Soccer

Ruaidhrí Higgins delighted to see Colm Whelan mark long-awaited return with a goal

Derry City assistant manager Paddy McLaughlin (right) and manager Ruaidhrí Higgins (left) after the SSE Airtricity Premier Division match between Cork City and Derry City at Turner's Cross
Derry City assistant manager Paddy McLaughlin (right) and manager Ruaidhrí Higgins (left) after the SSE Airtricity Premier Division match between Cork City and Derry City at Turner's Cross
By Seamus Crudden

Derry City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins was thrilled that striker Colm Whelan had the perfect debut in Friday night's win at Cork City.

Higgins was delighted that the 22-year-old, who has been out for close to a year with a serious ACL injury, marked his debut with a goal, just a few minutes after entering the match from the bench.

Derry raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Ronan Boyce and Michael Duffy, before Whelan netted his first goal for the club, much to Higgins' delight.

“Collie Whelan is a special story,” insisted the Derry manager.

“It has been 11 months of hell, a really difficult period in his life and in his career, but he has worked extremely hard over the last few months and got himself a brilliant goal.

“But the most impressive bit was the play in the lead up to the goal where he takes it on the half turn and slides (Ryan) Graydon through, carries on his run into the box and buries it.

“To be honest, that’s why we’ve brought him here. We’ve had to be patient, but we know what we’re getting. We’re getting an exceptional goalscorer and an exceptional footballer.

“It doesn’t mean we go now and stick him in next week and that’s him ready to go.

"He’s played 20 minutes in the last 11 months so we have to be very careful with him.”

Higgins was also pleased that Duffy played over an hour for the first time this season and, like Whelan, scored against the Rebel Army.

"Michael’s goal is a brilliant team goal,” Higgins added.

"Shane (McEleney), back around to Brian (Maher), who switched it out to Ben Doherty, who slips it inside to Mickey, and Mickey does what he does, and that’s what we’ve missed for the first series of games and hopefully now we can keep him fit."

The Limavady man, who had former Cliftonville manager Paddy McLaughlin alongside him in the dug-out, was thrilled with his team's performance and delighted they returned to winning ways.

"It’s a brilliant win and I’m delighted with it," he added.

“The players were ecstatic in the dressing room after the match.

"I think in the first 15-20 minutes, physically they got on top of us and we knew that was the way it was going to be because that's how they play.

"But after that period, when we weathered that bit of a storm, we thoroughly controlled the game and we deservedly take the three points home."