FAI Cup quarter-final: Derry City 2 Shelbourne 0
Manager Ruaidhrí Higgins believes if Derry City reach the Sports Direct FAI Cup Final in November, then his side will have done it the extremely hard way.
Having knocked out cup holders St Patrick’s Athletic at the Brandywell in the first round, they have now seen off First Division champions Cork City and Premier Division leaders Shelbourne and have been drawn against Bohemians, at Dalymount Park, in the semi-final, next month.
Higgins feels his squad will have to do it the hard way if they harbour hopes of reaching the Aviva Stadium in a few months time.
“If we do manage to get to the final we’ll have done it the extremely hard way,” he insisted,
“I think we got the only all-Premier Division tie against St Pat’s in the first round, then away to Cork in the next round and then home to Shelbourne in the quarter-final and now away to Bohemians, so yeah it has been a tough run so far.”
The 39-year-old was thrilled by City’s tremendous 2-0 win over Damien Duff’s men, in fact Higgins was slightly disappointed that they didn’t win by a bigger margin.
Goals from Michael Duffy and Daniel Mullen sealed the win over the Dubliners, but that only tells you half the story, as the Candy Stripes dominated things right from the off on Saturday night, much to Higgins’ pleasure.
“I’m delighted, it was a really, really accomplished performance,” he explained.
“I felt we owned the game for the majority of it, we created all the chances in the game and we looked a real attacking threat, but also at the same time looked defensive sound and when you get them two parts of the game right, particularly us, we don’t lose many games that’s for sure.
“The most disappointing thing was that we weren’t further ahead at half-time, so when it’s only 1-0 at the break, you’re always on edge. I felt we should have been a wee bit more comfortable, but in saying that the players were outstanding.
“The players performed brilliantly and we had a brilliant home support here at the Brandywell, which really helped the players.
“If we keep performing the way we did this evening between now and the end of the season we’ll be alright.”
Higgins made a big call by opting to go with Scottish striker Mullen ahead of the club’s leading marksman Pat Hoban, who in recent weeks has struggled in both his all round game and in front of goal, but the decision paid dividend, as the ex-St Mirren frontman produced a man of the match display.
“Danny to be honest probably has deserved more minutes given what he has produced for us this season,” admitted Higgins.
“He has been such a good team-mate and a good professional on how he went about it. His partner Kelsey had another daughter the other day, so it has been a good week for him.”
Second placed Derry sit four points behind Shels with seven league games remaining and while some may feel the cup win will give the Foylesiders a psychological advantage in the run-in, Higgins doesn’t agree.
“It’s a completely different competition,” explained the Limavady man.
“There’s a lot of really tough games between now and the end of the season for everybody in the league.
“We all know how tough this league is at the minute, so there will be a lot of twists and turns between now and the end of the season.”
FAI Cup semi-final draw
Derry City v Bohemians
Drogheda United v Wexford
Ties to be played weekend of Sunday October 6