Kenny debuts tonight as Derry City boss

New Derry City manager Stephen Kenny will take full charge of his team tonight in the FAI Cup third round clash with Shelbourne at Tolka Park (7.45pm), just 24 hours after being appointed.

Kenny will pick a starting line-up from a nearly full-strength squad after overseeing training with the Derry City squad in Dublin last night.

Kenny told a press conference at his unveiling yesterday: “Obviously it’s a very big game to start with but I’ll be looking to improve the team in the long-term.”

Despite having to travel to Spain at the weekend for next Tuesday’s Champions League qualifying second leg against Deportivo La Coruna, Shels boss Pat Fenlon is determined his side will not be distracted from the more immediate task in front of them tonight.

“We’ll have no problem concentrating on this Cup game,” Fenlon said. “The League and Cup are trophies we can win so there’s no danger of not taking the game seriously.

“They’re the form team in the League and I think the players will also be anxious to impress Stephen. I’m delighted to see him back so quickly. I thought he was harshly treated by Bohemians and I think he’ll show that with Derry."

Fenlon’s only selection problem is the enviable one of deciding whether to reinstate strikers Glen Fitzpatrick and Jason Byrne following the one-match bans which saw them both miss the 1-0 league victory at Cork City last Saturday. Joseph Ndo and Alan Moore stood in for the duo at Turner’s Cross and both performed well.