5 GAMES TO GO: Derry City legends backing Ruaidhri Higgins to end club's wait for a league title
It has been the most bewildering, frustrating, pull-your-hair-out title race in recent memory, but the finish line is now in sight. The problem is however, no-one has a clue who will win it.
Derry City fans spent most of their energy on claiming FAI Cup Final tickets this week, but it will be back to the most nerve-shredding title race the club has endured for almost 20 years with two must-win home games against Bohemians and Sligo Rovers this weekend.
For the past two years, Derry City have chased and tried, unsuccessfully, to dethrone Shamrock Rovers, with Stephen Bradley’s side setting the standard for al.
But it is Shelbourne who have defied expectations this season to lead for the majority, and although they are stumbling badly towards the end, with just one win in ten games, they still have the lead – but only just. Rovers have come storming back into it, and the inconsistency has been so crazy, that had Galway united defeated Dundalk last week, they themselves would have been just two points off the top.
But despite being in third place and still four points behind, the advantage I very much with the Candystripes, IF they can take control of this race in the final few weeks. Victory over Bohs and Sligo will take them top with three games to go, with every point from hereon in absolutely precious.
If this season has taught us anything, it is that anything can happen, so there are bound to be some more bumps and bruises before it’s all said and done.
But former Derry City players believe the title is only head one way, and that’s north to the Brandywell, with each one confident that Ruaidhri Higgins and his players can get it done in the next few weeks.
AS IT STANDS
Shelbourne – 54 points (GC - +9)
Oct 18 h Waterford
Oct 25 h Drogheda United
Nov 1 a Derry City
Shamrock Rovers – 52 points (GD +12)
Oct 18 a Drogheda United
Oct 27 a Dundalk
Nov 1 h Waterford
Derry City - 50 points (GD +17)
Oct 11 h Bohemians
Oct 14 h Sligo Rovers
Oct 18 a Dundalk
Oct 25 a St. Patrick’s Athletic
Nov 1 h Shelbourne
Kevin Deery
Institute manager Kevin Deery remains a passionate Derry City fans to this day and he is hoping that this can finally be the year after almost three decades without a league title.
Derry City- Win, Win, Win, Draw, Win- 63 points
Shamrock Rovers- Win, Win, Win- 61 points
Shelbourne- Win, Win, Loss- 60 points
Eddie McCallion
Eddie McCallion knows just what it would mean for Derry City to get their hands on the league title. The defender was part of the Derry City team which came so close to winning the league title in both 2005 and 2006, only to lose out on the final day on both occasions, to Cork City and Shelbourne. He is predicting a much happier conclusion this time however, with Derry City winning it on the final day
Derry City- Draw, Win, Win, Draw, Win- 61 points
Shamrock Rovers- Draw, Win, Win- 59 points
Shelbourne- Draw, Win, Loss- 58 points
Peter Hutton
Peter Hutton was the last captain to lift the league title in 1997, but that wasn’t his last league title as he went on to win it with Shelbourne just a few years later. In a unique position of winning titles with two of the three contenders, Hutton, Derry City’s longest-serving League of Ireland player, feels the title will be in Ruaidhri Higgins’ hands come November, and comfortably so.
Shelbourne- Draw, Draw, Loss 56 points
Barry Molloy
Barry Molloy is as desperate as any fan for Derry City to win the title again. The beloved midfielder was involved in some of the biggest games in the club’s history, and it is hard to believe that it was almost 18 years ago when he scored a sensational goal against Cork City at the Brandywell to help Derry’s title charge. He is predicting a nervy finish, but a happy one nonetheless.
Derry City- Win, Draw, Win, Loss, Win- 60 points
Shelbourne- Draw, Win, Loss - 58 points
Ciaran Martyn
Very few players are envisaging any kind of Shelbourne resurgence in the final few weeks, and Ciaran Martyn agrees with those predicting a third-place finish for Damien Duff’s team. Martyn also predicts pain for Derry City in Inchicore on the penultimate week of the season, but the despair to turn to celebration with victory over Shelbourne on the final day of the season.
Derry City- Win, Win, Win, Loss, Win- 62 points
Shelbourne- Win, Draw, Loss- 58 points
Danny Lafferty
Danny Lafferty is still going strong in the Irish League with Ballymena, and while he may wear blue at the weekend, his heart is red and white and he ants nothing more than his home town team to lift the trophy come November 1.
Kevin McHugh
Kevin McHugh is a Finn Harps legend, but his time at Derry City will not be forgotten. Brought in by Stephen Kenny in 2006 to help take Derry City to the next level having just missed out on the final day of the 2005 season, McHugh more than played his part in two cup wins and that memorable European run. He thinks there will be just one point between the three teams come the final whistle of the season.
Derry City- Win, Win, Win, Loss, Draw- 60 points
Shelbourne- Draw, Win, Draw- 59 points
Gary Beckett
A real fans’ favourite over the years, ‘Bing’ was involved in some of the biggest games in the club’s history as part of Stephen Kenny’s multiple-cup winning teams. Striking up a prolific partnership with Mark Farren, Beckett was a class act in a class team. He predicts a strong finish for both Rovers and Shels, but for Derry to prevail ultimately.
Darren Kelly
Darren Kelly is a Derry man through and through and while he may live in England these days, he keeps a close eye on what is going on back home. He is not only predicting a title win for Derry City, but an FAI Cup win as well. Hopefully he’s right.
Shelbourne- Draw, Draw, Loss- 56 points
Joe Thomson
Joe Thomson retains a strong affiliation with Derry, and while is he busy playing in Europe with Larne these days, he keeps an eye on his former team and is expecting a very tight and nerve-wrecking finish.
Derry City - Win, Win, Win, Loss, Win- 62 points