Ruaidhri Higgins left 'devastated' by Derry City title failure
Ruaidhri Higgins has acknowledged that the damage was done to Derry City’s title hopes even before last night’s 1-0 defeat to St. Patrick’s Athletic in Dublin.
The Candystripes went to Inchicore last night with the title very much in their own hands, but needing to win against an in-form opponent who had won seven-in-a-row heading into the weekend.
But despite coming close a number of times in the second half, Derry couldn’t respond to Brandon Kavanagh’s first-half strike, and their title hopes ended as a result.
“I’m obviously gutted,” Higgins said afterwards. “The damage wasn't done here tonight that's for sure. We missed ample opportunities over the year to pick up more points and we didn't and ultimately it's cost us.”
Higgins admits that there have simply been too many draws this season, which have ultimately cist his team.
“There's no point in saying otherwise,” he acknowledged. “We had loads of opportunities to take control of it and we too many draws and to be honest, and I’m being really honest we've had too many draws over the last three seasons really and it's something we have to look at and aye, it's disappointing.”
On the game itself, Higgins said:
“I think in the first half there wasn't a lot in the game at all. Our naivety cost us the first goal, it's a terrible goal from our point of view, a really poor goal and we got punished just before half-time. We should see it through to half-time and go in nil all at half-time but we slit our own throat really.
“In the second half we were very good for large periods and created ample opportunities and there's one or two times I can't believe the ball didn't go in the back of net but listen, I thought players give everything particularly second half and we didn't get I feel and I'm sure Stephen would agree that we deserved something from the game.”
Shelbourne could come to the Brandywell as champions if Shamrock Rovers fail to beat Dundalk tomorrow, but Damien Duff’s team could also win the title at the Brandywell regardless with victory over Derry next week. It is a painful proposition, with so many supporters dreaming of a winner-take-all title clash on the final day.
“I’m devastated,” Higgins said. “I think it's the football club where I have so much affiliation with and so much love for and when you're the manager and when we don't capitalize on opportunities that we should have capitalized on it then it's it's painful and it hurts and it'll be a very, very long trip home.”
“To be honest I thought our supporters were exceptional tonight and they're obviously going to be hurting. We've waited an awful long time and we'll have to wait an hour year at least so I am gutted for them. As I said we didn't lose the the league title here tonight, we've lost it over the course of the season when opportunities presented itself and we didn't capitalize.”