Drogheda Utd v Derry City FAI Cup Final Match Thread

[brandyball]

McGlyn' s View



https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/spor ... 39379.html

[rodgers]

Beaten by part timers in Europe and now the cup.

There was a short spell before the first goal where I thought Derry were starting to get on top but a silly foul and poor defending ended it from there on in.

It was hard to see from the stand but it looked to me that Higgins walked off quickly before coming back out again.

Drogheda wanted it far more and on top of all the other issues that have been a problem (pitch, backwards passing, injuries) recent player recruitment has seen players that would have tried a lot harder being left to play elsewhere.

[marcoloco]

Beaten by part timers in Europe and now the cup.

There was a short spell before the first goal where I thought Derry were starting to get on top but a silly foul and poor defending ended it from there on in.

It was hard to see from the stand but it looked to me that Higgins walked off quickly before coming back out again.

Drogheda wanted it far more and on top of all the other issues that have been a problem (pitch, backwards passing, injuries) recent player recruitment has seen players that would have tried a lot harder being left to play elsewhere.

Drogheda we’re excellent.

They had a game plan that worked a treat. Sat deep, defended unbelievably well and took their chances when the came.

We did the usual. Sideways, backwards slow slow, giving Droghehda time to set up exactly how they wanted. Duffy didn’t have any joy nor did McMullen. We made 2 changes when they were in our half so it wasn’t surprising that they capitalised at that moment.

We literally had no ideas. They gave us the ball and we couldn’t really do anything with it. No idea how to break down a team playing deep.

They looked bigger, stronger and fitter and deserved the result. And their fans were great. obviously I’m gutted but pleased to see a team like Drogheda win it.

We simply didn’t turn up again.

[Nige92]

Drogheda were not 'excellent' hahaha. We were fucking shite. Don't sugar coat it. We were so poor. Created 2 decent chances so in the whole game, at 0-0.

Bye bye Higgins.

[marcoloco]

Drogheda were not 'excellent' hahaha. We were fucking shite. Don't sugar coat it. We were so poor. Created 2 decent chances so in the whole game, at 0-0.

Bye bye Higgins.

They won the Cup. 2-0.

We didn’t lay a glove on them.

They had a plan and to a man fought, ran and tackled for every ball.

We were our usual selfs. But to try and suggest Drogs weren’t excellent is sour grapes.

Best team won by a country mile.

[chucho]

We made 2 changes when they were in our half so it wasn’t surprising that they capitalised at that moment

This.

[chucho]

Today's performance was a fair representation of our season. If.you have been watching Derry this year how did you seriously expect anything different?

[Keyser Soze]

Today's performance was a fair representation of our season. If.you have been watching Derry this year how did you seriously expect anything different?

Yip, the defeat didn't really shock me at all, as the team that RH built has been dashing our hopes all season. That's now 2 defeats to Drogs, who finished 9th in a 10 team league, over the space of about 5 weeks.

We rely on Duffy to have a good game to win games for us, or to create the chances which will win us a game. If he doesn't perform, then that's us out of ideas. And today the young full back had him in his back pocket.

I hate to single put players but it's time we stopped being the ostrich with our head in the sand, and admit that certain players are done. Duffy being one of them. He can be dangerous in the odd game, but let's be honest, he not producing what we keep being told he can do. His pace is gone and so many of the young defenders he's up against are simply too fast for him.

Fats. Where to start? Doherty, end of. I'll be told he's a genius, a play maker and a match winner. All of which are totally false based on what he has produced for us since he returned on massive wages. You could count decisive things he's done in games on one hand. Produced nothing again today up until he went off.

McMullan. Easily the worst player for me this season. Another man who can't beat a defender, can't cross a ball. So as a winger, another who can't do that job.

Then there is the rest. Patching, simply couldn't be arsed and hopefully that was his last game in a Derry shirt. And Shane thanks for the efforts over the years, but not good enough. Could say the same for Connolly, Diallo. The English journeymen are adding nothing to the squad, let them all go.

Rant over, just so disappointed that we went down with a whimper. Zero fight. Fair play to Drogs. You outplayed, out thought us.

[hughthedonkey]

Disgraceful comments.

[davybhoy]

Disgraceful comments.

Why? People are pointing out facts or what they believe is true.

This season has been a disaster on the pitch whilst the recruitment has been awful.

[Keyser Soze]

Disgraceful comments.

What am I saying that's not true?

Tell us your thoughts, rather than just making pointless statements. Let's have a debate.

It was interesting for me that with 10min to go the Derry fans started to leave. They knew we'd no chance of scoring, based on what they had been watching all season. All hope was lost. And with 5min + injury time to go (basically the guts of another 10min) there was large swathes of our sections totally empty. They just wanted out to end the pain.

[marcoloco]

We made 2 changes when they were in our half so it wasn’t surprising that they capitalised at that moment

This.

Surprisingly more wasn’t made of this. If you did that in Sunday morning football you’d be chased.

[PauliAlonso]

I'm not accusing anybody of anything, but I am incredibly suspicious of how Connelly defended for Drogs' first goal. There is no explanation for that...other than, you know, brown envelope, wink-wink. Not even a young inexperienced defender would allow that to happen. That was woeful.

Greengo mentioned in the past that players see or hear some comments on here, well I hope they hear this: you've cost a good young manager his job.

[DeeDerry1975]

I'm not accusing anybody of anything, but I am incredibly suspicious of how Connelly defended for Drogs' first goal. There is no explanation for that...other than, you know, brown envelope, wink-wink. Not even a young inexperienced defender would allow that to happen. That was woeful.

There is some nonsense talked on here from time to time but this has to be the worst of the lot. Accusing a player of getting a pay-off..... I thought the facebook page was the gutter, this is worse

[Nige92]

I'm not accusing anybody of anything, but I am incredibly suspicious of how Connelly defended for Drogs' first goal. There is no explanation for that...other than, you know, brown envelope, wink-wink. Not even a young inexperienced defender would allow that to happen. That was woeful.

Absolute tripe.

Connolly is past his best and his abilities have fallen off a cliff over this season. He lacks pace and that really shows. In the Shels game he made 4 individual errors within 10 minutes including a challenge that should have been a penalty.

For the first goal it looks like he's defending a lot of space, doesn't have the pace to get back and cover, so just loses the flight of the ball.

How he made the PFAI team of the year I'll never know. Trading off a reputation.

[IfYouTolerateThis]

I'm not accusing anybody of anything, but I am incredibly suspicious of how Connelly defended for Drogs' first goal. There is no explanation for that...other than, you know, brown envelope, wink-wink. Not even a young inexperienced defender would allow that to happen. That was woeful.

Greengo mentioned in the past that players see or hear some comments on here, well I hope they hear this: you've cost a good young manager his job.

I think you should reflect and withdraw this.

Your loyalty to Higgins is admirable, even if I believe misplaced, but to insinuate a player taking a bung is way over the line.

Separately, have you ever called for a manger to go? If so, why the passion to keep Higgins?

If he stays, what are your expectations for the team under Higgins next year? Can you see tangible success, or would you accept, say runners up in the league again? You continuing make an argument of progress under Ruairdhri, but where do you expect this progress to lead to? With the resources and finances at his disposal, do you think it unreasonable for fans to expect a title win this season, particularly with Rovers having such a significant drop off this year, albeit making a late charge?

Looking at the results over the last 10/11 league games, when there was a huge opportunity to win the league, if you were fhe owner of the club, would you view that run-in as continued progress, or feel the manager failed to deliver performances, direction and leadership at the pivotal moment?

I am genuinely at a loss to understand this steadfast backing of a manager, when results, performances, recruitment and not to mention "outs" regarding transfers are not just bad, but brutal? Are there other reasons why you are so adamant RH just remain as manager?

[TenaciousDee]

Last week, from a Derry City perspective, everything felt flat and at times, forced. Heading into the final, emotions were raw; many fans were angry and frustrated following the end of the league season, and even some of the staunchest supporters admitted they might not attend. People were cancelling hotel bookings left and right—to the point that a friend was able to secure a room at the Sandymount on Friday for just £140, while prices after our semi-final victory over Bohs had shot up to over £200. The buzz was absent, and few seemed to believe we could win. There was a lingering doubt in the air. Realistically, though, we shouldn’t have had that sense of doubt.

Meanwhile, in Drogheda, the atmosphere was entirely different. I was there on Tuesday, and the contrast was striking. Players, staff, and owners were relaxed, and the town was decked out with flags in a spirit of celebration. For them, this final felt like a "free hit" ahead of their season’s end. When I got in the car with Kevin Moore, my first words were, “We’re beat.”

Looking back, it’s clear that mindset and preparation can impact everything. Derry’s tension and unease ultimately set the tone for the day, while Drogheda approached it with a calm and confidence that proved infectious. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the right outlook can make all the difference in sports

[PauliAlonso]

Jesus Christ lads, sensitive much? Of course Connelly didn't take bribe, FFS. I was highlighting just how phenomenal a mistake it was. Any wonder we are where we are with all these disucssions if you think I was genuinely accusing a player of being paid-off to concede a goal?? Wise up.

[PauliAlonso]

Separately, have you ever called for a manager to go?

Yes. Decky. And loudly, over a longer period. Ironically, the majority at the time wanted to keep him despite zero evidence to suggest he could take us anywhere. In the end, where he was taking us was the First Division. So, I'm comfortable with my support for Ruaidhri.

[PauliAlonso]

If he stays, what are your expectations for the team under Higgins next year? Can you see tangible success, or would you accept, say runners up in the league again? You continuing make an argument of progress under Ruairdhri, but where do you expect this progress to lead to? With the resources and finances at his disposal, do you think it unreasonable for fans to expect a title win this season, particularly with Rovers having such a significant drop off this year, albeit making a late charge?

Looking at the results over the last 10/11 league games, when there was a huge opportunity to win the league, if you were fhe owner of the club, would you view that run-in as continued progress, or feel the manager failed to deliver performances, direction and leadership at the pivotal moment?

I am genuinely at a loss to understand this steadfast backing of a manager, when results, performances, recruitment and not to mention "outs" regarding transfers are not just bad, but brutal? Are there other reasons why you are so adamant RH just remain as manager?

He won't stay. The noise against him is too loud and realistically it will be impossible to turn it around. POD will pull the trigger.

Do you think it unreasonable for fans to expect a title win this season, particularly with Rovers having such a significant drop off this year, albeit making a late charge?

I don't think it unreasonable at all, I expected us to win it as well. But what I will add, is that if you only think we could have won the league because Rovers dropped off, then you didn't expect us to win it either anyway.

Looking at the results over the last 10/11 league games, when there was a huge opportunity to win the league, if you were fhe owner of the club, would you view that run-in as continued progress, or feel the manager failed to deliver performances, direction and leadership at the pivotal moment?

The run-in was very poor. We had more than enough chances to take hold of the race. Yes, it's the manager's responsibility. But this is his first job and he'll learn from that. Can we not give him the next year of his contract to see how he reacts to this season? If we change manager, we're not likely to challenge next season anyway, so what do we really have to lose by giving the guy the chance to redeem himself? Took us from dead last to Europe, two second place finishes in a row and a proper title challenge til the last two weeks...in his first job as manager. We have short memories.