This piece was published before Derry City's dramatic win over Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell. That result will only have their fans hoping even more that 2022 could be their year.
The term “Sleeping Giant” is a tricky one in League of Ireland circles. Damian Duff described Shelbourne as such when he took the job but didn’t appreciate interviewer Johnny Ward bringing that up at the recent league launch. However, if the term is to be applied to any club, it’s Derry City.
It is debatable whether the League of Ireland First Division would have survived when introduced in 1985 if it wasn’t for Derry City. For the first two years in the League of Ireland, the Foylesiders regularly brought more fans to away games than the home sides could muster. After winning promotion in 1987, they brought those massive crowds to the top tier and continued their winning ways. In 1988-89 they became the first club to win the treble of League, FAI Cup and League Cup (Shamrock Rovers had previously won the treble of League, FAI Cup and Shield).
In their Irish League days, Derry City were moderately successful but within 4 years of LOI membership they had the best team with the biggest support and looked set to dominate for years to come. They didn’t though. This wasn’t a boom-and-bust thing either. Derry won the league again in 1997 and have won the FAI Cup 5 times now. No club gets close to their 11 League Cup wins. After the novelty of senior football in Derry returning had worn off though, the crowds started to drift away. There were times when they had OK figures for a LOI club, but nothing like the crowds they brought in those early years. Until 2022.
25 February 2022; A mural featuring the late Derry City captain Ryan McBride, near the The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, before the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Derry City and Shamrock Rovers at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Ciaran O’Neill is in his mid 30s and has followed Derry “on and off” for 20 years or so. He admits he wasn’t an ever present over those two decades but he’s bought a season ticket for this year for him and his son.
“It’s our first time doing it. I suppose with Covid restrictions and everything, I just wanted to make sure we got out a much as possible and with the buzz about the Brandywell I wasn’t sure I’d get tickets for the big games!”
He’s right too. Derry City’s opening home game sold out in minutes earlier this week. They sold out their away allocation for the trip to Dundalk last week. Ciaran’s ‘mucker’ Brian went with his dad. “He hasn’t left Derry for a game since the 80s!” He quickly follows up laughing, “except for the cup finals of course!” After they reminded me of how Derry had come back twice to beat Pats in the 2006 and 2012 finals, and I reminded them about Christy Fagan in 2014, I asked why this year’s buzz was so different. “We always back our own. When you see them putting the money in to bring Fats (Patrick McEleney) and (Michael) Duffy home, it’s great to see”. Brian added “And of course, there’s a Derry man in charge. From the chairman to the manager and down, it’s full of Derrymen.”
It probably isn’t a co-incidence that Derry’s two previous league titles were won with local men as managers. They bought had talented local players but they were smart enough to bring in outsiders where needed. Jim McLaughlin had already established himself as one of the best managers ever to grace the league by the time he took over his hometown club. Felix Healy was an integral part of that 1989 team. He found his way back to managing the club and helped lift the title in 1997. Current manager Ruadhri Higgins is in his first managerial job but he brings a wealth of playing experience with him, including a couple of spells with the Candystripes. He’s been heavily backed by chairman Philip O’Doherty. O’Doherty made headlines last year selling his engineering business for a reported $2 billion.
O’Doherty had always been a generous backer of the football club and kept them somewhat stable since the 2009 demotion and subsequent fall out for financial irregularities. The expectation among Derry fans is that he’ll now ramp up that investment significantly. “Look we know he’s not putting in PSG or Man City money but he’s already gone out and got the cream of the crop in Ireland. At least of those who were available.” While McEleney and Duffy may have offered a hometown discount that didn’t apply to the likes of Matty Smith and Brian Maher who both had several offers to consider.
Derry face Shamrock Rovers tonight in the first big game for the reigning champions. While Rovers are clear favourites to retain their title, Derry are second favourites with the bookies. It’s a huge game so early in the season. I asked Ciaran and Brian what they’d consider a successful season. “I think we can win it” said Brian. Ciaran was a little more conservative, “We have to be top two and give Rovers a good go this year. We haven’t been top two for years now (2006) and that’ll be progress.”
“Will you change your mind if you win on Friday?” “Oh aye, beat them 3-0 and we’re off to win the lot”. The lads laughed but if Derry get momentum they’ll be hard to beat with a whole city and county backing them for the first time in decades.
SEE ALSO: 7 Things We Learned From The First Weekend Of The League Of Ireland
