Shelbourne

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Derry City v Shelbourne (Friday, 7.

DERRY City’s Jordan McEneff is hoping to celebrate his SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for February with a positive result at his former club Shelbourne tonight. The talented midfielder, who has scored four goals in City’s opening six league games, netted in Derry’s opening night draw against St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park last month, followed that up by notching in the Candystripes’ 2-0 victory over Cork City a week later and then grabbed a brace at UCD earlier this month. Also last month, McEneff helped Ruaidhri Higgins’ team claim the Presidents Cup for the first time since the competition’s inception by beating Shamrock Rovers at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium and he hopes his goalscoring form can continue at Tolka Park tonight. “I’m buzzing. To win the player of the month is not easy because of the quality there is in the league so to win it in the first month gives you a bit of confidence going into the rest of the season,” he said. “We started well the first three games. The last couple of games we’ve had a couple of frustrating draws but we’re still unbeaten and there’s a lot of the season to play. “We’re happy enough but we want to be better.”  The 22-year-old joined his home town club in August 2022 after his release from Arsenal. He had spent the first half of the season on loan with Damien Duff’s men. He scored Derry’s fourth and final goal of the FAI Cup final win over Shels from the penalty spot. McEneff’s win means a Derry City player has won the Player of the Month award in back-to-back months following Cameron McJannet’s win last November. The last time that happened was in March and April 1997 when Paul Curran and Peter Hutton won in consecutive months. McEneff finished first in the vote of SWI members ahead of Adam McDonnell, who has impressed in the early weeks of the season for league leaders Bohemians. St Pat’s defender Joe Redmond and Drogheda United centre back Conor Keeley were tied for third. City travel to Shels this evening with Adam O’Reilly, McJannet, Michael Duffy, Cameron Dummigan and Mark Connolly all struggling with injuries, however one or possibly two may return to the squad for tonight’s game. Elsewhere tonight in the Premier Division, champions Shamrock Rovers go in search of their first win of the campaign when they travel to Dundalk; bottom side UCD entertain St Pat’s, who themselves will want to return to winning ways after a shaky run of form; Drogheda United make the trip south to Cork City; while leaders Bohemians take on Sligo Rovers tomorrow evening at the Showgrounds. In the First Division, Finn Harps go to Waterford tonight.

A new era will kick off for Finn Harps this Friday (February 17) as they begin life back in Division One of the League of Ireland with a home game against Galway United.

FAI Cup final: Derry City 4 Shelbourne 0 DERRY City manager Ruaidhri Higgins was thrilled and over the moon after his side’s dominant display, which secured their sixth FAI Cup success.

FAI Cup final: Derry City v Shelbourne (Sunday, Aviva Stadium, 3pm) MANAGER Ruaidhrí Higgins is thrilled that FAI Cup Final fever has hit Derry City, as they prepare for Saturday afternoon's encounter against Shelbourne in Dublin.

DERRY City's Ruaidhrí Higgins concedes he regrets a few things he has done in his first full season as manager.

GOALKEEPER Brian Maher admits his ideal FAI Cup final would be to keep a clean-sheet and Derry City to defeat Shelbourne in the 90 minutes.

Dundalk manager Stephen O'Donnell feels he doesn't need to give advice to his good friend Ruaidhrí Higgins ahead of Sunday's FAI Cup Final, against Shelbourne.