Derry City v Drogheda United: Match Preview

 

Derry City v Drogheda United: Match Preview

 

Derry City FC v Drogheda United FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 22, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 28^th June 2024, kick-off 7.45pm

With the summer break now over, and the season passed its midway point, Derry City find themselves second in the Premier Division, two points behind table-topping Shelbourne. After bidding farewell to English defender Cameron McJannet, City’s vice-captain and one of the longest serving players in the squad, the Candystripes announced the signing of former Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Jacob Davenport from Morecambe. The transfer window officially opens on July 1^st, and with several Derry players now into the last six months of their contact, it’s building up to be a busy one for Ruaidhrí Higgins and his staff. After also learning their fate in European qualification, Higgins will want his men to continue their five game unbeaten streak.

Last time out:

The Candystripes faced a tricky Thursday night away trip to Dalymount Park two weeks ago where they faced a Bohemians side who had won just one of their previous seven. Despite the heavy rain in the north earlier in the day, blue skies met the City faithful as they arrived in Phibsborough. The home side began the game the brighter side, despite a headed attempt from Michael Duffy coming back off the post after seven minutes. Just before the fifteen minute mark, pressure on the City goal resulted in a penalty when Sadou Diallo fouled Dayle Rooney in the box. Jordan Flores’ spot kick was saved by Brian Maher – the goalkeeper’s third penalty save of the year – but Danny Grant was on hand to sweep in the rebound and give the home side an early advantage.

City responded immediately, as Diallo turned from villain to hero when he diverted Will Patching’s cross into the Bohemian net. The scores now level again after seventeen minutes. The away side were the better team from then on in, striking the woodwork four times in all during the 90. Cameron McJannet, Dan Kelly and Danny Mullen were introduced in the second half in an attempt to snatch all three points, and that’s exactly what happened. City had a few chances go begging late in the second half and as the clock turned over to 94, Brian Maher’s punt forward was knocked on to Danny Mullen by Cameron McJannet. The Scottish striker arrowed it into the bottom corner to bag his second stoppage time winner of the season, and meant that Cameron McJannet assisted the winner on his last Derry City appearance to send the travelling support home happy.

 

Derry City:

It’s only been two weeks since we’ve last seen City play but it feels like it could have been a month. Prior to the Bohemians game, there were rumblings that Grimsby Town were interested in Cameron McJannet and, after seeing the 25 year old’s celebrations following Danny Mullen’s winner, it all but confirmed that that could have been his last involvement as a Derry City player. About a week later, his transfer to the League Two side was confirmed. Assisting a 94^th minute winner wasn’t a bad parting gift from the centre back, who made 142 appearances in red and white, with his highlight at the club coming as he scored twice and won Man of the Match in the 2022 FAI Cup Final. McJannet, who was signed from Stoke City in the summer of 2020, became a mainstay on the left-side of defence almost instantly as he grew into one of the league’s best defenders. Captaining the Candsytripes on over 50 occasions, the Englishman seemed to really take to the club and to the city as he showed unquestionable passion for the badge across his four years at the Brandywell. His boots will be big ones to fill, especially considering the value that a good left-sided centre back brings to a squad.

I’d personally have Galway United’s Rob Slevin high up on the McJannet replacement list if I was Ruaidhrí Higgins. The former Finn Harps and Cork City defender has been integral to Galway’s defence, keeping nine clean sheets in eighteen appearances. The Tribesemen have the best defensive record in the league, conceding just thirteen goals in twenty games. Turning 26 in August, City would be getting a defender approaching his prime, but will likely need to spend big to secure his signature. Galway aren’t short of a few Euro and will want to keep one of their standout performers. Reputable stats website Transfermarkt values Slevin at €75k, but with a contract expiring at the end of the season, Galway may accept a discounted fee as to not lose the Cork native on a free come November.

It’s hard to value League of Ireland players, as most inter-club deals within Ireland are free transfers and foreign clubs seem to sign players from the Premier and First Divisions at significantly lower prices than what they would be worth in the likes of England, for example. Danny Mandriou’s move to Lincoln City from Shamrock Rovers for just €30k in 2022 is a prime example. At a time when Transfermarkt valued the midfielder at €375k, Lincoln triggered his massively reduced release clause when he was a standout performer in a Shamrock Rovers side who had just won the league for the second year on the bounce and were about to qualify for European group stages.

Just last week a similar instance occurred. Shelbourne’s Gavin Molloy, who has been a mainstay in Damien Duff’s side’s title push, joined Aberdeen after they triggered his release clause of around €80k, when the 22 year old’s value sits at €125k. I don’t think a young defender with bags of first team experience at a club pushing for a title in League One or the Scottish Championship, for example, would be sold for such a low fee. If City were to splash out on Slevin, the club would being doing well to be writing a cheque for less than about €30,000 – which is roughly what was spent on Pat Hoban six months ago.

There has been a new addition to the City squad in the past week, with midfielder Jacob Davenport joining from Morecambe. The 25 year old played as both a central midfielder and left back alongside Sadou Diallo, Will Patching, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Brahim Díaz in the Manchester City youth setup. He made over 50 appearances in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers between 2018 and 2022, and also made 26 appearances in League Two with Morecambe last season. A deeper-operating midfielder with a wicked left foot, it seems like City may have secured another bargain from the Man City academy. Former Manchester United forward D’Mani Bughail-Mellor featured for Derry as a trialist against Crusaders last Saturday, as did released Southampton right-back Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo. The latter bagged the winner and Bughail-Mellor is said to have played well in the forward areas. Davenport won’t be available for the Drogheda game, as his contract at Morecambe doesn’t expire until the 30^th of June, but he – and any other new faces – will be welcomed additions as European and FAI Cup games fast approach.

Speaking of Europe, it seems like the City faithful have been keeping SkyScanner in business over the past ten days or so. It was announced last Tuesday that Derry would face FC Bruno’s Magpies of Gibraltar in the First Round of Europa Conference League qualifying, with the away leg in Gibraltar being played on July 11^th, just in time for a bank holiday weekend. It has been announced that, due to stadium renovations, the game will be played in the smaller Europa Point Stadium, meaning that only 200 tickets will be made available to City fans. There will certainly be a scramble for tickets once those come out.

It was going to be a big tie, as we love a European game, but when FC Copenhagen were announced as the Second Round opposition for the winner, an extra dimension was added to the First Round tie. UEFA really did us dirty with that one, as we’ll face a side who beat Manchester United and drew with Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season if we get past Magpies. It’s a glamour tie and no-one is expecting us to get into the Third Round like we did last year, but welcoming Denmark’s biggest team to the Brandywell a week before an away trip to Copenhagen is the stuff of Candystripe dreams. The Danes have got the likes of Jordan Larsson (son of Hendrik), Mohamed Elyounoussi (who Southampton paid £16m for and loaned to Celtic) and 74 time Sweden international Viktor Claesson in their squad. At this stage, we can only cross our fingers and hope we get past Magpies before focusing on what may come after.

 

Drogheda United:

Kevin Doherty has done an exceptional job on a shoestring budget since taking over as manager in late 2021, but his Drogheda United side haven’t quite clicked into gear this term. After an eighth placed finish in 2022 and a seventh placed finish in 2023, Doherty had moulded Drogheda into a team that were tough to break down and could grind out points. They’ve drawn or beaten Derry in six of the last ten games between the sides, alongside beating Shamrock Rovers and holding them to draws twice last season. This year, though, the Louth side have struggled for points after losing key players like Dayle Rooney and Conor Keeley in the off-season. With only three wins in twenty-one games, Drogheda find themselves bottom of the Premier Division, three points behind previously stricken rivals Dundalk. It seems like the Drogs haven’t coped with the increased quality of promoted sides as previously expected. UCD and Cork City got relegated last year, whom Drogheda finished ten and thirty points above respectively. The two clubs that got promoted, Galway United and Waterford, haven’t been overawed by a return to the Premier Division and find themselves fifth and fourth following highly successful campaigns in the First Division campaign last year.

Left back Evan Weir is joint with Haitian forward Frantz Pierrot at the top of Drogheda’s scoring charts, both on four. American winger Steve Zishim Bawa is next in line with three, meaning that only three players in United’s side have scored more than once this season. Weir’s two assists on top of his goal tally mean that he’s been the most creative player in the Drogheda side in 2024. Midfielder Darragh Markey has three assists and one goal so far this term and is, in my opinion, one of the league's most underrated players in the number 10 role.

Drogheda United’s twenty goals scored is the third lowest in the league but isn’t an awful return in honesty. A real worry for Kevin Doherty is the 37 goals his side has conceded, an average of 1.76 per game. At that rate they’re on course to concede another 26 goals or so in the last fifteen games of the campaign, which would see them conceding 63 by the end of the season – nine more than their tally last year. Another worry for Doherty is his side’s loan situation. The loan deal for Evan Weir from Walsall expires at the end of June, whilst Oisin Gallagher and Hayden Cann’s loans from Lincoln City have already come to an end – weakening the Louth side’s defence and midfield. The loss of Weir in particular, who has contributed to 30% of their goals this season, could be detrimental to their survival hopes. It has already been announced that forward Douglas James-Taylor will join the club in July, on-loan from Walsall. He scored twice in 26 League Two appearances last term and will be tasked with providing the goals to keep Drogheda United afloat come the end of the season.

 

Round Up:

The visitors on Friday have lost five of their last seven games and haven’t won since notching a 94^th minute winner against Dundalk on the 6^th of May. They’ve conceded fifteen in their last seven games and have scored just once in their last four. They’re desperate for a win, but a journey to Derry City, the form team in the league, isn’t what they will have wanted to see after the break. They welcome league leaders Shelbourne next week, so it doesn’t get any easier for Kevin Doherty’s men.

The Candystripes haven’t lost in over a month, winning three and drawing two of their last five games. A 2-0 friendly win over Crusaders on Saturday will see the City players fresh going into the match against Drogheda, whilst Shane McEleney and Colm Whelan both started in Derry’s U20 side’s recent 4-1 win over Dundalk U20s. Sean Patton, who has made five appearances for City’s senior side this season, bagged one of those four on Saturday too.

City are unbeaten against Drogheda United since April 2023, winning three and drawing two of the last five. The Candystripes have won two on the bounce against Drogheda in the Brandywell, going back to last August, and have lost just one in the last ten against the Louth side in Derry in all competitions. With the European ties, new signing and last minute winner against Bohs creating a positive buzz around the place during the summer break, you’d hope for a Derry City victory on Friday. A win could put Derry top of the table if Galway United defeat Shelbourne in Tolka Park, and with there being just one more league game after this until August, we’re fast approaching the business end of the season.

 

Pól O’Hare – 26 June 2024

A Look Back at Derry City’s 2020 Squad

 

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

(GK) Peter Cherrie – Derry City needed a tried and tested goalkeeper following the departure of Gerard Doherty, who had left the club to sign for Crusaders in 2018. Peter Cherrie, who had a wealth of experience, joined City in 2019 after spells at Airdrie United, Ayr United, Clyde, Dundalk, Cliftonville, Bray Wanderers and Cork City. He was Devine's number one for the 2019 and 2020 seasons and brought a calm head to a young squad. The Scotsman rejoined Dundalk in 2021 and is back-up to Nathan Shepperd, aged 40.

 

(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 95^th 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.

 

  Sligo Rovers 0-0 Derry City (3-1 Sligo on pens), FAI Cup quarter-final, 25 November 2020

 

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.

(CM) Gerardo Bruna – Something of a cult hero, the Argentine midfielder was dubbed ‘The Next Messi’ during his youth career. After five years in the academy of Real Madrid, he joined Liverpool and won the Premier Reserve League in 2007/08. A move to Blackpool followed and, after making 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 a great eye for a pass, 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 finds himself at Unión Puerto del Rosario in Spain’s fifth tier.

(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 93^rd 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 86^th 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