Drogheda United shock Derry to claim first FAI Cup since 2005
CHAMPIONS: Drogheda’s Adam Foley lifts the cup. Pic: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty
A League of Ireland season like no other continues to deliver upsets as relegation-threatened Drogheda United shocked Derry City to win their first FAI Cup in 19 years.
Goals in each half - Andrew Quinn’s 37th volley followed by a Douglas James-Taylor penalty 13 minutes after the break – provided the entertainment for the 38,723 in attendance, a record final crowd for two teams outside of Dublin.
Drogheda must beat Bray Wanderers in a playoff next Saturday to preserve their top-flight status, meaning manager Kevin Doherty must restrain the celebrations among his mostly part-time squad.
They’re due back in training on Monday, hoping to maroon Louth rivals Dundalk as the last relegated team to win the FAI Cup in 2002.
Drogs players report with medals and memories for engineering this unlikely upset.
Doherty was critical of his side following their 5-1 defeat to Derry in late June but they finished strongly, exacting revenge over the Candystripes in the league and deservedly prevailing in the Blue Riband.
Derry seem to be suffering a hangover from seeing their title ambitions disintegrate over the last seven days of the league season.
Their drop to fourth in the table on the final night left them requiring a second-half comeback for a Cup win to retain their spot in next year’s Uefa Conference League next season.
Silverware was the target this year for the team that won the Cup in 2022 before finishing runners-up to Shamrock Rovers in the league 12 months later. 2025 will be the first year since 2020 they haven’t graced that stage.
Ruaidhri Higgins' was appointed in early 2021 and their latest collapse is likely to see another managerial chapter begin on Foyleside. Billionaire benefactor Philip O’Doherty vowed to unseat Rovers following their Cup win but instead it’s Shelbourne who got their first.
They may point to a marginal penalty call on the edge of the area for the second and Patrick McEleney’s withdrawal with a head injury as contributory factors but they were simply second best, well before those incidents.
Eight minutes before the interval, Andrew Quinn was left alone at the back post by Mark Connolly to connect with Shane Farrell’s free-kick and steer his sidefooted volley inside Brian Maher’s near post.
Immediately after grabbing the opener, Quinn had to be alert on his box as Derry’s Adam O’Reilly looked poised to tap home the equaliser. The defender raced back to scoop the loose ball away to safety.
Danny Mullen was on the end of another Derry’s chance, his 27th minute back-heel from Paul McMullan’s centre well gathered by Luke Dennison. Sadou Diallo also got a sight three minutes later, yet couldn’t generate the backlift to trouble the goalkeeper.
A nasty clash of heads on the stroke of half-time between Ryan Brennan and Patrick McEleney delayed the game by several minutes. The latter, who marvelled in Derry’s 4-0 romp over Shelbourne two years ago, was forced off, while Drogs captain Brennan played on with a head bandage and nose plugs applied, lasting almost the entire game.
With that fighting spirit, the Louthmen began the second half with similar vigour and Derry were unable to match their aggression.
Top scorer James-Taylor saw his shot deflected wide before he was granted the opportunity from the spot on 54 minutes. Experience had a role to play in Conor Kane enticing a rash challenge by Ronan Boyce and while it was borderline, Rob Harvey’s penalty decision allowed James-Taylor send Maher the wrong way.
L Dennison; E Ahui, A Quinn, D Webster, J Bolger, C Kane; D Markey, R Brennan (G Deegan 90), S Farrell (L Heeney 73); D James-Taylor, F Pierrot (A Foley 68).
B Maher; R Boyce (P Hoban 66), M Connolly, S McEleney, A Wisdom (J Davenport 82); S Diallo, A O’Reilly; P McMullan (S Robertson 57), P McEleney (W Patching 45+4), M Duffy; D Mullen (C Whelan 57).
Rob Harvey (Dublin).
38,723.
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