'We did lots of work on Michael Duffy' - Doherty admits smothering Derry the key

Drogheda need to win a playoff against Bray on Saturday to avoid the drop to the First Division. 

Drogheda manager Kevin Doherty celebrates after winning the FAI Cup final against Derry City. Picture: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

Kevin Doherty hailed his Drogheda United players for executing a stifling gameplan on FAI Cup final favourites Derry City.

A 2-0 win for the underdogs in front of 38,723 at Lansdowne Road earned the Louth club only their second FAI Cup, their first since beating Cork City in the 2005 decider.

Drogs are the only part-time club in the Premier Division – and must beat Bray Wanderers in next Saturday’s playoff to survive the drop – whereas Derry are backrolled by local billionaire Philip O’Doherty.

Goals in each half - Andrew Quinn’s 37th volley followed by a Douglas James-Taylor penalty 13 minutes after the break – did the trick, creating a magic celebratory moment with his daughter Issy at full-time.

“It’s your shape - I don’t mean the actual formation - but plugging holes,” said Doherty afterwards.

“We did a lot of work on Michael Duffy before in his duels and when we looked at the stats Elicha Ahui had done the best job on him in the whole league.

“Derry have such good players that you can have one good plan and something else happens. Everyone had to stand up.

“Dave Webster wasn’t even playing half of the time last year in the First Division with Bray. The players have to carry out the plan and they were magnificent. 

“Even to get lads on the pitch – the Gary Deegans, the Luke Heeneys, the Adam Foleys, Ryan Brennan have been with me from the start.

"Conor Kane left and came back, had a bad injury. Shane Farrell was in tears the last time he was on this pitch and came off at half-time and to be fair he has been amazing for us.” 

Doherty has been at Drogs for the past seven years, the first four as assistant to Tim Clancy.

This time last year, they were taken over by US sports investment firm Trivela and have European football to look forward to in 2025. As FAI Cup champions, they enter the Conference League at the second-round stage, guaranteeing €525,000.

Before that, there’s survival Saturday.

“We’ll be back training on Monday. This is going to be the most boring answer after a cup final, but we have a playoff to win next week.

“Staying up for our target for the season but this was special.”