‘Patrick’s loss affected us’ - Derry defender Shane McEleney

Shane McEleney believes that the loss of his brother Patrick to injury just before half-time was the deciding factor in Sunday’s FAI Cup final.

The Derry City captain came off worse after an aerial challenge with Drogheda’s Ryan Brennan, suffering a suspected concussion during the clash.

After a prolonged period of treatment for both players, Drogheda received a yellow card for the challenge, but McEleney was unable to continue and was replaced by Will Patching. Defender McEleney, who got into a heated argument with Dave Webster over the nature of the challenge at the time, believes the loss of the midfielder affected both teams psychologically.

“I think Patrick's proved over previous years that he's, on his day, he's one of the best players in the country, there's no doubt about that,” he said. “He makes us better, whenever he plays we play better. He's been very unfortunate with injuries and some freak injuries too over the last two years. If it wasn't for bad luck, the man would have no luck, but I think him going off obviously was a factor.

"It's not an excuse by any means, it's not an excuse, but it was a factor in how the game played out.”

“The only pleasing thing, walking back out through the doors just to see him standing there so, yeah, please God, he's all good.”

Sunday marked the third occasion that the McEleney brothers have started an FAI Cup final together, and while the previous two, in 2012 and 2022, ended with victories over St. Patrick’s Athletic and Shelbourne, it wasn’t to be this time around.

“We huffed and puffed but didn't blow the door down as such,” Shane continued. “We didn't really have that bit of cutting edge that we needed in the cup finals and that wee bit of rub of the green too that you need. It just wasn't our day for whatever reason.”

“I think in hindsight you go over it in your head and you can say, have we done this, have we done that, but I think some things are meant for you in life and some things aren't and just today I don't think it was meant for us.”

Derry City have had their share of problems with Drogheda United over recent years, with Sunday’s game the latest frustration against Kevin Doherty’s side.

The newly-crowned FAI Cup winners still have their Premier Division status on the line when they face Bray Wanderers in the promotion-relegation play-off this weekend, but they will be big favourites due to vastly improved league form since the summer, plus the momentum and confidence from their cup victory.

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McEleney believes Sunday was another example of their organisation, disciple and difficulty to beat.

“They were really well organised, they had a tight five a lot of the game at the back and it was very hard to get through them,2 he reflected. “I think we didn't have enough cutting edge on the day, if we were blunt and honest with ourselves. When we got into those attacking areas, we just didn't do enough to hurt them. We had a couple of half chances, but there was nothing clear-cut. We were looking for a wee bit of rubble at times, but it just didn't fall for us on the day.”