Heartbreak for Derry City in FAI Cup Final
Drogheda United 2
Derry City 0
What could have been a memorable double heading into the final few weeks of the 2024 season, will instead be remembered as double heartbreak as Derry City fell to defeat in this year’s FAI Cup final.
Just two weeks ago, Derry City headed to Pat’s knowing a victory would put one hand on the league title with one league game remaining, but defeat ended their hopes, and they have simply not recovered since then.
If watching Shelbourne celebrate the league title win at the Brandywell 10 days ago wasn’t bad enough, then failing to perform in a cup final in over 20,000 of their own travelling supporters was the icing on the cake for what was a season of failure. No European football next season, a fourth-place finish, and a group of players who have been asked big questions time and time again and have failed to answer on each occasion.
Ruaidhri Higgins opted to start captain Patrick McEleney on the day, in what was a clear signal of intent from the Derry City manager. But if Higgins hoped that his players could start quickly and make their mark on the final as they did just two years ago against Shelbourne, he was mistaken.
The threat of the Drogheda front two was evident very early as a simple ball forward saw Douglas James Taylor get ahead of Shane McEleney ad flick it into the path of Frantz Pierrot, who had a clear sight of goal, until Mark Connolly rescued Derry City with a timely and important tackle just yards from goal.
This cup final needed something to spark it into life after a cautious start from both teams, and it almost arrived on 25 minutes. A long throw into the City area was cleared to the edge of the 18-yard box where Darragh Markey took control before his shot was deflected on its way to goal, with Brian Maher making sure as he pushed it wide for a corner.
As if a switch had been pushed, Derry City responded went straight down the other end and created their first chance with McMullan’s first cross blocked by Dave Webster before coming back to the winger who immediately picked out Danny Mullen, but the striker’s clever attempt at a back-heeled finish was saved by Luke Dennison.
Better from Derry soon followed with Sadou Diallo taking over from Andre Wisdom and approaching the penalty area before linking well with Patrick McEleney, the City captain doing well to set up his team mate for a shot, but Diallo’s effort was too close to Dennison.
But just as Derry were building momentum, Drogheda United struck to open the scoring on 37 minutes. Diallo needlessly gave away a free kick by fouling Pierrot, and when Farrell delivered the ball into the back post, defender Andrew Quinn got away from Mark Connolly to side-foot past Brian Maher to make it 1-0.
Half Time 1-0
Drogheda were first to threaten in the second half when Elicha Ahui’s long throw in was flicked on by Wisdom, who almost inadvertently set up James Taylor at the back post, but Boyce deflected his effort wide just in time.
Derry needed to dig very deep, not just in terms of their performance, but their mindset, and they showed just a glimmer of hope to their travelling supporters when Boyce crossed for Mullen, but the striker’s effort was lacking power, and again Dennison went largely untroubled.
Ruaidhri Higgins made two changes to try get some life into his team, but Colm Whelan and Sean Robertson were on the pitch a matter of seconds when Derry conceded a second goal.
Referee Rob Harvey had an easy decision to make when Ronan Boyce felled Conor Kane as he burst into the penalty area, and Douglas James Taylor sent Maher the wrong way from the penalty spot to put one hand on the trophy with over half an hour still to play.
That half hour came and went with Drogheda United players throwing themselves at everything thrown at them. Not that it was much. One corner aside, when Dennison fumbled under pressure from Connolly, was all that Derry City, with all their attacking threat, could muster.
A season which promised so much, even a few weeks ago, has ended with nothing.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison, Elicha Ahui, Andrew Quinn, Darragh Markey, David Webster, Shane Farrell (Luke Heeney 73’), James Bolger, Ryan Brennan (Gary Deegan 90’), Conor Kane, Douglas James Taylor, Frantz Pierrot (Adam Foley 68’).
Derry City: Brian Maher, Andre Wisdom (Jacob Davenport 82’), Mark Connolly, Shane McEleney, Ronan Boyce (Pat Hoban 65’), Adam O’Reilly, Sadou Diallo, Michael Duffy, Patrick McEleney, Paul McMullan (Sean Robertson 56’), Danny Mullen (Colm Whelan 57’).
Referee: Rob Harvey.