Brian Maher from cup final spectator to cup final participant

Brian Maher

Brian Maher Credit: Conor Ryan (ETPhotos)

Rónán MacNamara reports from the Aviva Stadium

Derry City goalkeeper Brian Maher has plenty of FAI Cup final experience, as a fan, now he is looking to create his own memories as a player when his side take on Shelbourne on Sunday.

Maher has been the Candystripes number one between the sticks since making the move north from Bray Wanderers and he has been a regular spectator at the Aviva Stadium on cup final day.

“I go nearly every year,” said Maher. “I was talking to my Dad about it last night, since I was about seven. I just go to the cup finals as a supporter, it didn’t matter who was playing. I was there when Sligo won; I was there when Pat’s won it; I was there a few years ago when Dundalk and Cork were playing all of them. 

“The last one I can remember is the Sligo penalty shootout one but I think there was earlier. I don’t know the exact year. I remember going with my Dad and being up in the gods watching Sligo win it.”

The Raheny native spent time at St Patrick’s Athletic as a teenager before dropping a division to Bray so the journey to Sunday’s final has been a long time coming for him. 

He has been thinking about making a huge impact on the game. “You’re thinking of the moments, your family and that. You see last year, I was up above the Pat’s family end and I would have had a lot of friends there and seeing them with their families.

“I was there from 15 or 16 talking to boys, the likes of Lee Desmond who dreamed of winning the cup with Pat’s, so to see them afterwards with their families, is up there as much with the game itself.”

Maher, who is on standby for Stephen Kenny’s Ireland team, is also first choice for the Ireland U21s who were cruelly beaten by Israel on penalties in a European Championship playoff.

Three of the last five FAI Cup finals have gone to spot kicks and Maher hopes the harsh experience in Tel Aviv might help him come out on the right side of the result if the game goes the distance on Sunday.



“I was saying to someone there, you practise penalties every week, because if there is one in a game, or two in a game, you need to be ready. So it’s kind of just the same, the same kind of research, and stuff and the keepers will do, the same as the outfielders, this week that we’d be used to. 

“You don’t want to feel that pain again (from a shootout loss) so you know maybe you probably try and block and out and just keep working as hard as you can. And if it goes there, hopefully I come out the right side this time.”

There will be a sense of the student coming up against the teacher on Sunday as he lines out against opposite number Brendan Clarke.

The 37-year-old veteran has been an ever-present since winning back the number one spot from Lewis Webb in the spring. Clarke was at Pat’s when Maher was there as a teenager and the pair have remained close since and were training together during the Covid pandemic to keep fit.

"He was very good to me. He always looked after me at Pat’s," says Maher.

"I might have been in with the first team for maybe a year before he came back (from Limerick). He just straight away putting his arm around the shoulder and when I had tough times at Pat’s where I wanted to leave, he was good to me.



"Even during Covid when training stopped and we were allowed out in small groups, we went out and did training sessions together. He’s been very good to me. Maybe for one day, we won’t speak," Maher laughed.

About Rónán MacNamara

View Full Profile