Double Preview: Derry City v. Galway United, Shelbourne v. Derry City

 

Double Preview: Derry City v. Galway United, Shelbourne v. Derry City

 

Derry City v. Galway United, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 7, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 29^th March 2024 kick-off 7.45pm

 

Shelbourne v. Derry City, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 8, Tolka Park, 1^st April 2024, kick-off 5pm

 

Derry City come into an Easter weekend double-header after Bohemians ended their unbeaten start to the season nearly two weeks ago. First up are newly promoted Galway United, who make their first voyage to the Brandywell in eight years and are coming off the back of a three game winless streak. Table-toppers Shelbourne play host to the Candystripes on Easter Monday and sit with a five point buffer on Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men in second. With Will Patching and Patrick McEleney both fit again after the international break, the City faithful will hope that the 2-1 defeat in Dalymount last time out will turn out to be a one off.

 

Ronan Boyce’s second goal of the season wasn’t enough to pull back a point for City, who went 2-0 down against Bohemians thanks to goals from Dayle Rooney and former Derry striker James Akintunde. Despite keeping the majority of the ball in Dalymount, Higgins will hope that his side translate the possession into chances going into the Easter period. It’s a Good Friday encounter against Galway United first, a side who haven’t played City since September 2017. The Tribesmen were the runaway winners of last season’s First Division, winning 30 of their 36 games and being crowned champions with a twenty-five point lead on second placed Waterford. Scoring 98 goals and conceding just 18 last year, Galway were always going to be an interesting prospect coming back into the Premier Division.

 

John Caulfield’s men are currently sat fifth in the table, picking up wins against Waterford and Dundalk so far this term. Three 1-0 losses to St. Pat’s, Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne show that, despite losing, Galway aren’t getting thrashed in the way that some may have expected a newly promoted team to do so. Their 4-0 win over Dundalk in last year’s FAI Cup quarter-final raised eyebrows and sent a message to the rest of the league that they meant business.

 

Galway United didn’t splash the cash in the transfer window. Despite early rumours that they were in for Galwegian striker Pat Hoban, who just happens to be the league’s top goal-scorer, Caulfield and Ollie Horgan prioritised keeping the quality that they had. Conor McCormack and Aodh Dervin have been stalwarts in the midfield, whilst striker Wassim Aouachria was tied down to a new deal. Keeping hold of David Hurley, who registered 22 goals and six assists from the midfield last term is perhaps Galway’s most impressive piece of business. League of Ireland experience was brought in with the signings of Garry Buckley and Karl O’Sullivan from Sligo Rovers. Leo Gaxha, who impressed for Kerry FC last year after signing from Sheffield United, joined to strengthen striker options whilst Patrick Hickey, Joe Wright and Jeannot Esua signed from Athlone Town, Millwall and Ekanas IF respectively. Wide midfielder Al-Amin Kazeem, who has made a raft of League Two appearances in the last couple of years, joined on-loan from Colchester United and already looks impressive.

 

It’s been eight years since Galway played in the Brandywell, and seven since they last played Derry away – back when the Candystripes played out of Buncrana’s Maginn Park in 2017. Galway’s captain Conor McCormack started for Derry City in that game back in 2016. The Tribesmen’s last away win against Derry came back in May 2015 but you have to go back to September 2009 to find Galway’s next most recent away win against City. In saying that, the Candystripes have won just twice of their last ten games in all competitions against Galway, going back to March 2015.

 

Three points against Galway United would be crucial in keeping pace with Monday’s opposition, Shelbourne. Damien Duff’s men are the only side unbeaten in the Premier Division this season and have won five of their last six games. They’re challenging more for the title this year than people may have expected but home victories over Galway United and Shamrock Rovers, and away wins against St. Pat’s, Sligo Rovers and Bohemians, show that they’re currently the team to beat in the country. Getting one over Shelbourne is getting more difficult too. They haven’t lost a league game since September of last year and haven’t lost to Derry since that March. That win for Derry back in March is the only time that the Candystripes have beaten Shels since the 4-0 2022 FAI Cup final victory, with three draws and three red cards seeing the honours shared across the rest of 2023’s encounters between these two.

 

After Hull City’s Turkish owner Acun Ilicali bought a stake in Shelbourne in June 2023, before terminating his ownership in November, it seemed that Shels might have been in for a rough patch. That wasn’t the case, however. Damien Duff’s contract was renewed shortly after Mickey O’Rourke of PremierSports ownership fame took over. Shelbourne’s financial backing wasn’t dented either. League of Ireland veterans Sean Gannon and Keith Ward came in, followed by Dean Williams and John O’Sullivan from Bohemians. John Martin was brought in from Dundalk whilst goalkeeper Lorcan Healy was signed to rival Conor Kearns.

Losing Jack Moylan, one of the standout performers in the league last year, to Lincoln City wasn’t ideal from a Shelbourne point of view but it seems like Will Jarvis has been the perfect replacement. The 21 year old Englishman spent the second half of last season on-loan at Tolka from Hull City before putting pen to paper on another loan deal for 2024. Four goals in six appearances, including both goals in a derby win over St. Pat’s, shows that he’s one of the division’s best players at the minute. The acquisition of Liam Burt from Shamrock Rovers, albeit on loan, certainly doesn’t seem to be bad business either.

 

Three wins and two draws from Derry City’s opening six is still a promising start. With Pat Hoban sitting at the top of the goalscoring charts after bagging six in six, the five point gap between first and second may not be as big as it seems. Best case scenario, City register two wins this weekend and Dundalk beat Shelbourne on Friday – meaning the Candystripes would be top this time next week. Easter hasn’t been the kindest to City in recent times though, losing both on Good Friday and Easter Monday last year. In fact, City’s last win on Easter weekend came with a 2-1 win over Finn Harps back in 2018. Four points out of Galway and Shels this weekend certainly wouldn’t be a bad return. I’ve also gotten to the end of this preview without making ANY April Fools jokes about Monday as they’ll probably come back to bite me.

Pól O'Hare - 28 March 2023

Bohemians v Derry City: Match Preview

 

Bohemians v Derry City: Match Preview

Bohemian FC v. Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 6, Dalymount Park, Friday 15^th March 2024, kick-off 7.45pm

 

Pat Hoban's hat-trick against Waterford ensured that Derry City's unbeaten start to the season extended as they prepare to face a Bohemians side who play their first game without Declan Devine at the helm since October 2022. A front-post flick, overhead kick and penalty trio saw City's number nine raise his goal tally to six for the campaign already, making him the Division’s top scorer and meaning that he needs just two more goals to equal Jordan McEneff’s league goal tally of eight to match last year’s record. Bohemians, on the other hand, go into Friday’s fixture one Derry man down as Declan Devine's tenure came to an end following a 2-0 home defeat to table-toppers Shelbourne. Derek Pender and Trevor Crolly will be in charge for Bohs, who look for their second win of the season.

 

Hoban’s hattrick on Friday was the first competitive hattrick scored by a Derry City player since Declan Glass netted three in the first half of his City debut against Oliver Bond Celtic back in the First Round of the FAI Cup in July 2022. It also means that City are now joint top scorers in the league and joint top in terms of goal-difference. There were doubts from some quarters surrounding the signing of Pat Hoban prior to the season starting, but he's showing exactly why the club forked out €30,000 for his services. His partnership with Michael Duffy is a throwback to their Dundalk days and it seems that both are bringing out the best in each other. Duffy’s started the season in fine form himself too, playing a role in two goals already this campaign.

 

Ruaidhrí Higgins and his players really deserve credit for the manner in which they’ve started the season, especially when considering how unfortunate their injury record has been. Sadou Diallo was injured in preseason whilst Mark Connolly, Patrick McEleney, Cameron Dummigan, Will Patching, Michael Duffy and Adam O’Reilly have all suffered knocks already. Dummigan and Patching are still out, whilst Connolly, Duffy and O’Reilly all came off with injuries against Waterford last weekend. As it stands, it seems like Jordan McEneff is the only 100% fit midfielder. The City management staff will see it as a mini-win if they come away from Dalymount without further injury woes.

 

Bohemians have been on the receiving end of some injuries to key players themselves already too. Keith Buckley suffered an ACL tear just before the FAI Cup final last November whilst January signing Rob Cornwall, who rejoined the club after two years in America, came down with the same injury just half an hour into the opening game of the campaign. Although back training with the team, goalkeeper James Talbot has commendably taken some time away from football in order to focus on his mental health.

 

They may have left it late but the Gypsies did add in numbers across the January transfer window. The sale of Jonathan Afolabi, who scored fifteen league goals last season and received a senior Ireland call-up, for around €200,000 to Belgian side KV Kortrijk left a sizable gap in the forward line. He has scored once in Belgium so far –  equalising in a 3-3 draw away to Club Brugge. The moves of John O’Sullivan and Dean Williams to Shelbourne, Kris Twardek to Atletico Ottawa and Ali Coote to Detroit City left Bohemians light in squad-depth at the top end of the pitch. The losses of Kacper Radkowski and Krystian Nowak also left the Phibsborough side with a serious amount of business to be done. Dayle Rooney, who impressed at Drogheda United last year, was signed on a two-year contract to give options on the wing. Strikers Sten Reinkort and Filip Piszczek were brought in from Flora Tallinn and FC Imabari to replace Afolabi, whilst Kacper Chorazka signed from ASIL Lysi to provide goalkeeping options. He has started every game this season, keeping a clean sheet against St. Pat’s.

 

Bohemian’s raid on Flora Tallinn continued further as the club brought in Estonian internationals Martin Miller and Michael Lilander. Brian McManus was signed from Shelbourne whilst full-back Luke Matheson, who scored against Manchester United for Rochdale when he was just sixteen, was signed on loan from Bolton Wanderers. Jevon Mills and Aboubacar Keita were also captured on loan deals from Hull City and Colorado Rapids. The signing of highly rated centre back Divin Isamala from St. Francis capped Bohs’ transfer activity.

Derek Pender's men have only scored four all season, three of which have come from midfielders James Clarke and Jordan Flores, showing that it will take time for the club’s new signings to gel and replicate Afolabi’s goalscoring prowess. Clarke, however, was one Bohs’ standout performers last campaign, scoring five and assisting four from centre midfield. He opened the scoring against Derry City down in Dalymount last August too. Sten Reinkort bagged a debut goal against Sligo Rovers but hasn’t yet contributed to another goal. Bohemians are rumoured to be courting former Ireland and Derry City manager Stephen Kenny to come in as manager on a permanent basis - a signing which would be a massive coup. The Dubliner won the Premier Division with the club back in 2003. 

 

It was pretty much honour’s even in this fixture last year. Both Derry City and Bohemians beat each other 1-0 away from home whilst drawing 0-0 and 2-2 in the other two fixtures. You’d have to go back to Derry’s 4-1 win in Dalymount Park in February 2017 to find the last time that this fixture ended with a deficit of more than two goals too. 3-3 and 2-2 draws in the last three seasons, alongside a 3-2 Derry City win, shows that there is potential for fireworks in the tie though. A win for City on Friday would be their fifth win in their last seven Phibsborough outings and would put the Candystripes top if Shelbourne fail to beat St. Pat’s in Inchicore. Another three points, or at least a continuation of their unbeaten run, would be ideal going into the international break.

 

Pól O'Hare - 13 March 2024

Match Preview: Derry City v Waterford

 

Match Preview: Derry City v Waterford

 

Derry City FC v. Waterford FC, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 5, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 8^th March 2024, kick-off 7.45pm

 

Derry City’s unbeaten start to the season has continued after a tough weekend double-header, where they defeated St. Patrick’s Athletic on Friday and won a point away to Shamrock Rovers on Monday. The Candystripes now gear up to face Waterford on Friday, a team they haven’t come up against since November 2021. The visitors haven’t taken long to get into the swing of Premier Division action after a two season absence, picking up seven points from their first four games and coming off the back of a 3-1 home win over St. Pat’s.

 

Good teams scrape wins when they aren’t playing well and that was certainly the case for Derry City against St. Pat’s on Friday. The away team came to the Brandywell with a new look squad and investment across the pitch, setting up with a tough-to-break-down back five. City couldn’t get the ball to stick and it was the end of the first half before they got any sort of momentum. Ruairi Keating firing past Brian Maher just two minutes into the second half didn’t help things either. The introductions of Scottish duo Paul McMullan and Danny Mullen changed the game though. After a Pat Hoban header got Derry level on the 65^th, Mullen stylishly stabbed the ball into the top corner from a Michael Duffy cross on the 92^nd minute – clinching a huge three points for the Candystripes.

 

Hoban and Mullen got in on the act again in Tallaght on Monday night. After Darragh Burns slid the ball under Brian Maher to put Shamrock Rovers ahead, Pat Hoban converted a Derry spot-kick to level the game. Mullen, once again introduced from the bench, bundled in a Paul McMullan corner to give City a 2-1 away lead. A 92^nd minute header from Estonian international Markus Poom shared the spoils, but a point away against the four-in-a-row champions in dreadful conditions certainly isn’t a negative result.

 

Ruaidhrí Higgins’ injury woes have, however, only increased after the weekend. Will Patching, who assisted Hoban’s goal on Friday, pulled up in the warmup in Tallaght and subsequently had to watch the game from the stands. It’s unknown how serious the former Manchester City midfielder’s injury is but the City faithful will be hoping it’s not long-term by any means. This leaves Jordan McEneff and Adam O’Reilly, who both played well over the weekend, as City’ s only two fit senior midfielders. Sadou Diallo still faces some weeks on the side-lines and Cameron Dummigan’s injury severity hasn’t yet been revealed. On a more positive note, Patrick McEleney’s injury wasn’t as bad as first feared and Ciaron Harkin played his first football in two years when he lined out for the U20s last weekend.

 

Waterford were something of an unknown quantity coming into the Premier Division this season. In 2021, their Last season in the top flight, the Blues lost out to UCD in the promotion/relegation a play-off. Another painful defeat against UCD in the 2022 play-offs, in which Waterford missed a 93^rd minute penalty in Inchicore, saw the Students stay in the Premier Division for 2023. In all honesty though, it really should have been Waterford in the top flight that year – UCD finished the season with just 11 points and a goal difference of -77. Waterford and Galway United definitely had the quality to complete with the big boys last year too, finishing the First Division ten and thirty-five points ahead of third placed Cobh Ramblers. Galway’s season was an anomaly, as they breezed the league, losing just twice all year and winning thirty of their thirty-six games. Any other year and Waterford would have been automatically promoted, scoring 84 goals on their way to clinching second place. They triumphed over Munster rivals Cork City in the play-off, beating the Rebels 2-1 in Tallaght to go back up to the Premier Division.

 

The issue with having a fantastic season in the First Division, and having a ‘sister’ club in the English Football League, is that your best talent will inevitably be poached. If you look at Waterford’s stand out player in each of the last couple of years you will notice that they have been snapped up by Fleetwood Town, the team whom they share owners with. Phoenix Patterson, Junior Quitirina and more recently Ronan Coughlan all joined the League One side, staving off competition from Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and sides across the Irish Sea. It’s hard to know what sort of fees Waterford demanded, seeing that they share the same owner and have benefited massively from loan signings of players on Fleetwood’s books. The English club have clearly seen the value in the underappreciated and undervalued Irish market in recent times, Fleetwood signed our own Ryan Graydon for around £125,000 last summer. Promising (pardon the pun) Bohemians winger Promise Omochere was snapped up for an undisclosed fee, as was Cork City keeper David Harrington. At least these players are being given a platform to showcase their talents in England though.

 

Back to Waterford though, Blues manager Keith Long was faced with the task of replacing Ronan Coughlan. The striker, who has been linked with Derry in the past, never really lit up the League of Ireland during spells with Bray Wanderers and Cork City, although he did find goalscoring form at Sligo Rovers before joining St. Pat’s. A move to Waterford preceded the 2023 season and Coughlan really turned on his form. 37 goals in 35 games in all competitions saw him sign for Fleetwood Town, unsurprisingly. Roland Idowu, who bagged fourteen goals across two years at Waterford, left for Shrewsbury Town too. Killian Cantwell and Shane Griffin left for Bray Wanderers whilst Thomas Oluwa, Liam Kervick and Harry Nevin moved to Wexford, Cobh Ramblers and Cork City respectively.

 

Losing your main goal threat after winning promotion is never ideal, but the signing of Pádraig Amond, who comes with a wealth of experience playing in England, is seeming to have been the perfect option. Starting out with Shamrock Rovers, before playing for Sligo Rovers and in Portugal with Pacos de Ferreira, Amond has a history of scoring wherever he’s gone in the English football pyramid. Known for bagging FA Cup goals against Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Manchester City, the 35 year old is currently pipping Pat Hoban to the Premier Division top scorer position with four goals in four games so far at Waterford. He’ll certainly be a threat on Friday night.

 

The signings of Robbie McCourt, Darragh Leahy and Ben McCormack bring tested Premier Division experience - Leahy has already chipped in with two goals from left-back. Centre back Kacper Radkowski, who played for Bohemians last year, was signed permanently from Slask Wroclaw. Kacper Skwiercynzski joined on loan from Ruch Chorzow as did Maleace Asamoah, Harvey MacAdam and Barry Baggley - all from Fleetwood Town. The latter has recently been nominated for the Player of the Month Award for February alongside Derry’s Mark Connolly. The signing of Grant Horton from Cheltenham Town also proves that Waterford are willing to splash their cash on proven Premier Division talent in a bid to consolidate their top flight status come November.

 

Defensive midfielder Rowan McDonald spent time on trial at Derry City before joining Waterford last year. Conor Parsons is one to watch too having scored a brilliant goal in the play-off final and contributed to more throughout the First Division campaign. Ireland U19 international Romeo Akachukwu, the 17 year old midfielder who netted a hat-trick against Athlone Town last year, will sign for Southampton when the July window opens. Waterford will be substantially rewarded for his promise too, with the fee believed to start at €375,000 rising to €0.5m with add-ons.

 

Waterford are the Premier Division’s current top goal-scorers with nine in four games this term. Amond has four and Leahy as two, as I’ve mentioned, but loanee Maleace Asamoah has also found the net on two occasions whilst Niall O’Keefe netted in Waterford’s 4-1 away win over Drogheda United in matchday two. There have been two or more goals in thirteen of the last fifteen league meetings between Derry and Waterford, going back to February 2018, meaning that there is a history of fireworks in this tie. The Candystripes have also won seven of the last nine encounters between these two in the Brandywell in all competitions. Derry’s 4-2 win against Waterford in the League Cup semi-final in 2019, in which David Parkhouse scored all four, is another which sticks out in the memory. 
The goalscoring form of both club’s forward players hints at yet another plentiful encounter in terms of the goal tally. Both teams are in form and will want to keep momentum going, so this one could be an interesting one to keep an eye on. Expect good strikers and, hopefully, something of an end-to-end game.

Pól O'Hare - 6th March 2024

Double Preview: Derry City v. St. Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers v. Derry City

 Derry City v St. Patrick’s Athletic, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 3, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 1^st March 2024, 7.45pm kick-off

 

Shamrock Rovers v Derry City, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 4, Tallaght Stadium, Monday 4^th March 2024, 7.45pm kick-off

 

The Sligo curse struck again for Derry City as a scoreless draw in the Showgrounds last weekend saw their winless run away to Sligo Rovers extend to five games. The Candystripes haven’t beaten the Bit’O’Red on their own patch since August 2021, but the point they claimed on Saturday was one more than they did in both of their away games to Sligo last campaign. A win and a draw in City’s first two games marks an unbeaten start to the season, but also means that no team in the Premier Division has maintained a 100% record in 2024.

 

Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men now face both last season’s champions and FAI Cup winners within the space of four days and there’s already a feeling that points against the top teams will be precious – even this early on in the campaign. St Patrick’s Athletic are up first in the Brandywell on Friday. The Inchicore side have put serious investment into their squad ahead of the 2024 season, but losses against Shamrock Rovers in the President’s Cup, and Bohemians last weekend, have seen their start to the season stutter. Three points in Galway on the opening day, holding out for a 1-0 win with the only goal coming after just three minutes, shows that Pat’s can’t be disrespected though – even if they haven’t got off to the flier that they hoped for.

 

Derry make the journey down to Tallaght on Monday, facing the four-in-a-row champions in what will be a gruelling few days for the City players. Shamrock Rovers haven’t begun 2024 as hoped either though. It seemed like it was business as usual for the Hoops when they cruised to a 3-1 victory over St. Pat’s in the President’s Cup in early February, but one point from their opening two league games seems to have curtailed some of that optimism. Rovers came from behind to draw to a new-look Dundalk side on the opening day before falling to a 2-1 defeat away to Shelbourne. As always with Shamrock Rovers, it would be foolish to write them off. At the start of 2023, Rovers were winless until the seventh game of the season before finishing the campaign top of the table, with a seven point buffer on Derry City in second.

 

Derry City’s defence was solid against Sligo, with Connolly and Todd repelling any Sligo threat down the centre. Boyce and McJannet were good going forward on the flanks, as was Michael Duffy. City just couldn’t get the ball to stick in the final third and will ultimately be happy enough to come up the road with just the one point. The main concern of the evening came in the form of injuries to Patrick McEleney and Cameron Dummigan. McEleney, who started the game after missing the season opener through a groin injury, suffered an unrelated injury and was replaced by Adam O’Reilly after 40 minutes. Dummigan, who missed large parts of 2023 with a serious hamstring injury, landed awkwardly on his ankle after a tackle on the stroke of half-time. The 27 year old was visibly struggling and had to be stretchered off. Hopefully their injuries aren’t serious, as both players suffered injury-hit campaigns in 2023 and will want to get a good run at it in 2024. With Sadou Diallo out for another 6 weeks or so, City are looking light in midfield going into the next few games.

 

Focus: St. Patrick’s Athletic –

In this fixture last season, Derry won twice, St. Pat’s one once and a 1-1 draw was played out in Inchicore in the season opener in February. The battles between these two were interesting to say the least last year. Derry won 2-0 in the Brandywell in April, with goals coming from Colm Whelan and Ben Doherty. Just over a month later, City slumped to a 4-1 defeat in Inchicore, despite having more than 60% of possession. Pat’s progressed against the Candystripes again, beating Derry on penalties in the FAI Cup second round before going on to lift the cup in November. This marked Derry’s second penalty-shootout defeat in the space of a week back in August. The Candystripes got one back on the final day of the season though, winning 3-0 in the Brandywell in what was one of the most impressive performances of the campaign. Brandon Kavanagh, who signed for Pat’s from Derry in the off-season, got on the scoresheet, as did Will Patching and Jordan McEneff. The Inchicore side haven’t won a league game in the Brandywell since October 2019 and haven’t scored in open play in Derry since a 2-1 defeat in March 2022 – Will Patching bagged a 92^nd minute winner that day too.

 

Jon Daly has been very active in the transfer market in the off-season. He has added quality in all areas of the pitch and has built a sizable squad down in Inchicore, but there were some high profile departures from St Pat’s in January. Right-back Sam Curtis, arguably the best prospect in the league, left for Sheffield United and has already been on the bench in the Premier League. Adam Murphy left for Bristol City, Darius Lipsiuc left for Stoke City and Tommy Lonergan’s release clause was triggered by Fleetwood Town. Goalkeeper Dean Lyness joined Hamilton Academicals in Scotland, whilst David Norman and Mark Doyle made the move across the pond to Canada and America respectively.

 

Daly swooped early in the window for Derry City duo Cian Kavanagh and Brandon Kavanagh, paying a fee for the latter. Cork City’s top scorer Ruairi Keating, also on the radar of Derry City, was quite the coup, as was the loan signing of highly-rated Liverpool goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga. Liverpool paid Fluminense a fee in the region of £1m for the Brazilian in 2020. Conor Keeley, who signed from Drogheda United was subject to interest from Notts County, whilst Aaron Bolger made the move from Cork City. Luke Turner joined from Cliftonville to bolster defensive options and former Man City and Barnsley midfielder Romal Palmer was signed on loan from Turkish side Goztepe. Alfie Taylor, Aaron Pettifer and Kieran Freeman joined from Hull City (loan), Bolton Wanderers and Dundee United too. There’s been a lot of change in the St. Pat’s squad, but there’s the potential for serious quality if it clicks.

 

Focus: Shamrock Rovers –

Derry City have only one once in their last eleven away games to Shamrock Rovers and only won four of the last twenty meetings between the sides. City’s 2-1 win in March of last year was the first time since a 2-0 win in August 2017 that the Candystripes triumphed down in Tallaght. Last season, Shamrock Rovers claimed wins in two of the four games between the sides: a 2-0 win in the Brandywell in May and a 1-0 win in Dublin in June. Aside from the aforementioned 2-1 win for Derry in March, the other fixture in the Brandywell ended 1-1 when a late Graham Burke penalty rescued a point for the Hoops. This time out, Derry could do with capitalising on Rovers’ slow start to the campaign if they want to push the Hoops to the wire this year. The Tallaght side host Drogheda United on Friday, a team who they have beaten just twice in eight league meetings since 2022. Drogheda are bottom and pointless this season so far though, so momentum could have a big part to play in these Friday-Monday game-weeks.

 

Shamrock Rovers added quality to their squad in the transfer window too, bringing in tried-and-tested players in their hunt for a fifth league title in a row. Veteran goalkeeper Alan Mannus retired, whilst captain Ronan Finn left for UCD and decorated full back Sean Gannon joined Shelbourne. Simon Power, who saw action mostly from the bench, signed for Sligo Rovers and highly rated youngster Naj Razi joined fellow Irishman Liam Kerrigan at Serie B side Como 1907. Winger Liam Burt was another noticeable departure, albeit on loan to Shelbourne for the season. Josh Honohan was brought in from Cork City to add depth in the full back positions and Trevor Clarke’s loan from Bristol Rovers was made permanent. Former St. Pat’s winger Darragh Burns joined on loan from MK Dons, meanwhile the loan deals of Johnny Kenny and Marcus Poom from Celtic and Flora Tallinn were extended for another year. Former Derry City midfielder Aaron McEneff returned to Shamrock Rovers after stints at Hearts and Perth Glory, as did goalkeeper Lee Steacy, who departed Rovers in 2012 and signed to provide competition for Leon Pohls.

 

It seems very early in the season to be reinforcing how important games like these are, but getting points from a double header against the two teams who Derry will be watching closest in the race for the title could be decisive come November. Pats have high expectations coming into 2024 and Shamrock Rovers still remain the team to beat in the League of Ireland. Two wins and a continuation of their unbeaten run would be ideal, but the City faithful wouldn’t turn their noses up at a draw in Tallaght – especially considering how injury-hit the centre of the park is already. If all goes well for Higgins and his players, two wins this weekend could see the Candystripes in good stead going into the rest of the season.

 

Pól O’Hare – 26^th February 2024

Sligo Rovers v Derry City: Match Preview

 

Sligo Rovers v Derry City, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 2, Sligo Showgrounds, Saturday 24^th February 2024

 

Goals from Ronan Boyce and new signing Pat Hoban saw Derry City begin 2024 with a win against Drogheda United last weekend. Only City and St Patrick’s Athletic recorded wins in the Premier Division on the opening day, meaning that the Candystripes sit top of the league going into Saturday’s fixture away to Sligo Rovers. The Bit’O’Red were unlucky to leave Dalymount with just a point last week, as James Clarke’s stoppage time equaliser rescued a point for Bohemians in a two-all draw.

 

It was a Derry City debut to remember for Pat Hoban as he bagged a goal and an assist against Drogheda. His link up play in the front-line gave Ronan Boyce space to open up and curve a left footed strike into the top corner from outside the box just one minute after half-time. A quarter of an hour later and Hoban had opened his own account for the season, reacting fastest inside the box to slot past Andrew Wogan after the Drogs’ keeper palmed a Will Patching strike into the path of the Galwegian forward. The Louth side responded just four minutes later as left-back Evan Weir, who left Drogheda for Walsall in the off-season before returning on loan, whipped a free kick off the crossbar and in. A deflection off the City wall left Brian Maher stranded, but it was certainly an impressive way to pull a goal back for the away side. Maher had a good game himself though, saving three shots including a Ryan Brennan penalty – his first league penalty save since denying Shelbourne’s Shane Farrell in June of last year.

 

Ruaidhrí Higgins will hope that the injury sustained by Mark Connolly isn’t too serious. The 32 year old centre back was replaced by Shane McEleney just before the Drogheda goal. It was good to see Cameron Dummigan and Adam O’Reilly return to the squad after niggling injuries, and the twenty or so minutes of action that Dan Kelly saw on his debut looked promising. Ciarán Coll also played the last ten, nearly five years to the day since his Derry City debut back in 2019. The absence of captain Patrick McEleney was the one glaring omission from the matchday squad, but it’s believed that the midfielder’s injury isn’t long-term.

 

Sligo Rovers were getting some criticism in the off-season for not strengthening a squad which had an unimpressive 2023. An eighth place finish saw them survive in the Premier Division, finishing six points above Cork City in the relegation play-off spot. Rovers won just two of their last twelve league games last term, one against UCD and the other which all but ended Derry City’s title hopes in late September. Their performance against Bohemians last week showed positive signs for 2024 though. After going behind just five minutes into the first half, goals from Reece Hutchinson and Fabrice Hartmann had Rovers ahead going into the break. If it wasn’t for a 94^th minute leveller, they would’ve headed home with all three points. There were some big departures last year, namely the moves of David Cawley to Finn Harps, Johan Brannefalk to Ariana, Lukas Browning Lagerfeldt to Gefle, Frank Liivak to Levadia Tallinn and the double switch of Karl O’Sullivan and Garry Buckley to Galway United. Derry man Danny Lafferty left the club to return home and join Institute whilst Greg Bolger rejoined Cork City. Striker Pedro Martelo left and goalkeeper Luke McNicholas’ loan to Wrexham was made permanent. This left John Russell with a fairly light squad going into 2024.

 

English winger Ellis Chapman joined Sligo from Cheltenham and seems to have been a shrewd acquisition. He scored a hat-trick in his first appearance – a 5-4 friendly win over Derry in January. The signings of JR Wilson and Simon Power from Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers respectively bring Premier Division experience and pace on either flank. Ed McGinty returned to the club on loan from Oxford United to solve their goalkeeping woes, whilst Wilson Waweru and Conor Malley signed from Galway United and Dundalk. Charlie Wiggett, who appeared at senior level in a friendly for Newcastle United last year, joined Rovers to give more options in defence – something which they’ll need after John Mahon suffered another unfortunate ACL injury. The return of Max Mata on loan from Shrewsbury Town is undoubtedly Russell’s biggest coup of the window though – the New Zealand international striker netted eleven goals in twenty three games last season in Sligo. He finished as the club’s top goalscorer despite leaving in the summer, Stefan Radosavljević came second with just five in the league. Fabrice Hartmann is always one to watch when Sligo Rovers play too. The German winger, who replaced now Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha for RB Leipzig in a Europa League qualifier in 2018, has experience playing in the 2.Bundesliga and Dritte Liga in Germany. He scored a wonderful solo goal in Dalymount last week too.

 

Derry City haven’t won in Sligo since beating Rovers 2-1 back in August 2021. The Bit’O’Red have won three of the last four league meetings in the Showgrounds, with the other being a 0-0 draw in October 2022. Will Patching scored the decider in Derry’s last two league wins over Sligo Rovers too: a 95^th minute penalty back in July last year and the only goal of the game in September 2022. There haven’t been more than three goals scored in this fixture since City won 4-0 in 2017 and only once in the last thirteen meetings has the deficit been more than one goal. The aforementioned 5-4 friendly in January hints that the trend of low-scoring games between Derry and Sligo may be due to change however. Derry notoriously struggle in the Sligo Showgrounds but revenge may be on the mind of the City players after last time out. Home and away tickets are expected to fully sell out, so this one should be a good one.

Pól O'Hare - 22nd February 2024

 

Derry City v. Drogheda United: Match Preview

Derry City v. Drogheda United: Match Preview

Derry City v. Drogheda United, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 1, 16^TH February 2024, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

 

It will have been 84 days since Derry City’s 3-0 home win over St. Patrick’s Athletic in the final game of the 2023 season, closing the curtain on a campaign full of ups and downs for the City faithful. The excitement from the Candystripes’ run to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League was quickly extinguished after two penalty shootout losses in the space of a week in August which saw City crash out of both Europe and the FAI Cup. A lack of clinical edge in the final third saw Derry drop valuable points towards the business end of the season, resulting in a second place finish for the second season in a row. Some good football was played and good moments were had but fans, players and staff alike will hope that the Candystripes can go one better in 2024 and claim the League of Ireland Premier Division for the first time in 27 years.

 

Similarly to Derry, Drogheda United dropped points in 2023 due to the lack of a deadly forward. Freddie Draper got off to a flying start on loan from Lincoln City, finishing as Drogheda’s top scorer in the league with eight goals despite his loan ending in June. Drogs’ next top league scorers were Adam Foley with seven and Dayle Rooney with five. The latter did, however, create eight assists and will be a big loss after signing for Bohemians in the off season. A seventh place finish for Drogheda capped a solid campaign, especially considering that the team from Louth claimed the scalps of Derry, Shamrock Rovers and St. Pat’s along the way. Tying manager Kevin Doherty down on a full-time basis until the end of the 2025 campaign may prove to be their biggest victory of 2023 though.

 

The visit of Drogheda United on Friday marks the first time since 2019 that Derry City have played the first game of the league season in the Brandywell, when they beat UCD 3-0 nearly five years ago to the day. City have played Drogheda just three times on the opening day of the season since the turn of the century too. They claimed the three points with 1-0 and 2-0 wins in 2009 and 2005 respectively, whilst Drogheda won 2-1 in the Brandywell in 2002. Drogheda haven’t lost a season opener since a 1-0 defeat to St. Patrick’s Athletic back in 2013 however. Meanwhile, the aforementioned win over UCD in 2019 was the last time that Derry won on the first game of the season. Since then, the Candystripes have lost twice and drawn twice. Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men may want to look back to 2017, when they beat Bohemians 4-1 down in Dalymount, for some inspiration on winning big on the first game of the season.

 

In this fixture last season, Derry won twice, Drogheda won once and a fairly scrappy 0-0 draw was played out in Weavers Park in October. Derry’s 3-0 win in the Brandywell in August was their joint biggest league win over United since a 4-0 win in March 2017. In 2022, three of the four league fixtures between City and Drogheda ended in 1-1 draws, showing just how even this fixture can be. Drogheda are known for being tough to break down for a reason.

 

In the off-season, Drogheda United have had to deal with the scenario that many a League of Ireland club has had to face, that of their best players being tempted to other clubs in the league on free transfers at the close of the season. Dayle Rooney, who made thirteen goal contributions in the league in 2023, signed for Bohemians on a two-year deal. Conor Keeley was the other standout departure. The big centre back, who Drogheda were glad to hold on to after interest from Notts County during the summer, signed for St. Pat’s, also on a two-year contract. Arguably Drogs’ two best players last term, they leave big boots to fill. Kyle Robinson, who scored four goals in twelve games in 2023, left for Arbroath in the Scottish Championship. Luke Wade-Slater and Jamie Egan both joined Longford Town whilst Dylan Grimes left the club and Jarlath Jones signed for Athlone Town.

 

Despite their relatively small budget, Drogheda have recruited well ahead of 2024. Frantz Pierrot, who scored twenty goals in thirty four First Division games for Athlone Town last season, was the marquee signing brought in to solve their goal issues. The Haitian striker also scored in both of Athlone’s play-off games and is already off the mark for Drogheda, scoring and assisting against Bohemians in the Leinster Senior Cup. The 24 year old is only on a one year contract in Louth and may attract suitors if he continues his goalscoring form into 2024. The signing of UCD’s captain Jack Keaney was a smart acquisition in replacing Conor Keeley. Keaney can play in both defence and holding midfield and impressed in 2023, despite UCD’s dire campaign. The transfers of Andrew Quinn and Conor Kane from Shelbourne add depth, whilst the loan signings of Derry native Oisin Gallagher and Hayden Cann from Lincoln City will give both a taste of senior football. The capture of South African international goalkeeper Jethren Barr, who most recently played for Portadown, will run Andrew Wogan close for the number one spot. Keep an eye on 18 year old Irish/French striker Killian Cailloce and 21 year old American/Nigerian winger Steve Zishim Bawa who signed from SM Caen and Bodens BK respectively. Kevin Doherty will hope his youthful squad can repeat at least a mid-tabled finish once again this year.

 

Derry City did considerably less business in the transfer market than Drogheda United, with Ruaidhrí Higgins feeling that City needed just one or two more pieces to add to the puzzle of a potentially title winning team. The sale of Brandon Kavanagh to St. Patrick’s Athletic allowed money to be spent elsewhere, most of which I presume went into the €30k fee demanded by Dundalk for Pat Hoban. Kavanagh impressed last season when given a run in the team, but the City faithful will hope that he won’t do too much damage to his former employers in 2024. Cian Kavanagh, who scored important goals against KuPS both home and away in the second round of the UECL also returned to St. Pat’s, where he spent time as a youth player. He’ll probably be second choice behind Ruairí Keating in Inchicore, especially after the sale of Tommy Lonergan to Fleetwood Town. Evan McLaughlin, who missed most of last season due to a health issue, signed for Cork City in the First Division. He did well at a brief loan spell at Coleraine last year and could be important in Cork’s proposed promotion push this term. Speaking of Coleraine, that’s where Jamie McGonigle returned to after two and a half years at Derry. He scored some huge goals for City and was electric in 2021 and the first half of 2022. After spotting that his squad number had changed to free up the number 9 shirt, speculation had begun that his future lay elsewhere. An undisclosed fee was agreed, again which I presume helped in signing Hoban. Jack Lemoignan joined Harland & Wolff Welders in the hunt for game time after impressing on loan at Ballinamallard, meanwhile Caoimhin Porter and Daithí McCallion joined Institute and Ballymena United on loans until June. Assistant manager Paddy McLaughlin left the club too, being replaced with former Derry City player, assistant manager and caretaker manager Paul Hegarty. Derry have recently been hit with a blow going into the season after it was confirmed that Sadou Diallo will miss around two months of action due to a meniscus injury sustained in a high tackle against Finn Harp in pre-season. 

 

Derry’s two signings in the off-season seemed to show the two different types of transfers these days. Firstly, once word got out that City were interested in signing Daniel Kelly from Dundalk, it seemed that the deal was wrapped up fairly smoothly and the player was announced on a two year contract in mid-November with little fuss. Kelly is an athletic and quick winger who can read the game well. At 27, he’s in the peak of his career and has worked with Ruaidhrí Higgins in the past. He’s won the Premier Division, FAI Cup and League Cup during his career and brings pedigree, experience and another option in wide areas. Derry’s other signing this window was quite the opposite of a quiet transfer. Despite being contracted to Dundalk for 2024, the club made it clear that record goal-scorer Pat Hoban was surplus to requirements and could leave the club. Then it was announced that Dundalk found new owners and investment who stated their desire to keep the forward. Talks with Derry were going well despite rumoured interest from Hoban’s hometown club Galway United, as well as Bohemians, St. Pat’s and more recently Shamrock Rovers. Talks were thought to have stalled, before Hoban was announced in the Brandywell a few days later. It was a saga that Fabrizio Romano would have wanted to get in on. Hoban is exactly what Derry need in order to mount a proper title charge though. The 32 year old was the Premier Division top scorer three times and won the Premier Division itself three times, alongside two FAI Cups and a League Cup. He also played in the Europa League group stages in 2020, as well as holding the record as Dundalk’s best ever goal scorer with 148 goals.

 

Both Kelly and Hoban have netted in pre-season and it seems that Derry are going into the league campaign in good form. Despite a 2-2 draw to Finn Harps in mid-January, and a 5-4 loss to Sligo Rovers shortly after, City are coming off the back of 2-0, 4-0 and 3-0 wins over Finn Harps, Glenavon and Institute. Behind closed-door friendlies against Glentoran and Dundalk wielded 5-0 and 3-0 wins also. Drogheda have had a good pre-season too, defeating Bohemians 3-1, rivals Dundalk 2-1 and Malahide United 4-2 to progress to the quarter-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup. Their most recent friendly ended in a 2-1 win against Bray Wanderers. Killian Cailloce scored in a 2-1 friendly defeat against St. Pat’s in January too.

 

It’s hard to predict which way games will go this early in the season but City will hope to get off on the right foot against Drogheda in the Brandywell on Friday. After Shamrock Rovers’, 3-1 win over St. Pat’s in last week’s President’s Cup, it seems that they will, once again, be the team to beat in 2024.

 

Pól O’Hare – 14 February 2024

 

 

A Look Back at Derry City's 2006 Squad

 

                               A Look Back at Derry City's 2006 Squad

It’ll be eighteen years this summer since Derry City’s fabled European odyssey of 2006. The words ‘Gothenburg’, ‘Gretna’ and ‘Paris Saint-Germain’ will get any City fan talking, whether they were there to experience it or not. That summer is spoken of like it was a dream – like it had to be seen to be believed. No Irish side had ever reached the promised land of European group stages, nor had the opportunity to touch the riches that would come with it. City finished the previous season in second place, losing the league on the final day in Turner’s Cross, where champions Cork City would triumph through a 2-0 win. This meant that Derry would enter the UEFA Cup in the First Qualifying Round, where they were drawn against Swedish side IFK Göteborg – the Swiss Allsvenskan’s runners up. Derry were underdogs, there’s no doubt about it. The Swedes had won the UEFA Cup twice during the 1980s and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 1993. No bother to the Candystripes though, who won 1-0 home and away through goals from Sean Hargan in Sweden and Stephen O’Flynn in the Brandywell. Scottish side Gretna lay in wait for City in the second round. They gained admission to the UEFA Cup after winning Scotland’s second tier by a margin of eighteen points to second placed Greenock Morton in the 2005/06 season. They also lost to Hearts of Midlothian in the final of that year’s Scottish Cup. Coming off the back of a 6-0 win over Hamilton Academical the weekend before Derry City came to visit, Gretna manager Rowan Alexander felt that City would be a decent Scottish Championship side. Alexander was made to swallow his words after the match though. A Darren Kelly header made it 1-1 going into half-time in the first round but a second hand masterclass saw midfield duo Kevin Deery and Ciarán Martyn bag braces – Derry went back to Ireland with a 5-1 lead going into the second leg. A 2-2 draw in the Brandywell led Derry City to the tie of their lives – a winner takes all first round proper clash with Paris Saint-Germain. The Parisians went physical in the Brandywell and were lucky to leave unscathed. City were denied a penalty which, in hindsight, looked stonewall. A looping shot from Killian Brennan was the width of the crossbar away from giving the City faithful a famous lead too. Goalless going into the second leg, a better result for Derry due to the lack of PSG away goal, Les Parisiens scored from two set plays in the Parc Des Princes – breaking Derry City hearts. A magnificent travelling support were greeted by the Paris ultras and sent those in attendance home with memories for a lifetime. 

Five years later, in 2011, Shamrock Rovers beat Partizan Belgrade to become the first Irish side to reach the Europa League group stages. Dundalk have repeated the feat twice since then too. Penalty shootout heartache against Tobol Kostanay last year stopped City from progressing to the play-off round of the UEFA Conference League – but it showed how much togetherness a European run can foster. Back to 2006 though and a League Cup and FAI Cup double constituted Derry’s most successful season since the treble winning one of 1989. Arguably, it should've been another treble win too. Shelbourne, who topped the Premier Division table in 2006 on goal difference alone, were demoted to the First Division for 2007 after financial irregularities. City gained Shels' Champions League qualifying spot, which turned out to be a 2-0 loss to FC Pyunik of Armenia, but weren't awarded the title. It was a special year nonetheless, so I’ve gone on a trip down memory lane to see what the DCFC alumni of that year got up to in the rest of their careers.

 

MANAGER:

Stephen Kenny: Tallaght-born Stephen Kenny made his League of Ireland debut as a player for Home Farm in March 1994. He made just three more appearances before taking up a coaching role at St Pat’s’ U21 side. At 26, Kenny was appointed manager of Longford Town in 1998 before becoming Bohemians' manager after a promotion, FAI Cup final and UEFA Cup qualification at Longford. He guided the Gypsies to a Premier Division title win in 2003 before taking over at Derry City in 2004. He turned the Candystripes into a title-challenging side, finishing second in the Premier Division in 2005 and 2006, including league cup wins in both years and an FAI Cup win in the latter. After a spell with Dunfermline in Scotland, Kenny returned to The Candystripes and won League Cups in 2008 and 2011, as well as the First Division in 2010. Kenny became manager at Dundalk after a year at Shamrock Rovers, leading the Lilywhites to four Premier Division titles, two FAI Cups, two League cups and UEFA Europa League group stage qualification before taking the Ireland U21s job in 2018. The Dublin native became manager of the men’s team in 2020 but, after failed qualification campaigns for the World Cup in 2022 and 2024 Euros, Kenny left the role in November of last year. 

 

GOALKEEPERS:

David Forde: A youth player at Belvedere, Forde made his debut for Galway United in 1999 before moving to Barry Town in Wales in 2001. A year later, West Ham United swooped to land the promising young keeper for £75k. Forde first moved to Derry City on loan before signing permanently in 2004. An ever-present between the sticks, Forde made 115 appearances in red and white, keeping 56 clean sheets. He signed for Cardiff City in the Championship on a free transfer at the end of the 2006 season but after failing to nail down a number one spot, he moved to Millwall in 2008 and made nearly 300 appearances before leaving in 2017. Forde made his Ireland debut in May 2011 in a 5-0 friendly win over Northern Ireland before becoming the country's oldest player to make a competitive appearance when he played against Sweden in a World Cup qualifier in 2013, aged 33. He was number one during the Euro 2016 qualification campaign but wasn’t named in the squad for the tournament in France. He retired in 2019 after a spell at Cambridge United.

Pat Jennings Jr.: Son of Pat Jennings Sr, who made over 100 appearances for Northern Ireland alongside spells at Watford, Spurs, Arsenal and Everton, Patrick Jr. spent his entire career in Irish football. Jennings moved to Derry City in 2004 after three seasons at UCD, rejecting offers to leave the club in order to become City’s number one goalkeeper following Forde’s departure in 2006. Jennings saved all three of Shelbourne’s penalties in the 2006 FAI Cup final and was number one in 2007, despite the signing of Ola Tidman. After spells at Sligo Rovers, Shamrock Rovers and Glenavon, he signed for Athlone Town in 2012 before becoming the goalkeeper coach at St. Pat’s – a role he still holds to this day.

 

DEFENDERS:

Darren Kelly: Beginning his career at Trojans, before signing for Derry City in 1996, centre-back Darren Kelly joined Roddy Collins at Carlisle United for a fee in the region of £100k in 2002. After being released two years and 42 appearances later, Kelly signed for Portadown before returning to Derry City in the search of professional football in 2006. In the summer of 2007, and after 227 appearances and 12 goals for Derry City, he signed for York City in the Conference League. Spells at Stalybridge Celtic, Garforth Town, Frickley Athletic and Scarborough Athletic followed before taking the reigns at Oldham Athletic in 2015. Now 44, Kelly is the sporting director at Hartlepool United after managerial roles at Halifax Town, Hyde United, Scarborough Athletic and Newport County.

Peter Hutton: Derry’s record appearance holder with 663 games in red and white, Hutton made his League of Ireland debut in March 1991. He captained the Candystripes to their most recent league title win in the 1996/97 season, playing in midfield. He spent a year at Portadown in 1998 and the 2002/03 season at Shelbourne in between two more spells at Derry. After a year at Cliftonville between 2010 and 2011, ‘Pizza’ retired at Finn Harps in 2011 – where he would spend two seasons as manager. He returned to Derry City as assistant manager to Roddy Collins in 2013 and became manager ahead of the 2014 season. Hutton, who was a caretaker manager with the Candystripes in 2004 and 2007, left his role as manager in September 2015.

Ken Oman: Another centre-back who spent his whole career in Ireland, Oman began his career with Bohemians in 2001. Stephen Kenny brought the Finglas man to the Brandywell ahead of the 2006 season where he formed a formidable partnership with Darren Kelly. He returned to Bohemians in 2008 after netting four times for Derry but left for rivals Shamrock Rovers in 2011. Spells at St. Pat’s and Portadown followed before his retirement in 2017.

Sean Hargan: A defensive stalwart at the Brandywell, Sean Hargan made 429 appearances for Derry City and scored 55 goals. Beginning as a striker, before moving to left-back where he is best remembered, Hargan scored against IFK Goteberg in the aforementioned 2006 UEFA Cup tie. After thirteen years playing for Derry, Hargan left for Crusaders in 2008 before retiring in 2009. He was appointed First Team Coach at Derry in Peter Hutton’s coaching staff in 2014.

Eddie McCallion: Eddie McCallion had the right-back spot at the Brandywell nailed down between signing from Blackburn Rovers in 1998 and his departure in 2012. ‘Steady Eddie’ often deputised at centre back, but offered an attacking option with his runs down the right flank. He made 537 appearances and scored three goals for his boyhood club. Another club legend, McCallion spent time at Glenavon and Bangor before retiring in 2015.

Clive Delaney: After five seasons at UCD, Clive Delaney signed for West Ham United in 2002. After failing to break into the first team, the big defender returned home to sign for St. Pat’s in 2003. Delaney came up north and signed for City in 2004, making 143 appearances in two spells before moving to Australia in 2010. He retired in 2007 after helping amateur side Dunbar Rovers reach the NSW NPL League and still lives in Sydney.

Mark McChrystal - The centre back began his career at Wolves but signed for Derry Cuty in 2003 after his release from Molineux. He went on to make 43 appearances before signing for Partick Thistle in 2007. McChrystal was released and re-joined Derry City later that year, making 58 appearances between then and winning the First Division in 2010. A period in England followed, which included 114 appearances for Bristol Rovers, alongside spells at Tranmere Rovers and Scunthorpe United. Crusaders signed the then 33 year old in 2017, before rejoining City yet again two years later. 127 appearances in all for the Candystripes, McChrystal is now on Ruaidhrí Higgins coaching staff at the Brandywell. 

 

MIDFIELDERS:

Barry Molloy: A stalwart in the Derry midfield for over a decade, Barry Molloy made 353 appearances for the Candystripes, netting 13 times along the way. The Derry-born midfielder began his career at Derby County before joining Drogheda United in 2004. A Candystripe legend, Molloy signed for City later that year before leaving for Crusaders in 2015. He hung up his boots in 2016, but came out of retirement to sign for Finn Harps in 2017. Molloy currently lives back in Derby.

Ciarán Martyn: Sligo born midfielder Ciarán Martyn signed for UCD in 1997 after coming through the Sligo Rovers youth ranks. Five years later, Martyn signed for Derry City and reportedly paid £8,000 to get out of a pre-contract agreement with Shelbourne. Seven years at the Brandywell followed, including a loan at Fredrikstad BK in 2007. Martyn made 286 appearances in red and white, scoring half a century of goals. He also bagged a brace against Gretna in Derry’s 2006 UEFA Cup run. He joined Glentoran in January 2010, before playing for Glenavon and Ballinamallard United.

Kevin Deery: Another club legend and another midfielder who scored twice against Gretna, Kevin Deery spent his whole career at Derry City. Appointed captain in 2010, a role which he held until 2014, Kevin Deery made 304 appearances for the Candystripes and scored 21 goals between 2001 and 2014. He began his managerial career with Trojans after retiring in 2014, and was appointed manager of Institute for the first time in 2015. After failing to win promotion and after a brief stint as assistant at Sligo Rovers, Deery was named assistant manager to Declan Devine at the Brandywell in 2018. He was appointed Institute manager again in 2023, with his side currently sitting top of the table in the PlayrFit Championship.

Killian Brennan: A talented midfielder who spent his whole senior career in the League of Ireland, Killian Brennan played for Home Farm and Peterborough United during his youth career. After less than a year at Dublin City, Brennan signed for Derry City in 2004, making 114 appearances and scoring nine goals in four seasons. He could play on the flank and at left-back, and also played for Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers, St. Patrick’s Athletic (in two separate spells) and Drogheda United (also in two spells) before leaving in 2018. Now 39, he plays for Glebe North FC in the Leinster Senior League.

Ruaidhrí Higgins: Another 39 year old former City midfielder, Limavady man Ruaidhrí Higgins joined Derry from Coventry City in 2004 after being released by the English side. He made 289 appearances and scored four goals between 2004 and 2013 at the Brandywell, either side of a season at Bohemians in 2010. He was reunited with Stephen Kenny in 2014 at Dundalk, before leaving for Coleraine a year later. Higgins retired and took up a coaching role with Dundalk in 2017 before leaving in 2020 to become an opposition analyst with the Republic of Ireland national team. Ruaidhrí Higgins is, of course, Derry City’s current manager and will hope to break Derry’s 27 year wait for a Premier Division title this season.

Paddy McCourt: The Derry Pelé made 80 appearances for Rochdale between 2001 and 2005 after being signed from Foyle Harps. A tricky winger who could play in attacking midfield, McCourt signed for Derry City in 2005 after a year at Shamrock Rovers. Eleven goals in 96 appearances caught the attention of Celtic, who signed McCourt for £200,000 in 2008. After five years at Parkhead, McCourt signed for Barnsley in the Championship in 2013. A year later he joined Brighton & Hove Albion, making 13 appearances before joining Notts County on loan in February 2015. After spells at Luton Town and Glenavon, McCourt signed for Finn Harps in 2017 and guided the Ballybofey side to promotion. He became Head of Youth structures at Derry City in 2018 and made 18 appearances for Northern Ireland between 2002 and 2015.

Neil McCafferty: Derry native Neil McCafferty came through the ranks at Charlton Athletic, from where he made loan moves to Cambridge United and Rushden & Diamonds. He signed for the latter permanently in 2005 but came home to join Derry City a year later. McCafferty was seen as a prospect in the City midfield but made just fourteen appearances before leaving for Grays Athletic in 2008. He most recently played for Warrenpoint Town in 2020, but had spells at Finn Harps, Dungannon Swifts, Portadown, Ballymena United and Coleraine.

Brian Cash: Dublin man Brian Cash began his career with Nottingham Forest in 1996. He made seven appearances at the City Ground, also appearing for Swansea City and Rochdale on loan. After a singular appearance for Bristol Rovers, he signed for Derry City in 2005 and played 35 times before joining Sligo Rovers in the summer of 2006. He retired in 2011 after spending time at St. Pat’s and Galway United, before opening a gym in Dublin with Pat Jennings Jr.  

 

FORWARDS:

Gareth McGlynn: At just 17 years old, Gareth McGlynn made his Derry City debut in 2001. He became the 100^th player to score for the club when he netted his first City goal against Shelbourne in April that year. The winger, who could also play in central midfield, made 357 appearances for Derry between 2001 and 2016. He signed for Bohemians in 2010, remaining in the Premier Division when Derry dropped to the First Division. After time in Australia, where he played for Stirling Lions, and in America where he played for Lansdowne Bhoys, McGlynn retired in 2016 after one final season with the Candystripes.

Gary Beckett: Enniskillen man Gary Beckett began his career at Omagh Town in the early 90s before signing for Coleraine in the summer of 1994. Eighteen months later and Felix Healy brought the striker to the Brandywell, where Beckett would become a fan’s favourite and score 55 times in 396 appearances before leaving for Finn Harps in 2007. He signed for Dungannon Swifts in 2009, before retiring aged 37 in July 2010.  

Mark Farren: City legend and all-time leading goal scorer Mark Farren played for Tranmere Rovers and Huddersfield Town during his youth career, prior to signing for Finn Harps in 2000. After just one appearance in Ballybofey, and seven in two years for Monaghan United, Farren joined the Candystripes in 2003. He was named PFAI Player of the Year for 2005 after registering 18 league goals in 31 games. Farren was instrumental in leading the line for Derry City when the Candystripes won the First Division in 2010 but was forced to put his career on hold due to a brain tumour. He returned to the squad in September 2011 and overtook Liam Coyle as the club’s top scorer with 113 goals in September 2012. Farren joined Glenavon in 2013 and netted ten goals in fifteen games in the NIFL Premiership. Farren sadly passed away in February 2016 and Derry City retired his iconic number 18 jersey in his honour.

Kevin McHugh: Killea man Kevin McHugh made his Finn Harps debut aged 17 in 1998, scoring 106 goals in 184 games before signing for Derry City in 2006. After two years and 22 goals, the striker signed for Linfield on a two-and-a-half year contract but, just 6 months into his contract he suffered a hamstring injury which he struggled to recover from – seeing McHugh back at Finn Harps ahead of the 2010 campaign. Six more years at Finn Harps followed, with his career eventually being cut short after a freak accident which saw him sever a finger at an underage coaching session in 2016. He is currently on Darren Murphy’s backroom team at Finn Harps and is seen as club legend for the Donegal side. 

Stephen O’Flynn: Mallow native Stephen O’Flynn played for eleven clubs during his career, starting out with Mallow United then Wimbledon in 1998. After two stints at Cork City, and a year at Limerick, the forward signed for Derry City in 2005. He scored thirteen goals in red and white, including the winner against IFK Goteborg in the second leg of the UEFA Cup first round tie in 2006, but was released when Pat Fenlon took over that December. O'Flynn was back up in the north-west in 2014 after coming out of retirement to sign for Institute. He won the NIFL Championship after scoring eight goals in ten games. This warranted a move to Crusaders, from where he was loaned to Ballinamallard United. He lined out for Donegal Celtic and Glentoran before retiring for good in 2018.

Pól O'Hare - 23rd January 2024