Derry City v Shelbourne: Match Preview (September 2025)

 

Derry City FC v Shelbourne FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 31, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 19^th September 2025, kick-off 7.45pm

The European race is heating up with every passing week in the Premier Division, as Derry City host champions Shelbourne in the Brandywell on Friday night. The Candystripes leapfrogged last week’s opponents Bohemians into second place after a thrilling 4-3 victory in Dalymount. Unbeaten in three, City could extend their seven point buffer on fourth place with victory over Joey O’Brien’s side.

Derry City:

A huge match in the race for Europe, and something of a must win for both sides, Derry City’s trip to Bohemians last Friday provided proper entertainment. One of the most action packed games of the year saw ten man Derry City beat Alan Reynolds’ side 4-3 and return to second place, opening up a seven point gap to Shelbourne, St Pat’s and Drogheda United.

Undone by a very early penalty in Dalymount in June, it seemed like a case of Groundhog Day for City last Friday, who found themselves 1-0 down after just nine minutes when Douglas James-Taylor converted a penalty following a Carl Winchester foul in the box. The away team grew into the game, levelling the scores via talisman Michael Duffy on twenty minutes when he fired a low shot past Kacper Chorazka and into the corner.

Right on the stroke of half-time and Derry had found a goal to go ahead. Adam O’Reilly poked the ball through the legs of Polish shot-stopper Chorazka, who failed to claw the ball out after seeing it cross the line. A scrappy goal, but they all count.

Jordan Flores, playing at left-back, tapped in a Ross Tierney cross at the back post on the 65^th minute to level the scores. From there, all hell broke lose. An instant response from the travelling side saw Adam O’Reilly fire the ball under Chorazka after a Carl Winchester lay-off to make it 3-2 just two minutes later.

Just three minutes after O’Reilly completed his brace, the home team found themselves level again when Douglas James-Taylor bagged his second of the night. Another four minutes later, now on the 74^th, Dipo Akinyemi rose highest to nod a Michael Duffy cross past Chorazka to give the travelling Citymen a fourth goal and a precious lead. Despite the dismissal of Ronan Boyce on the 77^th minute, which forced City to sit back and absorb Bohs’ pressure, coupled with some Brian Maher wonder saves and ‘Jesus Christ’s’ from the co-commentator, Derry held on for a huge three points.

Friday night’s result was vital for Derry City in the race for Europe. Now two points ahead of Bohs and seven ahead of Shelbourne, St Pat’s and Drogheda, we now have a much healthier looking buffer. Shelbourne have two games in hand, while Pats and Drogs have one each. The outcomes of this week’s tie with Shels and next week’s away game to Drogheda will have serious consequences on the European race. Win those two and we *should* have a top three finish all but wrapped up. Shels will have other ideas, travelling to Drogheda on Monday evening after this one.

Three points aside, the positives on Friday night came in the form of; an Adam O’Reilly brace – his first double for the club, a Michael Duffy goal and assist and Dipo Akinyemi’s third goal for Derry and second against Bohemians. Versatile midfielder Cameron Dummigan made his first appearance after thirteen months out through injury, and very nearly found the net via an audacious attempt from the halfway line. His cover in midfield and right back could be vital in the next six weeks.

Michael Duffy’s goal and assist were his ninth of each category in the league this season. He’s now out on his own at the top of the Premier Division’s assist charts and up to fourth in the scoring charts. Those eighteen direct goal involvements are more than any other player in the league, three above Pádraig Amond’s fifteen and Owen Elding’s thirteen. We’re lucky to be watching a true Derry City legend at the peak of his powers. I hope Heimir Hallgrimsson’s watching.

Despite seven goals and one of the most entertaining matches of the season, referee Rob Hennessy managed to take centre stage on Friday. Of the 42 matches involving Derry City that he’s refereed, we’ve won just 30.95% them (13). In comparison, Shamrock Rovers have won 72.5% of the 51 games he’s refereed them (37). You could make the argument that this because Rovers are a better team and win more than us, but when you consider that we’re currently second and have finished second in two of the last three seasons, something doesn’t add up.

Last Friday, Hennessy dished out seven cards. None were given to Bohemians, despite them committing more fouls than Derry (15 compared to 13). That’s six yellow cards and a red card handed out to Derry City players, made worse when considering that Ronan Boyce got the ball in the tackle for which he received his marching orders. Hennessy’s eight dismissals given against Derry City are five more than Shamrock Rovers, and four more than Bohs and St. Pat’s. I haven’t even mentioned the clear handball in the box by Adam Morahan in the first half either…

Refereeing drama aside, Derry City welcome back Ben Doherty on Friday night after missing last week through suspension. The number 14 may struggle to cement that left back role though, as new signing Brandon Fleming had yet another fantastic game at wing back against Bohemians. He’s been a quality addition and is a player to really get fans of their seats. Jamie Stott had his best game in a City jersey, as did Brian Maher, despite conceding three. In his almost four seasons at the club, he was in inspired form and really kept us in it at the end of the game. With six games left, now would be the perfect time for Derry City to extend their three game unbeaten streak and get another couple of massive wins.

Shelbourne:

This time last year, Derry City and Shelbourne were battling it out at the top of the Premier Division table, both hoping for a long awaited league title. Shelbourne would come out victorious, picking up their first Premier Division crown since 2006 via a 1-0 in Derry on the final day. Fast forward a year and 2025 has been a mixed bag in terms of Shelbourne’s fortunes.

Currently sitting fourth in the table, with a game in hand on their fellow European hopefuls and two on Derry City, Shelbourne’s title defence hasn’t gone exactly to plan. Dumped out of the FAI Cup by rivals St Pat’s in the third round, it was on the European stage where Joey O’Brien’s side earned its plaudits this year.

Former Premier League and Ireland fullback Joey O’Brien, assistant to Damien Duff, took over as Shelbourne head coach on an interim basis after Duff’s departure in late June before permanently getting the job in July. With just three games under his belt as his side’s manager, Shelbourne entered European qualification in the first round of the UEFA Champions League.

Shelbourne got the better of Belfast opposition Linfield, beating them 2-1 on aggregate in an enticing all-island tie. Despite victory over the NIFL champions, Shelbourne dropped down to UEFA Europa League qualifying after losing 4-0 to Qarabag in the UCL’s second round. For reference, the Azerbaijani side have made it the full way to the Champions League proper and came back from 2-0 down away to Benfica to beat the Portuguese giants 3-2 on Tuesday.

After losing to Rijeka in the Europa League third round, Shelbourne again drew Linfield in the Conference League play-offs. An historic tie which would see either side reach European group stages for the first time, Shelbourne dominated their opponents, hammering David Healy’s side 5-1 on aggregate. History was made in Windsor Park, as Shelbourne joined Shamrock Rovers to ensure that two Irish sides had made it to the league phase of European competition in the same season for the first time ever.

Winning, losing and drawing their last three in domestic action, Shelbourne haven’t lost in the league since a 1-0 defeat at home to Derry City at the end of June. Incidentally, that was Damien Duff’s last game. With just one defeat in eight domestic games as Shelbourne manager, Joey O’Brien will be desperate for his side to translate the momentum of their Conference League qualification into their league form and kick on between now and November.

Shelbourne recruited well over the summer. Twenty year old former Cliftonville forward Sean Moore was brought in from West Ham, while the signing of midfielder Jack Henry-Francis from Arsenal seems to be a real coup. He shone on loan at Sligo Rovers in 2024 but is yet to make an appearance for Shelbourne. French defender Milan Mbeng has impressed since arriving from relegation-stricken Cork City, while  Dutch goalkeeper Wessel Speel has come in on loan from MLS side Minnesota United to cover for the injured Conor Kearns.

Those are four signings who add quality to O’Brien’s team. All 23 or younger, they’re wise acquisitions who could bring crucial energy to a squad that is likely to rotate in the next few months. Harry Wood, signed from Hull City last year after spending time at Shelbourne on loan in 2023, has been their standout this season though. Scoring the goal that beat Derry City and clinched the title last November, Wood scored home and away in the Conference League play-off against Linfield, as well as assisting against Rijeka. He has contributed to ten further goals in league and cup action this year too.

Striker Mipo Odubeko has come into his own in Europe this summer, scoring three and assisting a further goal in Shelbourne’s eight European qualifiers. With six goals and three assists in the league, he adds to the quality of Sean Boyd, John Martin and Sean Moore up top. Former Derry City man Dan Kelly and Scotsman Ali Coote bring width to the attack too. Coote in particular scored a wonderful goal to clinch the victory against Linfield in Windsor Park.

In the middle of the park, Kerr McInroy has made the deep midfield role his own since joining at the start of the year, while captain Mark Coyle, JJ Lunney and Evan Caffrey bring experience and drive to the midfield. Liverpool loanee James Norris has ousted Tyreke Wilson from his usual left back position, while Milan Mbeng and Sean Gannon bring versality in that they can operate at right back or centre back. Paddy Barrett, Sam Bone, Kameron Ledwidge and Lewis Temple complete a solid defensive unit ahead of Wessel Speel in goal. While not in the champions elect this year, Shelbourne have their sights set on another crack at European qualifiers for 2026.

Round-up:

Harry Wood’s goal in the Brandywell last November clinched the title for Shelbourne and condemned Derry City to a fourth placed finish despite being part of a two horse race for most of the season. It was an unceremonious end to the campaign. Fast forward eleven months and the Candystripes seem to be hitting momentum at the right time.

On a three game unbeaten run, coming from behind to win twice and draw once in the previous three, it’s paramount that Derry City lose that habit of conceding first in matches. With Shelbourne’s two games in hand, they’ll view this one as a vital game in reeling in Derry City and Bohemians in the European places.

With Shelbourne factoring in eight more European games in the next few months, coupled with a tough away trip to Drogheda on Monday, they’ll be unlikely to take too many risks regarding injuries and may settle for a draw if the game’s going that way. In fact, prior to this season, only two of the eight league games in the 2023 and 2024 seasons between these two finished in victories – a 1-0 each for City and Shels in March 2023 and November 2024.

This year has been quite the opposite, with two Derry City wins and one Shelbourne victory in the three league games to date. There hasn’t been a draw or stalemate in this fixture since August 2024. City’s 2-0 win over Shels in the Brandywell in May was one of our most complete performances of the season, while a Michael Duffy wondergoal claimed victory in Tolka in June. Shelbourne ran out comfortable 3-1 winners at home on the first game of the season, welcoming Tiernan Lynch to the League of Ireland in some fashion.

This game is the biggest of the year between these two, with both sides knowing that defeat could take a heavy toll in the European race. City and Shels are unbeaten in the last three in all competitions, so it’s anyone’s guess as to the outcome. It’s the third last home game of the season and it’s one where a noisy Brandywell will certainly be Derry City’s twelfth man.

 

Pól O’Hare – 17^th September 2025

Bohemian v Derry City: Match Preview (September 2025)

Bohemian FC v Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 30, Dalymount Park, Friday 12^th September 2025, kick-off 7.45pm

With the international break thankfully behind us, Derry City travel to face Bohemians in Dalymount Park’s current guise for the last time before its renovation. Digging deep to come back from 2-0 to draw with St Pat’s two weeks ago, City occupy third spot in the Premier Division with Bohs a point ahead in second. As the race for Europe hots up, this is a huge tie in the run-in with seven games to go.

Derry City:

As the Oasis gig hampered City’s crowd in their cup defeat at home to Drogheda United four weeks ago, Fontaines DC and Kneecap’s concert in Belfast had a similar effect to the Brandywell attendance for the home match against St Pat’s last time out. I’m a guilty party in that myself I have to say.

Starting the brighter of the two sides, City fashioned the best of the chances in the first fifteen or so. Michael Duffy, Dipo Akinyemi and Adam O’Reilly forced Joey Anang into fairly straightforward saves in the first twenty five minutes but failed to convert any clearcut chances.

Just five minutes out from the break and the away side found the opener. Adam O’Reilly, back in the starting eleven, was caught in possession by Christ Forrester in the centre of the park. The veteran midfielder played through Spurs bound star Mason Melia, who got the better of Sam Todd and slid the ball into the bottom corner at the near post. A finish of real quality as Melia’s million Euro transfer fee seems ever more justified.

One became two for the visitors on the 63^rd minute, when Melia and Forrester once again linked up after catching O’Reilly in possession. It was the inverse of the first goal, as Melia put it on a plate for Forrester to fire over Brian Maher and into the roof of the net. A goal and an assist each for two of Stephen Kenny’s main men and it seemed that Pat’s would be on their way to three points.

With people questioning the Derry team’s bottle and commitment in the weeks leading up to the Pat’s game, Lynch’s side could have collapsed to defeat in the Brandywell. As they did in Galway a week prior though, the Candystripes fought for each other and would eventually come back to grab a point from the game.

City’s first goal was a wonderful finish by centre back Alex Bannon, who curled the ball into the top corner after Danny Mullen’s smart back-heeled layoff. It was a second in red and white for the Burton Albion loanee, and it had Derry back in the game.

Failing to settle with just the one, Bannon popped up with another vital goal from a set-piece when he nodded Michael Duffy’s corner past Joey Anang in the 85th minute to rescue a point.

With just seven games left of the campaign, Derry City’s Alex Bannon inspired comeback has dented St Pat’s’ European hopes and, crucially, kept Derry City in the top three going into the game away to Bohemians. The Candystripes have a healthy four point buffer over Shels, Pats and Drogheda United in the chasing pack as the latter lost to Shamrock Rovers last time out. Bohemians’ 0-0 draw with Sligo Rovers leaves them one point ahead of Derry, meaning an away victory in Dalymount would see City sitting in second with six to go.

Tiernan Lynch’s side’s two goals against Pat’s keeps them in second in terms of goals scored in the Premier Division with 40, behind only leaders Shamrock Rovers with 48. The two conceded, though, puts City at sixth in the table on account of goals against. That’ll be a worry for the City coaches, who will want to keep a watertight ship at the back in the remaining six weeks of the campaign. The two scored, whilst spirited and impressive, both came from set pieces late in the game, with City failing to create anything of note from open play. That makes for worrying reading when factoring that Bohemians have the second best defence in the league, conceding just 26.

Michael Duffy’s assist for the equaliser was his eighth of the season, putting him out on his own in the Premier Division’s assist chart. He’s now gone above Jack Byrne, who recently departed Shamrock Rovers for the UAE, and Sligo’s Will Fitzgerald. Talks of a new contract for City’s star has come as welcomed news. Danny Mullen’s flicked assist for Bannon’s opener was his ninth goal involvement of the season, meanwhile the aforementioned Scottish centre back’s brace meant that he has scored three times in his seven games in red and white, a much needed lifted after his recent red card in Tallaght.

Adam Frizzell made his first start for the club last time out after joining in July but was taken off at half-time. That was a tactical switch which earned the Candystripes a point, as Lynch reverted to his trusted back five with the introduction of Alex Bannon. Still looking light on the right flank, the City faithful will hope that Gavin Whyte regains form in the last six weeks of the campaign.

Sean Patton has left for Reading after a successful trial and, with Liam Boyce out for the season, Tiernan Lynch is left with only Dipo Akinyemi and Danny Mullen up front. Mullen’s a player I’d like to see a lot more of and is versatile across the front three, affecting the game off the bench against St Pat’s. Ben Doherty is City's only suspended player this week.

Off the pitch, Derry City announced a new kit marking the 40^th anniversary of their first game in the League of Ireland, but one thing that wasn’t officially announced was the departure of Head of Recruitment Michael Mackin after just three months at the club. His stint has been interesting to say the least. The Candystripes also found out that their application for a chunk of the £36.2m stadia fund was entirely unsuccessful, as was Institute's. That's a conversation for another day...

Playing three of our four European rivals in the next three games, this is the real crunch time for Derry City. A win at Bohemians would have us in good stead, and with a fighting comeback against St Pat’s last time out, there’s no reason why Tiernan Lynch’s men can’t fight to the wire and claim a European spot come November. This one’s a potentially season defining game for the Candystripes, and the first of a trio of crucial ties between now and the end of the month.

Bohemians:

Alan Reynolds’ Bohemians host Derry City for the last time in the ‘old’ Dalymount Park on Friday, with both sides fighting it out for second place in the table. Bohs have had an up and down season, losing six and winning four of their opening ten games. In fact, it wasn’t until the 22^nd game of the calendar that the Phibsborough side registered their first draw when they clinched a 95^th minute equaliser at home to Sligo Rovers.

That early season inconsistency almost cost former Derry City assistant manager Reynolds his job, with many Bohs fans calling for his head in the early months of the campaign. Sitting as low as seventh after eleven games, Bohemians hit form in the spring and sprung up the table, reaching the top three by mid-May and only dropping out of it once since. That climb was the result of picking up nine wins from the twelve games following a 1-0 defeat away to Shelbourne on the 4^th of April.

Despite winning just one of their last six games in league and cup action, Bohemians still stand in good stead to be pushing for a European spot for the remainder of the campaign. Sitting second, just one point ahead of Derry City in third but nine behind Shamrock Rovers in first, Bohemians will hope to rekindle some of their April/May form to consolidate that second placed finish. Add into that the fact that Alan Reynolds and his backroom staff have signed new contracts at the club and it becomes clear that the Bohs hierarchy trust the project.

It'll be their home games at Dalymount Park which Bohs will aim to clinch maximum points from. With four of their last seven games being played at home, and Bohs sitting second in the table for home form, they’ll fancy their chances at giving their fans something to cheer about before the stadium is closed for renovations at the end of the season. They’ll be glad that only three of their final games are away, as Bohs find themselves fourth in the away form table. In contrast, Derry City are second in terms of away form – so this one should be entertaining.Q

The standout player in the Bohemians side this year has been midfielder Dawson Devoy. The versatile 23 year old, who can operate across the midfield but tends to sit a bit deeper and dictate play is one of the league’s finest in his position. His movement and technique are akin to those of Patrick McEleney, and with five goals and four assists in the league, is tied with Dayle Rooney as his side’s most effective outlet. Rumoured to be the subject of a bid from an unnamed Bundesliga 2 side, the upcoming friendly with giants Schalke has only added fuel to that fire. Luckily for those of a Derry City leaning, Devoy will miss Friday’s fixture through suspension.

Speaking of Dayle Rooney, he’s a quality attacker who has been one of the league’s most impressive wingers for the past couple of years now. His four league goals and five assists show his value to his side, whilst his converted penalty at home to Derry City back in June won his side the game after just two minutes. He opened the scoring in this fixture in March 2024 and assisted Archie Meekison’s opener in a 1-1 draw in the Brandywell last October too.

Former City striker Colm Whelan isn’t having a bad season back in Dublin, scoring eight and assisting three in league and cup action this year. Bohemians’ signing of Douglas James-Taylor from Walsall, after impressing on loan at Drogheda United, was a real statement of intent. The English forward has scored three times in six games for his side this year, alongside his fourteen goal haul in domestic action with Drogheda United across the backend of last season and first half of this. Derry City won’t forget it, but he scored the winning goal in last year’s FAI Cup final too.

Ross Tierney and James Clarke are two midfielders having impressive seasons in Phibsborough too, contributing to sixteen goals between them this year. Tierney scored the equaliser in the Brandywell in July. Clarke is a former target of Ruaidhrí Higgins at Derry City and went through a purple patch in June and July, scoring four and assisting two in five games. Included in that was a brace against Galway United and goal and assists at home to Shamrock Rovers.

Bohemians have an experienced if not somewhat makeshift backline. With Liam Smith recently departing for St Johnstone, midfielders Jordan Flores and Niall Morahan have seen gametime at right back throughout the campaign. Central defender Cian Byrne has returned to Bohs almost as a new signing after impressing on-loan at Galway earlier this year, while Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckly bring bags of experience in the defence. Kacper Chorazka and James Talbotq aren’t bad goalkeeping options either, keeping eleven clean sheets between them.

Round-up:

Now in mid-September, with the hectic summer period behind us and only seven games remaining, every single point will mean that little bit extra for the remaining six weeks of the campaign. With second hosting third as Bohs welcome Derry on Friday night, it’ll be a game which will mean that little bit more. Both sides have won just one of their last six in all competitions and will hope to gain momentum in the final straight of the campaign.

With just a point separating the sides, and the bother at the previous encounter in the Brandywell no-doubt adding an extra edge to the game, this has the possibility to be a classic. There hasn’t been a goalless encounter between these two since June 2023. In the nine games that have followed, Derry City have four wins and Bohemians have two, with the other four being draws.

With a win apiece and a draw in the three previous games between City and Bohs this year, it’s hard to know how this will go. Both wins were narrow 1-0s too, meaning that every action will count. We can only hope that Michael Duffy has had his brace in the 2-0 FAI Cup semi-final win in Dalymount last October on repeat for the past week.

Pól O’Hare – 10^th September 2025

Derry City v St Patrick's Athletic: Match Preview (August 2025)

St Patrick’s Athletic FC v Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 29, Richmond Park, Friday 29^th August 2025, kick-off 7.45pm

With the final set of Premier Division games now underway, Derry City picked up their first league win in five with a 93^rd minute winner against Galway United last week. The result keeps Derry three points clear in the European spots and left Galway United sitting just one point above the relegation play-off spot. Up next for the Candystripes is the visit of in-form St Pat’s, who have won all five of their most recent league and FAI Cup games in a massive fixture in the race for Europe.

Derry City:

Going into the game against Galway, there was a feeling of dread amongst most of the City faithful. The team had squandered games in hand to drop out of the title race and lost on penalties to be dumped out of the FAI Cup in the weeks leading up to it. Heading to one of the toughest grounds in the league to get a result, the Candystripes would’ve needed a real statement win to get the fans back on side.

Despite a decent start, the home side found the opener with just over a quarter of an hour on the clock. Bobby Burns laid off Jimmy Keohane in the box who, with time and space, took one touch and swivelled before firing the ball into the top corner. It was a goal of real quality from the veteran midfielder and one which gave the watching City fans that sinking feeling.

One could just have easily become two on 32 minutes, when a David Hurley strike was parried by Brian Maher into the path of Stephen Walsh. Maher rushed out and made himself big to smother the forward’s shot just as the linesman on the far side raised his flag. Despite hitting the post through Alex Bannon just minutes later, City still found themselves behind as half time loomed large.

That was the case until the equaliser came right on the stroke of the break. A floated Sadou Diallo ball into the box was nodded down by Brandon Fleming and met by fellow new signing Dipo Akinyemi from close range. The former York City man prodded the ball into the corner and had the visitors on level terms going into the break. Fleming’s second assist in red and white and Dipo’s second goal giving the Candsytripes a vital lifeline.

Said lifeline was pushed to its very limits throughout the second half. With just 48 on the clock, centre back Rob Slevin played a ball across the face of the box. Patrick Hickey was at the back post with the goal at his mercy, but headed over and spurned a huge opportunity to regain the lead. A Keohane rocket from distance was touched over the crossbar by Brian Maher later in the half as the home side came close once again, another crucial save from City’s number one.

As the half went on, it looked like Derry’s luck was running out. Mark Connolly was taken off injured earlier in the half, while the dismissal of new signing Jamie Stott looks to have left City’s defensive options very limited going into the game next week. Already on a yellow, he fouled former Finn Harps forward Dara McGuinness and was shown his marching orders by Rob Hennessy. Mark Connolly, therefore, joins Liam Boyce on the treatment table for City.

Finally, the visitor’s luck was in. Breaking through the middle after coming off the bench, Adam O’Reilly played through Dipo Akinyemi. Akinyemi, content with his goal earlier in the half, showed brilliant reading of the game to deceive the defender and lay it on a plate for the onrushing O’Reilly, who made no mistake to slot into the net and claim all three points for Derry City in stoppage time. Another vital involvement from Dipo as O’Reilly found his first competitive goal since April 2024 to give City three league points for the first time since thrashing Waterford in early July.

Last Friday’s win was much, much needed. With our only win in our last six prior coming to Treaty United in the cup, we needed a bit of luck and three points desperately. It wasn’t pretty, but it did the job. Sam Todd and Hayden Cann once again began on the bench, but Ronan Boyce was brought in for his first start in four games. The injury to Mark Connolly and red card for Jamie Stott will force Tiernan Lynch into starting both Todd and Cann against Pat’s on Friday, but mean that we’ll have no central defensive cover on the bench if he starts in our usual set up with three central defenders.

Speaking of the bench, Cameron Dummigan returned to the Derry City squad almost one year to the day since his last appearance after a long injury lay-off. Whilst not starting, even bringing him off the bench for the last couple of months of the season will add a versatile defensive midfielder into the mix, who can also slot in at right back – a position we’ve been light in without Ronan Boyce in recent weeks. Sean Patton also came on to make his first appearance since the 2-0 loss away to Sligo Rovers on July 12^th. With Liam Boyce out injured, Patton’s return gives us some energy and pace off the bench.

Adam O’Reilly is one man who brought energy and pace off the bench on Friday night. The lively midfielder has seen most of his gametime at right back recently as Tiernan Lynch has preferred a duo of Winchester and Diallo in the centre, but his cameo on Friday night will surely have thrown him back in the starting eleven midfield mix. He began and ended the move for the injury time winner and gives an outlet through the middle which we don’t have when he’s not in the team. He’s a serious player and one who’s too good to be sitting on the bench.

Now with eight games to go, Derry City are looking slightly more comfortable in the league than this time last week. We’re still third, just one point off Bohemians in second. St Pat’s’ injury time winner away to Drogheda meant that City maintain a three point gap on the Louth side. It does, however, mean that Pats would go one point behind us with victory in the Brandywell on Friday. Drogheda United have a task on their hands as they travel to Tallaght on Sunday, while Shelbourne sit six points behind City, albeit with a game in hand.

With Ben Doherty back from suspension, and the consistent Sam Todd and Hayden Cann back in the team on Friday, this game could prove to be one of our most pivotal this season. Pat’s are doing that thing where they go on a mad winning streak towards the end of the campaign. If City are serious about making Europe, we’ll need to stop that. With three more points on the board for Derry, and 24 left to play for, the European race is really heating up.

St Pat’s:

Tipped as one of the favourites for the title heading into the 2025 season, St Patrick’s Athletic haven’t lived up to the hype for the most-part this year. Taken inspiration from their nine game winning streak at the end of last season though, the Saints have recently embarked on a similar run. With five consecutive wins in their last five domestic games, Pats are hitting form in the business end of the campaign. They didn’t do too badly in Europe either.

Stephen Kenny’s side cruised past Lithuanian side FC Hegelmann in the first qualifying round of the Conference League, beating them 3-0 on aggregate. Those two victories were followed by another triumph in the second round, when Pat’s beat Estonian side Nomme Kalju in Richmond Park before coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in extra time in the return leg. Those triumphs gave the Inchicore side a healthy payout but saw them dealt one of the hardest possible draws in the third round, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Besiktas. Former Chelsea, AC Milan and Roma forward Tammy Abraham scored a first half hat-trick in Richmond Park, before scoring again in Istanbul. Joao Mario, capped 56 times by Portugal, also scored in each leg. Despite going 2-0 up in Turkey, Pat’s bowed out with a valiant effort.

As it did last year, it seems that the European momentum is translating into domestic action for Kenny’s men. Pat’s were on a six game winless streak prior to the victory over Hegelmann, but now have kept five clean sheets in the past five domestic games, winning all five and scoring sixteen goals.  An 8-0 win over UCC in the FAI Cup was followed by comfortable league victories over Waterford and Sligo Rovers, while a 2-0 victory at home to rivals Shelbourne has seen the 2023 FAI Cup winners reach the quarter-final stage. Last week’s 1-0 victory away to Drogheda United is a real statement considering the context. This tends to be the time of the year where Pats come into their own.

Despite sitting fifth in the league, Pats are just four points off the European spots and, with a win against Derry City, would put themselves right back in contention. If leagues were won off sheer talent, St Pat’s’ gap to the top would be a lot narrower. 17 year old forward Mason Melia is their top scorer in the league with nine goals, followed by Aidan Keena on six. The most promising Irish talent alongside Owen Elding, Melia will join Tottenham Hotspur for a fee which could rise to around €4m when he turns 18 at the end of the season. Two of Keena’s six came against Derry earlier in the season, when Pats beat City 2-0 in Richmond Park.

Adding to Pat’s’ quality at the top off the pitch are wingers Jake Mulraney, Zack Elbouzedi, Simon Power and Jason McClelland. Mulraney and Elbouzedi have experienced in the MLS and the Swedish top flight respectively, while Power is rapid down the flanks and bagged against Besiktas. McClelland has been a dependable figure for Pats since joining in 2019, even slotting in at wingback. Conor Carty is another option in centre forward, he too scored against Besiktas but is yet to score in league action.

Chris Forrester is still probably the most technically gifted footballer in the league. With the ability to dictate the game at his own pace, he’s scored three goals in Pat’s’ two cup games to date and can find a goal out of nowhere. Former Derry City midfielder Brandon Kavanagh got more assists than any other player in the league last season, but has become more of an impact substitute this year. Kian Leavy, Barry Baggley and Jamie Lennon add control to the midfield, while Darren Robinson and John Garrick have joined from Derby County and Forest Green Rovers respectively.

At the back, goalkeeper Joey Anang’s thirteen clean sheets is the joint highest in the Premier Division. That form has seen him called up to the Ghana national team, alongside the likes of Spurs’ Mohammed Kudus and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo. In front of him are captain Joe Redmond and Tom Grivosti, while Luke Turner is an option on the left side of centre back and popped up with a 95^th minute winner last week. He’s a former Cliftonville defender who was linked with Derry City in the summer. Former Liverpool right-back Ryan McLaughlin has Axel Sjoberg for competition, while Al-Amin Kazeem is a rapid left sided fullback. In terms of squad depth then, Pats are stacked.

With eight games to go, Pats will hope to continue their form and fire themselves back into the European race. Now into the last eight of the FAI Cup, scoring ten and conceding none in their two cup games, they’ll fancy their chances for cup glory this year too. They’re a team who have the capability to blow a side away, but have been known to slip up and hit patches of inconsistency this term. When City host Pat’s, and Stephen Kenny returns to the Brandywell, it’s never quiet.

Round-up:

For the final time in 2025, one of the league’s most entertaining matchups meet as Derry City host St. Pat’s. The Candystripes have come out on top twice against the Saints this year, winning 1-0 in both the Brandywell and Inchicore, while Pat’s claimed a 2-0 win at their place in the early stages of the season. With just four points separating these two, and Pat’s hitting momentum, a win would see Pat’s right back in the top three picture.

Luckily for City, their record at home against Pat’s is promising. They’ve won all five of the last five meetings between the two on Foyleside. In fact, their only defeat at home to Pat’s since October 2019 came on penalties in the FAI Cup second round back in 2023. Of the last ten meetings in Derry, only one has ended in a draw.

Scoring eight goals in three home games against Friday’s opponents in 2024, Tiernan Lynch will hope his Derry City side carry that form into this meeting too. As the race for the top three heats up, this one may be huge come November. There are only three home games left after this one so, folks, we’ve officially reached ‘the run-in’.

Pól O’Hare – 27^th August 2025

Galway United v Derry City: Match Preview (August 2025)

Galway United FC v Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 28, Eamonn Deacy Park, Friday 22^nd August 2025, kick-off 7.45pm

The summer of 2025 has gone from bad to worse for Derry City, who were knocked out of the FAI Cup by holders Drogheda United on penalties last Saturday. Now without cup action and out of the title race, Tiernan Lynch has a job on his hands to keep the City faithful on side in his team's fight for a top three finish. Up next for Derry is a trip to face a Galway United side who are desperate to maintain a healthy distance from the relegation zone.

Derry City:

Saturday’s 8pm kick-off, on a sunny day that saw many make the journey to Croke Park for the Oasis gig, factored into a reduced attendance in the Brandywell. Hoping for a response from the previous week’s dismal draw with Cork City, the Derry fans saw their side get off to the worst possible start – conceding to a well worked set piece routine after less than two minutes. Andrew Quinn, who scored the opener in last year’s final, slid the ball past Maher after Josh Thomas peeled away from his marker.

The early goal for Drogheda United gave them the upper hand from the start, as Derry struggled to get into the game and seemed to play with the same lack of urgency as displayed against Cork a week prior. The home side were lucky to stay just one behind when Josh Thomas went 1v1 with Brian Maher and fired narrowly wide early in the first half. City were denied a penalty when Brandon Fleming went to ground in the box after nineteen minutes, but it was a tough 45 minutes to watch as the Candystripes were met with boos as the referee blew the whistle for half time.

It may have taken almost an hour of football, but Derry kicked into gear with the introductions of Liam Boyce, Ronan Boyce, Danny Mullen and Ben Doherty . Those four subs changed the game, giving the home side more energy and creativity going forward. As the momentum grew, the Brandywell support began to get behind their team and you could feel that a goal would come out of somewhere.

With 73 minutes on the clock, that goal did come. Just five minutes earlier, Brian Maher had kept City in the game with a phenomenal reaction save, but it was Michael Duffy who’d give City hope. After receiving the ball from Danny Mullen, City’s talisman jinked past the Drogheda defender before firing a peach into the top corner with his left foot. It was a brilliant goal for the home side, and lifted the roof off the Brandywell.

It was a nervy end to the game, which would go to extra-time after five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half. Derry, who had controlled the second half, took that momentum into extra time. Substitute Liam Boyce, who looked lively off the bench, was taken off injured and replaced by Sam Todd, who should have been in from the start. Drogheda’s keeper Luke Dennison made a phenomenal save to deny Ronan Boyce from close range just before half time in ET.

With just six minutes to go in, it looked like City had found the winner. A Ben Doherty corner was nodded into the net by Mark Connolly, who wheeled away in celebration. With the Brandywell celebrating, the referee pulled it back and gave a freekick to Drogheda for an apparent foul on the goalkeeper. After watching multiple replays back, it became clear that Dennison was blocked by his own defender, adding even more frustration to a disappointing night for the Candystripes.

That disappointment was compounded right at the death, when Michael Duffy was booked for diving in the box when trying to wriggle between two defenders. City were denied a second penalty in the game and, to make it worse, substitute Ben Doherty was shown a straight red card in the aftermath. Referee Rob Harvey had taken centre stage.

The penalty shootout couldn’t have gone much worse. After losing the coin toss and seeing the kicks taken at the net closest to the away fans, City missed all three of their penalties. In a shootout that last less than five minutes, Jamie Stott and Danny Mullen saw their pens saved while Adam Frizzell blasted his over the crossbar. City out of the cup with a whimper, despite hearty second half and extra time performances. Attention for Derry now turns entirely to gaining European qualification through a top three finish with nine games to go.

Conceding so early was an indicator of how the game on Saturday would go. Derry City couldn’t grow into the first half at all and were lucky to go into the break just one goal down. Despite being denied a penalty when Fleming went down in the box, we didn’t look like scoring until the subs were made in the second half. Ronan Boyce linked up well down the right flank, while Danny Mullen and Liam Boyce offered something different up front. With more quick thinking, Dipo Akinyemi could have converted two big chances in the second period. Sam Todd looked a calm presence in extra-time after coming off the bench too, but the injury to Liam Boyce and dismissal of Ben Doherty could prove costly.

As per usual, Michael Duffy was the beating heart of the team as we grew into the game in the second period. Given license to drift inside, Duffy worked his socks off and dropped deep to get the ball and make things happen. Unfortunately, we only have one Michael Duffy. His wondergoal was his nineteenth direct goal involvement in 2025 and it’s a shame for him that his brilliant season will go largely underappreciated thanks to City’s lack of success at the business end.

Being out of the title race and the FAI Cup by mid-August has seen Derry’s season stutter to a stall going into the last round of fixtures. That become especially prevalent when you consider the run of form we were in around six weeks ago. Since that 7-2 win over Waterford six games ago, City’s only win has come against Treaty United in the second round of the FAI Cup. In the league, we’ve scored just once in those four games since, conceding five.

The upheaval in the squad and changes in the summer window have upset City’s consistency. Since losing Kevin Holt, we’ve kept just one clean sheet but what’s most surprising is that Sam Todd and Hayden Cann have been dropped as soon as new defenders came in. Todd and Cann have been two of City’s most consistent performers in 2025, but have seen their places in the first eleven taken by Jamie Stott and Alex Bannon. Both new centre backs come in with good pedigree, but neither had played since May when their seasons in England and Scotland came to an end. They both went into a defence which was becoming more and more of a unit every week.

The departures of Paul McMullan and Dom Thomas have left gaps on the right wing too. Adam Frizzell played all of extra-time on Saturday and looked up for it, but he’s more of a midfielder than a winger. Gavin Whyte would be the natural solution to the right wing problem, but hasn’t completed a full ninety since April when he incidentally scored the winner away to Galway United. The transfer window for free agents is still open, but with plenty of new faces already coming in and just nine games left, I can’t see more additions. To add to that, Sadou Diallo and Ben Doherty will both be suspended for the trip to Galway, while the extent of Liam Boyce’s injury is yet to be seen. The Candystripes look a disjointed team at the minute and I’m not sure if that will change this year.

With just one win in the last six in all competitions, Derry City need to respond and pick up as many of the 27 points available to them as possible between now and the end of the season to get the fans back on side. We played some brilliant stuff in June and early July, but that confidence seems to have evaporated and we’re back on relying on Michael Duffy to provide the magic. A couple of wins may be all that we need to pick up the pace, starting with Friday night in Galway. With just nine points separating second and seventh, it’s crucial that City get that winning feeling back.

Galway United:

Returning to the Premier Division in 2024 after walking the First Division the year before, finishing
25 points ahead of second placed Waterford, Galway United quickly established themselves as one of the toughest sides in Ireland to beat. A fifth placed finish last year cemented that, as John Caulfield’s side kept the second best defensive record in the league.

It had looked like The Tribesmen would carry that form into 2025 too. Galway were unbeaten until April, winning three and drawing four of their first seven games. Three of those were 1-1 draws and they kept two clean sheets, but the makings of a strong campaign were there to see. Unfortunately for the Connacht side, the following four months haven’t been such easy sailing.

Within a month of their seven game unbeaten streak ending, Galway went on a run of four losses on the bounce in the first two weeks in May. They’ve struggled for consistency since then, winning just twice more in the league to date. With nine games to go, Galway sit just four points above the relegation zone in eighth place. There’s certainly a cautious look over the shoulder at rivals Sligo Rovers, who have hit form as they look to climb from the play-off spot.

The sale of New Zealand forward Moses Dyer to Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown has played a big role in said recent inconsistencies. The 28 year old scored ten goals in twenty league appearances this season for the Tribesmen, including braces against Bohemians, Shelbourne and Drogheda United. He actually opened his account for Galway in the Brandywell back in March. Dyer played his last game in the maroon of Galway on the 23^rd of June, and incidentally got sent off. Since that defeat in Sligo, United haven’t won in the six following league games, scoring just three times and conceding ten. Even though he left two months ago, Moses Dyer contributed to more than a third of his team’s league goals – that’s a big void to fill. Derry City did also trigger Dyer’s rumoured €60k release clause prior to his move to Asia.

Galway United were linked with Derry City’s Pat Hoban prior to his move to Glentoran as they strove to replace Moses Dyer’s goals but, when that move fell through, brought in four attackers. 30 year old Trinidad and Tobago international Malcolm Shaw signed in early July after a stint in Canada, he’s made four appearances but hasn’t yet scored. Former Derry City winger Stephen Dooley was brought in from League Two side Harrogate Town to add quality to the flanks. At 33, Dooley has won the Premier Division with Cork City in 2017 and joins after spending seven years in England. He is yet to appear for Galway competitively. Promising 21 year old striker Dara McGuinness also joined United from Finn Harps, where he scored five goals in league action this season. He also netted on his Galway debut in a 4-2 loss at home to Waterford, and in the 4-0 cup win against Salthill Devon last week. Finally, the signing of former Middlesborough, Sutton United and Harrogate Town winger Jeremy Sivi was brought in. The 23 year old made his debut in their 4-0 cup win last week.

Midfielders Aaron Bolger and Axel Piesold joined from St Pat’s and Cliftonville respectively, adding to a combative midfield of Conor McCormack, Vincent Borden, Jimmy Keohane and David Hurley. Former Ireland international Greg Cunningham and Cameroonian Jeannot Esua give width to a solid defence consisting of Killian Brouder, Rob Slevin and Garry Buckley. Derry City were pushing to bring in Slevin this window, but it’s believed that he’ll join the Candystripes ahead of the 2026 campaign. Veteran keeper Brendan Clarke and Wales U21 international Evan Watts have taken joint responsibility in the goalkeeping department, making twelve and fifteen league appearances respectively.

Galway United are a hard-working side, who are tough to break down but have struggled in forward areas after losing marksman Moses Dyer. They’ll hope that former Dundalk and St Pat’s boss Jon Daly joining the backroom staff, replacing Ollie Horgan, can guide the Tribesmen to safety. They have a squad which has the quality to stay in the division, but will need to pick up some of their early season form if they’re to avoid sweaty palms come the last few weeks of the season. Galway haven’t beaten Derry since August last year, losing once and drawing twice already this season. As close to seventh as they are ninth, United will want to hit form between now and November.

Round-up:

Heading into the last round of games in the 2025 Premier Division, both Derry City and Galway United are desperate to consolidate their places at either end of the table. Derry are still third in the league, one point behind Bohemians in second but level with Drogheda United in fourth. Shelbourne and St Pat’s are looming larger in the rear view at three and four points behind City’s 42.

Galway United are in eighth, four points above Connacht rivals Sligo Rovers in the relegation play-off spot but twelve away from the European places. Still fighting in the FAI Cup, reaching the quarterfinals, Galway United will be out to pick up as many points as possible to keep that gap from Sligo looking healthy, despite being winless in the league in seven games.

Two teams in poor runs of form in league action, City and Galway have played out two 1-1 draws in the Brandywell this season. Derry were victorious on Easter weekend, winning 3-2 in Eamonn Deacy Park in the rain. That win was City’s first there since August 2015, when the Candystripes won 4-0 in the league. Ten years and fifteen days later, Tiernan Lynch’s side will be out to pick up three points in Eamonn Deacy Park in the last meeting between these two sides in 2025.

Pól O’Hare – 20th August 2025

Derry City v Drogheda United: Match Preview (August 2025)

 Derry City FC v Drogheda United FC, FAI Cup Third Round, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Saturday 16^th August 2025, kick-off 8pm

After being held to 0-0 draws by Munster sides Cork City and Waterford last week, Derry City and Drogheda United now meet in the FAI Cup third round. With a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs, City and United do battle in a repeat of last year’s final, which the Louth side emerged victorious from. It’s one of the biggest games of the season to date, as victory would leave either Derry or Drogheda just two games away from another Aviva Stadium final in November.

Derry City:

Last Friday’s stalemate at home to bottom side Cork City wasn’t for the footballing purist. Derry had lost 2-0 to Shamrock Rovers the week prior, and the City faithful were demanding a response. Tenth placed Cork, on the other hand, had won their first game in almost four months in the previous game and were desperate to get points on the board to keep alive any hope of clinging on.

The home side started the brighter of the two teams, attacking Cork’s defence as they had the wind behind them. Said wind also scuppered many of goalkeeper Conor Brann’s kicks, which added additional pressure to the travelling side’s backline. One of those kicks, which got caught by the wind, led to Derry’s first big opportunity. Liam Boyce nodded the dropping ball towards Michael Duffy who drove at the Cork defence, before cutting inside and firing narrowly wide from distance.

Liam Boyce was again at the centre of City’s best chance of the game just five minutes before the break. Adam O’Reilly’s inch-perfect ball was met by the former Hearts striker in the six-yard box, but he misjudged the flight of the ball and headed over from close range. A let off for Cork and an indication of how things were going for City.

I can’t go through this without mentioning the ridiculous piece of skill that Michael Duffy did when turning away from his Cork City counterpart, flicking a pass through the legs of the defender with a deft touch off the heel just after the break. That was, unfortunately for City, the highlight of the second half. Ben Doherty, Dipo Akinyemi and Danny Mullen were all introduced in attacking areas but couldn’t impact the game. City had 72% off the ball in the second period and delivered cross after cross into the Cork box, none of which would stick or create decent chances.

Goalless and coming away with a point apiece, Friday’s game was dull to say the least. Not helped by the artificial pitch in all it’s glory, which delved up back-spinning bounces and heavy touches, neither side deserved more than a point. Derry played their best football early in the second half but couldn’t snatch a goal when the wind was behind them. Sadou Diallo was also booked in the first ten minutes and will miss the next league game through suspension, although the Englishman is in line to make his 100^th Derry appearance should he feature on Saturday.

By the time the second half came round, the home side looked predictable and didn’t pick up the intensity when it was really needed. Ben Doherty played more than thirty minutes of football for the first time since the 2-1 home win over Cork in April when he replaced Gavin Whyte – one of only a few positives to take from the game. Most attacks in the second period when down his side, but the balls into the box failed to trouble Cork’s resolute defence. It seemed like the travelling side were prepared to dig deeper, which is a damning indictment considering they’re seven points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Digging deep is simply a necessity when facing Drogheda United on Saturday. They’ll be happy to sit and soak pressure as Cork City did, but their speed going forward could prove deadly. With more quality than Cork, Drogheda will know exactly what’s required of them to find victory on Saturday evening.

Since hammering Waterford 7-2 five weeks ago, City haven’t won a league game, scoring just once and picking up two points in the four Premier Division games following that win. In comparison, the Candystripes were on a four game winning streak before losing to Sligo Rovers on 12^th July, which included three clean sheets and twelve goals. It appears, from the outside at least, that the amount of player movement in the transfer window may have caused inconsistent form in this latter part of the summer period.

City’s only win since thrashing Waterford was the 5-1 victory away to Treaty United in the second round of the FAI Cup. Tiernan Lynch and has side will be looking for a victory of even more importance on Saturday to get the season back on track. Already winning, losing and drawing to Drogheda United this year, it’s hard to tell which way this one will swing. It’s important to remember that City are still third in the league, and we’re not falling apart, but a huge cup win could be the catalyst to a successful last three months of the campaign.

Drogheda United:

FAI Cup holders Drogheda United have had a rollercoaster campaign. Going full-time following last year’s FAI Cup final win over 2-0, expecting the riches that it’s entrance into the second round of UEFA Conference League football would bring, United flew out of the blocks in the early stages.

Top of the Premier Division after fourteen games, Drogheda were being touted as title challengers. With more than a third of the season gone, the Louth side had held their own at the summit before being displaced by Shamrock Rovers. Some expected United’s form to fall off coming into the hectic summer calendar of cup and European football but, as it turned out, only one of those two was to become a distraction.

To cut a long and much publicised story short, Drogheda United were the first victim of UEFA’s rule on multi-club ownership. Despite going through the Court for Arbitration for Sport, Drogheda were booted out of the UEFA Conference League and replaced by Silkeborg, the Danish club with whom they share an owner. Crystal Palace have been dealt a similar blow, being kicked from the Europa League to the Conference League, while Slovakian side DAC 1904 were also expelled from the Conference League. The scourge of multi-club ownership rearing its head once again.

Since learning in mid-June that their European escapades would be cancelled this summer, Drogheda have won four of their seven games in all competitions. With two losses, one at home to Shamrock Rovers and a 3-0 defeat in the Brandywell, it seems like United aren’t letting the Euro disappointment get to their heads. They’re still in contention for European spots, level on points with Derry City in third and one behind Bohemians in second.

The cup holders began their silverware defence with a comfortable 5-0 win over Leinster Senior League outfit Crumlin United. Thomas Oluwa and Darragh Markey both scored and assisted, while centre back Conor Keeley bagged his sixth of the season in all competitions – two of which came against Derry City earlier in the year. Swansea City loanee Josh Thomas also found the net against Crumlin and has netted in three of his last five in all competitions, one of which was a crucial winner away to Bohemians. 19 year old midfielder John O’Sullivan scored the fifth on his debut for the club.

Fighting on the same plane as Derry City, Drogheda United will be out to emulate their cup glory from last season. Holding on to forward Warren Davis has been key to their summer business, he has scored seven goals and assisted twice more this year. Conor Keeley’s eight goals and assists really stands out for a centre back, too. Darragh Markey is a tidy technician in the middle, alongside the energetic Shane Farrell. American goalkeeper Luke Dennison has been one of the most impressive stoppers in the country this year – he tops the clean sheets chart for the league with twelve.

A well-drilled and hardworking team, who have goals spread across the pitch, no team will find Drogheda United an easy opponent. Derry City were the first Premier Division opponent that Drogheda faced in their journey to last year’s FAI Cup victory, and it didn’t phase them at all. With a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs, this repeat of the 2024 final should live up to its billing.

Round-up:

As the title hopes of both Derry City and Drogheda United dried up in recent weeks, last year’s silver and gold medallists once again turn to the FAI Cup for their source of silverware dreams. It’s a repeat of last season’s final, as the 2022 champions host the 2024 victors for a spot in the last eight of Ireland’s premier cup competition.

City and United have both comfortably beaten the other across the season; Drogheda when they came from behind to win 3-1 in April and Derry when they cruised to a 3-0 win in late June. The other matchup between these two ended in a 1-1 draw in May, when the now-departed Dom Thomas found a 90^th minute equaliser. You really never know what you’ll get in this pairing.

Prior to last year’s final defeat, Derry City had beaten Drogheda United in their previous five cup meetings. Included in there was a 5-0 quarterfinal replay victory in 2014, a 3-0 round three tie a year later and 2-1 round two reply another year later in 2016. City scored twice late on to win in the second round in 2020 before winning on penalties in 2021’s first round. There’s certainly cup history between these two – history which Tiernan Lynch will be out to make more of.

It's a Saturday evening cup tie in a sunny Brandywell. Not many of us are confident but hi, what more could you ask for…

Pól O’Hare – 12^th August 2025

Derry City v Cork City: Match Preview (August 2025)

Derry City FC v Cork City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 27, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 8^th August 2025, kick-off 7.45pm

Derry City waved goodbye to any hope of a title challenge this season when a second-half capitulation saw the Candystripes lose 2-0 to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on Sunday. The result saw Rovers open a ten point gap at the summit, all but wrapping up the league title in early August. Derry return to the Brandywell on Friday, hoping for a reaction against bottom side Cork City, who picked up their first league win since April last weekend.

Derry City:

The term ‘title race’ was spoken about with whispered hushes prior to Derry City’s trip to Shamrock Rovers last Sunday. City had picked up just one point from their two games in hand on Rovers heading into the game, when two wins would’ve narrowed the gap to three points. If City won on Sunday, the gap would’ve been cut to five points – a decent margin but not impossible. When City had the momentum throughout most of the first half, it looked like City’s two year wait for victory in Tallaght may have been about to end.

Attacking on the front foot, City came close three times throughout the first period. Michael Duffy was the man behind two of those chances. A deft ball over the defence by Sadou Diallo saw Duffy clip the ball past Ed McGinty. Right in front of the travelling City fans, the ball came back off the post. Derry’s number seven showed some fancy footwork to jink between two Rovers defenders later in the half, before firing narrowly wide of the far corner. A late Brandon Fleming foray troubled the Hoops’ defenders but failed to squirm past McGinty.

A few heavy tackles in the first half and chances for either side led into what looked like it’d be an entertaining second half. However, it took just two minutes after the restart for the home side to open the scoring. Alex Bannon was caught by a ball fired out to the left wing. Fullback Josh Honohan stormed into the City box and laid it on a plate for veteran forward Rory Gaffney, who peeled away from Jamie Stott and prodded home from within the six yard box.  Suddenly, City needed two and Rovers were taking control.

Sligo Rovers loanee Conor Malley unleashed a strike from thirty yards which kissed the crossbar to give the travelling fans a scare just minutes after the scoring was opened. By the 65^th minute, Rovers were home and hosed with a two goal lead. A sweeping ball down the right flank unleashed Gaffney, who showed the pace of a man years younger to beat Alex Bannon to the ball. The Burton Albion loanee fell for Gaffney’s fake shot and found himself on the floor by the time Gaffney’s left footed effort flew past Maher. A second for the hosts and no way back for City.

It went from bad to worse for a City side who were reduced to ten men with the same amount of minutes left. Bannon went marauding forward before taking a heavy touch and catching Josh Honohan with a lunging tackle. A second yellow to put an end to a night to forget for the Scottish centre back. That’s now Rovers ten points clear, and the City faithful beginning to look over their shoulder at Shelbourne and Drogheda United who are only three points off the Candystripes in third. Always next year lads.

If I’m being 100% honest, I’m glad we don’t have the false hope of trying to catch a runaway Rovers team in chasing a title winning dream. 2022 and 2023 were the same story, compounded by 2024’s fourth placed finish despite having the opportunity to go top with four games to go. It’ll allow the squad to regroup and focus on finishing in the European spots and getting a good run at the cup.

The first half on Sunday was promising. City, who started with four of the summer signings in the starting eleven, played on the front foot and troubled Rovers’ backline. Michael Duffy and Brandon Fleming combined well down the flank and look like they’re building an exciting relationship down that wing. Sadou Diallo and Carl Winchester played well in the midfield; the former showing a few deft touches and passes while the latter made his presence known in deep midfield.

When the second half rolled round, the gulf between City and Rovers really began to show. It’s not that City don’t have quality players, but Rovers have had a core that’s been central to all of their success. They’re well drilled, fit and clinical – a side who know what they’re doing when it comes to the business end of the season. Rory Gaffney and Pico Lopes, 35 and 33 years old, were the two best players on the pitch. Gaffney was lively and took his chances, while Lopes didn’t give Dipo Akinyemi a sniff. Resting the likes of Jack Byrne, Graham Burke and Aaron Greene ahead of a Conference League third round bout on Thursday – Stephen Bradley’s side beat us comfortably without leaving third gear.

If Tiernan Lynch could restart Sunday the third of August, I’d say at least two of Sam Todd, Hayden Cann and Ronan Boyce would be starting. Jamie Stott and Alex Bannon are essentially still in preseason having finished their respective seasons with Morecambe (RIP) and Airdrieonians in May. It was Stott’s debut and Bannon’s fourth appearance in a Derry shirt, while Cann and Todd have been consistent all year. Both new centre backs will come good, with Sunday likely a learning curve for City’s new-look defensive structure.

As I’ve said already, Michael Duffy and Brandon Fleming look electric combining with each other on the left wing. Unfortunately, it seems like the void left by the departures of Paul McMullan and Dom Thomas on the other flank are yet to be filled. Liam Boyce started alongside Dipo Akinyemi on top, playing slightly off to the right, but couldn’t impact the game. Gavin Whyte came off the bench after missing the Bohs game but also found no joy in breaking down the Rovers backline.

Ben Doherty made his first appearance in six weeks after picking up an injury in Dalymount Park in June, if he gets a string of games together between now and November he gives another attacking outlet down the left flank. Adam Frizzell hasn’t been given much gametime to show what he brings to the squad and could feature more frequently in the next couple of months.  

Still sitting in third, but with Shelbourne and Drogheda United looming larger in the rearview, City can’t settle for anything less than a win on Friday. It’s vital to stay fighting in the top three or four places and the squad can’t let results like the Rovers defeat get to their heads. It’s a battle of the cities for the last time until the final day of the season, with a big cup tie at home to Drogheda United on the menu for next week. Onwards and upwards, folks.

Cork City:

Winning the First Division in 2024 by September, with a margin of eighteen points ahead of second placed UCD, it looked like Cork City had put the inconsistency of their recent yo-yo years behind them. Since being relegated to the First Division in 2020, Cork City spent three seasons in Ireland’s second tier having been relegated again in 2023 following promotion.

Unfortunately for the Cork faithful, their return to the Premier Division ahead of 2025 has brought with it a return to the doom and gloom. Currently rooted to the bottom of the league, eight points adrift of ninth placed Sligo Rovers having won just four times all year, Cork City are destined for the drop. Despite winning their first league game since April last weekend, City still have a mountain to climb.

With just one defeat from the first six games back in the top flight, it seemed like Cork City would hold their own this year. A 2-1 defeat in the Brandywell in early April ended that though, as it sent Cork on a streak of ten losses from fourteen games. As if that wasn’t bad enough, star striker Ruairí Keating suffered an Achilles rupture which ended his season prematurely. Forming what looked to be a promising strike partnership with former Republic of Ireland striker Sean Maguire, Keating’s injury has been a microcosm of Cork’s season. He’s recently been joined by star winger Cathal O’Sullivan on the injury list. The eighteen year old suffered a devastating ACL tear last week, which will rule him out until at least the start of the 2026 campaign.

The recent 3-2 home defeat against Sligo Rovers will likely have been the most painful defeat of the lot. Victory would’ve cut the gap to ninth to five points, and when Cork led 2-0 by the 56^th minute, that looked likely. The game flipped on its head in the next half hour, when goals by Owen Elding and Patrick McClean were followed by an 89^th minute Ryan O’Kane winner for the visitors. A cruel defeat that likely put the final nail in the Cork City coffin.

 A 3-0 win over Leinster Senior League side Leicester Celtic has seen the Rebels progress to the third round of the FAI Cup, where they’ll host Munster rivals Waterford. A run in the cup could be the thing that brings the spirits up, but with key forward Djenairo Daniels leaving for Kilmarnock, winger Malik Dijksteel joining him in Scotland by switching to St Mirren and defender Milan Mbeng heading to Shelbourne, it’d need to be a hell of a run to lift the mood in Turner’s Cross.

One thing that Cork City has going for them is their youth. Twenty year old midfielder Kitt Nelson, on loan from Preston North End, has scored five and assisted once this season. Three of those six goal involvements have come against relegation rivals Sligo Rovers too. Dutch forward Djenairo Daniels, who only made twelve appearances for the club between signing in April and leaving for Kilmarnock in July, leads Cork’s goal involvement table with five goals and two assists. A quality replacement for Keating, City were unable to extend the 23 year old’s short term contract.

Eighteen year old winger Cathal O’Sullivan, who shone in the First Division last year, will be a big loss in the end of the season. A tricky winger cut from the Arjen Robben cloth of cutting in from the right flank, he has suitors across Europe. Speaking of such, 16 year old David Dunne recently made the switch to Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco from the Rebels. The winger made his debut in the Brandywell earlier this season, but Cork won’t receive any windfall from the move due to the status of Dunne’s contract, something which could hurt them in the future given his talent.

With the second most draws in the Premier Division it’d be reductive to say that Cork City won’t leave this division without a fight. Despite the trouble on and off the pitch, the Rebel Army are one of the most well supported teams in the league. They’ll be desperate to pick up any points to keep any sliver of hope at making the relegation play-offs alive. The two Cities won’t meet again until the final day of the season but this one has the potential to be crucial in both side’s seasons.

Round-up:

All focus for Derry City now turns to finishing in the European places, beginning the final ten games of the season with a home game against Cork City on Friday. It’s something of a must win for both sides. Derry need to keep pressure on Bohs in second and not let Shels or Drogheda get too close behind them. Cork need a win to reduce the gap to second bottom to five points. It’s crunch time for both Cities.

Cork City haven’t beaten Derry City since October 2018. In the fourteen games in league and cup action since then, Derry have won twelve and drawn twice. The odds, therefore, are stacked in the favour of the hosts. With Cork City picking up a much welcomed first win in almost four months last weekend, they’ll hope to string a few more together if they’re to have any hope of reeling in Sligo Rovers or Galway United in the lower echelons of the table.

With eight wins in a row against The Rebels, Tiernan Lynch’s Candystripes will hope to extend that record and head into next week’s cup tie on a positive note. With the distraction of the title behind us for another year, City have their sights set on a European place.

Pól O’Hare – 5^th August 2025

Shamrock Rovers v Derry City: Match Preview (August 2025)

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 26, Tallaght Stadium, Sunday 3^rd August 2025, kick-off 7pm

Coming out of their two games in hand over Shamrock Rovers with just one point, Derry City now travel to the league leaders on Sunday. Eight points behind the Hoops, last week’s draw with Bohemians allowed Rovers to get one hand on the Premier Division trophy – it’s now up to Tiernan Lynch’s Derry side to keep pressure on the top and ensure a finish in the European places.

Derry City:

In a match which made the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Derry City and Bohemians played out an entertaining 1-1 draw last Friday night. Whilst enjoyable to watch, a point apiece did more for Shamrock Rovers than for either City or Bohs, who sit eight and seven points behind the Tallaght side at the summit.

The home side tested keeper Kacper Chorazka twice within the first fifteen minutes when Dipo Akinyemi, on his home debut for Derry City, rifled two strikes directly at the Bohs shot-stopper within two minutes of each other. In an attritional first half, James Clarke came closest for the visitors when he side footed a Ross Tierney lay-off at Brian Maher on the 45^th minute.

Five minutes were added at the end of the first half after a flare landed on the pitch (flung from outside the ground) earlier in the half. It was a stoppage which worked in the favour of the home side, who opened the scoring in the fifth minute of additional time. After some neat work from Michael Duffy down the left flank, the winger laid the ball off to debutant left back Brandon Fleming. The former Hull City man floated a ball into the box, which was nodded past Chorazka to open the scoring and give Dipo Akinyemi his first for the club.

That lead didn’t last long into the second half. Just six and a half minutes after the restart, Ross Tierney had smartly lifted a James Clarke header over Brian Maher and into the roof of the net. It was a fine finish from the former Motherwell man, and it made the second half a more interesting battle.

Derry City were the side applying most of the pressure throughout the second period. Substitute Robbie Benson came closest to finding the winner on the 80^th minute when he diverted a Michael Duffy cross just inches past the far post. Three minutes later, Danny Mullen stung the palms of Chorazka with a fierce effort as City turned the screw. It wasn’t to be for either side in the end, who both seemed disappointed to settle for a point each.

As 1-1 draws go, Friday’s encounter was a high-intensity, enjoyable watch. With both sides knowing that they needed to win to keep serious pressure on Shamrock Rovers, they had decent chances throughout. As Gavin Whyte was absent from the squad, Tiernan Lynch handed Brandon Fleming his debut at left back and started Michael Duffy in attacking midfield. Fleming had a brilliant first appearance for the club. He was solid defending against Dayle Rooney and was eager to surge forward down the left flank. For a player who hasn’t played since May, he lasted the full ninety minutes and attacked throughout the second half, linking well with Michael Duffy and showing some good footwork in the box.

Dipo Akinyemi and Alex Bannon both impressed in their first Brandywell appearances too. Akinyemi was a handful and a physical presence up front, showing some decent footwork and prowess in the air. His goal was deserved, and it was refreshing to see him have a few pops from distance. Bannon looked comfortable on the ball and read the game well too, slotting in for Hayden Cann who has impressed at the right side of centre back this season. Adding centre back Jamie Stott from Morecambe, who played 45 times in League Two last season, the recruitment this window looks to be successful already.

Ben Doherty returned to the bench for the first time following his injury in Dalymount in June. Gavin Whyte didn’t make the matchday squad but, despite Cameron Dummigan’s long term lay-off, Tiernan Lynch doesn’t have anymore concerns going into the Rovers game. With another couple of signings mooted, and despite the departure of stalwart Ciaron Harkin to Sligo Rovers, Derry City have a strong squad going into the business end of the season. Teenager Glenn McCourt also left for Norwich City for an undisclosed fee.

The big pitch in Tallaght Stadium is the best in the League of Ireland. It suits technical players who like to keep the ball on the ground and create things. In that sense, it’ll suit the likes of Michael Duffy, Liam Boyce and Gavin Whyte. It also suits Shamrock Rovers, which is why they’re so dominant at home. With some of the best technical players in Ireland on display, this encounter should broadcast the best that domestic football in Ireland has to offer. With a draw between the two last time out in Tallaght, a defeat for City will eliminate them from the title race – if that eight point gap isn’t already too much. Victory will reignite hope in the City faithful and cut the gap to five points.

Shamrock Rovers:

Despite ending 2024 emptyhanded in terms of silverware, Shamrock Rovers came just two points away from winning a fifth league title in a row and pocketed more than €7m by reaching the knockout rounds of the UEFA Conference League. If Harry Wood had scored in the 85^th minute for Shelbourne in the Brandywell on the final day, Rovers would have completed a fifth consecutive title win. With eleven games to go in the 2025 season, the Tallaght side would need to have a catastrophic end to the campaign to blow their seven point lead and fail to reclaim the Premier Division title.

Shamrock Rovers have a tendency to start the league campaign sluggishly, before picking up the pace when some of the early challengers begin to fall off. It wasn’t until fifteen games had been played before Shamrock Rovers had knocked Drogheda United off the top of the table. In fact, Rovers were rock bottom with just one point from the opening three games at the start of the campaign.

Stephen Bradley’s men went top in early May, level on points with Derry City in second after fifteen games. Almost three months later, the Hoops haven’t slipped from their perch. The gap to second is now seven points and they’re eight clear of Derry in third. Rovers have lost just once in the league since April, winning nine of the fourteen league games since their second last loss. The Hoops have lost just four league games in 2025, three of which have come against rivals Bohemians. Sligo Rovers are the only other team to have taken all three points in a match against the Tallaght side this year.

Bumped into the second round of UEFA Conference League qualifying following Drogheda United’s removal, Rovers had the luxury of bypassing a home and away tie in Europe in mid-July. Hammering St. Joseph’s of Gibraltar 4-0 over two legs, a side who lost to Shelbourne in 2024 but beat Belfast’s Cliftonville in extra-time in the first round this year, Rovers would be fancied to go deep into the qualifying rounds and aim to reach the league phase for the second time in three years. With the experience the squad has in Europe, it’d be a shock if they dropped out before the play-off round. Their 4-0 first leg victory against St Joseph’s allowed them to rotate heavily, maintaining a fit squad for Sunday’s clash.

Shamrock Rovers aren’t strapped when it comes to quality either. Stephen Bradley has built a reliable core since taking over as manager in 2016. In the last couple of years, he has added younger talent to blend with the experience already present in the squad. A defence with the likes of Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes and Dan Cleary has seen Joshua Honohan and Adam Matthews added. Honohan has since been called up to an Ireland senior squad and Matthews is a former Celtic fullback who started in that famous win against Barcelona in 2012. Callum Honohan, the 19 year old brother of Joshua, is a recent signing after acquiring him from Cork City.

The pedigree in the centre of the park speaks for itself. Last year’s PFAI Player of the Year Dylan Watts has been restricted to just sixteen league starts in 2025 following the arrival of Ireland U21 international Matthew Healy from Belgian side Royal Francs Borains. Four capped Ireland midfielder Jack Byrne has contributed to nine goals in 21 games in the league. When fit, everyone knows he can flip a game on its head. Sligo Rovers playmaker Conor Malley has also been added on loan until November. Daniel Mandriou turned down the likes of Romanian side FCSB to rejoin Rovers from Lincoln City last summer, but has made just twelve appearances in 2025. Aaron McEneff scored a late winner off the bench in the Brandywell in the previous meeting between these two, while the likes of Darragh Nugent and Gary O’Neill add legs and grit to the midfield. Graham Burke, with seven goals and five assists from attacking midfield, has once again proven that he’s one of the league’s finest midfielders.

Forwards Rory Gaffney, Aaron Greene and Michael Noonan each have bagged six goals in league action in 2025. Gaffney and Greene are both 35, while Noonan is just 16. The summer signing of 22 year old John McGovern, who bagged 20 goals in all competitions for Dungannon Swifts as they lifted the Irish Cup in 2024/25, has added yet more quality and youth to the strike force in Tallaght. With three goals in recent friendly wins over Glenavon and Ballymena United under the belt, he’s a player who may lead the line for Rovers for years to come.

While I’m on the topic of young talent, 16 year old winger Victor Ozhianvuna is tipped for a move to Arsenal when he turns 18 in 2027. It’s been reported that the fella will eclipse the €1.9m base fee that Spurs paid St Pat’s for Mason Melia to break the League of Ireland record. He’s a tricky winger who bagged his first goal for the club in their 4-0 win over Wexford in the FAI Cup second round. Should Rovers sell him to Arsenal and get him back on loan until he can be registered in the UK when he turns 18, they’ll have a proper player on their hands.

Shamrock Rovers will see victory on Sunday as a result which would likely all but wrap up a fifth title in six seasons. With a healthy lead in the title race, Rovers have a large enough squad to balance league, cup and European football while competing on all fronts. Without winning the FAI Cup since 2019 though, Rovers will be desperate to complete the domestic double and pick up a trophy which has been elusive for six years.

Round-up:

With eleven games to go, and eight points clear, Shamrock Rovers will win the Premier Division in 2025 if they don’t suffer a complete collapse between now and November. Such a collapse is something which Derry City are praying for though. The Candystripes don’t have a great recent record in making up ground when a team above them slips up, but a win on Sunday will be crucial if Tiernan Lynch’s side are to mount any sort of a title charge in the final third of the season.

Derry City haven’t beaten Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght since March 2023, and that was their only win in the last fifteen games away to the Hoops. The second most recent win came in August 2017, when Barry McNamee scored from the halfway line. Of the last ten meetings between the two, City have won just once, with Rovers winning five and the other four being draws.

With such a record against Shamrock Rovers, you wouldn’t fancy City’s chances on Sunday. Rovers have played in Europe on Thursday though, alerting Derry to a possible European hangover from their opponent’s double header against St Joseph’s. With City’s title hopes looking slimmer with each passing game, victory here is the only thing that can keep us fighting…

Pól O’Hare – 31^st July 2025