CityView Vol-40 No-11 - Derry City vs Waterford - Monday 3rd June

DERRY CITY F.C. v WATERFORD F.C. LEAGUE OF IRELAND MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION MONDAY 3rd JUNE 2024 | 6.00pm Vol. 40 - No. 11

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Welcome to...

WATERFORD F.C.

DERRY CITY FOOTBALL CLUB Formed:

1928

Ground:

Brandywell Stadium

Manager:

Ruaidhrí Higgins

Asst Manager:

Paul Hegarty

Coach:

Conor Loughrey

Fitness Coach:

Kevin McCreadie

GK Coach:

Michael Dougherty

Development:

Mark McChrystal

Perfor Analyst:

Seamus McCallion

Opp Analyst:

Gerard Boyle

Physio:

Michael Hegarty

Equipment:

Gerry Sheppard

Kit Man:

Gavin Doherty

Kit Man:

Philip Johnson

Doctor:

Dr. Noel Boyle

CITYVIEW is the Official Match Day Programme of Derry City FC. The views expressed are, however, not necessarily those of the Board Of Directors, or indeed the Programme Committee. Design and Layout by Andrew Cassidy. Photographs courtesy of Maiden City Images, Event Images unless otherwise stated. Cover image

by Ramsey Cardy. Printing by City Print, Springtown Industrial Estate. Please support all of our sponsors. For queries about CityView contact andrew@derrycityfc.net

HONOURS:

League of Ireland Premier Division: 1988–89, 1996–97 FAI Cup: 1988–89, 1994–95, 2002, 2006, 2012, 2022 League of Ireland Cup: 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1999–00, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2018 League of Ireland First Division: 1986–87, 2010 League of Ireland First Division Shield: 1985–86 Irish Football League: 1964–65 IFA Cup: 1948–49, 1953–54, 1963–64

Welcome back to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium for the first of two home games in five days again! Our third game in a week.

We’re back here again on Friday to play Galway United, but tonight we’re here for the visit of Waterford.

Welcome Keith Long and his staff, as well as all the officials and supporters who travelled up from Waterford this evening. It’s a bank holiday in the south, so hopefully there’s a good few fans here and a good atmosphere as well.

Unfortunately though, it’s not a bank holiday here, so hopefully today’s 6pm kick off time doesn’t rule a lot of fans out through work.

Tonight is the second visit this season from Waterford. The first was back in early March when Derry finished up 3-0 winners thanks to a Pat Hoban hat-trick, bringing his total to five goals

in five games at that time.

The last time Waterford took all three points away from the Brandywell was back in April 2021. Shane Griffin opened the scoring before Cameron McJanett equalised just before half time. The winner came in the second half when Nathan Gartside conceded a penalty.

He saved Oscar Brennan’s shot, but Brennan converted the rebound to grab the winner.

Before that, it was a 2-1 win in 2018, so let’s hope it’s not a three year cycle!

Enjoy the game!

TONIGHT’S MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee: PAUL MCLAUGHLIN

Assistant 1: Darren Corcoran |Assistant 2: Conor Fitzgibbon Fourth Official: Damien MacGraith

TONIGHT’S MATCH SPONSOR:

60 Clooney Road, Maydown, Derry, BT47 6TP Tel: (028) 7186 1020 - Email: mail@aeglobal.uk PLEASE SUPPORT ALL OUR SPONSORS

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MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGER

I’d like to welcome Keith Long and his players and staff to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium tonight following a quick turnaround from the weekend matches.

Unfortunately we’re again at the behest of deadlines so tonight’s piece had to be written ahead of Friday night’s game in Dundalk, hence the lack of reference!

While results have been a bit up and down recently, and frustrating as though that has been, you’ll be aware that slowly but surely we’ve been getting our long-term injured players back on the pitch.

In recent weeks we’ve seen Patrick McEleney, Sadou Diallo, Michael Duffy and Cameron Dummigan all get valuable game time while Ciaron Harkin has also returned after almost two years out with a double ACL injury.

Ciaron bleeds Derry City and players and fans alike were delighted to see him back and hopefully it will be a similar picture with Colm Whelan in the coming weeks.

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We’ve only had a glimpse of what Colm is capable of at Derry City but I think anyone who has seen him play either here or at UCD will know what an exciting talent he is.

As he now gets close to full fitness however we have a duty to manage his return.

He is obviously raring to go as soon as he is ready but we will take whatever time is necessary to make sure we’re looking after Colly’s best interests, regardless of how long that may be.

We’ve always felt that with our full squad available that we’d be a match for anyone in the league and if we can keep everyone fit, it will be all to play for this season.

We have the FAI Cup first round draw coming up this Thursday and then the European draw in the middle of the month, so these are exciting times for everyone.

Again I want to thank you for your continued support and we’ll be doing everything we can to send you all home happy tonight.

Enjoy the game

Ruaidhrí Higgins, Manager

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DERRY CITY VS ARSENAL 1987 As the English First Division had an uneven number of teams, Arsenal found themselves without a fixture on Saturday 5th September 1987 and with Derry City being out of the League Cup George Graham brought his star-studded Gunners to the Bandywell for a friendly match. Arsenal had beaten Liverpool in the League Cup the previous season.

City player manager Noel King had four trialists in his squad – Nick Duncan, Paul Fenlon, Jacko Mc Donagh and Brazilian Sergio Da Silva (who put in an impressive performance).

Departing striker Alex Krstic, recently transferred to German Second Division club Saarbrucken for £50,000, was given a standing ovation as he waved his farewells to the crowd.

The visitors with a leisurely display and a goal in each half cruised to victory in front of

By Francie McCauley an attendance of 8,000.

Early goal attempts from both sides were long range efforts coming from Williams and Groves for Arsenal and Felix Healy for Derry. The opening goal for the visitors came when a high centre was knocked back by Rix and as Rocastle challenged Eamonn Quigley the ball fell to Smith (a recent signing for £750,000) who had an easy task of tapping the ball into an empty net.

The Candystripes quickly came close to an equaliser when a Da Silva free kick sent Owen Da Gama clear but his volley went narrowly wide with Arsenal keeper Lukic flat footed.

In the second half Quigley parried a long-range Thomas effort and Merson was on hand to stroke the ball home from fifteen yards to double the Gunners score. With a large number of substitutions being used the game quickly petered out into a lifeless encounter.

Admission prices were £5/£2-50 to the Stand and £3/£1 to the Ground. There was good reading in the 24page programme priced at 50p. Along with the usual Football Crossword, Half Time Quiz, Foyleman’s Bits & Pieces and Fan Focus (which featured “Lucky Bill Breslin who was chairman of the local Arsenal Supporters’ Club and a founder member of

the Creggan Supporters’ Club the bulk of the articles related to the Arsenal club – a ‘City View’ Welcome, info on Today’s Visitors, pen portraits of their squad and a smattering of photographs. The team lists were on the back page.

Other articles included ‘Highbury Memories’ which recounted a visit to Highbury by Mick Mc Bride when, on honeymoon and as an undercover Manchester United supporter, he found himself in the midst of Arsenal fans in February 1968. There was also a ‘Thank You Alex Krstic & Best Wishes’ penned by the Editor and a match report on City’s recent League Cup tie in Sligo. Joseph and Eugene Mc Geehan also wrote an item about the opening to the 1962-63 season twenty-five years previously.

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THE EUROS In just 11 day’s time the first game in this year’s Euros will kick off in the Alliance Stadium, Munich when the hosts & 3 time winners of the trophy, Germany take on Scotland.

This is the 17th tournament and the second time it is being held in Germany albeit that the 1988 games were confined to the former West Germany. The Final will be held on Sunday, 14th July at the 71,000 seater Olympiastadion in Berlin. There are 9 other venues which also hosted the 2006 World Cup games plus the Düsseldorf Arena.

Munich’s stadium also featured in the last 2020 Euro’s which were actually delayed to the following year due to the Covid pandemic ! Unfor-

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tunately there is no home interest this time as both Irelands’ teams were eliminated in the qualifying rounds. The Republic team qualified for Championship Finals in 1988, 2012 & 2016. N.Ireland joined them that year for their first & only appearance. Apart from our close neighbours across the “sheugh” only England have managed to made it through this time. They have played in the finals on 10 occasions and were runners up to Italy in the 2021 games, losing out on penalties 3-2 after the game ended 1-1 with extra time.

The other teams in their group are

Sean McGillan

Slovenia, Serbia & Denmark.

Their Manager, Gareth Southgate recently announced his provisional squad with Marcus Rashford & Jordan Henderson left out. His final squad of 26 will be unveiled on 7th June. After playing their opening game Scotland have to face Hungary & Switzerland. The Group stage finishes on 26th and the knock out rounds (last 16) begin the following day. The Quarter Finals are on July 5th & 6th, with the semis on 9th & 10th before the final showdown on Sunday 14th. Latest betting odds on the team to lift the trophy are England 100/30; France 4/1; Germany11/2; Portugal & Spain both 8/1. Finally the mascot for the tournament is a teddy bear called Albart. He was selected by schoolchildren as part of the UEFA Football in Schools Programme getting 32% of the vote.

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OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S LEAGUES

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE

2024 LEAGUE TABLE: Pld Pts Shelbourne

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DERRY CITY

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31

Shamrock Rvrs

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28

Galway United

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27

Bohemians

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25

Waterford

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24

St. Pat’s Athletic

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20

Sligo Rovers

17

19

Drogheda Utd

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15

(Results not in at time fo printing)

Dundalk

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NEXT HOME GAME:

Last Round’s Fixtures:

This Round’s Fixtures:

FRIDAY 31st MAY Dundalk v DERRY CITY Drogheda Utd v Shamrock Rvrs St Pat’s Athletic v Galway Utd Waterford v Bohemian Shelbourne v Sligo Rovers

FRIDAY 24th MAY Galway Utd v Shamrock Rvrs DERRY CITY v Waterford Sligo Rovers v Drogheda Utd St Pat’s Athletic v Dundalk Bohemain v Shelbourne

Derry City vs Galway United Friday 7th June, 7.45pm

#CITYVIEW AVAILABLE ONLINE!!

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RESERVES, U19s, U17s & LADIES UPDATES

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE JUNGLE VIEW thejungleview.wordpress.com/

EA SPORTS U14 LOI DEVELOPMENT DAY Congratulations to the Derry City U14 team on their outstanding performance at the EA SPORTS LOI Academy Development Day in Abbotstown this afternoon.

The team played three games while U15 international assessments also took place.

RESULTS: 8 - Derry City 0 - Cobh Ramblers Goals: Michael McColgan (3), Mark Gregg (2), Liam Kelly, Jay McCafferty, Daryl Meenan.

3 - Derry City 1 - Waterford Goals: Michael McColgan, Kai Anderson, Steven Coyle.

2 - Derry City 0 - Mayo Goals: Michael McColgan, Coyle.

Jerry

Special mention to Michael McColgan, who scored five goals, bringing his season total to 19 goals in 13 games.

It was a fantastic experience for all the lads. Well done!

EA SPORTS U14 LOI ACADEMY Derry City U14s wrapped up the season’s first phase in style on the 18th of May with their fourth successive win.

That man again, Michael McColgan continued to shine in his first season at the club, scoring a hat-trick in a fantastic 3-1 victory over Shelbourne in Dublin.

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C IS FOR CHILDHOOD...

Who were your favourite team as a boy and what got you into them?

CALLUM MCCAY

I grew up as a Liverpool fan. It was the team my uncle supported and it just kind of came from there.

Dubai

I IS FOR IDOL...

Which footballer did you idolise as a boy?

Steven Gerrard. Being a Liverpool fan!

D IS FOR DRESS SENSE...

Which Derry City team mate has the worst fashion sense?

Sean Patton! 100%

E IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT...

A IS FOR ANNOYING...

Which team mate would you hate to sit beside on the bus all the way to Cork and why?

Tiernan McGinty because he doesn’t stop talking

B IS FOR BOX...

What is your favourite TV show? Either at the minute or of all time.

I’d say my favourite TV show of all time would have to be Friends.

What CD and DVD would you play on the bus to Dublin if it was your choice?

I usually just like to listen to house music to myself on the way to away games. I’d just have to play that to the whole bus!

F IS FOR FUNNY...

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happen in your time in football?

Probably the time my old manager got slide tackled and ended up falling over on the sideline!

G IS FOR GOAL...

What’s been the best goal you’ve ever scored?

I would say my goal for Northern Ireland U17 against Luxembourg.

H IS FOR HOLIDAY...

What is your favourite holiday destination? Or where would you like to go no expense spared?

My favourite holiday destination would have to be Spain but I would also love to go to

J IS FOR JOKER...

Who is the biggest practical joker in the team?

Definitely Ciaran Coll!

K IS FOR KIT...

What has been your favourite football kit that you’ve ever played in or owned?

I really liked last seasons home kit.

L IS FOR LIFE AFTER PLAYING...

Do you see yourself staying in football when your playing career is over?

Yeah, I would love to go on to become a manager when I finish playing

M IS FOR MEMENTO...

What is the one football memento you own that you’ll

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never give away?

I think maybe I’ll always have the shirt that I made my debut for Derry City in.

N IS FOR NEXT BIG THING...

Which Derry City player do you think could be the next to make a move overseas?

I’d say Will Patching

O IS FOR OPPOSITION...

Which opposition do you look forward to playing the most either this year or every year?

I love the derby against Finn Harps.

P IS FOR PASSTIME...

Outside of football, do you have any hobbies in your spare time?

I love to play golf in my spare time

R IS FOR RESULT...

W IS FOR WHILE AWAY

S IS FOR SKILLS...

How do you keep yourself entertained during away trips or overnights?

I just like to watch a series on Netflix

Which result meant the most to you in your career?

Beating Peru 1-0 with Northern Ireland U17.

Who has the best skills in the team?

Micky Duffy

T IS FOR TEAM MATES...

Who is the best player you’ve ever played with?

Patrick McEleney (left)

THE TIME...

X IS FOR EXCHANGE...

If you could change places with someone in another sport for a day, who would it be?

Luke Littler. I like watching the darts!

U IS FOR UNPARALLELED...

Who is the best player you’ve ever played against?

Lewis Miley from Newcastle United.

Q IS FOR QUIZ...

Which Derry City team mate would you definitely not want in your team if you were to do a quiz?

Daniel Kelly!

Y IS FOR YOUTH...

V IS FOR VEHICLE...

What car do you drive now, and what would you drive if you were in the Premiership?

I currently drive a black A class Mercedes, but I would love to have a Range Rover if I was in the Premiership

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Where did you start your youth career, and did you always play in the same position?

I started playing for Don boscos at 5 years old and I’ve always been a midfielder

Z IS FOR ZERO CHANCE...

What club would there be no chance of you ever playing for or supporting?

I can’t imagine I’d ever start supporting Shamrock Rovers!

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TONIGHT’S SQUADS DERRY CITY F.C.

WATERFORD F.C.

1 - BRIAN MAHER 2 - RONAN BOYCE 3 - CIARÁN COLL 4 - CIARON HARKIN 6 - MARK CONNOLLY 7 - MICHAEL DUFFY 8 - WILL PATCHING 9 - PATRICK HOBAN 10 - PATRICK MCELENEY 11 - COLM WHELAN 12 - PAUL MCMULLAN 14 - BEN DOHERTY 15 - SADOU DIALLO 16 - SHANE MCELENEY 17 - CAMERON MCJANNET 21 - DANNY MULLEN 22 - JORDAN MCENEFF 23 - CAMERON DUMMIGAN 24 - SAM TODD 26 - TADHG RYAN 27 - DANIEL KELLY 28 - ADAM O’REILLY 30 - EVAN OVENDALE 31 - TIERNAN MCGINTY 32 - SEAN PATTON 39 - CONOR BARR 40 - CALUM MCCAY 41 - LUKE O’DONNELL Manager: RUAIDHRÍ HIGGINS

1 - RONAN MORRIS 2 - DARRAGH POWER 3 - RYAN BURKE 4 - NIALL O’KEEFFE 5 - GRANT HORTON 6 - ROWAN MCDONALD 7 - BEN MCCORMACK 8 - BARRY BAGGLEY 9 - PÁDRAIG AMOND 10 - CONNOR PARSONS 11 - MALEACE ASAMOAH 14 - CONNOR EVANS 15 - DARRAGH LEAHY 17 - KACPER RADKOWSKI 18 - ROBBIE MCCOURT 19 - HARVEY MACADAM 20 - CAMERON CRESSWELL 21 - CHRISTIE PATTISSON 22 - GBEMI ARUBI 23 - ROMEO AKACHUKWU 25 - JASON HEALY 26 - ADAM QUEALLY 27 - DEAN MCMENAMY 31 - SAM SARGEANT 33 - RONAN MANSFIELD 36 - JOSEPH FORDE 77 - KACPER SKWIERCZYŃSKI Manager: KEITH LONG

Tonight’s Match Sponsors:

60 Clooney Road, Maydown Tel: (028) 7186 1020 Email: mail@aeglobal.uk

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FIRST FOR SPORT IN THE NORTH-WEST bbc.co.uk/radiofoyle 22

CITY CUBS CORNER Send us in your photos and drawings to citycubs@derrycityfc.net and we’ll get them printed on the City Cubs page in the programme!!

SHIRT NUMBER MATHS CHALLENGE

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Can you do the maths with the shirt numbers to find out the name of the hidden Derry City player?

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Can you spot the FIVE differences between the two photos?

ANSWERS: SHIRT NUMBER MATHS: Paul McMullan (12) + Mark Connolly (6) - Ciaran Coll (3) = Sadou Diallo (15) SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: 1) Ball has disappeared; 2) The houses in the background have been extended; 3) Sam Todd’s name & number has disappeared; 4) Toilets sign has disappeared; 5) Spare football nets have appeared in the background

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Home & Away Live Match Commentary From our Match Night Live team on 105.3fm and online at www.drive105.co.uk

Drive105mnl 28

FANZONE: MEET THE FANS Supporting Derry City since they joined the League of Ireland in 1985, Paul Murray is tonight’s contributor to the fanzone page of the ever popular Cityview programme. Welcome Paul.

Name: Paul Murray How long have you been supporting Derry City?

I have been supporting Derry City since 1985.

Where do you sit in the Brandywell?

I sit along with my father in block Q in the Mark Farren stand.

Best Player you’ve seen playing for the Candystripes?

That’s an easy one, Liam Coyle

so easy. He always stood out on the pitch What’s the best ground, apart from the Brandywell, that you’ve seen Derry play in?

The best ground visited would have to be The Aviva Stadium and I’ll also add Fir Park for the most memorable night against Gretna.

What goal sticks out in your mind?

The goal that strikes out in my mind most was Johnny Speake’s goal against Dundalk from the treble season Why? Because that goal put us on our way to the treble. The nutmeg from Liam Coyle and the finish from Johnny Speake! I was in the old “Jungle” that day and the place went mad. MAJESTIC! Name your best Derry City team (you can pick from any era) One to Eleven with Three subs 1.Tim Dalton

2.Kevin Brady 3.Eddie McCallion 4.Peter Hutton 5.Mick Neville 6. Paul Doolin 7.Felix Healy 8.Paddy McCourt 9.Liam Coyle 10.Johnny Speake 11.Paul Carlyle SUBS 12.Stuart Gauld 13.Paul Hegarty 14.Mark Farren Best manager you’ve seen at Derry City?

Jim McLaughlin Favourite half time snack?

Half time refreshment is a nice cup of tea What one thing would you introduce that you feel would improve the match day experience?

To improve the match day experience we would need a grass pitch as Derry play better on grass

Why? A genius of a player who could do anything with the ball and his vision was next to none.

He scored some spectacular goals in his day.

Best opposition player you’ve seen play?

Joseph N’Do Why? Because he made the game look

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A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE

By Mick McBride

WHEN WATERFORD WAS NOT UNITED! As we welcome tonight’s visitors, Waterford, for the second time this season, I wander back in time to invoke some very happy memories of the southeastern club. Mind you, our team, Derry City, weren’t even involved on this occasion!

Back in the mid-Sixties to the early Seventies, Waterford, as they were known before becoming Waterford United, then changing back again, dominated the L.O.I. winning the League title a staggering SIX times in eight seasons and finished as runners up once! Of course they played in Europe every year and on 18th September 1968 they were drawn against the mighty Manchester United, winners of the muchcoveted trophy the previous May. The town of Waterford was in frenzy at the prospect of a once in a lifetime encounter with those giants who strutted across the world stage of soccer. Such was the incredible demand for tickets; the club wisely switched the game from Kilcohan Park to the much bigger venue of Lansdowne Road.

(It seems that two Irish International games were played there in the early part of the century against England and Italy but this was the first time that the rugby ground was used for a soccer game involving two clubs) On a personal note, as I was a member of the Man. Utd. Fan

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Club at this time, I applied for, and received, four stand tickets, (including one for my brother, Noel, of course) for the game, from Old Trafford, much to my delight! However, even though I had passed my driving test in Belfast a few months earlier, I did not possess a car!

Or dilemma was solved when our life insurance man, good friend, and United fanatic, Les Cunnah, (father of Peter Cunnah) offered to drive us to Dublin for the game. We gladly accepted!

LAWMAN HITS TOWN! The packed enclosure of almost 50,000 saw the teams take the field to a rapturous reception, and most of the United stars were on parade, including Law, Charlton and Best. However I also had a special interest in a certain Waterford player, namely Jimmy McGeough. The ex-Derry City hero of mine had been a vital cog in our ’65 Championship

winning side before joining Waterford, after a falling out with Derry. (Jimmy went on to star for Waterford for seven years, picking up a hat-full of medals in the process.)

As for the game itself, well, Waterford did all in their power to stem the Red tide and were giving a good account of themselves. However, they were powerless to contain that man Law, my hero, who ran riot throughout the game. He helped himself to a hat-trick and even contrived to miss a penalty, striking the upright with his effort. I can still vividly see his headed goal as he leaped like a salmon and hung for an eternity in the air before crashing the ball home.

BATTLE OF BELFAST! As for McGeough, he can look back with some pride on his own ‘Battle of Belfast’ with his somewhat better known opponent from his home-town.

He had a tremendous game,

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A STOLL DOWN MEMORY LANE continued... snuffing out the outstanding talents of Best, with his usual dynamic tackling, which was the hallmark of his game. As I watched in admiration, I realised just how big a loss he was for my home team, Derry City.

Matthews grabbed a consolation goal for Waterford, which received the biggest cheer of the day!

The return leg saw United run out easy 7-1 winners with Law scoring another four goals to complete the rout. Casey scored the consolation goal for Waterford this time. Such was the gulf between world class teams and an Irish side in those days, and perhaps is still the

same, to this very day.

WATERFORD: Thomas, Bryan, Casey, Coad, Griffin, Hale, Matthews, McGeough, Morley, Morrissey, O’Neill.

MANCHESTER UNITED: Stepney (Rimmer), Dunne, Burns, Crerand, Foulkes, Stiles, Best, Sadler, Charlton, Law, Kidd.

LANDMARKS: 100TH GAME FOR MAHER In recent games of the season, we have seen a few milestones for both the club and some players.

Firstly, in the home game against Shelbourne, Brian Maher made his 100th Derry City appearance.

Brian becomes the 58th player to reach a century of games for Derry City during our 39 years in League of Ireland.

The first player to represent the club on 100 occasions was Stuart Gauld in a 0-1 home defeat to Shamrock Rovers in April 1989. In Oct 1989, Jack Keay, Jonathon Speak and Felix Healy all made their 100th appearance for the club.

Earlier this season, Ciaron Harkin and Will Patching became the most recent players to make 100 appearances for the club.

By Brian Dunleavy Also in the Shelbourne game, Mark Connolly made his 50th start for the club, becoming the 96th player to reach this milestone.

The first player to start 50 games for the club was Kevin Mahon in Feb 1987, on the day when we were presented with the first division trophy. For the record, City, whose side included former Arsenal and England midfielder Alan Sunderland, won 5-1, with a hat trick from Owen Da Gama and a penalty from Alex Krstic, the other was an own goal.

A month later Noel King became the second player to reach a half century of games for the club, when we lost 1-2 away to Bohemians in the FAI cup, with both King and Kevin Mahon being sent off, while Owen Da

Gama, who scored our goal that day became the third player to play 50 games for City, when he netted a hat trick in a 5-0 home win over Limerick City in Nov 1987. It was Jim McLaughlin’s first game in charge of the side, with Felix Healy scoring our 50th league goal at Brandywell and John Cunningham with his first Derry City strike, being our other scorers on the day.

Last season both Brian Maher, Cameron Dummigan and Sadou Diallo, were the most recent players to make their 50th start for the club.

City’s goal against Shelbourne was scored by Paul McMullan, who netted his first goal for the club. The winger becomes the 246th player to score for Derry City in our 39 years in League of Ireland.

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CANDYSTRIPES & BLUES: PLAYERS WHO HAVE PLAYED FOR BOTH

By Pól O’Hare

ADAM O’REILLY senior appearances, the forward made the move to UCD, where he recorded an impressive 44 goals in 66 games. A serious knee injury curtailed his

came home and away against KuPS in Europa Conference League qualifying last summer.

Still only 21, the big striker returned to St. Pat’s ahead of the 2024 campaign.

PATRICK MCCLEAN

A Derry City player since early 2023, Adam O’Reilly spent the first half of the 2021 campaign on loan at Waterford from Preston North End. In fact, the Cork native started in the Brandywell in a 2-1 win for the Munstermen in April 2021. Cian Kavanagh, who I’ll come on to later, led the line for Waterford that day. The former Ireland U17 international began his career at Ringmahon Rangers, the same club that Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher started out with, before signing for Preston North End. After loans in the English non-leagues, and the aforementioned six months with Waterford, O’Reilly played the 2022 on loan at St. Patrick’s Athletic before making the permanent switch to Derry. He is closing in on fifty games for the Candystripes and is an ever-present in Ruaidhrí Higgins’ midfield.

COLM WHELAN The second current Derry player to have played for Waterford, Colm Whelan joined the Blues from his local Thomastown United in 2017. After just five

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2022 season before Derry City swooped to sign the Ireland U21 striker, who was also the subject of interest from sides in England. Whelan scored twice in three appearances for City in 2023 before suffering another ACL injury against Shamrock Rovers in April. Hopefully we’ll see the Kilkenny man back in the red and white jersey soon.

CIAN KAVANAGH Dublin native Cian Kavanagh began his career with St. Pat’s before joining Hearts of Midlothian in Scotland as a sixteen year old. After no senior appearances, and a loan to Cowdenbeath, Kavanagh returned to Ireland to sign for Waterford in 2021. He featured in all of Waterford’s games against Derry City in the 2021 campaign before signing for the Candystripes in July 2022 after scoring nine in 33 in Munster. Two of Kavanagh’s five Derry goals

A product of Derry City’s academy, Patrick McClean made the move south to Waterford after two years with the Candystripes’ senior team ahead of the 2017 campaign. After just one season with the Blues, where the defender scored twice in 27 games, McClean signed for Sligo Rovers in 2018.

A year later and the then 22 year old returned to Derry for a second spell. With 24 appearances in all in in red and white, McClean switched to Belfast side Glentoran in July 2019. Now 27, the centre back has made more than 150 appearances for the Glens.

DAVID MCDAID Another Derry man, Davy McDaid joined City from Tristar in 2008. He broke into the first

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Loans are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating which may limit your ability to access credit in the future. Derry Credit Union Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (FRN574104) Registered address 7-9 Abbey Street, Derry, BT48 9DN. E&OE February 2024.

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CANDYSTRIPES & BLUES: PLAYED FOR BOTH continued... team in the summer of 2009 after loans to Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps. The striker joined York City after the 2012 campaign but returned to the Candystripes in July 2013 and made 133 appearances throughout his Derry City career. Moves to Coleraine and Cliftonville followed before McDaid found himself back in the League of Ireland, this time with Waterford in 2017. Davy McDaid established himself as a fan’s favourite in his only year at Waterford before making the move to Larne at the end of the campaign. Nearly 60 goals followed in five years in Antrim before the striker signed for Ballymena United. Now 33, McDaid is back at Coleraine and bagged three goals last season.

BASTIEN HÉRY A joy to watch on his day, Madagascan midfielder Bastien Héry made his Waterford debut against Derry City in February 2018. A product of Paris Saint Germain’s academy, Héry played for Rochdale, Carlisle United and Accrington Stanley in the English Football League before moving to Limerick in 2017. After impressing in his season in Limerick, Héry became integral in the Waterford midfield and won the club’s Player of the Year and Goal of the Season awards in 2018. A move to Linfield in July 2019 followed, before switching to Bohemians in 2021. After a solitary start in Phibsborough, Héry signed for Derry on loan in July – failing to score in eleven appearances. Now 31, the midfielder finds himself at Longford

Town in the First Division after spells at Finn Harps and Galway United.

WILL FITZGERALD

twice in blue before signing for St. Patrick’s Athletic in 2021. A key part of their FAI Cup winning side that year, it seemed that Ruaidhrí Higgins had pulled off a real coup in bringing the striker to the Brandywell in 2022. It didn’t quite work out for Smith however, who scored three goals in twenty appearances at Derry City and was sent off against Riga FC in European qualifiers. He joined Shels on loan in July 2022 before signing on a permanent basis in 2023.

WALTER FIGUEIRA

Similarly to Bastien Héry, current Sligo Rovers winger Will Fitzgerald also spent time at Limerick before signing for Waterford. Fitzgerald came through the academy at Mervue United before his switch to Limerick in 2016. After 42 senior appearances, the young wide player moved to Waterford in the summer window of 2019.

With just a single goal under his belt at Waterford, he joined for Derry City ahead of the 2021. A tricky winger, Fitzgerald appeared 36 times during his season on Foyleside before joining Sligo Rovers in 2022. At 24, he features regularly for the Bit’O’Red and has two goal involvements this term.

MATT SMITH Former Celtic forward Matt Smith made the move to Ireland in 2020, joining Waterford after appearing for Dundee United, Montrose and Cove Rangers in Scotland. Impressing during the COVID disrupted campaign of 2020, Smith netted

Brought to Derry after scoring a brace for Waterford against the Candystripes in the 2019 League Cup semi-final, Walter Figueira was an impressive signing by Declan Devine ahead of the 2020 campaign.

After spending time in Chelsea’s youth academy, Figueira had spells in the English nonleagues, Greek Super League and Portuguese third tier before joining Waterford in 2018.

He left Derry for Sligo Rovers in 2021 after nineteen appearances and currently lines out for Lewes in the Isthmian Premier Division.

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This week... Derry City fan... MARK MCGRATH 1. Member of Scotland’s Euro 2024 Squad, Kieran Tierney was playing his football with which club this past season?

4.

2. Which manager signed Kevin De Bruyne to Manchester City?

3. Host stadium for the first game of Euro 2024, Fußball Arena München is better known by which name?

4. Can you name the former Chelsea player pictured on the right.

5. Perhaps most famous for being headbutted by Zin-

6. edine Zidane, Marco Materazzi spent one season at which Premiership club in 1998/99?

6. Tottenham Hotspur’s German International Timo Werner is there on loan from which club?

7. Derry City have scored 5 goals against Waterford in two games this season. Pat Hoban scored 4 of them, who scored the other?

8. Which club did Waterford manager Keith Long play most games for during his playing career?

MARK’S ANSWERS: 1) He’s in Spain I think. Deportivo or someone?; 2) Mancini; 3) Well if it’s in Munich, it must the the Allianz Arena?; 4) Pass!; 5) I have a notion he was with Everton maybe?; 6) Don’t know! Chelsea?; 7) Can’t honestly remember!; 8) I’ll just have to guess... St Pats

MARK’S SCORE: 2 out of 8! Can you beat it?

ANSWERS: 1) Real Sociedad; 2) Manuel Pellegrini 3) Allianz Arena; 4) Alberto Aquilani; 5) Everton; 6) RB Leipzig; 7) Will Patching; 8) Bray Wanderers

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BE THE CHALLENGER! CONTACT ANDREW@DERRYCITYFC.NET

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