Shelbourne v Derry City: Match Preview (14th February 2025)

 

Shelbourne v Derry City: Match Preview

 

Shelbourne FC v Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 1, Tolka Park, Friday 14^th February 2025 @ 7.45pm

 

It’s been a long few months of a winter without the Candystripes but proper football is back and there’s a new man at the helm in the Brandywell. Tiernan Lynch, the man who took Larne from the NIFL Championship to back-to-back Irish League champions and UEFA Conference League group stages, was announced as City’s new manager back in November. In his few months here already, Lynch has made his mark on the running of the club both on and off the pitch. He’s brought in four former Northern Ireland internationals, a three-time Premier Division winner and secured the use of Doire GAA’s Owenbeg Centre of Excellence as a temporary home from home for the club. His new look Derry City side has been thrown in at the deep end though- their first game of the season is a Valentine’s Day trip to Tolka Park, where they have a date with champions Shelbourne.

Derry City:

The end of last season was a struggle. Going from having multiple opportunities to go top of the table before then finishing fourth and losing the cup final, the last few months of the 2024 campaign were an emotional rollercoaster for the City faithful. We could have gone clear at the top when we went into a Friday-Monday double header at home to Bohemians and Sligo Rovers in October, but missed point blank chances in both games and came away with two draws. Those four dropped points saw Ruaidhrí Higgins’ grasp on the title slip drastically. An away win away to Dundalk kept City dreams alive going into the penultimate gameweek and relegated Dundalk, but a 1-0 loss to St. Pat’s in Inchicore meant that Derry could mathematically no longer be champions. To add insult to injury, the winner was scored by a man who City had sold to Pat’s less than a year prior – Brandon Kavanagh. Derry City v Shelbourne in the Brandywell on November 1^st was billed all year as the title decider, as City hoped to grab their first title since 1997 and Shels their first since 2006. To be fair, it was a title decider, but not for the home side. Harry Wood’s 85^th minute winner against a dejected City side in a flat Brandywell saw the visitors clinch the title from Shamrock Rovers and knocked Derry out of the European spots.

Nine days later and City travelled to the Aviva for the second time in three seasons, in an FAI Cup final against a Drogheda United side who still had a relegation play-off to get the better of, it seemed nearly impossible for City to lose. They did. And it couldn’t have gone much worse either.  When captain Patrick McEleney went off injured in the first half, in his last appearance for the club, you knew it wasn’t going to be our day. Goals from Andrew Quinn and Douglas James-Taylor handed Drogheda their second ever FAI Cup triumph as the Derry end of the Aviva cleared out with twenty minutes to go. It was a sour atmosphere after the second goal went in. City failed to threaten for the remainder of the game, before Brian Maher left the pitch in tears after full time – he looked certain to leave the club for Shamrock Rovers. After a cup final triumph, a European run in 2023 and back-to-back second place finishes, the Ruaidhrí Higgins era on Foyleside came to an end. It was time for a rebuild at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Enter stage left, Tiernan and Seamus Lynch. The two brothers who had won eight trophies at Larne between 2017 and 2024, alongside qualifying for the UEFA Conference League league phase, arrived to take the reins at Derry City on a three year deal. Aside from playing exciting football and dominating domestically for a few years, they turned Larne into one of the most professional clubs on the island. With a full on academy set-up, scholarship program and state-of-the-art training facilities, the Larne model has given a glimpse at what can be done at Derry City. With the club looking at taking over Templemore Complex and building a hub for the club in the next couple of years, alongside the fast-approaching completion of the new North Stand, it’s an exciting time to be a Derry City supporter again.

That excitement isn’t constrained to just the background workings of the club, but Lynch’s business in the transfer window has raised a few eyebrows. With no European football this year, I expected a fairly modest rebuild of young players and a few experienced LOI veterans to ease the club into a new era without the breaking the bank. I was wrong. Tiernan Lynch has been backed by the club to make his mark on the squad. I said back in October that getting Brian Maher and Adam O’Reilly tied down to new deals would be more important than any other signing and, coming off the back of the cup final, I genuinely thought both of them would be away. Low and behold, both players were signed to new two-year deals by mid-December. They were joined by 57 time Northern Ireland international Shane Ferguson, who was most recently at Rotherham United in the Championship. A former Maiden City player in his youth, the Eglinton native made 23 senior appearances for Newcastle United after joining their academy in 2007. Loans to Birmingham City, Rangers and Millwall saw the versatile left-sided full-back’s stock rise. Millwall signed him permanently for around £175,000 in 2016, where he made 155 appearances in five years. At 33, he’s an experienced addition to the squad with his versatility making him a near-perfect replacement for the departed Ciarán Coll.

Following on from Ferguson where two more Northern Ireland internationals, both announced one Saturday afternoon while I was scoffing a ciabatta from Paul’s Butchers – what a day. They don’t need much of an introduction, Liam Boyce is a 28 time NI international forward with a deadly eye for goal and comfortable dropping into midfield to make something happen. He has just shy of 200 goals in 470 or so senior appearances – not a bad return at all. 23 goals of those came in 2016/17 whilst at Ross County, seeing Boyce win the Scottish Premiership golden boot ahead of Celtic’s Moussa Dembelé and Scott Sinclar. He most recently spent five years at Hearts of Midlothian, where he won the Player of the Year award in 2020/21.

Boyce’s signing was quickly followed by that of Gavin Whyte, ending a transfer saga that also involved Shamrock Rovers, Linfield and Coleraine. Leaving Crusaders with three league titles and 140 appearances under his belt in 2018, Whyte signed for Oxford United for around £100,000. After a season in League One, he signed for Cardiff City for around £2m before going on loan to Hull City and back to Oxford. Most recently with Portsmouth, Whyte opted to return home last year before signing for the Candystripes. A winger of international pedigree, 30 caps to be precise, Whyte adds quality to City’s already strong flanks.

Another duo of signings came days later for Derry City, in the form of Robbie Benson and Carl Winchester. Benson is a league of Ireland stalwart, racking more than 450 appearances and three
Premier Division titles. A proven winner, the midfielder joined from relegated Dundalk in January and offers Tiernan Lynch a bit of League of Ireland winning nouse in the centre park of the park. Another experienced midfield addition is Carl Winchester, who was capped once by NI back in 2011. He recently surpassed the 500 appearance mark in senior football whilst at Shrewsbury Town and has experience playing across the EFL. A midfielder by trade, he can also slot in at right back and looked very tidy sitting in front of the defence against Institute in preseason. Young goalkeeper Arlo Doherty made his stay at the club official after signing an 18 month contract following the expiration of his contract with Leicester City. The former Ireland youth international has been training with the club since last summer and will serve as back-up to Brian Maher.

Dom Thomas is the signing I’m most excited about though. A former Celtic academy prospect, Thomas broke through at Motherwell in 2015 and has played his entire career until now in Scotland. Most recently captain at Queens Park in the Scottish Championship, the forward, who turns 29 on Friday, has a wand of a left foot and is comfortable playing off either wing. Queens Park fans think very highly of him judging by their reaction to his departure – he’s surely one to get you off your feet.

Twelve players left Derry City between the end of the season and now, eight of them on permanent transfers. In November, it seemed like we were on the verge of a crisis. Captain Patrick McEleney had left for Ballymena United, although returned to City in a coaching capacity recently. He was followed to the Irish League by his brother, Shane, and Ciarán Coll, who both joined Declan Devine’s Glentoran. The latter was City’s second longest serving player having joined in 2019. Will Patching joined League Two’s bottom side Carlisle United on a two-and-a-half year deal. Carlisle brought in twelve new players in January, before sacking their manager to bring in Mark Hughes on deadline day – they’re currently six points from safety and relegation to the National League looks ever-more likely despite splashing the cash.

Colm Whelan also joined Bohemians to lead their line – reuniting with Alan Reynolds in a real coup for the Phibsborough side. He does, however, now have competition up front in the form of former Sheffield United and Bournemouth striker Lys Mousset, who cost £10m six years ago. Dan Kelly returned to Dublin to sign for Shelbourne, whilst Tadhg Ryan made the move to Glenavon and Callum McCay joined Institute on loan after moving to Cliftonville. Duncan Idehen and Conor Barr joined Ballymena United on loan, whilst Aaron Heaney and Liam Mullan made loan switches to Glenavon and Harland & Wolff Welders respectively.

In terms of expectations for 2025, it’s hard to judge how Derry City’s campaign will pan out. There’s been heavy investment in the squad, particularly in forward areas. With the age profile of signings, the youngest being Thomas who turns 29 this week, it seems like Lynch’s task this season to go all out for European football. His Larne team were relentless in attack. Playing a 3-5-2, they were ruthless going forward. This will suit City’s quality in forward areas and bring something different to the possession based style played under Ruaidhrí Higgins. My only concern is in defence. With Duncan Idehen and Conor Barr going on loan to Ballymena United, Mark Connolly and Sam Todd (who impressed on loan under Lynch at Larne) are the club’s only senior centre backs. Whilst Ferguson could play on the left side of a three, I feel that we could do with at least another centre back in the squad.

It won’t be a quick fix for City this year and with Shelbourne, St Pat’s and Shamrock Rovers all looking to mount title charges, a top three finish would mark a good return for Lynch in his first season. With the new North Stand due to open in the coming weeks, and the extra 2900 capacity that it will provide, the Brandywell now has a stand behind the net to suck a goal into. Shelbourne away is likely the toughest venue to go too for a season opener, especially seeing that they’re now champions, but the Derry management team will have their players fired up to show what they can offer. The League of Ireland madness is back.

Shelbourne:

For the first time this decade, we have a Premier Division winner who isn’t called Shamrock Rovers. They raced to an early lead at the start of the 2024 campaign and stayed there pretty much ever since. Losing just three league games between the season beginning and the European games rolling round in July, Shelbourne seemed to be running out of steam from August on. With just one win in eight league games going into mid-October, it seemed like the league title was Derry City’s to lose. That ended well. One win from their last eight league games saw the Candystripes go from favourites to stumbling over the line in fourth place. Shamrock Rovers had one hand on their fifth title in a row going into the last day of the season, knowing that victory over Waterford would win them the league if Derry got the better of Shelbourne. With just five minutes to go in the Brandywell, Harry Wood slotted past Brian Maher to award Shels their first title in eighteen years. Heartbreak for Rovers who got too used to winning, heartbreak for Derry City who threw away the league title before watching it being lifted in their own back yard.

With Champions League football booked for the summer and a league title secured, the big question for Shelbourne over the break was ‘how do you improve a premiership winning side?’. It’s hard to tell how that’ll pan out when the season’s yet to begin, but Duff’s side have quietly had a strong transfer window. It seems as though the starting eleven will remain largely the same. Former Derry forward Matt Smith is probably the biggest departure, leaving to join Waterford. Squad players Shane Griffin and Dean Williams departed for Cobh Ramblers and Athlone Town respectively, joined in the First Division by young players Gavin Hodgins (Finn Harps), Cian Doyle, Harvey Warren (both Bray Wanderers) and Daithi Folan (Dundalk). Liam Burt’s returned to Shamrock Rovers following his loan whilst Aiden O’Brien has left for Woking. With sides in Scotland circling round top scorer Sean Boyd, the fact that his name is under the retention list rather than the departed, will come as a coup in its own.

Speaking of coups, and no Damien Duff hasn’t tried to overthrow the Dáil just yet, Shelbourne’s business has been smart. Ryan O’Kane, a 21 year old winger who made more than 100 senior appearances for Dundalk, joined following their relegation. He may only have contributed to five league goals last season, but he’s a lightning quick winger and will offer depth in wide areas. He was followed to Tolka Park by striker Mipo Odubeko from Fleetwood Town. A Dublin native, Odubeko spent time at the academies of Manchester United, Manchester City and West Ham United. At 22 years of age, Shels have got themselves a quality young striker to partner Sean Boyd up top. Both he and Boyd scored in last week’s 2-0 President’s Cup win over Drogheda United as Shels cruised to victory over the FAI Cup winners. The signing of Ellis Chapman from Sligo Rovers is the new signing for Shelbourne that, as an opposition supporter, concerns me. Formerly a holding midfielder, the Englishman was pushed forward under John Russell at Sligo and racked up nine goals last season from the centre of the park. A surprisingly agile and tricky footballer for a man of his stature, Chapman slalomed through the Derry City backline to notch an 89^th minute winner for his side in July last year. He’s a player who’ll add that extra touch of attacking quality to Shelbourne’s midfield.

Another man who Damien Duff hopes will add quality to his midfield is Kerr McInroy, a former Scotland youth international who Duff worked with at Celtic. The 24 year old Dunfermline native can play across the midfield and has spent time at Dunfermline Athletic, Ayr United, Airdrieonians, Kilmarnock and most recently Partick Thistle. He has been joined at Shels by former Derry City forward Dan Kelly who, despite featuring for City mostly from the bench last year, saw his season cut short by injury before mutually terminating his contract a year before its expiry. The 28 year old scored just once for City, but his experience in the title winning Dundalk side of 2019 will be vital to Duff in his hunt for back-to-back glory.

New signings aside, it’s the usual suspects who you’ll have to watch out for on Friday night. Conor Kearns has been one of the most consistent keepers in the league, whilst centre back Paddy Barrett and captain Mark Coyle were included in last year’s PFAI Team of the Year. Sean Gannon and Tyreke Wilson give width to the defence and love to bomb foward, whilst Ellis Chapman’s arrival gives an already quality midfield of Mark Coyle, Evan Caffrey and Harry Wood an extra bit of dynamism. Ali Coote, Ryan O’Kane, Rayhaan Tulloch and Dan Kelly provide options out wide, whilst the ever-dangerous Sean Boyd netted ten goals in the league last year.

Round-up:

With a semi-competitive game under their belt coming in the form of last week’s President’s Cup victory, Shelbourne look to be fully firing going into the new season. They dominated a Drogheda United side who looked like they were still in pre-season mode last Friday, racing to a 2-0 lead by half-time and holding onto the victory after Drogs keeper Luke Dennison saw red. Boyd and Odubeko are forming a throwback strike partnership. Boyd’s aerial capability and strength compliment the more versatile nature of Odubeko, it’s a duo who Damien Duff reckons will be the best in Ireland. They’ll cause City’s central defence issues on Friday night, but with the Candystripes hoping to make use of the classic ‘new manager bounce’ they’ll surely let off the reigns and go all-out attack on their opponent.

Derry have had an unbeaten preseason, with victories over Cobh Ramblers (1-0), Sligo Rovers (3-2), Institute (5-0), Ballymena United (1-0) and Glenavon (2-0). Aside from a cancelled fixture against Finn Harps, Lynch’s side have a strong preseason against a mixture of opposition. Sean Patton impressed with a hat-trick against Sligo, as well as winners against both Institute and Cobh. Dominic Thomas found goals against Stute and Glenavon, whilst Mickey Duffy netted a brace against Institute and the only goal at home to Ballymena. It’s been good preparation for the Candystripes, who’ll look to bring the confidence and goals into the season proper.

Shelbourne haven’t had a bad off-season either. They swept aside Drogheda United in last week’s curtain raiser, whilst beating Longford Town and Wexford. Draws against Athlone Town, Bray Wanderers and St Mochta’s came alongside a 3-0 loss to Drogheda in the Leinster Senior Cup – although that was mostly reserve players. They looked sharp last Friday, with a sure defence, dynamic midfield and a new-found strike partnership. Duff’s side will be gunning for back-to-back titles and they fact they claimed last year’s crown by beating Derry City in the Brandywell will add that extra kick to the game. That win for Shels was the first league game between the two that hadn’t ended in a draw since March 2023, when Ryan Graydon found the winner for City in Tolka Park. There have been six draws and three red cards in the seven since. Derry did get one over Shelbourne in 2024, dumping them out of the FAI Cup in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win back in September. It’s only game one of thirty-six on Friday, but it already feels like we could be looking back on it come November. Ladies and gentlemen, the League of Ireland and the mighty Derry City are back.

 

Pól O’Hare – 12^th February 2025

A Deep Dive into Derry City's 2022 Squad

 

Derry City’s 2022 Team: Where are they now?

 

Following a start to the season which saw Derry City bottom after six games in 2021, Ruaidhrí Higgins replaced Declan Devine as manager at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. The Limavady man’s arrival saw a new dawn for the club, who finished 2021 in fourth place and secured European football. 2022 was Higgins’ first full year as manager of Derry City, and it didn’t end too badly either. The Candystripes lifted the FAI Cup in November with a record breaking 4-0 win over Shelbourne in the final, as well as finishing second in the league. That season began less than three years ago, but with Tiernan Lynch’s reign opening a new chapter for City, I’ve had a look at the squad of 2022 to see how their careers panned out before and after joining the Candystripes. I’ll begin with the squad for the first game of the season, a 2-2 away draw with Dundalk in February.

 

BRIAN MAHER: A product of St Kevin’s Boys and St. Patrick Athletic’s youth academies, Brian Maher spent two years at Bray Wanderers in 2020 and 2021, making almost fifty appearances before his 21^st birthday. One of the most promising young keepers in Ireland, Maher made more than thirty appearances in Ireland’s U17s, U19s and U21s. City signed Brian Maher ahead of the 2022 season, immediately becoming the club’s first choice stopper thanks to his range of passing, comfort on the ball and reaction saves. After making more than 100 appearances for Derry City and keeping the most clean sheets in the Premier Division in both 2022 and 2023, Maher signed a two-year contract extension in December 2024, keeping him at the Brandywell until 2026. His re-signing was a statement of intent from Tiernan Lynch, committing Maher to the Cansystripes despite interest from Scottish clubs and Shamrock Rovers.

CIARÁN COLL: Versatile defender Ciarán Coll spent a year at Hearts of Midlothian in 2008 after starting out with Kildrum Tigers, before returning home to join Finn Harps in 2009. The Letterkenny native was key to the Finn Harps defence for the best part of a decade, making almost 300 appearances and taking the captain’s armband. He crossed the north-west divide in 2019, when Declan Devine brought him to the Brandywell. Reliable and consistent at both left back and centre back, Ciarán Coll was a key part of the Derry City squad for five seasons, making 170 appearances in red and white. Declan Devine, now manager of Glentoran, once again snapped up the 33 year old on a two-and-a-half year contract following the expiration of his contract with Derry in November 2024.

CAMERON MCJANNET: Milton Keynes native Cameron McJannet spent almost a decade at Luton Town as a youngster before signing for Stoke City in 2016. Despite a loan at Curzon Ashton during the 2018-19 season, McJannet was released in 2020 and joined Derry City on a free transfer in August, going on to make 142 appearances at left-back at centre-back. One of the best defenders in the Premier Division, McJannet made more than 50 appearances as City captain in his almost four year spell at the club. Now 26, McJannet assisted Danny Mullen for a 95^th minute winner away to Bohemians in June 2024 on his last appearance for the club. He joined Grimsby Town later that month, as Derry City cashed in on a much-fancied player whose contract expired at the end of the year. McJannet has since made 25 appearances in League Two, and City’s failure to truly replace him likely factored in their failure to win the league or cup in 2024. He recently scored his first league goal for Grimsby when he opened the scoring against Port Vale in late December, before going on to pick up the Man of the Match award in a 3-0 victory.

EOIN TOAL: Centre back Eoin Toal made his debut for Armagh Town at 16 years of age in 2015 and made more than 50 appearances for the club before Kenny Shiels brought him to Derry City in 2017. He became a Candystripe regular in 2018 and was made captain in 2021, going to on to make 155 appearances as he grew to become one of the most impressive defenders in Ireland. A regular in Northern Ireland’s U19 and U21 set-ups during his time at Derry, Toal played through the pain barrier of an ankle injury to make his last appearance for City away to Riga FC in Latvia in the UEFA Conference League in July 2022. Later that month, Toal joined League One side Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed transfer fee, believed to be around €100,000 including add-ons. He has since made over 70 appearances for Bolton, including starting the 2023 EFL Trophy final in which Wanderers beat Plymouth Argyle 4-0. He signed a contract extension until 2027 last year and broke into the Northern Ireland senior team in 2023.

CAMERON DUMMIGAN: Lurgan man Cameron Dummigan left Cliftonville as a 16 year old in 2012 to sign for Burnley, failing to make a senior appearance for the Clarets despite being named on the bench in the Premier League. A loan spell to League One side Oldham Athletic in 2015-16 saw him make 26 appearances before signing permanently ahead of the 2016-17 season. Naturally a right-back but more than adept in defensive midfield, the 18 time Northern Ireland U21 international joined League of Ireland champions Dundalk in 2019, where he picked up four trophies in three seasons. Dummigan was a statement signing for Derry City ahead of the 2022 campaign and was integral to the side, earning an inclusion in the PFAI Team of the Year alongside winning his second FAI Cup. Despite injury hit 2023 and 2024 seasons, Dummigan signed a two-year contract extension keeping him on Foyleside until 2026, staving off interest from Linfield in the Irish League.

CIARON HARKIN: Signed by Declan Devine alongside Ciarán Coll ahead of the 2019 season, Ciaron Harkin quickly established himself as a fan favourite at the Brandywell due to his dogged nature in the midfield of the park. A youth player at the Candystripes, the Creggan man impressed at Institute between 2015 and 2017, causing fellow Co. Derry side Coleraine to sign him January 2017. Harkin was central to the Bannsiders’ side which won their sixth Irish Cup in 2018, and their first since 2003. He was closing in on 100 appearances for Derry City when he picked up an ACL tear at home to Shamrock Rovers in February 2022. Later that year, the midfielder aggravated the injury during rehab – a heartbreaking setback which saw him miss the entirety of the 2023 season. Harkin made just four appearances for Derry in the summer of 2024 as he continued towards full fitness, before rejoining Coleraine on loan – where he has since surpassed a century of appearances. With a contract running until the end of 2025, the 28 year old will hope to return to City’s first team set up upon his return from Coleraine in January.

DANNY LAFFERTY: Danny Lafferty joined Celtic in 2006 from Oxford United, also playing for Ayr United on loan. He signed for Derry City in 2010 after being released by Celtic and made 12 appearances as the Candystripes won the First Division. After a further 34 appearances in red and white, Championship side Burnley snapped up the left-back for £150,000 and gave him the number 3 shirt. He made 40 appearances for the Clarets, also playing for Rotherham United, Oldham Athletic and Sheffield United on loan. Sheffield signed him permanently in 2017 and loaned him to Peterborough United in 2019. He returned to Ireland that summer, signing for Shamrock Rovers. Lafferty won the FAI Cup that November, and the Premier Division title in 2020. Declan Devine brought him back to Derry ahead of the 2021 season, before Lafferty left for Sligo Rovers in 2023 after winning the FAI Cup with his hometown club in 2022. Aged 35, the former Northern Ireland international currently lines out for Ballymena United after playing the second half of the 2023/24 season at Institute.

WILL PATCHING: Stockport native Will Patching joined the Manchester City academy at just six years of age, spending fourteen years there before joining Notts County in 2018. During his time in Manchester, Patching made 25 appearances for England’s youth teams, representing his country at the U17 World Cup in Chile in 2015. Patching played with Phil Foden, Chelsea’s Jadon Sancho, and Real Madrid’s Brahím Diaz whilst at Manchester City and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sporting Lisbon winger Marcus Edwards and Leicester City’s Stephy Mavididi with England. He struggled to nail down a spot at Notts County before signing for Dundalk in 2020. Patching shone whilst on loan at Derry City in the first half of the 2021 season, before scoring in both legs of Dundalk’s qualifiers and play-offs for the UEFA Conference League after returning to the club in July. Patching joined Derry City permanently in 2022, proving to be one of the most exciting midfielders in the league as he contributed to 68 goals in 130 appearances. In fact, Derry City never lost in a match that Will Patching scored in. His highlights reel makes for great viewing, but an injury-hit 2024 saw the 26 year old leave Ireland at the end of the season, signing for League Two’s bottom side Carlisle United in January on a two-and-a-half year deal.

JOE THOMSON: A youth player for both Rangers and Celtic, Paisley native Joe Thomson made his professional debut and only appearance for Celtic in a 3-1 victory away to Dundee United in August 2015. The midfielder, who has a rocket of a right foot, left Celtic in 2018 to sign for Dunfermline Athletic following loans to Dumbarton, Queen of the South and Livingston. Aged just 21, Thomson was named Fans Player of the Year in his first season at Dunfermline but was released in May 2020 as the COVID pandemic hit the club’s finances. Derry City swooped to land the Scotsman, who scored against FK Riteriai on his UEFA Europa League debut as the Candystripes lost in extra-time. With game-time limited in the second half of the 2022 campaign, Thomson bowed out with an FAI Cup triumph as he was included in the swap deal along with Micháel Glynn to sign Ben Doherty from Larne. After ten goals in 79 appearances at Derry, Thomson won back-to-back NIFL Premierships in 2023 and 2024 with Larne, alongside contributing to their run to become the first ever Northern Irish side to qualify for European group-stages when they made it to the UEFA Conference League league-phase in 2024.

BRANDON KAVANAGH: City signed Dubliner Brandon Kavanagh from Shamrock Rovers prior to the 2022 season. The winger came through the ranks at Bray Wanderers before signing for Bohemians in 2016 and, after impressing back on loan at Bray in 2021 alongside Brian Maher, Ruaidhrí Higgins swooped to sign the then 21 year old on a three year contract. A versatile midfielder who can play in both the number 10 slot and on either wing, Kavanagh failed to nail down a starting berth at the Brandywell. He made more than 70 appearances in red and white, scoring ten goals, before transferring to St. Pat’s ahead of the 2024 season for a fee of around €25,000. Kavanagh had a stellar season in Inchicore and has shone under Stephen Kenny as Pat’s went unbeaten in their last eleven league games to leapfrog Derry City and finish third in the Premier Division. To rub salt into the City wounds, it was Kavanagh’s goal which denied the Candystripes the chance to win the league going into the final game. The 24 year old finished 2024 with twelve assists in the league, as well as six goals, topping the assist chart for the Premier Division.

JAMIE MCGONIGLE: Dungiven native Jamie McGonigle was Ruaidhrí Higgins’ marquee signing in the summer of 2021. He left Dungiven Celtic for Coleraine in 2014, making his debut in 2015 and scoring more than 50 goals before joining Crusaders in 2019 for a then Northern Irish record transfer of £60,000 – breaking a 21 year record. At Coleraine, McGonigle won the Irish Cup alongside fellow Derry teammate Ciaron Harkin in 2017-18 and scored 16 in the league as the Bannsiders finished second. Derry City splashed the cash to land McGonigle for a rumoured fee of £35,000 in June 2021, a worthwhile price as he scored eight goals in seventeen to help City to a fourth-placed finish. 2022 saw McGonigle given the number nine shirt as he became the first Derry player since Alex Krstic in 1986 to score in five games in a row. That fifth goal was a stoppage time winner into the top corner against Shamrock Rovers, showing that Derry meant business in the title race. After bagging a hattrick in a 7-1 win over UCD in April 2022, and a brace in a 4-0 win away to St Pat’s a week later, McGonigle only scored two more league goals all season as City’s title hopes died out. He did, however, net in four of Derry City’s five FAI Cups games, including the opener in the final. 2023 saw McGonigle bag five goals in 29 games in all competitions, as he left Derry City in early 2024 with two years left on his contract to rejoin Coleraine – allowing the Candystripes to land Pat Hoban. He has since scored 12 goals for Coleraine in less than a year – taking his haul for the Bannsiders to 69 goals as he approaches 200 appearances in blue and white.

SUBSTITUTES

NATHAN GARTSIDE: After overcoming serious illness while on the verges of the Watford first team, 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, who he joined from Institute as a 16 year old, Gartside became City’s first choice keeper ahead of the 2021 season after being utilised mostly as a cup goalkeeper in his first two-and-a-half years. He made 46 appearances for Derry and broke into the Northern Ireland U21 side in 2019. 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 after an impressive season as Derry’s number one. Following the arrival of Brian Maher, Gartside made just two appearances in 2022 and moved to Cliftonville in July of that year. Despite a positive start in Belfast, former St. Pat’s and Drogheda United goalkeeper David Odumosu was preferred to the former Watford man in goal. After making 54 appearances for the Reds, including the majority of the 2024 Irish Cup final which Cliftonville would go on to win 3-1 in extra-time, Gartside left to join Loughgall, who currently find themselves rooted to the foot of the Premiership table. The 26 year old was recently named the NIFL Premiership Player of the Week after saving two penalties away to Carrick Rangers in mid-December.

PATRICK MCELENEY: Originally coming through the ranks at Foyle Harps, Patrick McEleney joined Sunderland in 2008 before coming home to sign for Stephen Kenny’s Derry City ahead of the 2010 campaign. After winning the First Division in 2010 and FAI Cup in 2012, and despite interest from England, Kenny brought McEleney to Dundalk ahead of the 2016 season. Ten trophies, including three Premier Division titles and an inclusion in the 2016 PFAI Team of the Year followed, either side of a nine game spell at Oldham Athletic in England. The midfielder also played a part in both of Dundalk’s Europa League campaigns in 2016 and 2020, before being brought back to the Brandywell ahead of the 2022 campaign. McEleney surpassed the 300 appearance mark in red and white back in October 2024, playing in two cup finals in his three seasons back in Derry, winning in 2022 but coming off injured and losing in his ninth cup final of his career in 2024. That loss against Drogheda United also drew his Derry City playing career to a close, as he joined Ballymena United in November. The 32 year old has, however, been linked with a return to City in a coaching capacity.

SHANE MCELENEY: Derry man Shane McEleney rejoined Derry City in 2022 alongside his brother Patrick, after first signing a professional deal with the club under Stephen Kenny in 2010. After five years with the Candystripes, in which he won a First Division title, League Cup and FAI Cup, the big centre half joined St. Patrick’s Athletic in 2015. He picked up back-to-back League Cups in Inchicore, leaving to join Ottawa Fury in America in late 2016. A year later and McEleney had returned back to Ireland, first spending two years at Larne before signing for Finn Harps in 2020. Signed to provide cover to City’s back-line, he was part of the tightest defence in the Premier Division in both 2022 and 2023, picking up the second FAI Cup of his career in doing so. Coming 34 in January, McEleney was announced as a new signing by Glentoran in the NIFL Premiership in December 2024.

JAMES AKINTUNDE: A cult hero at the Brandywell, English striker James Akintunde played most of his early career in the English National League. Declan Devine brought Akintunde to the Brandywell from Maidenhead United in July 2020. After scoring on his debut against St. Pat’s, he went on to find the net eleven more times for City before leaving after the cup final triumph of 2022. He chose to sign for Bohemians in 2023, scoring six goals under Alan Reynolds after leaving the Brandywell for Dalymount. The Englishman scored the winner for Bohs against Derry in March 2024, but stoppage time winners against Bohemians and Finn Harps were highlights of the 28 year old’s time on Foyleside. Akintunde recently left Bohs following the expiration of his contract and could prove a wise pickup for a League of Ireland side in search of a striker.

JACK MALONE: A product of Derry City’s academy, midfielder Jack Malone netted his first City goal in July 2019 when he fired in a strike from distance to seal a 3-0 win at home to Sligo Rovers. He featured in all eighteen Premier Division games during the COVID struck 2020 season, before playing a large part in during the 2021 campaign. The strong midfield additions ahead of the 2022 season saw Malone’s gametime limited to just three appearances in Ruaidhrí Higgins first full season, opening the door for him to leave for Glenavon in August. Then 22, the Derry man made the deep-midfield role his own, taking the number 8 shirt. Malone was named Glenavon’s Player of the Year in 2023-24 – a testament to his performances in the NIFL Premiership as he approaches ninety appearances in two-and-a-half years.

CAOIMHIN PORTER: Derry man Caoimhin Porter spent time at Ballymoor and Trojans before joining Derry City’s academy, eventually making his debut for City as a nineteen year old in April 2021. That was an eight minute cameo against Shamrock Rovers, where he replaced fellow academy graduate Brendan Barr. Porter had to wait until September of 2021 for his next senior appearance, when he came on for Ronan Boyce in a 3-0 home win over Longford Town. 2022 saw marginally more time in the first team for the right back, who impressed going forward as well as in defence. He assisted two of Derry’s three goals in a 3-2 win against Bohemians in Dalymount Park in July, one week after completing ninety minutes in the 1-0 away victory over UCD. The full back spent the 2023 campaign on loan at Finn Harps in the First Division, gaining experience by making thirty appearances as the Donegal side’s first choice right back. Porter joined Institute following the expiration of his contract with Derry in January 2024, and has made 33 appearances for Stute, scoring three times – including a half-volley which clipped the crossbar before going in to open the scoring in a 3-1 win over Bangor in December.

ORRIN MCLAUGHLIN: A youth player at Foyle Harps, Orrin McLaughlin joined Derry City’s U19 squad in 2019. The midfielder, who was part of the Enda McGuill Cup winning side of 2021 alongside the aforementioned Caoimhin Porter, made the bench for the senior team on seven occasions between 2020 and 2022 but never made a competitive appearance. McLaughlin joined Institute permanently in August 2022, playing more than sixty games before leaving for Dergview in the summer of 2024. The 21 year old recently signed for Portstewart FC, who are managed by his former coach at both Derry City and Institute, Mo Mahon.

LIAM MULLAN: After leaving Maiden City to join the Candystripes’ U17 side in 2021, Liam Mullan was awarded with a three year professional contract ahead of the 2022 campaign. Making the bench in 29 of City’s 36 league games in 2022, Mullan was loaned to Institute ahead of the 2023-24 NIFL Championship campaign. Making 33 appearances in all competitions for Stute, Mullan’s Derry contract was extended in July 2024, keeping the 20 year old at the Brandywell until 2027. He recently returned to City after a loan spell with NIFL Premiership newcomers Portadown FC, where he has made thirteen appearances in the league and cup. With almost fifty senior games under his belt, Mullan may see gametime under Tiernan Lynch in the coming seasons.

GERARD STOREY: Belfast born midfielder Gerard Storey was signed by Derry City in August 2021 after impressing boss Ruaidhrí Higgins in a friendly when he was on the opposing side, in Cliftonville colours. After making his debut for Portadown at sixteen, he left in 2019 to join League One side Portsmouth, before going on loans to Gosport Borough and Carrick Rangers. Storey made one appearance for Portsmouth, as a substitute in a 3-0 EFL Trophy win over Cheltenham Town, before joining the Candystripes. With just three appearances in a year on Foyleside, he returned to Belfast to sign for Cliftonville. He made a further three appearances for the Reds, before loans to Annagh United and Lisburn FC. Aged 22, Storey now lines out for Newington and recently scored a 93^rd minute winner against Institute in the NIFL Championship.

OTHER SIGNINGS AND APPEARANCES

MICHAEL DUFFY: A product of Derry City’s youth academy, Michael Duffy broke into the first team at the Brandywell as an exciting winger back in 2012. After goals in the Europa League, and a hat-trick on his 20^th birthday, Duffy signed for Celtic in 2015 before joining Alloa Athletic that summer on loan. An equaliser against Rangers and a winner against Hibernian saw him loaned to Dundee in 2016. Duffy was back in Ireland with Dundalk ahead of the 2017 season, where he won eight trophies and the PFAI Players Player of the Year award in 2018. He featured in the Europa League group stages in 2020 and rejoined Derry ahead of the 2021 campaign, where he is approaching the 50 goal mark in more than 160 games as a Candystripe. The 2022 FAI Cup triumph was Duffy’s eighth career trophy and his first at his hometown club. Highlights of his second spell at the Brandywell include winners against KuPS in the UEFA Conference League in 2023 and an FAI Cup semi-final brace away to Bohemians to send City to the final in 2024.

MARK CONNOLLY: Centre back Mark Connolly cost Bolton Wanderers £1m when they signed him from Wolves back in 2010, although the Clones man failed to break into the senior team. He made 175 appearances for Crawley Town between 2012 and 2019, either side of a two year spell at Kilmarnock. Dundee United swooped for Connolly in January 2019, where he played with current Derry City winger Paul McMullan. After a loan at Dunfermline Athletic, Connolly joined Dundalk on loan in 2022. He scored his only goal for the Lilywhites against Derry City in the 2-2 draw, before being recalled by Dundee United in July. City agreed an undisclosed fee to bring the defender to the Brandywell that same month. Connolly scored on his debut against Oliver Bond Celtic and has been an ever present in the backline since – winning the FAI Cup in 2022 and making almost eighty appearances to date.

RYAN GRAYDON: Dubliner Ryan Graydon came through the youth ranks at Bohemians, before making his senior debut for the Phibsborough side against Cabinteely in 2018. After failing to score for the senior team, the winger signed for Bray Wanderers in 2020 before switching to Longford Town in 2022. Derry swooped for the 23 year old just six months into his time in Longford, paying €10,000 for his services in July 2022. After a year as City’s first choice right winger, known for his pace and darting runs in behind, Graydon made the switch to Fleetwood Town for a fee believed to be around £125,000 in July 2023. He has played in all but one of Fleetwood’s league games this term, registering nine goal involvements. With a contract expiring in June 2025, he could be a quality signing if persuaded to return to Ireland.

MATT SMITH: Former Celtic forward Matt Smith made the move to Ireland in 2020, joining Waterford after appearing for Dundee United, Montrose and Cove Rangers in Scotland. Impressing during the COVID disrupted campaign of 2020, Smith netted twice in Munster before signing for St. Patrick’s Athletic in 2021. A key part of their FAI Cup winning side that year, it seemed that Ruaidhrí Higgins had pulled off a real coup in bringing the striker to the Brandywell in 2022. Despite scoring twelve goals for Pat’s the year before, it didn’t quite work out for Smith in Derry. He scored three goals in twenty appearances and was sent off against Riga FC in European qualifiers for an altercation with Congolese international fullback Ngonda Muzinga. He joined Shelbourne on loan in July 2022 before signing on a permanent basis in 2023. Smith’s memories of the Brandywell became more positive in November 2024, when he was part of the Shels side which lifted the Premier Division trophy there. Now 27, the Scotsman left Damien Duff’s side to return to Waterford on a long-term contract ahead of the 2025 season.

SADOU DIALLO: Born in Guinea, Sadou Diallo joined Manchester City’s youth team at thirteen in 2012. The midfielder spent time in the same City team as Will Patching and future Derry signing Jacob Davenport, sharing the pitch with current Chelsea duo Jadon Sancho and Tosin Adarabioyo, Phil Foden, Brahim Díaz and German international striker Lukas Nmecha. After six years in Manchester, Diallo was signed by Wolves in 2018. He failed to make a senior appearance in Wolverhampton, but scored in the 91^st minute to beat Manchester United’s reserves 3-2 to clinch the Premier League 2 for his club in 2020 following a three month loan move to Accrington Stanley. A move to Forest Green Rovers followed in 2021, where Diallo appeared nine times as they won League Two. The former England U19 international was announced by Derry City following the 2-0 loss away to Riga FC in the UEFA Europa League in July 2022. With another year left on his contract, and following an impressive spell in the centre of the park towards the end of the season, the holding midfielder will look for an injury free campaign after the start of his 2024 season was curtailed by a pre-season knee injury sustained against Finn Harps.

DAITHÍ MCCALLION: Coming through the ranks at Tristar, versatile defender Daithí McCallion became the youngest player in City history to sign a professional contract with the club when he penned a three-year deal in January 2022. He made his debut in April, replacing Ronan Boyce in a 7-1 win over UCD in the Brandywell. McCallion didn’t play competitively again for Derry City, but impressed on loan at Finn Harps in 2023. A regular in Northern Ireland’s U19 setup, he joined Ballymena United on loan in early 2024. That loan deal was made permanent for an undisclosed fee in August, with Derry City stressing that a buy-back clause was inserted in McCallion’s three year contract. At just 19, the defender has already racked up sixty senior appearances, and he’s one who I wouldn’t be shocked to see back in Derry City colours in the future.

JORDAN MCENEFF: Winger Jordan McEneff left Derry City’s academy in 2016 to join English giants Arsenal, where he would spend almost six years rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s finest. An Arsenal player at the same time as the likes of Mesut Özil, Alexis Sanchez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, McEneff also lined out for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at youth level. As a 21 year old, the midfielder joined Shelbourne on loan at the beginning of the 2022 campaign and made thirteen appearances before signing for Derry City in August. McEneff’s first goal for City came in the form of a 92^nd minute penalty in the FAI Cup final, compiling his former side’s misery as Derry hit Shelbourne for four. 2023 proved to be the midfielder’s most fruitful year in senior football, as he scored eight league goals to fire himself to the top of Derry City’s goalscoring chart for the year.  An ankle injury curtailed the 23 year old’s 2024 season as he appeared just eleven times before joining Larne for an undisclosed fee in August. McEneff is yet to open his account for the Invermen but can add UEFA Conference League group stage appearances to his CV during his time with the Irish League champions.

EVAN MCLAUGHLIN: Coming through the ranks at Foyle Harps and later Derry City’s academy as a midfielder, Evan McLaughlin was first involved with the City first team when he was named on the bench against Cork City in November 2020. His competitive debut came in the summer of 2021, when he started on the wing and scored just before half-time to open the scoring at home to Waterford. McLaughlin would go on to make thirty more appearances in red and white before joining Coleraine on loan in July 2022. A debut brace at home to Cliftonville gave the Bannside faithful a glimpse of what they could expect. Then 20, McLaughlin would score twice more for Coleraine before returning to the Brandywell. 2023 saw McLaughlin’s gametime limited due to health issues, before Tim Clancy brought the Derryman to Cork City ahead of the 2024 First Division campaign. Deployed as an attacking left-back, McLaughlin contributed to twelve goals in all competitions in Munster as Cork won the league by a 22 point margin. An inclusion in the First Division Team of the Year has seen the 22 year old’s stock rise, although his contract has recently expired. A versatile operator across the midfield and at full back, McLaughlin would be an astute signing for clubs across the Premier Division.

CIAN KAVANAGH: Dublin native Cian Kavanagh began his career with St. Pat’s before joining Hearts of Midlothian in Scotland as a sixteen year old in 2019. After failing to break into the senior team, and a loan to Cowdenbeath, Kavanagh returned to Ireland to sign for Waterford in 2021. He scored nine goals in 33 in Waterford before signing for the Candystripes in July 2022. Two of Kavanagh’s five Derry goals came home and away against KuPS in Europa Conference League qualifying last summer. The big striker returned to St. Pat’s ahead of the 2024 campaign but failed to make an impact, scoring once in seventeen league games. 22 at the start of January, Kavanagh was recently announced as a new arrival for 2025 by Sligo Rovers, who have signed him on a two-year deal.

DECLAN GLASS: Edinburgh born midfielder Declan Glass joined Dundee United as a fifteen year old in 2015 and made his senior debut against Dumbarton just two years later. After loans at Aidrieonians, Cove Rangers, Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock, Glass joined Derry City on loan in July 2022. A sixteen minute first half hat-trick in the 7-0 FAI Cup thrashing of Oliver Bond Celtic FC on his debut was certainly a first appearance to remember. Despite the fast start, Glass found gametime at Derry limited as he played just five more times for the club before returning to Dundee United at the end of the season. Now 24, the Scotsman was loaned to Cove Rangers again in January 2023 before signing permanently for the Scottish League One club in July 2024. With six goal involvements in thirteen games this season, a ‘Star Man’ inclusion in the final SPFL Team of the Week of 2024 (alongside Celtic’s Arne Engels in midfield), and Cove sitting within the play-off spots, Glass will hope for a strong finish to the campaign and promotion to the Championship.

 

Pól O’Hare – 4^th January 2025

FAI Cup Final Preview: Drogheda United v Derry City

 

FAI Cup Final Preview: Drogheda United v Derry City

 

Drogheda United FC v Derry City FC., FAI Cup Final, Aviva Stadium, Sunday 10^th November 2024, kick-off 3pm

Derry City’s 1-0 loss at home to Shelbourne last Friday saw Damien Duff’s men lift their first title in eighteen years in the Brandywell, condemning Derry City to a fourth placed finish. Four weeks ago, the Candystripes could have gone top with two wins in their games in hand, but a late season injury crisis and run of poor form has seen City finish outside of the automatic European places for the first time since 2021. Sunday’s FAI Cup final is Derry City’s second in three years, but the pressure is really on this time round. Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men need to beat Drogheda United to play European football in 2025, failure to do so would be disastrous. Drogheda haven’t been in an FAI Cup final since 2013, when they lost 3-2 to Sligo Rovers, with their 2-0 victory in the final in 2005 their last Cup triumph. They have an equally important relegation play-off tie with Bray Wanderers in Tallaght Stadium next Saturday.

Last time out – Derry City 0-1 Shelbourne:

In a similar vain to last week, we don’t want to have to relive Friday’s game again, so I’ll keep this recap short. Derry City would’ve secured European football if St. Pat’s dropped points to Sligo Rovers and the Candystripes won again Shelbourne. Shels brought a 300 strong, sold-out away support in the hope that they’d watch their side lift a first title since 2006, having only returned to the Premier Division in 2021. Both sides had an energetic start, with Liam Burt’s low, driven effort being deflected wide by Duncan Idehen within five minutes. City’s first real effort came 21 minutes in, when Michael Duffy struck straight at Conor Kearns in the Shels goal. City’s number seven again came close before the half-hour mark when he shot over following his trademark move of cutting inside and aiming for the top corner. Derry’s best opportunity of the half came ten minutes before the break, when Paul McMullan fed Colm Whelan in the box. The former UCD man’s effort was scuffed and easily dealt with – a better connection would’ve surely been an opener for the Candystripes.

Within ten minutes of the second half beginning, City had their best opportunity of the game. Ronan Boyce found space in the box after beating Rayhaan Tulloch before putting an inch-perfect ball right onto the head of Danny Mullen, who diverted his header onto the crossbar. A heart in mouth moment for both sets of supporters. The aforementioned Tulloch came close on the hour mark when he swept his effort wide of Brian Maher’s goal. Not long after Sean Boyd missed a 1v1 with Brian Maher, the away side were denied what seemed a clear penalty. Substitute Ali Coote burst into the box and was taken down by the foot of Mark Connolly – huge shouts from the Shelbourne contingent waived away by the referee. Just minutes later though, and Shelbourne had the goal they craved. Jacob Davenport was adjudged to have handled the ball when it flicked up into his mid-riff from close range. Sean Boyd fired the free kick, which was right on the edge of the Derry box, low and to Brian Maher’s side. The City keeper parried it as far as Harry Wood who knocked in from a questionably offside position. With five minutes left, Shelbourne had found the goal that would win them the league. The away end was in raptures and, despite Wood chipping over the crossbar in stoppage time, Shels held on to claim the first title won by a team not called ‘Shamrock Rovers’ since 2019.

Derry City:

There’s no denying that the end of the season was hugely disappointing from a Derry City perspective. Less than a month ago, we had our league title hopes in our hands and had a genuine shout at the double. Now, though, we’ve stumbled to a fourth placed finish – outside of the European spots. There were injury issues to key players towards the end of the season, namely to Pat Hoban, Ciarán Coll, Ben Doherty and Patrick McEleney, but there just didn’t seem to be the fight that’s required from a team hoping to win a league. Derry City, despite finishing the season with the second best goal difference in the league, had the joint highest amount of draws (13). That means that Derry only won 38.9% of their league games, less than four wins from every ten games. Our longest winning run in the league in 2024 was three, compared to four in 2023 and six in 2022. Despite signing the league’s best striker of recent times in Pat Hoban, who finished 2024 as the joint top scorer alongside Waterford’s Pádraig Amond on fourteen, Derry scored nine league goals less than last year’s tally. City kept the best defensive record in 2023, conceding just 24. Seven more goals were conceded in 2024, owing to the loss of Cameron McJannet and injury hit campaigns of Ben Doherty and Ciarán Coll.

On the other hand, Derry had the best disciplinary record in the league, picking up 78 yellow cards. That’s fifty less than Shelbourne, who were shown the most yellow cards with 128. (@StattoLOI on X). Not receiving yellow cards doesn’t win you leagues though, and it just goes to show how being a master of the dark arts can play into your advantage. Michael Duffy and Paul McMullan finished joint fourth in the assist charts for the league, both making five goals for teammates. Brandon Kavanagh, who City sold to St. Pat’s in January, finished the season with thirteen assists – the most in the league. Derry couldn’t promise him game-time, but having Kavanagh playing consistently in that number 10 role this season could have won Derry the league. Brian Maher was one of only three players in the Premier Division to play every single minute, whilst McMullan made the joint most appearances for a foreign player with 36 – a real testament to the Scotsman’s fitness.

I’ve spoken about the contract situation of most of the players in the squad recently, whilst we do need a refresh and I’d expect to see quite a different team at the start of next season, there are some players who we really need to try to keep hold of. Brian Maher was the only player who remained on the pitch to applaud the fans on Friday night – he has been linked to Shamrock Rovers in the past, but a new contract would be a major coup. Adam O’Reilly’s rumoured move to St. Pat’s may now be off, as Stephen Kenny persuaded holding midfielder Jamie Lennon to sign a new long-term contract after being linked to clubs in America. Colm Whelan has been impressive since returning from injury and is 100% fit for the first time as a Derry City player, I’d hope for him to start the final on Sunday and sign a new deal at the club. The pitch may put him off staying at the Brandywell though. Duncan Idehen impressed on Friday night, he was confident in the air and calm on the ball and recovered from a mistake in the box in the second half. Pat Hoban and Partrick McEleney played no part on Friday night but may be fit enough to feature in Sunday’s final. Cameron Dummigan, Ciarán Coll, Daniel Kelly and Ben Doherty are all out.

Despite a poor league campaign, Derry City have shone in the cup. Higgins’ men won all four games played, scoring eight and conceding none in doing so. In fact, City haven’t conceded in open play in the FAI Cup since Rory Gaffney scored for Shamrock Rovers in the quarter-final in 2022. The performances against Shelbourne and St. Pat’s in the Brandywell were Derry’s finest in 2024, whilst we dug deep away to Cork City and scored two brilliant goals to put Bohemians to the sword in the semi-final. That away end in Dalymount was one of the best I’ve seen in years and with well more than 38,000 tickets sold for the final on Sunday, I’d expect the Aviva to be rocking.

For reference, last year’s FAI Cup final between Bohemians and St Pat’s saw an attendance of 43,881 – more than the KNVB Cup final in the Netherlands between Feyenoord and NEC Nijmegen and just 3000 less than the Coupe de France final between Lyon and PSG - big company for the LOI. There were 32,412 at Derry’s last final in 2022, with well over 20,000 of those Derry fans. Derry’s previous final against St Pat’s in 2014 saw just 17,038 – what a rise in a decade, truly brilliant to see.

Michael Duffy has been central to City’s cup hopes in 2024, scoring four goals - both in the semi-final against Bohemians, the opener against Shelbourne and the winner against St. Pat’s. Danny Mullen bagged a brace against Pat’s and scored the winner against Shelbourne. The only other man to score for Derry City in the FAI Cup in 2024 was Sam Todd, who headed City to victory away in Cork. He’s recently started in the UEFA Conference League for Larne, on-loan from City. Derry’s defence have been impenetrable in cup action this year, something they will hope to carry on into the final. With a place in UEFA Conference League qualifiers, and a possible seventh FAI Cup on offer, you’d expect City to go all out for a win on Sunday. Using that big pitch as an advantage, as we did in 2022 against Shelbourne, don’t be shocked to see Paul McMullan stick tight to the touchline and for Derry to play mostly on the wings to fashion chances. For the last time in 2024 we’ll see Derry City in action. It's City's 1700th competitive game and it doesn’t get much bigger than this.

Route to the final:

Round 1: Bye

Round 2: Derry City 3-0 St. Patrick’s Athletic

Round 3: Cork City 0-1 Derry City

Quarter-final: Derry City 2-0 Shelbourne

Semi-final: Bohemians 0-2 Derry City

 

Drogheda United:

No matter which way Sunday goes, reaching the cup final and avoiding automatic relegation for the Premier Division’s only part-time team is some achievement. Tipped to go down before the season began, Drogheda United have established themselves as something of a bogey team for many a Premier Division side, owing to their hard-to-beat nature and tight Weaver’s Park pitch. After defeat in the Brandywell on the opening day, the Louth side had a rocky start to the season, with a 2-1 home win over Bohemians in early March coming as their only win in the first ten games of the campaign. Included in those first ten were five draws however, taking points of Derry City, St. Patrick’s Athletic and eventual champions Shelbourne before going to pick up wins over Sligo Rovers and Dundalk in spring. That aforementioned win at home to their Louth rivals and fellow relegation contenders was Drogheda’s only league win between the 6^th of May and the 26^th of July – a near three month winless streak in league action.

The most impressive week of Drogheda United’s season came in mid August. After hammering Munster Senior League side Wilton United 9-0 in the FAI Cup, Drogheda put seven past a Sligo Rovers side who were pushing for Europe. Sixteen goals without reply in two games showed that Kevin Doherty’s men meant business going into the latter stages of the season. A strong transfer window, which saw the loan signing of Douglas James-Taylor from Walsall and the arrivals of Jad Hakiki and Aodh Dervin from Dundalk and Shelbourne respectively showed that the club were strengthening well going into the relegation scrap. Drogheda had a strong end to the season, losing just two of their last seven, and taking the scalps of Derry City and Bohemians – inflicting on the former a huge dent to their title hopes, and pulling the latter down towards them in ninth position. It was ninth where Doherty’s men would end up – not quite safe but eight points clear of their Louth rivals Dundalk at the foot of the table. They face Bray Wanderers, a side who haven’t been in the Premier Division since 2018, in the Play-Off final in Tallaght next Saturday – a winner takes all tie which will close the curtain on the 2024 League of Ireland season.

A week after an emphatic beating of Bohemians in the semi-final of the FAI Cup, Derry City travelled to Drogheda knowing that a win would send Derry top of the Premier Division table. Compounding our misery on a genuinely Baltic evening in southern county Louth, Frantz Pierrot struck twice in eight minutes after the hour mark to sink the Candystripes. Looking back, it wasn’t just a cataclysmic blow to City’s title hopes, but it’s given everyone who watched that game a glimpse of the firepower of Pierrot and James-Taylor up front. Both goals highlighted the same problem in Derry’s defence – Pierrot and James-Taylor used their pace to get the better of Derry’s high-line, and the lack of pace between Wisdom and Connolly. DJT and Pierrot are a classic front two. James-Taylor is a lightning quick forward who plays on the shoulder of the defender and has a real eye for goal, you don’t make 50 appearances in League Two in your early 20s for nothing. Pierrot is a big target-man who is best when backing into the centre back and throwing his weight around. The Haitian’s positioning is another strong point of his game – his ten league goals tied him in joint fourth with Sean Boyd of Shelbourne in the Premier Division scoring charts. It also meant that he scored more goals than any other foreign player in the league in 2024. Douglas James-Taylor and Frantz Pierrot have scored or assisted 26 goals between them in league and cup action for Drogheda United this year – a statistic even more impressive when you consider that James-Taylor only arrived in July, and Pierrot had only four goals before their partnership.

There is a bit of a reliance on the two big men up top for Drogheda though – July departee left-back Evan Weir is tied with former Finn Harps striker Adam Foley on four league goals in third place on Drogs’ scoring charts. Foley’s brace off the bench to beat Wexford in the semi-final was his second and third in the FAI Cup this season, though. His 92^nd minute winner shows that age isn’t an issue for the big striker who turns 35 next month. Darragh Markey is one of the most underrated playmakers in the league and wouldn’t look out of place playing higher up the table. The introduction of the experienced Gary Deegan is a player in the centre of the park in recent weeks following injury helped Drogheda stave of automatic relegation, at 37 he’s another level head in the United lineup. The energetic Shane Farrell was an impressive signing from Shelbourne, whilst the arrival of full-back Elicha Ahui, who spent half of the 2023 season at Drogheda, was another astute signing. Former Finn Harps defender David Webster would, much like Adam Foley, love to get one over his old side’s deepest rivals. Jack Keaney, UCD’s captain in 2023, adds a versatile player to the defence, being comfortable operating in defensive midfield or centre back. Andrew Wogan and Luke Dennison have alternated in the goalkeeping department this year, with the latter keeping the 18 year old Wogan out of the lineup following an impressive start to life in the League of Ireland for the young shot stopper.

In terms of FAI Cup action, Drogheda United, with 18 goals, have scored more than anyone else in the competition this year – half of which came in the Third Round drubbing of Wilton United. Douglas James-Taylor, with six, is the competition’s top scorer – half of which, again, came as a hat-trick in that win over Wilton. Michael Duffy is second in the FAI Cup scoring charts, with four. On the contrary, Derry City are the only team with a perfect defensive record in the cup this year – they’ve gone the whole way to the final without conceding a single goal. In that sense, Sunday’s final ought to be entertaining – the highest scoring v. the best defence. A cup win for Drogheda United would be historic, they’ve lifted it just once and reached the final only four times, but Kevin Doherty may have an eye on next week’s play-off tie against Bray Wanderers. Would he, or the Drogheda fans, take a cup win over relegation considering the financial implications of the latter? It’s hard to know, but if they’re losing going into the last fifteen or so, Doherty may roll the dice and rest some key men. A win on Sunday would have them running on peak confidence going into the play-off, though. Drogheda United do have a fully fit squad and were able to rotate against already relegated Dundalk in the last game of the season. In that sense, they may have a fitness edge on the Candystripes.

This one will be closer than you may expect and, with Drogheda United selling out their allocation, a bumper crowd is to be expected. United began their cup journey with a home win over rivals Dundalk, before battering Wilton United in the Third Round. Athlone Town, at the time in great form in the First Division, lost 4-1 at home to a ten man Drogheda United in the quarters. Wexford, another First Division play-off hopeful, travelled to Louth in the semis, losing 3-2. Doherty’s men have had something of a never say die attitude in the cup this year, flexing their muscles against MSL and First Division opposition and getting the better of their bitter, local rivals.

Similarly to Derry in 2022, Drogheda United have been drawn as the home team in the tie but given the North Stand in the Aviva - usually used to house away fans in Republic of Ireland fixtures. That may not be a bad thing for Drogs, though - the team whose fans have been given that end have won each of the last three finals. It’s only a coincidence, but aside from the lockdown-hit 2020 final, Shamrock Rovers in 2019 were the last team to win the final when their fans were given the bigger South Stand. Hoping for a first cup win in nineteen years, and in only their fifth final in their history, Drogheda United will be praying that fate is on their side and will certainly be up for a fight come Sunday.

Route to the final:

Round 1: Bye

Round 2: Drogheda United 2-1 Dundalk

Round 3: Drogheda United 9-0 Wilton United

Quarter-final: Athlone Town 1-4 Drogheda United

Semi-final: Drogheda United 3-2 Wexford

 

Round-up:

Sunday’s FAI Cup typifies a tale of two seasons for Derry City and Drogheda United. Derry City, pushing Shelbourne for top spot for most of the season, have had a catastrophic end to the campaign which has seen them drop to a fourth placed finish in the league. Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and St. Patrick’s Athletic hold the European spots, meaning Derry City simply need to win to have European football, and the finances that will bring, in 2025. A loss would be disastrous, it’ll be harder to attract players and tougher to finance the type of contracts that top League of Ireland players are on now without the few hundred thousand cash injection that comes with UEFA Conference League qualification football. Drogheda United, on the other hand, are in the Aviva for the first time in eleven years, hoping to win only their second ever FAI Cup. The pressure is off them, even finishing as runners-up would mark a good season if they manage to stave of Bray Wanderers in the play-off. Kevin Doherty will want his side to take momentum into that game, which is arguably more important to their season than the cup final. Both Derry City and Drogheda United have beaten each other in 2024, Derry 2-1 and 5-1 in the Brandywell, and Drogs 2-1 in Weaver’s Park. With both teams representing the different realities of football at the top and bottom of the Premier Division table, the biggest day in the Irish footballing calendar is living up to its billing.

 

Pól O’Hare – 7^th November 2024

 

That’s another season drawn to a close and I’m proud to say that I’ve written a preview for every one of Derry City’s fixtures this season. Whilst it hasn’t been the ending to the year that we hoped for, we have one last day out before three months without League of Ireland football. I’d like to thank everyone who has read, shared or interacted with my previews – it’s much appreciated. Have a good Christmas and New Year folks, I’ll see you in February. Up the City.

Derry City v Shelbourne: Match Preview (1st November 2024)

 

Derry City v Shelbourne: Match Preview (1^st November 2024)

 

Derry City FC v. Shelbourne FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 36, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 1^st November 2024, kick-off 7.45pm

 

Last Friday night marked the end of Derry City’s title hopes as the Candystripes fell to a 1-0 defeat away to St. Patrick’s Athletic. City’s wait for a first league title since 1997 will continue for another year, whilst Shamrock Rovers’ victory over Dundalk has seen the Candystripes slip to fourth place in the table. Victory over Shelbourne on Friday night will hand Shamrock Rovers a fifth title in a row, assuming they beat Waterford in Tallaght. A positive result for Shelbourne will ensure their first title since 2006 – and they’ll lift it in the Brandywell. Even if they lost, they’d still win the league if Rovers don’t win against Waterford. For the City faithful, we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. For Ruaidhrí Higgins and his players, they’ll want to spoil Shelbourne’s party and take some momentum going into next Sunday’s cup final. It’s the end of another League of Ireland season, and the 27th without Derry City winning the biggest trophy in Irish football.

 

Last time out- St. Patrick’s Athletic 1-0 Derry City:

Having to watch those highlights again was grim I must say, but I’ll keep this recap short and (not really) sweet so you don’t have to relive it again. Derry City lined out in Inchicore with a weakened starting eleven, missing Cameron Dummigan, Ciarán Coll, Daniel Kelly, Ben Doherty and Mark Connolly. Shane McEleney captained the side, whilst Duncan Idehen made his first start for the club at left back. Patrick McEleney and Pat Hoban started on the bench despite both being ruled out through injury earlier in the week. A glancing Joe Redmond header eight minutes in was the first real attempt of the game, whilst referee Rob Hennessy set an early precedent by booking Andre Wisdom before the six minute mark. By the 36^th minute, five players had already been booked. Four for Derry (Wisdom, Boyce, Diallo for no apparent reason and Idehen) and one for Jamie Lennon of St. Pat’s. Before the clock struck forty, Derry City had the best opportunity of the game. After Danny Mullen was pushed by Tom Grivosti, Derry’s Scottish striker took the free kick quickly by sliding it through to Adam O’Reilly. O’Reilly rounded Joseph Anang in the Pat’s goal, but his off-balanced effort didn’t have the required power behind it to beat the onrushing defenders and was cleared by Anto Breslin. A great opportunity for a man reportedly linked with joining Stephen Kenny’s side in 2025.  Five minutes later, and Pat’s had opened the scoring. Anto Breslin’s shot from distance ricocheted into the path of Aidan Keena who found himself onside and in the box with just Brian Maher to aim at. His shot was saved brilliantly by Maher, but some pinballing in the box and a poor clearance from Shane McEleney saw former Derry man Brandon Kavanagh fire home. A great finish from a man who the club should never really have let go. We got €25k for him, but it ultimately cost us a league title.

As hoped, Derry started the second half on the front foot. Replacing Ronan Boyce at half time, Collie Whelan found time and space outside the Pat’s box and unleashed a dipping effort off the crossbar on the 56^th minute. Painfully close for the former UCD man. Less than ten minutes later and City should have scored again. Paul McMullan’s low ball into the box wasn’t dealt with by either Anang or Redmond and flicked up just inches behind Collie Whelan who was storming into the area. Wisdom’s ball back in was palmed right into the path of Michael Duffy who, with the net to aim at, fired right at Anang in the Pat’s goal. Derry piling on the pressure but with those missed chances, you just knew it wasn’t going to be our night.

Chris Forrester had the best chance in the remainder of the second half, rouletting and feinting into the Derry box behind firing just wide – if that went it would’ve been one of the goals of the season. The final whistle blew, confirming Derry’s worst fears. In a race that was two horse between Derry and Shelbourne all year, City could now finish fourth. Only Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers can now win the league, with it looking like we may need to win the cup to get European football in 2025. A bitter end to an up-and-down campaign. It’s the hope that kills you folks, we’re City ‘til we die and that’s why it hurts. Always next year, and the year after, and the year after…

Derry City:

Ruaidhrí Higgins’ injury-hit Candystripes didn’t play badly against Pat’s on Friday. They needed a win, but going to a Pat’s side who haven’t lost in two months was always a tough ask. With Hennessy booking Wisdom within six minutes, Derry City knew they’d be up against it from the start. That’s now just one win for Derry in their last 28 matches refereed by Rob Hennessy. Duncan Idehen did well at left back in the circumstances, it was his full City debut in the biggest match of the season and he was playing out of position. Andre Wisdom and Shane McEleney made an experienced centre back partnership. Wisdom found joy with underlapping runs when going forward in the second half and I didn’t think McEleney had a bad game despite his sliced clearance gifting Pats the game’s only goal. Adam O’Reilly led the energy in the middle of the pitch for City. He’s linked with a move to Inchicore at the end of the season, but Derry holding onto him for another couple of years could be as big as any new signing. The Pat’s defence scuppered Will Patching and Danny Mullen from getting involved in the game whilst Michael Duffy was swarmed by two men at all times – Stephen Kenny identifying his former winger as Derry’s primary threat. Colm Whelan gave Derry City something else going forward and is a different player now that he’s fit and firing again, he’s another man who we need to offer a new contract to ASAP. As was the story in the past couple of weeks, it was vital missed chances that eventually put an end to City’s title charge but, in all honesty, we had probably lost any chance at winning the league with those two draws in our games in hand. To think we would’ve been going into that Pats game two points clear had Paul McMullan scored from six yards against Bohs and Sean Robertson’s stoppage time effort against Sligo didn’t go over the crossbar. If that penalty against Shamrock Rovers wasn’t given, we’d have been out well before now.

Patrick McEleney, who had a plantar fascia injury that would likely rule him out for the season, came off the bench on Friday night. Patrick Hoban, despite being named on the bench in the last two games, doesn’t seem to be fit enough to play in the last couple of games. Instead of risking him further, I wouldn’t play him against Shelbourne either. City’s main signing heading into the season will hopefully finish as the league’s top scorer with 14 goals as long as Pádraig Amond doesn’t score against Rovers on Friday and Johnny Kenny doesn’t bag a brace against Waterford. Not a bad return for Dundalk’s record goal-scorer, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Colm Whelan start 2025 as our main striker if he stays on. Derry City will be trying to stop Shelbourne from lifting the title in the Brandywell on Friday. A win for City would see Rovers win the league as they’ll probably beat Waterford and, after their storming win away to Larne in the UEFA Conference League, they’re looking good for it at the minute. You’d hope for a good result to take into the cup final as it’s always a good day out. It feels like no time since that first game of the season against Drogheda United in the Brandywell though, that was eight and a half worryingly quick months ago.

 

Friday’s game against Shelbourne could be the last time we see some of the current squad play for Derry City in the Brandywell. Transfermarkt say that Ruaidhrí Higgins’ contract is up at the end of the year and the list of players out of contract at the end of this season doesn’t make for good reading. I’ll list them for you here; Brian Maher, Ciarán Coll, Mark Connolly, Shane McEleney, Patrick McEleney, Andre Wisdom, Adam O’Reilly, Will Patching and Colm Whelan (Transfermarkt). I’m not going to name here who I’d keep and who I’d let go, but you can decide for yourself from that list. There are players there who have been crucial to our team since Higgins had his first proper transfer window ahead of the 2022 season. At the same time, I think that team does need some new blood in it across the field. Centre back and centre midfield seem to be the two areas that I’d assume we’d freshen up on. We have a high average age, so fresh, young talent will do us no harm.  Securing European football before the cup final will be the aim for the Candystripes on Friday night, a draw for Derry would do that if Sligo Rovers beat St. Pat’s. This day three weeks ago we were talking about going two points clear at the top with two home wins. Now, there’s a fear that we could miss out on Europe. Two positive results for City on Friday and next Sunday should hopefully have us entering 2025 looking forward for a new season and with the buzz of a new stand behind the goal on the Lone Moor Road end. Christ, what a year.

Players of the Year:

Nobody has asked for this part, but I’m doing it anyway. It’s my very prestigious list of my top three Derry City players of 2024:

1.        Adam O’Reilly – The heart of City’s midfield, Adam O’Reilly kept the Derry City side ticking in 2024. His energy, close control and passion earned him the love of the City faithful. Rarely does the 23 year old put a foot wrong and there aren’t many in the country who compare to O’Reilly in that deeper midfield role. Coming to the end of his second season at Derry, he’s established himself as a key player for the Candystripes, who will surely be hoping to tie him down to a new contract at the end of the season.

 

2.        Pat Hoban – Dundalk’s all-time record goal-scorer joined Derry City for €25,000 ahead of the 2024 campaign as the Candystripes’ marquee signing. A statement of intent from Ruaidhrí Higgins, Hoban’s goalscoring threat gave Derry a focal point in attack that wasn’t previously available. Physical, strong in the air and comfortable backing into a defender, Hoban has hit the ground running at the Brandywell. With 14 goals in the league, he’s on course to finish the season as the Premier Division top scorer and would’ve likely scored more had he not missed five games through injury. Hoban will be the first Derry City player since Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe in 2019 to claim the Premier Division golden boot if Pádraig Amond and Johnny Kenny don’t bag a couple on Friday.

 

3.        Michael Duffy – One of the finest League of Ireland wingers of his generation, Michael Duffy rejoined Derry City in 2022 after a successful spell at Dundalk. City’s number 7 is a joy to watch on his day, cutting in from the left to whip shots towards the keeper’s far post, like an inverted, Shantallow Arjen Robben. His haul of five goals and five assists in the league isn’t bad at all, but he almost single-handedly took Derry City to the FAI Cup final in 2024. He scored in City’s 3-0 win over St. Pat’s and 2-0 win over Shelbourne, as well as lighting up Dalymount with a brace in the semi-final against Bohemians. His free kick against Bohs will be watched time and time again, whilst the 30 year old will hope to drive his side to the FAI Cup once again next week. His form has been recognised as he was named alongside Pádraig Amond and Dylan Watts as candidates for the PFAI Men’s Player of the Year award.

 

 

Shelbourne:

Just under two years ago, Derry City beat Shelbourne 4-0 in the 2022 FAI Cup final. It was a record breaking cup final win, but despite the scoreline, it marked a successful first season in senior management for Damien Duff. The 100 time Ireland international and two time Premier League winner inherited a Shelbourne side that had been promoted from the First Division and guided them to league safety and a cup final in his first season. By the end of 2023, Shelbourne would finish fourth in the League of Ireland and see European football in 2024 as a result of St. Pat’s’ cup final win. Now into the final game of his third season at the helm, Duff’s Shelbourne would win the Premier Division with victory in the Brandywell, or if Shamrock Rovers fail to beat Waterford. Yes, the league’s been ‘poorer’ than previous seasons, and it was Derry’s league to lose less than a month ago, but Shelbourne have spent the vast majority of the past seven months at the summit of the table. In fact, if Shamrock Rovers manage to win the league on Friday, it’ll be the first time all season that they’ve been top of the pile.

Shelbourne’s defence has been their foundation over the past few seasons. They currently have the best defensive record in the league, conceding 27 in 35 games. That’s one fewer than Galway United on 28. In 2023, only Derry City had a more resolute defence than Shels. Derry conceded 24 in 36 last year, whilst Shels let in just 27. Despite finishing fourth in 2023, Shelbourne have actually scored less goals this year than last and sit on the same points total as they finished last season with. They’ve struggled with ruthlessness this term, but they’ve managed to find goals when it’s mattered, winning 2-1 and 3-1 in their last two to keep their title push alive. That was also coming off the back of a run which saw them win just one in twelve league games and still remain top.

Key to that defensive solidity has been Paddy Barrett. He, alongside midfielder and captain Mark Coyle, were named in the PFAI Team of the Year this season. Barrett’s experience has seen him installed as a mainstay at the back, alongside fellow veterans Sean Gannon and Shane Griffin. Mark Coyle is a hard-hitting number six, whilst goalkeeper Conor Kearns has kept the second most clean sheets in the league with 15, one behind Brendan Clarke of Galway United. His average goals conceded per game stat of 0.8 is also a league best and odes to the defence in front of him. Brian Maher, for comparison, isn’t far behind – he’s kept 13 clean sheets and concedes 0.9 per game on average. Liam Burt, on loan from Shamrock Rovers, provides Shelbourne width in the midfield alongside fellow Scotsman Ali Coote. Rayhaan Tulloch and Matty Smith, returning from a three game ban, are other wide options – both scored screamers against St. Pat’s earlier in the month. Harry Wood returned in the centre of the pitch from Hull City after a spell on loan at Shels in 2023, whilst JJ Lunney has shown his quality in midfield throughout the campaign. Number 9 Sean Boyd’s recent form has maintained Shelbourne’s status at the top. He’s climbing up the goalscoring charts with 10 in the league and has scored three and assisted two in his last five games. His 89^th minute equaliser in the Brandywell back in May ensured that City didn’t overtake Shelbourne at the summit after an earlier Paul McMullan strike. He could be the main man for Shels on Friday.

Round-up:

A win on Friday for Shelbourne would secure their first league title since 2006, when they beat Derry City to the crown on goal difference. City will be hoping to spoil Shels’ party in the Brandywell this week, but should they do so, they’ll hand Shamrock Rovers a historic fifth title in a row. It’s a bit of a nightmare scenario in honesty if you’re a Derry fan, especially knowing that it was in our own hands on so many occasions and we failed to capitalise. Shelbourne have it in them to come back from a goal or two down too, but haven’t won in the Brandywell since April 2022. Shels haven’t beaten Derry City in any competition since that loss, with City winning four and the other seven being draws. The past six league meetings between Derry City and Shelbourne have seen the spoils shared, whilst City’s 2-0 FAI Cup quarter final victory over Duff’s side in September is up there with Derry’s best performances of the season. This one could really go either way and there’s so much on the line. With four red cards coming from the previous seven league encounters, there could be fireworks on Friday – and not just ones left over from Halloween. It’s been a final few games from hell for Derry City in 2024, but Ruaidhrí Higgins will be hoping that his men can bow out of league action with a positive result on Friday before a massive FAI Cup final tie with Drogheda United next Sunday. Watching Shelbourne lift the title would be the scariest thing we’d see this Halloween so, for once, I’m just about okay with Shamrock Rovers winning the league. Again.

Pól O’Hare – 30^th October 2024