jeremiah Streng’s
winner against KuPS in May – the team who Derry defeated in the second round of
UECL qualifying. Dunwoody will play for AC Oulu in Finland in 2024.
Joe Thomson – Another smart signing, midfielder Joe Thomson
brought immense work rate and a rocket of a right foot to the Derry midfield. He
made one appearance for Celtic in 2015, whilst going on loan to Dumbarton,
Queen of the South and Livingston during his time on the books at Parkhead. As the Covid
pandemic affected the finances of Dunfermline Athletic, City swooped to sign the
then 23 year old on an 18 month contract. After a few cracking goals and solid
performances his contracted was extended until 2023. He was part of the FAI Cup
winning squad in 2022 but moved to Larne alongside Micháel Glynn in exchange
for Ben Doherty. Thomson won the 2022/23 Premiership at Inver Park and has
scored three in his last two games for Larne.
Ronan Boyce – Last but not least and it’s another current
Derry City man. Right back Ronan Boyce began to break into the Derry squad in
2019, making one appearance in 2019 and one in 2020. With the departure of Colm
Horgan, the Ramelton man nailed down the right back spot in 2021 – scoring seven
and assisting once, earning him a spot in the Premier Division team of the year
that season and a call up to the Ireland U21 squad. He has netted twelve goals for
City in total and with over 100 appearances at 22 years of age, that right full
back spot will be his for the foreseeable.
Pól O'Hare - 11 October 2023
