2011 Preview: Derry City
Credit:
Derry City
Founded: 1928 (Reformed 2010)
Honours: 2 Premier Division titles (1988/89, 1996/97), 2 First Division titles (1986/87, 2010), 1 Irish League Championship (1964/65), 4 FAI Cups (1989, 1995, 2002, 2006), 9 League Cups (1988/89, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1994/95, 1999/00, 2005, 2006. 2007, 2008), 3 IFA Cups (1949. 1954, 1964)
Stadium: Brandywell
Manager: Stephen Kenny
Captain: TBA
Transfers In: Gareth McGlynn (Bohemians), Ruaidhri Higgins (Bohemians), Eamon Zayed (Sporting Fingal), Stephen McLaughlin (Finn Harps), Stewart Greacen (Dundee)
Transfers Out: Mark Scoltock (Released), Mark McChrystal (Tranmere Rovers), Seamus Sharkey (Southern Cross United), Mark Farren (Released)
The watchword for Derry City in 2011 will be youth. The club have held onto the bulk of the 2010 squad which won the First Division title and, most significantly, have retained the services of their much coveted young stars.
Pat McEleney and James McClean are both players of enormous potential while Thomas McBride, Shane McEleney, Danny Lafferty and Michael McCrudden all have the ability to prosper in the Premier Division this season.
Add in the arrivals of experienced campaigners Gareth McGlynn, Ruaidhri Higgins and Eamon Zayed, along with Stephen McLaughlin from Finn Harps, and it should not be beyond Derry’s ability to compete at the top end of the table.
The question marks over Derry’s ambitions lie with the departures of the three Marks; defensive stalwarts Scoltock and McChrystal, and goal-scoring hero Mark Farren. Expect Eamon Zayed to be rejuvenated by his return to a central striking role and to go a long way towards filling the gap left by Farren’s absence, but how will their defence knit in among more predatory Premier Division forwards?
It may take Stephen Kenny’s charges a while to atune themselves to a higher standard but, all things considered, they have what it takes to acquit themselves well in 2011.
Extratime prediction: 6th.
Founded: 1928 (Reformed 2010)
Honours: 2 Premier Division titles (1988/89, 1996/97), 2 First Division titles (1986/87, 2010), 1 Irish League Championship (1964/65), 4 FAI Cups (1989, 1995, 2002, 2006), 9 League Cups (1988/89, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1994/95, 1999/00, 2005, 2006. 2007, 2008), 3 IFA Cups (1949. 1954, 1964)
Stadium: Brandywell
Manager: Stephen Kenny
Captain: TBA
Transfers In: Gareth McGlynn (Bohemians), Ruaidhri Higgins (Bohemians), Eamon Zayed (Sporting Fingal), Stephen McLaughlin (Finn Harps), Stewart Greacen (Dundee)
Transfers Out: Mark Scoltock (Released), Mark McChrystal (Tranmere Rovers), Seamus Sharkey (Southern Cross United), Mark Farren (Released)
The watchword for Derry City in 2011 will be youth. The club have held onto the bulk of the 2010 squad which won the First Division title and, most significantly, have retained the services of their much coveted young stars.
Pat McEleney and James McClean are both players of enormous potential while Thomas McBride, Shane McEleney, Danny Lafferty and Michael McCrudden all have the ability to prosper in the Premier Division this season.
Add in the arrivals of experienced campaigners Gareth McGlynn, Ruaidhri Higgins and Eamon Zayed, along with Stephen McLaughlin from Finn Harps, and it should not be beyond Derry’s ability to compete at the top end of the table.
The question marks over Derry’s ambitions lie with the departures of the three Marks; defensive stalwarts Scoltock and McChrystal, and goal-scoring hero Mark Farren. Expect Eamon Zayed to be rejuvenated by his return to a central striking role and to go a long way towards filling the gap left by Farren’s absence, but how will their defence knit in among more predatory Premier Division forwards?
It may take Stephen Kenny’s charges a while to atune themselves to a higher standard but, all things considered, they have what it takes to acquit themselves well in 2011.
Extratime prediction: 6th.
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and … View Full Profile