CityView Vol-40 No-2 - Derry City vs St Patrick's Athletic - Friday 1st March

DERRY CITY F.C. v ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION FRIDAY 1st MARCH 2024 | 7.45pm Vol. 40 - No. 02

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Welcome to...

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

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 game of the new season against St Patrick’s Athletic.

Welcome back also to Jon Daly, as well as the players, officials, and supporters from Drogheda who have travelled up this evening.

And while we’re welcoming back the St Pat’s players, there’s a special mention tonight for the two Kavanaghs who left Derry for the Saints during the close season. Cian Kavanagh and Brandon Kavanagh brought many great memories to the Brandywell fans during their time here and the two lads are missed around the club. We wish them well with their new ventures.

Games against St Pat’s are always tight affairs historically, but a strange fact is that St Pat’s haven’t left the Brandywell with three points in almost 5 years!

October 2019 saw St Pat’s win

3-1 here. David Parkhouse got the goal for Derry that night.

Before that, it was June 2015 they took the three points before that!

Another strange fact is that in both those games, Chris Forrester was one of the goal scorers for Pats, and Chris remains in the St Pat’s lineup again tonight nine years later!

So we’ll have our work cut out tonight keeping him quiet and keeping the two Kavanaghs quiet!

Enjoy the game and hopefully we can remain undefeated.

TONIGHT’S MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee: ROBERT HARVEY

Assistant 1: Robert Clarke |Assistant 2: Richard Storey Fourth Official: Gavin Colfer

TONIGHT’S MATCH SPONSOR:

www.jandkcoaches.co.uk Phone:028 8673 7776

PLEASE SUPPORT ALL OUR SPONSORS

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MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGER

I’d like to welcome Jon Daly and his players, staff and supporters to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium tonight at the start of a busy few days for all clubs.

St Pats enjoyed a good season in 2023 and are a side that everyone is expecting to be in contention again this time around There wasn’t much between the two teams last year and if the first couple of weeks of the new campaign are anything to go by it’s going to be another very competitive season ahead.

I can’t remember a start where every team in the division had dropped points after just two matches, but it shows what we’ve known since the season started, that every squad in this league is capable of holding their own.

We followed up our opening night win over Drogheda with a hard-fought draw in Sligo on Saturday and while the game itself was far from a classic, we’ll take a point and move on.

Off the field, work has now started on the new stand and the club is hoping to have that completed by the end of July.

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It is imperative that we keep moving forward on all fronts, and you may also have seen this week that goalkeeping coach Michael Dougherty has signed a full-time contract with us.

He has brought a real energy to his work since he came in and part of the success is that Michael works with our goalkeepers as a group, from the under-14’s right up to the senior keepers- Brian, Tadhg and our latest addition, Evan Ovendale.

their progress.

Finally, it was great to see the big numbers of supporters who travelled to the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

You made plenty of noise and that encouragement was certainly appreciated by the players when the going was tough.

I have no doubt the place will be bouncing again tonight as we try to continue our decent start.

It’s an arrangement that really works and the ‘keepers absolutely do benefit from working together.

That’s something that will serve the club well over the next number of years and I’m looking forward to watching

Ruaidhrí Higgins, Manager

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PARK F.C. VS DERRY CITY 1985 In the summer of 1985 Derry City, following on from their visit to Culdaff at the end of June, continued their preparations for their entry to the League of Ireland with friendlies against Drummond, Drogheda United (drew one all), Coleraine (lost three nil, played at the Brandywell Showgrounds)) and Letterkenny before finishing their pre-season games with a visit to Park on Wednesday 28th July.

The County Derry side had won the North West F A’s Junior Cup the previous season as well as being runners up in the First Division and in the North West City Cup. The home side had the upper hand over the Candystripes in the first half taking the lead through a Brian Mc Elhinney goal on the half hour mark. Barry Mc Creadie struck the equaliser for the Candystripes on the stroke of half time.

By Francie McCauley Derry upped their game after the interval and were the stronger team during the second period.

With neither team finding the back of the net after the break the match finished one a piece, the draw being seen as a fair result.

The neatly put together programme for the game consisted of eight pages. The front page referred to the friendly as a Special Challenge Match.

Admission to the game was £1. There’s no price on the programme so perhaps it was included in the cost of admission?

There was a Secretary’s Address which marked the occasion as being City’s first ever visit to Park. This was followed by the team line ups. There were six changes to Derry’s squad from that which had played in Donegal a month earlier.

All three match officials came from Derry.

Two pages were devoted to pen portraits of the Park squad accompanied by a team photo. Eight of the Park players also played for local gaelic teams. Two pages were also given over to pen portraits of the Candystripes squad along with a team photo.

The only advert was for the Rio Grande Lounge in Park which had sponsored the programme. Tea and sandwiches were available for players, officials and photographers in the Parochial Hall after the game.

City were to visit Park again in July 1988 for another preseason friendly. The result was another draw, this time two all.

With the opening match in the League Cup at the Brandywell against Home Farm just ten days away the club (operating out of the Embassy Building on the Strand Road) were still advertising the sale of Season Tickets with prices being: Stand £40/Concessions £20 and for the Reserved Enclosure £20/£10.

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FOOTBALL FLARE UPS Round 2 of the League last week ended up at the Sligo Showgrounds where the Candystrips came away with a precious point to finish joint 4th in the table along with tonight’s opponents who lost 1-0 at home to Declan Devine’s Bohemians.

However the game at Inchicore ( a repeat of last year’s Cup Final) made the headlines because of the behaviour of the fans on the terraces. Both sets of supporters were apparently involved in protests against the FAI & their Chief Executive, Jonathan Hill.

Flares were thrown onto the pitch with one from a Boh’s fan hitting his own player Cian Byrne on the arm causing a delay in the second half while he received medical attention. From press reports it appears that the powers that be will come down hard & ban travelling supporters from away games for a while. The previous week at our near neighbours’ ground in Coleraine, Linfield fans let off flares which caused the game to be delayed at the start of the second half while the toxic smoke cleared. The Blues were fined £4000 in December for various misdemeanours at 2 away

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By Sean McGillan

games & a home game. So they could be in trouble again. Trawling through the press reports in various countries the following incidents came to my attention:- In Athens last December a 31 year old policeman died as a result of a flare shot by a volleyball fan who had joined in with others to attack the police outside the venue. The flare caused severe arterial damage to his thigh. Last month in Scotland a 13 year Inverness Caledonian Thistle boy was injured when a flare was thrown from the stand. South of the border in Birmingham in December last fans from Polish club, Legia Warsaw attached police with one officer being hit by a burning flare. Back in Italy in March 2023 Lazio and Celtic fans clashed in the Olympic Stadium, Rome with home fans throwing flares into the Hoops’ area despite screens & a bank of seats separating them. At least one pyrotechnic was thrown back. UEFA fined the Rome club £21,000 for offensive slogans, £14,500 for the flares & £15,600 for throwing objects.

They also imposed a partial stadium ban but suspended it for 2 years. I attended a game in the same ground many years ago when Roma were playing Milan and encountered “3 rings of steel” around the stadium on the way in. There were no flares in sight that night! Finally research has been carried out in Slovenia when detailed measurements were carried out in a game between Olympija Ljubljana v NK Maribor in an open roof 16,000 capacity stadium in 2019. Findings included :The use of pyrotechnics poses harm to both spectators & participants. Their use resulted in a release of large amounts of nano particles with heavy metals detected. The total concentration increased up to 1200 % during the event. Players were more exposed due to their higher Respiration rate. Warnings have again been issued by the Club of the consequences of using flares. So hopefully incidents like those described above will never happen here again in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

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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 Waterford

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4

Bohemians

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4

Shelbourne

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4

DERRY CITY

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4

Galway United

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3

St. Pat’s Athletic

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3

Sligo Rovers

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2

Shamrock Rvrs

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1

Dundalk

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1

Drogheda Utd

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Last Round’s Results:

This Round’s Fixtures:

FRIDAY 23rd FEBRUARY Dundalk 0-2 Galway United Drogheda Utd 1-4 Waterford Shelbourne v Shamrock Rvrs St. Pat’s Athl 0-1 Bohemians

FRIDAY 1st MARCH Bohemians v Dundalk DERRY CITY v St Pat’s Athletic Galway Utd v Waterford Shamrock Rvrs v Drogheda Utd Sligo Rovers v Shelbourne

FRIDAY 23rd FEBRUARY DERRY CITY 0-0 Sligo Rovers

NEXT HOME GAME:

Derry City vs Waterford Friday 8th March, 7.45pm

LANDMARKS: 50 GAMES FOR DUMMIGAN In the opening game of the season, both Pat Hoban and Daniel Kelly made their Derry City appearances, bring to 461 the number of players to have played for the club.

Pat Hoban also netted his first City goal, becoming our 245th goalscorer.

Brian Maher’s penalty save from Ryan Brennan, was just the 19th penalty save we have seen from a City keeper. It was Brian’s second penalty save, having saved from Shelbourne’s Shane Farrell last season.

In the same game, Cameron Dummigan made his 50th league appearance, becoming the 100th player to make 50 league appearances for the club in League of Ireland football.

The first player to play 50 league

games for the club was Kevin Mahon in December 1987, as we beat Galway United 3-0 at Terryland Park with goals from Jonathon Speak (2) and Owen Da Gama. Owen DaGama in a home game against Shelbourne in March 1988, was the second player to reach 50 league games, followed by Stuart Gauld against Athlone Town at St Mel’s Park in Oct 1988.

Last season, Brian Maher, Will Patching, Ben Doherty and Brandon Kavanagh all reached this milestone for the club.

The game against Drogheda, was our 100th against the County Louth club. In those 100 games, we have won 44, drawn 29 and lost 27, scoring 143 goals to Drogheda’s 96. Our top scorer against Drogheda is Mark Farren with 11 goals, while Droghe-

da’s top scorer against us is Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien with 10 goals.

Evan Weir’s excellent free kick for Drogheda’s goal, was the 500th goal we have conceded at home in the premier division. The first goal we conceded in the premier division was scored by Cork City’s John Caulfield in Sept 1987.

For the record the 2-1 win is the 100th time we have won by that scoreline.

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LAST TWO GAMES...

DERRY CITY 2 - 1 DROGHEDA UNITED: Derry got off to a winning start on the first night of the season. An opening goal from Ronan Boyce was cancelled out by Evan Weir’s free kick before Pat Hoban sealed the win with a dream debut goal for the Candystripes.

SLIGO ROVERS 0 - 0 DERRY CITY: It wasn’t a classic at the Showgrounds last Saturday night as both teams cancelled each other out and no one making any real attempts on goal that could be classed as a good chance. But a point at a ground were we got nothing last season is still a good improvement.

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C IS FOR CHILDHOOD...

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

DANIEL KELLY

Which footballer did you idolise as a boy?

Cristiano Ronaldo.

Even though I hated United!

It was always Leeds. My Da got me into them, so yeah, I’ve always been a Leeds supporter.

D IS FOR DRESS SENSE...

Which Derry City team mate has the worst fashion sense?

Tough one! I’ll say Pat Hoban!

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?

I’d say Cameron Dummigan! I pick him up in the mornings, so I think I listen to enough then!

B IS FOR BOX...

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

I’d say Prison Break. I’ve watched that a few times, that would be my favourite.

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

Film would be Happy Gilmore anyway. Music would be maybe a bit of Christy Moore.

F IS FOR FUNNY...

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

I’ll need to think about that one! There’s been a few funny moments at Dundalk with Stephen Kenny I could mention.

G IS FOR GOAL...

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

I know best and most important are different, but I think goal against KI to go to the group stages

H IS FOR HOLIDAY...

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

I’ve had a few to be fair. Either the Maldives or Zanzibar.

Bother were brilliant.

I IS FOR IDOL...

J IS FOR JOKER...

Who is the biggest practical joker in the team?

There’s a few messers to be fair! Patching is up there! I’d say others would say it was me! Or Ciaran Coll actually!

K IS FOR KIT...

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

We had a kit at Dundalk in 2019 it was a purple kit that was for the kids at Temple Street and we wore it in the EA Sports Cup the year we won it.

L IS FOR LIFE AFTER PLAYING...

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

Yeah, I’d imagine so. I haven’t made my mind up yet, but I’d say I’ll end up in some department of football anyway.

M IS FOR MEMENTO...

What is the one football memento you own that you’ll never give away?

Probably my first league winners medal.

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N IS FOR NEXT BIG the king of nutmegs!

THING...

T IS FOR TEAM MATES...

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

Brian Maher. I think he’s going to have a huge career, and definitely a call up to the national team in the next few years.

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

Either Fats or Michael Duffy!

O IS FOR OPPOSITION...

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

To be fair I like playing against Pats, I’ve scored the last 5 times I’ve played them. And with leaving Dundalk I look forward to playing them the next few years as well.

P IS FOR PASSTIME...

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

I like Call Of Duty and FIFA. And since I’ve moved up here, me and the lads go for a bit of snooker as well.

Q IS FOR QUIZ...

U IS FOR UNPARALLELED...

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

I played against Arsenal at the Aviva in Europe. They had a few good players. But I’d say, there was a fella called Zoubir for Qarabag and when we played them in Oriel Park he was absolutely incredible, so I’d say him in terms of someone that I hadn’t heard of but was impressed!

Who has the best skills in the team?

Patching is up there, Ben Doherty has a bit, Paul McMullan is

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THE TIME...

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

Podcasts or just getting a coffee with the lads. Or bring the PlayStation with me!

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

Probably.. Now, I’ve played golf about 4 times and I’m brutal at it, but I’d say Rory McIlroy just to travel the world and be good at it!

Y IS FOR YOUTH...

R IS FOR RESULT...

S IS FOR SKILLS...

W IS FOR WHILE AWAY

X IS FOR EXCHANGE...

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

Probably Cameron Dummigan again!

Which result meant the most to you in your career?

Probably the one at the Aviva when I scored. That’s probably the one I look back on and think about the most.

on Premiership money... probably a Lamborghini!

V IS FOR VEHICLE...

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

I drive an Audi A3 now, if I was

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

I started at Cambridge Boys in Ringsend from U7s all the way up. They were just round the corner from me, and, yeah I was always either a winger or a striker.

Z IS FOR ZERO CHANCE...

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

Millwall! Being a Leeds fan!

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TONIGHT’S SQUADS DERRY CITY F.C.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

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

1 - DANNY ROGERS 3 - ANTHONY BRESLIN 4 - JOE REDMOND 5 - TOM GRIVOSTI 6 - JAMIE LENNON 7 - RUAIRÍ KEATING 8 - CHRIS FORRESTER 9 - MASON MELIA 10 - KIAN LEAVY 11 - JASON MCCLELLAND 12 - CIAN KAVANAGH 13 - MARCELO PITALUGA 14 - BRANDON KAVANAGH 15 - ARRAN PETTIFER 16 - AARON BOLGER 17 - ROMAL PALMER 18 - ALFIE TAYLOR 19 - ALEX NOLAN 20 - JAKE MULRANEY 21 - AXEL SJÖBERG 22 - CONOR KEELEY 23 - RYAN MCLAUGHLIN 24 - LUKE TURNER 28 - RHYS BARTLEY 29 - MATT BOYLAN 31 - MICHAEL NOONAN 36 - LUKE KEHIR

Manager: RUAIDHRÍ HIGGINS

Manager: JON DALY

Tonight’s Match Sponsors:

www.jandkcoaches.co.uk | Phone:028 8673 7776

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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: Sadou Diallo (15) + Michael Duffy (7) - Will Patching (8) = Ben Doherty (14) SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: 1) Goalkeeper has appeared on left; 2) Extra house has appeared in the background; 3) Ball has disappeared; 4) Drogheda player’s right leg has disappeared; 5) Extra sign for ‘Gate 2’ has appeared on the wall to the right

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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 Tonight we travel all the way to the United States of America, New York to be precise, and include in the fanzone Derry’s own Colm (Smiley) Kerrigan.

Colm has been supporting Derry City since the age of 5 and although he now lives in New York, he follows Derry every week on LOI TV and when home always ensures that his visit coincides with home matches.

Name: Colm Kerrigan How long have you been supporting Derry City?

Since I was 5 or 6 years of age, my Da took me and my brother and sisters to the games.

Where do you sit in the Brandywell?

I used to sit in block J back in the day but I moved away in 2015 to live in New York and I get home a couple of times a year and always get a match or 2 when I’m back.

Best Player you’ve seen playing for the Candystripes?

Liam Coyle

Why? He was a great finisher and just knew where the back of the net was, different class.

Best opposition player you’ve seen play?

Paddy McCourt Why? Even though he was a great player for us over the years, his stint at Rovers when they played us in the Brandywell when he had just signed for them, I think they won 3-1 and he just tore us apart running down the wing, I remember thinking to myself who the **** is this boy!!

What’s the best ground, apart from the Brandywell, that you’ve seen Derry play in?

Probably the aviva!! Great stadium, also love Dalymount park, wide open and a huge pitch.

What goal sticks out in your mind?

Mark Farren’s against Waterford in 2006.

Why? We were going for the league back in 2006 and were playing Waterford away in the RSC, we needed to win to keep pressure on Shelbourne and injury time was 3 mins I think, the ball comes into the box and big Clive Delaney knocks it on to Mark Farren to stick it into the back of the net. There were probably only 30-40 Derry fans there and everyone went go-

ing nuts, Hargy was a late sub and he had gone down the tunnel as he probably thought we had blown it and he came running out like a maniac realising we had scored a late winner, will always remember that!

Name your best Derry City team (you can pick from any era) One to Eleven with Three subs GK -David Forde RB - Eddie McCallion LB - Danny Lafferty CB - Peter Hutton CB - Stewart Greacen CM - Barry Molloy CM - Will Patching RM - Paddy McCourt LM - James McLean ST - Mark Farren ST - Liam Coyle Subs: Gary Beckett James Keddy Patrick McEleney Best manager you’ve seen at Derry City?

Stephen Kenny.

Favourite half time snack?

A (sneaky) Heineken and a burger from Ray’s Chippy!!

What one thing would you introduce that you feel would improve the match day experience?

Get a good MC on the pitch before the game and at half time to get the place pumped up, always remember and still to this day the man at Dalymount park would interact with fans and get the crowd going when the teams came onto the pitch!

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DERRY VS PATS: A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE The winners of the last two editions of the FAI Cup go head to head for the first time in 2024, looking to clinch precious points early in the season. Derry City and St. Patrick’s Athletic both got big wins over each other last campaign, and with both in pursuit of the Premier Division title, these types of matches rarely disappoint. I’ve taken a look at some previous meetings between the two over recent years to get you in the mood for tonight’s game, enjoy!

Derry City 3-0 St. Pat’s Athletic, 2023 Premier Division, Rnd 36: Goals from Will Patching, Jordan McEneff and new St. Pat’s arrival Brandon Kavanagh ended the 2023 campaign on a high for the Candystripes. Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men consolidated second place in the table when they put three past the Inchicore side on the final day of last season. Avenging a 4-1 away loss earlier in the season, and a penalty shootout defeat in August, the Candystripes played some of their best football all year – dominating with 68% possession.

St. Pat’s Athletic 0-4 Derry City, 2022 Premier Division, Rnd 13: Another high scoring fixture between these two saw Derry City come out on top in what was one of the Candystripes’ most impressive wins of the 2022 campaign.

A Jamie McGonigle double, either side of goals from Matt Smith and Cameron Dummigan saw the Candystripes hit St. Pat’s for four. It was Derry’s biggest win in Inchicore since a 3-0 win there in April 2009 and showed that Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side meant business.

Derry City 1-0 St. Pat’s Athletic 2018 FAI Cup Second Round:

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By Pól O’Hare

Prior to St. Pat’s penalty win over Derry in the FAI Cup in 2023, the two sides hadn’t faced each other in cup action since the second round in 2018, when Derry City came away 1-0 victors after a late Aidy Delap winner. City keeper Gerard Doherty stole the spotlight however, saving an Ian Turner penalty which would turn out to be the last kick of the game to lift the roof in the Brandywell. The Candystripes beat Blarney United 12-2 in the first round but fell to a quarter final defeat against Bohemians.

St. Pat’s Athletic 2-0 Derry City, 2014 FAI Cup Final: The 2014 FAI Cup final saw City and Pat’s pitted against each other for the second cup final in just three seasons, with the Dublin club coming out on top. Christy Fagan, unsatisfied with just one goal in the 2012 final, scored a brace as the Saints won their first FAI Cup since 1961.

Current City players Patrick McEleney and Michael Duffy both started in 2014, and Shane McEleney was an unused substitute. Chris Forrester played 92 minutes and is the only member of both the 2012 and 2014 cup final squads to still play for the Inchicore outfit.

Derry City 3-2 St. Pat’s Athletic (AET), 2012 FAI Cup Final: Derry City and St. Patrick’s Ath-

letic met each other in the FAI Cup final once again in 2012. Sean O’Connor opened the scoring with a left footed free kick into Gerard Doherty’s top corner but Derry were level within three minutes thanks to a Stewart Greacen header.

Rory Patterson put City ahead, but extra-time was needed after Christy Fagan equalised at the death.

Fifteen minutes into extratime, Patterson bagged his second when he slotted past Brendan Clarke to clinch the cup for Derry. Current Derry manager Ruaidhrí Higgins was brought on the 81st minute, whilst Shane and Patrick McEleney both featured in the final that year. Chris Forrester, a current regular in St Pat’s midfield, played the whole 120 minutes in 2012 too.

Derry City 4-3 St. Pat’s Athletic (AET), 2006 FAI Cup Final: The 2006 final was the last football match to be held at the old Lansdowne Road before its redevelopment and, despite going behind three times and the game going to extra-time, Derry City triumphed 4-3 to lift their fourth FAI Cup. After beginning his managerial career with St. Patrick Athletic’s under 21 side, the 2006 final was Stephen Kenny’s last game in his first spell as Derry manager. Kenny, who most recently managed the Irish national team, remarked on how both teams were fantastic in contributing to a classic cup final. Mark Farren, Clive Delaney, and Peter Hutton scored for the Candystripes that day, with the winning goal cruelly coming from Stephen Brennan who put the ball into his own net. Dave Mulcahy, Trevor Molloy and Sean O’Connor, who also scored in the 2012 final, netted for the Saints.

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DERRY VS PAT’S: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS The visit of St. Patrick’s Athletic to Brandywell tonight evokes many hard-fought encounters between the two sides over the years, with honours just about even.

Everyone will probably remember our Cup Final encounters back in 2006, 2012 and 2014. Indeed, our 4-3 victory at a storm - lashed Lansdowne Road in 2006 has been voted the best Final in the history of the FAI Cup! However, as all those Finals were well documented both in the Press and in our programme, I thought that I might just take you back even further in time, to yet another occasion in April 1990. Yes, this is when we played Pat’s three times in the space of ten days, once in the League and twice in the Cup. The first meeting was a crucial league game at a packed Harold’s Cross. (Their own ground, Richmond Park, was in the process of major re-construction at the time.)

With only four matches remaining, Derry, as Treble Winners, were trailing deadly rivals and league leaders, St. Pat’s, by two points, and a victory was essential if we were to retain the Title. Despite a great headed goal, and an inspirational display by the injury plagued substitute Liam Coyle, to equalise a blistering goal from Ennis, Derry could only manage to draw and the title was as good as lost to Pat’s. It was interesting to note that one match report stated that the Liam Coyle story was nearing a saddening conclusion, as retirement seemed inevitable.

Thankfully, for Liam and for Derry, this prediction proved to be just a wee bit premature!

REVENGE IN THE CUP? Derry had the opportunity for sweet revenge in a quarter-final Cup-tie at a packed Brandywell just one week later, and yet another fierce battle ensued. As the tension – laden encounter edged towards the closing stages, Doolin scored to put Derry

Mick McBride takes a stroll down Memory Lane

ahead and the home fans went ballistic! However, Pat’s were not quite finished and Moody equalised with a late late goal following a very controversial throw in, to bring us all back to Earth! ...OF A THIRD KIND! Back once more to Harold’s Cross, three days later, on 11th April, for game number three, and yet another dramatic and tension-laden replay. Derry brought a massive support with them, as Jack Keay returned to the City side for the injured Healy, whilst Pat’s remained unchanged.

First blood went to St. Pat’s through Paul Osam. As the game wore on, Pats were content to drop back in numbers and frustrate Derry but they came unstuck when their centre-half, Byrne, turned a Coady cross into his own net. Derry lived dangerously, as ‘man of the match’ Tim Dalton pulled of a string of saves, and Pat’s had a strong penalty claim denied. Extra time produced no further goals so we were into the nerve - wracking drama of a penalty shoot out!

THE SHOOT-OUT!!

Neville coolly scored, followed by Ennis, then Coyle, to give Derry a 2-1 advantage. Tracy’s shot then hit the post, as Doolin made it 3-1.

O’Connor brought it back to 3-2 and then it was 4-2 as Jack Keay netted.

Next up was Kelch who scored to make it 4-3. Paul Curran only had to find the net to put Derry into the semi-final! His was almost the perfect penalty until the ball hit the post and rebounded out, as thousands of City fans reached for the fags and heart tablets! Up steps Moody to keep Pat’s in it but amazingly he too contrived to hit the post and suddenly it was all over!

The scenes that followed were a sight to behold as Derry celebrated yet another famous footballing night in the club’s now illustrious modern era.

It was City’s first ever victory in Dublin over their arch rivals. Now, only little First Division Bray Wanderers stood between Derry and another Cup Final. And, yes, you DO know what happened next!!

ST. PATS: Henderson, Fleming, Kelsh, O’Donnell, Byrne, Tracy, O’Connor, Moody, Lawless, Ennis, Osam. Subs: Fenlon, O’Driscoll.

DERRY CITY: Dalton, Keay, Brady, Curran, Neville, Doolin, Carlyle, Krstic, Speak, Coady, Coyle. Subs: Bayly, Vaudequin.

Referee; Pat Kelly (Cork)

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AWAY DAYS: SHAMROCK ROVERS MON 4TH MARCH Ground: Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 FNK6 Directions: Follow the M1 South of Dublin Airport, exit onto the M50 at Junction 3 and head Westbound around the North suburbs of Dublin. Exit the M50 at Junction 11 and turn onto the N81 Tallaght Bypass, heading towards Tallaght. You will then see The Square Shopping Centre on the right-hand side, with the floodlights of Tallaght Stadium visible on the left-hand side. At the traffic lights next to the ground turn right and follow the signs to park in The Square Shopping Centre. Away fans must park here, they will be turned away if they attempt to park at the large carpark at the ground.

If using public transport, the stadium can be reached with the Luas tram. The last stop on the Red Line, Tallaght, is a short walk from the stadium. You can catch the Red Line at Connelly and Heuston railway stations, or from, for example, Abbey Street.

Parking: Tallaght Stadium is one of the better grounds for parking, for those travelling by car, we recommend parking in The Square Shopping Centre where a “Pay at the Exit” system is in place. You can park for up to three hours for €1 and each hour thereafter will be charged at €2. Payment can be made directly at the exit barrier by tapping your credit or debit card. If paying cash, please visit a pay station before returning to your car.

The stadium is a three-minute walk from the Shopping Centre carpark.

There is a pedestrian footbridge that takes you directly from the carpark to the east side of the stadium, where the Derry fans will be located within (East Stand).

There is strictly no parking on the N81 or the roads surrounding the ground, we have seen cases of the

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By Joseph McGeehan & Leo McGeehan manager, news, facts, match photos and much more.

Gardai clamping cars parked illegally in these areas and in the Woodies carpark.

Supporters may also use the free public car park located behind the Civic Theatre which is accessible from Belgard Square North.

Visiting Fans: Visiting fans are allocated part of the East Stand leading up to the halfway line. This the stand is accessed by turnstiles to the left of the new North Stand closest to the main N81 road. Tallaght Stadium is recognised as the best away ground in the league, and this season the new North Stand has been opened, meaning that the ground has stands on each of the four sides with an allseater capacity of 10,000. The new North Stand has been allocated as a family stand and will house the new club shop.

Ticket Prices: Shamrock Rovers away tickets must be bought in advance Ticket prices: Adults: €20 Students & OAP’s: €15 Kids Under 12: €8 Programmes: Match programmes are on sale from sellers at every game after you go through the turnstiles. They are priced at €5 and contain interviews with players, a message from the

Food/Drink: There is hot food available in the ground via a decent local based hot food van just as you come through the turnstiles, with Tea and coffee are also on sale as well as a range of cold drinks, sweets, and snacks. Burgers, chips, etc are of a reasonable standard although typically overpriced. Staff are friendly and helpful. Kieran & Gary great lads at the ‘Between the Stripes’ LOI Podcast also highly recommended ‘Baxto’ Kebab, which they say is outstanding! It is located on the outside right-hand side of the shopping centre, close to the main carparks. There is also a lot of good chain eateries within the shopping centre including Nandos, McDonalds & Eddie Rockets Bars: There is no alcohol served in the ground. The closest pub is The Maldron hotel which is located almost directly opposite the Main Stand turnstiles, it also serves food also, It can get very busy before a game. If you’re walking from the shopping centre direction, then there is The Abberley on Abberley Square; to the right of the shopping centre and a 10–15-minute walk from the ground.

Toilet facilities: There are male and female toilet facilities below the East Stand for away supporters.

Positive Features: We always bring a good support down to Tallaght, as well as boasting the title of the first club to win an away game here back on 27

LIVE FOR IT

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AWAY DAYS: SHAMROCK ROVERS MONDAY 4TH MARCH continued...

March 2009 with a late Ciaran Martyn winner in a 2-1 win.

The ground has played host to some memorable games in the club’s more recent history: a 1-2 victory with goals from Ben Doherty and Jamie McGonigle at the start of last season in a completely sold out clash; A 0-2 win in August 2017 on Eir Sport with Barry McNamee scoring from the halfway line in the 93rd minute; A 0-3 Victory in the Setanta Cup semi-final in 2012 with Kevin Deery, a McEleney rocket and McBride header; And finally another Ryan McBride goal in a 0-1 win in 2017 with 10 men, before Ryan tragically passed away a week later in March.

Last season we also played our European fixture against Tobel Kostany at the stadium where we departed on penalties heartbreak after a 1-0 win.

Rovers play their home games here on Friday nights, at a slightly different kick-off time at 8:00pm instead of the usual 7:45pm and there is always a decent atmosphere here for games, especially in recent years with the two clubs being locked in a title race.

It is also good to see the progression of Tallaght stadium in becoming undoubtably the best stadium in the league and the benchmark for all future stadia renovations in

the league, with the opening of the highly anticipated North stand, in doing so, becoming the first ground to hold 10,000 seated.

Negative Features: For some reason, the SR security staff insist on keeping you in the away end for 2030 mins after full-time. It can be very annoying to have 30 minutes or so unnecessarily add an hour to your journey, especially after a defeat.

Ticket prices have increased this year, resulting in the stadium being one of the most expensive in the league.

Ratings: Atmosphere: 9/10 Accessibility: 8.5/10 Parking: 9/10 Facilities: 10/10 Historical Record: 7/10 Overall: 9/10

THE PYRO PLIGHT The rise in popularity for Pyro flares among fans pose significant dangers at football matches in Ireland and around the world.

They pose as a fire hazard, spraying sparks and flames that can potentially ignite surrounding materials, including clothing or stadium infrastructure.

As of late, the league of Ireland are seeing more and more instances where flares are lit and thrown onto the pitch, bringing the game to a halt as players, officials and patrons in the stands are forced to wait for the coloured smoke to clear before the game recommences.

Flares are more commonly used for dangerous situations on the high seas to indicate that you are in distress and need assistance out on the water. They are purposely designed not to be extinguished easily or quickly whilst containing chemicals that can burn at temperatures of 1600°C, a heat known

as the melting point of steel.

Following an incident that happened last Friday night in Richmond Park where St Patrick’s Athletic hosted Dublin’s Bohemians, League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon, further condemned the use of Pyro flares at League of Ireland games after a member of the travelling Bohemians section launched a flare from the away section at their own player, Cian Byrne who was very lucky to avoid serious injury.

Scanlon announced: “Following the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fixture between St. Patrick’s Athletic FC and Bohemian FC at Richmond Park on Friday, 23 February 2024 in which a Bohemian FC player was struck by a pyrotechnic, an Independent Disciplinary Committee of the FAI has imposed a ban on Bohemian FC spectators from attending their next away fixture versus Drogheda United FC on 4 March

By Rory Merriman

2024 at Weavers Park.

“The League of Ireland and FAI would like to remind supporters of the dangers of pyrotechnics usage inside stadiums, as outlined in our previous campaign, which is strictly prohibited at all League of Ireland fixtures” Bohs’ punishment follows the precedents set last season when Drogheda United fans were banned from an away game at Shamrock Rovers following a similar incident during the Louth derby with Dundalk at Oriel Park, when a match official was hit by a pyrotechnic from the away section.

Cork City also faced similar fate last season when they were forced a partial closure of their ground when St Pat’s winger Mark Doyle was struck by a bottle during their FAI Cup semi-final clash at Turner’s Cross last term.

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This week... Derry City fan... AIDAN O’TOOLE 1. Roy Hodgson stepped down as Crystal Palace manager last week, but who was announced as the new Palace manager on the same day?

4.

2. Which player was involved in the highest transfer received by any MLS club when he left Atalanta United for the Premiership for £21m in 2019?

3. Aside from Harry Kane, which other English player currently plays for Bayern Munich?

4. Can you name the former Premiership player pictured on the right?

5. Who became the first non-British manager to ever win 6. the FA Cup when he won it in 1997?

6. What number do you get if you combine the shirt numbers worn by Cian and Brandon Kavanagh’s shirt numbers for Derry City last season?

7. The 18yo former St Pats defender Sam Curtis left the club in January 2024 to join which Premiership side?

8. Who holds the all-time record for appearances for St Pats?

AIDAN’S ANSWERS: 1) Ah, it’s a foreign guy! Starts with a G!; 2) Pulisic?; 3) Eric Dyer; 4) No idea! I might be too young; 5) Zola?; 6) 39?; 7) I didn’t hear, or I did and I forget! Everton?!; 8) Forrester?

AIDAN’S SCORE: 1 out of 8! Can you beat it?

ANSWERS: 1) Oliver Glasner; 2) Miguel Almirón; 3) Eric Dyer (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur); 4) Francis Jeffers; 5) Ruud Gullit; 6) 49 (20+29); 7) Sheffield United; 8) Paul Osam (308 appearances)

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BE THE CHALLENGER! CONTACT ANDREW@DERRYCITYFC.NET

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