Derry City were dealt more heartbreak as they were shocked by Drogheda United in a 2-0 defeat in the FAI Cup final on Sunday afternoon.
The Candystripes faltered in the League Of Ireland Premier Division title race in slumping to fourth, but looked to put some shine on their season by reclaiming the most coveted Cup in Irish soccer.
Instead, the 2022 winners failed to trouble Drogheda in a toothless performance, falling to a humbling loss in front of a large contingent of traveling supporters in Dublin's Aviva Stadium.
Andrew Quinn opened the scoring just before half-time with a brilliant volleyed finish, before the second came just after half-time from Douglas James-Taylor.
Drogheda came into this game with a relegation playoff looming next week, without a trophy in 17 years, and having won the FAI Cup just once previously. Against all the odds, they were firmly deserved winners on a memorable day in Dublin.
Drogheda United are in dreamland against Derry City in the FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium, with Douglas James-Taylor putting them 2-0 up from the penalty spot.
📺 Watch: https://t.co/oyUHkHH9FO
📱 Follow: https://t.co/by0J3NwUgv#FAICup | #DRODER pic.twitter.com/r6j6lvihzS— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 10, 2024
Drogs' boss Kevin Doherty summed up his side's elation when speaking to RTÉ in the aftermath of a famous win for his club.
For Derry, the mood was different with former player Gareth McGlynn - who won the competition twice as a player with Derry - scathing in his assessment of what he had seen from the players.
The Derry City players have let the city down tonight, they've let the manager down and they've let the chairman down, and it's not good enough," McGlynn stated.
"You can have all the technical ability in the world if you want but if you don't have the heart to go and do something and the need to go and do something then you are not going to achieve it.
"They need to be damn ashamed of themselves."
Gareth McGlynn: "The Derry City players have let the city down tonight, they've let the manager down and they've let the chairman down, and it's not good enough."
📺 Watch: https://t.co/oyUHkHGBQg
📱 Follow: https://t.co/by0J3NwmqX#FAICup | #DRODER pic.twitter.com/Bw4rjB36LY— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 10, 2024
Strong stuff from McGlynn on punditry, who is clearly convinced that the blame lies with a team of players which would boast much bigger names than that of Drogheda.
The post-mortem for Derry is sure to continue in the off-season as they again became the nearly-men of Irish soccer.
They will be without European football next season as a consequence of their latest loss, with Drogheda earning a place in spite of their imminent relegation play-off next Saturday.
